US and coalition strike aircraft flew 64 close air support missions in Afghanistan on July 23 and 47 in Iraq, Air Forces Central reported yesterday. In Afghanistan, B-1B bombers were active over Ajrestan and Jrestan, dropping 500-pound and 2,000-pound joint direct attack munitions onto enemy combatants. A-10s fired cannon rounds and rockets at insurgent positions near Nangalam and conducted a show of force to deter enemy activities. Furthermore, F-15Es performed shows of force near Gardez and Gereshk and struck enemy forces near Shinkay with a 500-pound laser-guided bomb and a 500-pound JDAM. And an MQ-1 unmanned aerial vehicle fired a Hellfire missile at enemy combatants near Jrestan. On-scene joint terminal attack controllers confirmed the success of these missions.
The rate of building B-21 bombers would speed up if the fiscal 2026 defense budget passes. But it remains unclear how much capacity would be added, and whether the Air Force would simply build the bombers faster, or buy more.
