One of the US officials leading air operations in Southwest Asia, Air Force Maj. Gen. David Edgington, told reporters in Iraq this weekend that airstrikes are down from earlier this year when the number of sorties was running ahead compared to a year ago. He said that earlier data showed a “marked increase, about four times” in the number of weapons dropped, but that data for the past month has shown a “marked decrease.” He attributed the drop to the overall improvement in the security situation recently noted by senior US Central Command officials. Edgington said: “We are having less calls for [air] kinetic operations. We are still there,” meaning the air component continues to maintain combat air patrols should ground commanders call for air strikes. (Transcript with link to video clips)
The Pentagon has concluded a new agreement to buy laser-guidance kits that turn rockets into drone-killing weapons. BAE Systems and the Defense Department announced a framework deal of up to seven years for 25,000 Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System guidance kits annually for the U.S. military.