CENTAF releases airpower, space support summary

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SOUTHWEST ASIA (AFPN) --  U.S. Central Command Air Forces officials have released the airpower and space support summary for Aug. 3.

In Afghanistan Aug. 2, Royal Air Force Harrier GR-7s provided close-air support for coalition troops taking small-arms fire from Taliban extremists near Musah Qal'eh. The GR-7s expended an enhanced Paveway II 1,000-pound bomb on the extremists' location, ending the engagement.

In a separate engagement in Musah Qal'eh, Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt IIs and GR-7s provided close-air support for coalition troops in contact with Taliban extremists. The GR-7s expended rockets on the extremists' locations, ending the engagement.

A-10s provided close-air support to coalition troops in contact with Taliban extremists near Lashkar Gah. The engagement ended after A-10s conducted passes on the extremists' location and expended general-purpose 500-pound bombs.

Air Force B-1 Lancers provided close-air support to coalition troops in contact with Taliban extremists near Kandahar and Musah Qal'eh.

Additionally, six U.S. and French Air Force intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, or ISR, aircraft flew missions in support of operations in Afghanistan.

In total, coalition aircraft flew 22 close-air-support missions in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. These missions included support to coalition and Afghan troops, reconstruction activities and route patrols.

In Iraq , Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcons provided close-air support to coalition troops in contact with anti-Iraqi forces near Al Taji, Ar Ramadi and Mosul.

Air Force F-15E Strike Eagles provided close-air support to coalition troops in contact with anti-Iraqi forces near Al Mahmuduyah and Baquba.

Royal Air Force Tornado GR-4s also provided close-air support to coalition troops in contact with anti-Iraqi forces near Hit.

Additionally, 14 Air Force, Navy, Royal Air Force and Royal Australian Air Force ISR aircraft flew missions in support of operations in Iraq .

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.

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 160 airlift sorties, delivered 430 tons of cargo and transported 2,830 passengers. This included more than 18,000 pounds of troop re-supply airdropped in eastern Afghanistan.

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

On Aug. 1, U.S., French and Royal Air Force tankers flew 37 sorties and off-loaded almost 2.4 million pounds of fuel.

During July, 13 space support requests, or SSRs, were supported for OIF, delivering 91 specific effects.

For OEF, 10 SSRs were serviced, delivering 99 specific effects.

One of the SSRs in July ensured that satellite maintenance was not conflicting with critical operations ongoing in both OIF and OEF. This guaranteed the space effects provided over the theater were of the highest quality to support coalition troops in harm's way.

U.S. Air Force and coalition forces continued to provide critical satellite communications using the Defense Satellite Communications System, the Milstar satellite communications system and a number of leased commercial satellite communications systems, all critical to the successful prosecution of military operations in both Iraq and Afghanistan. These systems, available 24/7, provided a number of mission critical capabilities that included the links that enable MQ-1 Predator and Global Hawk unmanned aerial vehicle operations, and the links that ensure positive command and control for fielded forces.