CENTAF releases airpower summary for Dec. 20

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SOUTHWEST ASIA (AFPN) --  U.S. Central Command Air Forces officials have released the airpower summary for Dec. 20.

In Afghanistan Dec. 19, Royal Air Force GR-7 Harriers, Air Force F-15E Strike Eagles and Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt IIs provided close-air support for International Security Assistance Force, or ISAF, troops in contact with Taliban extremists near Kandahar. One of the GR-7s expended a general-purpose 500-pound bomb and the F-15Es expended guided bomb unit-38s on enemy positions.

French M2000 Mirages and Air Force A-10s provided close-air support to ISAF troops in contact with enemy forces near Asadabad.

Air Force F-15Es provided close-air support for ISAF troops in contact with Taliban extremists near Musah Qla'eh.

In total, 43 close-air-support missions were flown in support of ISAF and Afghan troops, reconstruction activities and route patrols.

Additionally, five Air Force intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, or ISR, aircraft flew missions in support of operations in Afghanistan.

In Iraq, Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcons provided close-air support to troops in contact with anti-Iraqi forces in the vicinity of Baqubah and Baghdad.

In total, coalition aircraft flew 44 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, 13 Air Force and Navy ISR aircraft flew missions in support of operations in Iraq.

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. About 145 airlift sorties were flown; some 490 tons of cargo was delivered, and nearly 1,600 passengers were transported. This included about 17,000 pounds of troop re-supply air-dropped in eastern Afghanistan.

Coalition C-130 crews from Australia, Canada, Japan and South Korea flew in support of OIF or OEF.

On Dec. 18, Air Force and RAF tankers flew 38 sorties and off-loaded almost 2.7 million pounds of fuel.