Photo By Lance Cheung | An F-15E Strike Eagle over the mountains and high desert of Afghanistan in support of...... read more read more
By Staff Sgt. Kevin Nichols
U.S. Central Command Air Forces News Team
Coalition Air Forces are providing 24-hour close air support for Combined Forces Command Afghanistan ground forces in an offensive against Afghan insurgents dubbed "Operation Mountain Lion."
F-15E Strike Eagles, from Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, N.C., took to the sky along with a KC-135 from the 340th Expeditionary Air-Refueling Squadron.
United States Air Force F-15s, A-10s and B-52s are providing close air support to troops on the ground engaged in rooting out insurgent sanctuaries and support networks. Royal Air Force GR-7s are also providing close air support to Coalition troops in contact with enemy forces.
"We'll be supplying the same full spectrum air support that we supply on a daily basis to our ground forces," said Maj. Gen. Allen Peck, Deputy Combined Forces Air Component Commander (DCFACC). "This operation is helping the government of Afghanistan set the security conditions so democratic processes can take root. Our job is to bring airpower to bear on the anti-Afghan forces and support the Coalition troops on the ground."
According to General Peck, full-spectrum ground support includes close air support, electronic warfare and aerial-refueling operations.
Refueling operations are nothing new to Major Mike Goodwin, a KC-135 aircraft commander, and his crew deployed from the 911th Air Refueling Squadron in Grand Forks Air Force Base, N. D.
"We're not doing it alone, but tankers are vital to the mission," said Major Goodwin. "Without the tankers, fighter aircraft would have to be located closer to harm's way to accomplish the mission. We help extend their fighting range and give them global reach."
There's no question in Major Goodwin's mind why this operation is important.
"We're deployed out here away from our families, but we're at the front, making things happen," he said.
More than 50 aircraft at any given time are supporting ground forces in Afghanistan.
"Our objective is to assist the Coalition forces and Afghan National Security Forces in defeating the Taliban and Al Qaeda," said General Peck. "The Coalition employs airpower every day to support Afghanistan's democratically elected government in establishing regional stability and long term economic and political development."
| Date Taken: | 04.14.2006 |
| Date Posted: | 04.14.2006 08:18 |
| Story ID: | 6013 |
| Location: |
| Web Views: | 137 |
| Downloads: | 35 |
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