US and coalition strike aircraft carried out 70 close air support missions in Afghanistan and 56 in Iraq on July 17, with Air Force A-10s, B-1Bs, and F-15Es leading the way, based on Air Forces Central’s summary of air activities for that day. In Afghanistan, B-1Bs were active near Nangalam and Shindad, attacking enemy positions with 500-pound and 2,000-pound joint direct attack munitions. Also near Nangalam, A-10s hit enemy positions with general-purpose 500-pound bombs and strafed them with cannon rounds and rockets. F-15Es were also engaged enemy combatants near Nangalam, pounding them with 2,000-pound JDAMs.
This year’s Association of the United States Army’s annual meeting buzzed with talk of countering the rapidly evolving drone threat facing the entire U.S. military, including the Air Force. Leaders and defense industry officials discussed the need for new approaches to procurement and employment of a new class of these…
