Air Force strike aircraft made frequent use of satellite-guided joint direct attack munitions June 4 in Afghanistan in support of combat operations, Air Forces Central said in a June 5 release. For example, F-15Es took out enemy buildings in Bahramchan and Sangin with 500-pound versions of the bomb, according to AFCENT. And B-1B bombers employed 500-pound and 2,000-pound JDAMs against enemy combatants and positions near Kabul, in Nangalam, and in the vicinity of Sangin. In total, coalition aircraft flew 56 close air support missions June 4 in Afghanistan. In Iraq, coalition aircraft flew 74 CAS missions on that day.
As Air Force leaders consider concepts of operations for Collaborative Combat Aircraft, sustainment in the field—and easing that support by using standard parts and limiting variants—should be a key consideration, according to a new study from AFA's Mitchell Institute of Aerospace Studies.