On Sept. 1, USAF F-16s launched one GBU-38 against anti-Iraqi forces in the vicinity of Al Qaim, Iraq, who were firing on coalition forces. In other action, F-16s and a Predator UAV provided CAS for coalition troops near Al Muqdadiyah, Baghdad, Baquba, and Mishal. While in Afghanistan, USAF A-10 Warthogs flew CAS sorties near Kandahar. On Sept. 2 and Sept. 3, in Iraq, F-16s provided CAS near Kirkuk, Mosul, Tikrit, and Tall Afar and Tuz Khurmata, respectively. On Saturday, F-16s, using two GBU-12s, successfully took out an insurgent location in Tall Afar. On Sept. 4, in a planned strike against anti-Iraqi forces staging area near Balad, Iraq, F-16s launched two GBU-38s. Nearby, a Predator shot off two Hellfire missiles against a mortar position. On the same day, in Afghanistan, A-10s, flying CAS sorties with an RAF GR-7, fired four rockets, one GBU-12, and 399 30mm cannon rounds against anti-coalition militia near Kandahar.
Boeing received a $2.47 billion Air Force contract Nov. 25 for 15 more KC-46s, bringing to 183 the number of Pegasus tankers on contract to all customers, foreign and domestic. The new contract—for Lot 12 of the initially planned KC-46 buy—is to be completed by 2029.
