Air Force News, news from Iraq - Air Force Times

Sorties up from a year ago

Air Force warplanes and their coalition partners flew almost 2,000 close-air support missions over Iraq and Afghanistan in January, according to figures from Central Air Forces.

Over both war zones, aircrews fired at or dropped bombs on enemy positions more often than in January 2006.

Here is a summary of combat and mobility operations during January. In parentheses are figures from January 2006 where available.

Iraqi Freedom

Close-air support sorties: 1,117 (1,388)

Weapons expenditures: 89 (20)

ISR sorties: 404 (372)

Shows of force: 69

Enduring Freedom

Close-air support sorties: 857 (519)

Weapons expenditures: 178 (5)

ISR sorties: 248 (139)

Shows of force: 99

CentCom-wide mobility

C-130 sorties: 3,118 (4,388)

C-17 sorties: 1,139 (981)

C-130 cargo: 1,993 tons (3,003)

C-17 cargo: 9,707 tons (6,402)

C-130 passengers: 55,720 (71,827)

C-17 passengers: 40,691 (33,339)

Cargo air drops: 396,797 pounds

Tanker sorties: 929 (952)

Fuel from tankers: 60.8 million pounds (67.2)