A C-17 flown by airmen deployed to the 816th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron in Southwest Asia airdropped about 80,000 pounds of supplies Jan. 14 to help support forward-deployed forces and Afghan residents in the snow-covered mountains. The airlifter crew used the Joint Precision Airdrop Delivery System to get the supplies within a few feet of the target zone. Air Force officials say the accuracy of the JPADS is now within 10 meters.
Air Force depots are not typically meant for quick repair jobs, but during Operation Epic Fury, the service moved some of its stateside heavy maintenance capability forward to fix battle-damaged aircraft closer to the fight.
