US Air Force F-15E Strike Eagles on May 21 dropped GBU-31 and GBU-38 joint direct attack munitions, taking out enemy combatants in Bermel and Nangalam in Afghanistan. On the same day, a USAF B-1B Lancer dropped GBU-38 JDAMs to strike other enemy combatants engaging friendly forces in Gardez. On May 23, in Afghanistan, a USAF F-15E struck an enemy contingent fighting friendly forces in Kabul, using a GBU-38 JDAM. According to US Air Forces Central, joint terminal attack controllers on the ground at all four locations confirmed the strikes were successful. Meanwhile, coalition forces flew hundreds of close air support sorties in Afghanistan and Iraq over a four-day period (see air sorties table below), most of them shows of force that deterred enemy forces engaging friendlies.
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.
