Military

CENTAF releases daily airpower summary

3/15/2006 - SOUTHWEST ASIA (AFPN) -- U.S. Central Command Air Forces officials released today's air power summary.

Coalition aircraft flew 34 close-air-support missions March 14 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 F-16 Fighting Falcons provided close air support to coalition troops in contact with anti-Iraqi forces near Al Taji.

In addition, 11 Air Force, Navy and Royal Air Force Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance, or ISR, aircraft flew missions in support of operations in Iraq.

In Afghanistan, coalition aircraft flew 20 close-air-support missions in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. These missions included support to coalition and Afghan troops, reconstruction teams, and presence patrols.

Seven Air Force and Royal 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 180 airlift sorties, transporting 3,090 passengers and delivering almost 405 tons of cargo, including 9 tons of  humanitarian aid air-dropped in Northeast Afghanistan.

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

On March 13, U.S. Air Force tankers flew 27 sorties and off-loaded more than 2.1 million pounds of fuel.