In a separate engagement (see above), but still around Musah Qal’eh in Afghanistan, USAF A-10s, flying close air support with a B-1B and a Predator unmanned aerial vehicle, strafed Taliban extremists firing upon coalition ground forces. The A-10s fired cannon rounds and a GBU-12 Paveway II, “ending the engagement,” reports US Central Command Air Forces.
Members of the House Armed Services Committee say the AIM-260 Joint Advanced Tactical Missile program has been set back three months due to the ongoing government shutdown. The comment is noteworthy because the JATM's status has been kept tightly under wraps.

