An Air Force Predator UAV provided close air support for coalition troops under attack from anti-Iraqi forces in the vicinity of Tikrit, Iraq, on Jan. 22. The Predator fired one Hellfire missile, striking a vehicle armed with an improvised explosive device. On Jan. 21, Air Force F-16s provided close air support to coalition troops fighting anti-Iraqi forces in the vicinity of Baquaba. An F-16 fired one precision-guided munition and struck an enemy position.
The Air Force is launching an effort to develop a new stand-off missile with a range of 1,000 nautical miles, or 1,150 miles, that would eventually be used for both air-to-air and air-to-surface missions.