CENTAF releases airpower summary for Jan. 1

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SOUTHWEST ASIA (AFPN) --  U.S. Central Command Air Forces officials have released the airpower summary for Jan. 1.

In Afghanistan Dec. 31, coalition aircraft flew a total of 39 close air support missions in support of International Security Assistance Force, or ISAF, and Afghan troops, reconstruction activities and route patrols.

Additionally, 10 Air Force and Royal Air Force intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, or ISR, aircraft flew missions in support of operations in Afghanistan. Navy fighter aircraft performed in non-traditional ISR roles with their electro-optical and infrared sensors.

In Iraq, Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcons and Royal Air Force Tornado GR-4s provided close-air support to troops in contact with anti-Iraqi forces near Baghdad.

In total, coalition aircraft flew 32 close-air-support missions for Operation Iraqi Freedom. These missions included support to coalition troops, infrastructure protection, reconstruction activities and operations to deter and disrupt terrorist activities.

Additionally, 12 Air Force, and Navy ISR aircraft flew missions in support of operations in Iraq. Air Force fighter aircraft performed in non-traditional ISR roles with their electro-optical and infrared sensors.

Air Force C-130 Hercules and C-17 Globemaster IIIs provided intra-theater heavy airlift support, helping sustain operations throughout Afghanistan, Iraq and the Horn of Africa. They flew 130 airlift sortie, delivered 345 tons of cargo and transported 1,960 passengers. This included about 24,000 pounds of troop re-supply air-dropped in eastern Afghanistan.

Coalition C-130 crews from Australia flew in support of OIF or OEF.

On Dec. 30, U.S. and Royal Air Force tankers flew 33 sorties and off-loaded almost 2.3 million pounds of fuel.