An F-15E Strike Eagle soars over the mountains and high desert of Afghanistan providing close-air support to troops on the ground engaged in rooting out insurgent sanctuaries and support networks. The Strike Eagle is a dual-role fighter designed to perform air-to-air and air-to-ground missions. (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Lance Cheung)
Jan. 28 airpower summary: F-15Es deter insurgent activities
1/29/2009 - SOUTHWEST ASIA (AFNS) -- Coalition
airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq
and International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan during
operations Jan. 28, according to Combined Air and Space Operations
Center officials here.
In Afghanistan, Air Force F-15E Strike Eagles destroyed several enemy
fighting positions in the Nangalam region using guided bomb unit-31s
and -38s. The targets included anti-Afghan heavy machine gun and other
emplacements that were firing on coalition ground forces.
In the vicinity of Qal-E-Naw, multiple Air Force aircraft including
A-10 Thunderbolt IIs, B-1B Lancers and F-15E Strike Eagles conducted
shows of force to disperse anti-Afghan personnel attacking coalition
forces. The aircraft also helped friendly units locate enemy fighting
positions while providing aerial overwatch.
Coalition and Air Force aircraft near Sangin performed shows of force,
some expending flares, to support several coalition operations in the
area. Enemy forces fired on coalition soldiers but withdrew following
the maneuvers. Some of the supported coalition missions included
meetings with local leaders, post battle assessment and humanitarian
relief.
Near Sheykhabad, F-15Es flew shows of force over a coalition supply
convoy to help them break contact with enemy gunmen. Enemy personnel
had opened fire at the convoy along a public highway, indiscriminately
endangering nearby civilians as they fired from a distance with
automatic weapons and rocket-propelled grenades.
An A-10 flew a show of force over the Malek Din area to prevent enemy activity along the route of a coalition convoy.
On-scene joint terminal attack controllers assigned to coalition units verified the success of these missions.
In total, 55 close-air-support missions were flown in support of the
ISAF and Afghan security forces, reconstruction activities and route
patrols.
Thirteen Air Force intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance
aircraft flew missions as part of operations in Afghanistan.
Additionally, two coalition aircraft performed tactical reconnaissance.
In Iraq, coalition aircraft flew 38 close-air-support missions for
Operation Iraqi Freedom. These missions integrated and synchronized
with coalition ground forces, protected key infrastructure, provided
overwatch for reconstruction activities and helped to deter and disrupt
hostile activities.
Twenty-eight Air Force and Navy ISR aircraft flew missions as part of
operations in Iraq. Additionally, two Air Force aircraft performed
tactical reconnaissance.
Air Force C-130 Hercules aircraft and C-17 Globemaster IIIs provided
intra-theater heavy airlift, helping to sustain operations throughout
Afghanistan, Iraq and the Horn of Africa.
Approximately 135 airlift sorties were flown, more than 410 tons of
cargo was delivered and about 3,200 passengers were transported. This
included approximately 61,400 pounds of troop resupply airdropped in
Afghanistan.
Coalition C-130 crews flew as part of operations in Afghanistan or Iraq.
On Jan. 27, Air Force tanker crews flew 37 sorties and off-loaded
approximately 2.8 million pounds of fuel to 214 receiving aircraft.
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