CENTAF releases daily airpower summary

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SOUTHWEST ASIA (AFPN) --  U.S. Central Command Air Forces officials released today's airpower summary.

In Afghanistan March 28 , an Air Force B-52 Stratofortress, Predator, A-10 Thunderbolt IIs and Royal Air Force Harrier GR7s provided close air support to coalition troops in contact with enemy forces near Gereshk.

The Predator successfully launched two AGM-114 “Hellfire” precision-guided munitions against enemy forces. The GR7s successfully expended two MK-82 500-pound and one MK-83 1000-pound general-purpose bomb, along with one GBU-16 Enhanced Paveway II bomb and 23 rockets against enemy forces. The A-10s successfully fired 460 30mm cannon rounds, and expended one MK-82 500-pound general-purpose bomb and two GBU-12 Paveway II bombs against the target.

In Asadabad, an Air Force B-52 provided close air support to coalition troops in contact with enemy forces, successfully expending eight GBU-31 precision-guided JDAMs against an enemy position.

In total, Coalition aircraft flew 26 close-air-support missions in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. They included support to coalition and Afghan troops, reconstruction activities and presence route patrols.

Eight Air Force and RAF ISR aircraft flew missions in support of operations in Afghanistan.

In Iraq, coalition aircraft flew 54 close-air-support missions for Operation Iraqi Freedom. They included support to coalition troops, infrastructure protection, reconstruction activities, and operations to deter and disrupt terrorist activities.

Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcons and Navy F/A-18 hornets provided close air support to coalition troops in contact with anti-Iraqi forces near Habbaniyah and Baghdad.

In addition, 14 Air Force, Navy and RAF intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, or ISR, aircraft flew missions in support of operations in Iraq. Also, Air Force fighter aircraft flew in a non-traditional ISR role with their electro-optical and infrared sensors.

Air Force C-130 Hercules and C-17 Globemaster IIIs provided intratheater heavy airlift support, helping sustain operations throughout Afghanistan, Iraq and the Horn of Africa. They flew 175 airlift sorties, delivered 440 tons of cargo and transported 2,760 passengers.

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

On March 27 Air Force and RAF tankers flew 30 sorties and off-loaded more than 2.4 million pounds of fuel.