U.S. aircraft and airmen have arrived in Afghanistan in support of the U.S. Air Force and Afghan national defense and security force’s efforts to eliminate Taliban militant group forces in the region.
The U.S. Air Forces Central Command said Tuesday the A-10C Thunderbolt II ground attack aircraft squadron will help boost close air support and precision strike capacities for counter-terrorism missions.
Additional aircraft will be placed at the Kandahar Airfield including MQ-9 remotely piloted aircraft and HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopters to support operations including intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance as well as personnel recovery and search and rescue missions.
“In the coming weeks, the A-10’s operations will be integrated into our combined U.S. and Afghan air campaign to deliver destructive precision firepower,” said Brig. Gen. Lance Bunch, chief of the Air Force’s future operations branch.
The A-10s will launch strike missions against Taliban forces alongside F-22, F-16, B-52, MQ-9 and U.S. Navy F-18 aircraft to destroy adversary narcotics production facilities and other revenue streams.
The report noted the Afghan air force will also increase its aircraft fleet within the next seven years through the addition of the AC-208 attack aircraft, UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters, A-29 attack aircraft and MD-530 attack helicopters.