CENTAF releases airpower summary, space support requests

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SOUTHWEST ASIA (AFPN) --  U.S. Central Command Air Forces officials have released the airpower summary for Oct. 5 and the space support requests for September.

In Afghanistan Oct. 4, Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt IIs provided close-air support for coalition troops in contact with Taliban extremists near Sado Kala.

An Air Force B-1 Lancer provided close-air support for coalition troops in contact with Taliban extremists near Oruzgan. The B-1 expended Guided Bomb Unit-38s on enemy positions.

The following close air support requests supported NATO forces operating as the International Security Assistance Force, or ISAF, in Afghanistan.

Royal Air Force Harrier GR-7s and Air Force A-10s provided close-air support to ISAF troops in contact with enemy forces near Eybak. The GR-7s expended a general purpose 500-pound bomb and rockets on enemy positions.

RAF GR-7s provided close-air support to ISAF troops in contact with enemy forces near Garmsir. The GR-7s expended enhanced Paveway IIs and rockets on enemy positions.

Air Force A-10s provided close-air support to ISAF troops in contact with enemy forces near Now Zad.

In total, coalition aircraft flew 35 close-air support missions in support of OEF or ISAF. These missions included support to coalition, Afghan and ISAF troops, reconstruction activities and route patrols.

Additionally, 10 Air Force, Navy and RAF intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, or ISR, aircraft flew missions in support of operations in Afghanistan.

In Iraq, RAF Tornado GR-4s provided close-air support to troops in contact with anti-Iraqi forces near Basrah.

Air Force F-15E Strike Eagles provided close-air support to troops in contact with anti-Iraqi forces near Baghdad and Balad. Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcons provided close-air support to troops in contact with anti-Iraqi forces near Baghdad, Ramadi, Al Fatha and Al Hawijah.

Marine Corps AV-8Bs provided close-air support to troops in contact with anti-Iraqi forces near Ramadi.

Marine Corps F/A-18Cs provided close-air support to troops in contact with anti-Iraqi forces near Al Mahmudiyah.

In total, coalition aircraft flew 46 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, 14 Air Force, Army, RAF and Royal Australian Air Force 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. They flew 130 airlift sorties, delivered 265 tons of cargo and transported 3,310 passengers. This included about 6,000 pounds of troop resupply airdropped in eastern Afghanistan.

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

On Oct. 4, U.S., RAF and French air force tankers flew 33 sorties and off-loaded more than 2.2 million pounds of fuel.

During the month of September, 11 space support requests, or SSRs, were supported for OIF, delivering 107 specific effects.

For OEF, 12 SSRs were serviced, delivering 120 specific effects.

One of the SSRs in September required detailed analysis of GPS signal accuracy near critical air drop zones in Afghanistan, essential for the continued accuracy of the Joint Precision Air Drop System, as well as other conventional air drop systems.

Currently, 93 space professionals (Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines) serve throughout Southwest Asia to ensure critical space effects are delivered in support of the war on terrorism. Space forces are embedded at critical levels from the Combined Air Operations Center to the division level with forward-deployed forces.