CENTAF releases daily airpower summary Published Dec. 16, 2005 U.S. Central Command Air Forces Forward Public Affairs SOUTHWEST ASIA (AFPN) -- U.S. Central Command Air Forces officials released today's airpower summary. Coalition aircraft flew 68 close-air-support missions Dec. 15 for Operation Iraqi Freedom. They included support to coalition troops, infrastructure protection, reconstruction activities and operations to deter and disrupt terrorist activities. Coalition aircraft also supported coalition ground operations focused on providing a secure environment for parliamentary elections. Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcons delivered an airstrike near Baghdad. The fighters successfully dropped a precision-guided munition against an access road used by insurgents. Air Force F-15 Eagles and Navy F/A-18 Hornets provided close air support to coalition troops in contact with anti-Iraqi forces near Al Miqdadiyah, Balad and Tikrit. In addition, 14 Air Force, Navy and Royal Australian Air Force intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance aircraft flew operational support missions in Iraq. Also, Royal Air Force fighter aircraft performed in a non-traditional ISR role with their electro-optical and infrared sensors. In Afghanistan, coalition aircraft flew 24 close-air-support missions in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. They included support to coalition and Afghan troops, reconstruction activities and the conduct of presence patrols. Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt IIs, a B-52 Stratofortress and a RAF Harrier GR-7 provided close air support to coalition forces in contact with enemy troops near Qalat. The A-10s marked the target with rockets and successfully dropped precision-guided munitions. The B-52 successfully dropped precision-guided munitions, while the GR-7 successfully fired rockets against enemy positions. Other Air Force A-10s, an MQ-1 Predator and an RC-135 Rivet Joint provided close air support to coalition forces in contact with enemy troops near Qalat. In addition, four Air Force ISR aircraft flew missions in support of operations in Afghanistan. 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 170 airlift sorties, delivered 260 tons of cargo and transported 3,400 passengers. This included 8,000 pounds of civic aid and 6,400 pounds of troop re-supply airdropped in eastern Afghanistan. Coalition C-130 crews from Canada flew in support of OEF. On Dec. 14, Air Force and RAF tankers flew 40 sorties and off-loaded more than 2.9 million pounds of fuel.