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Air Force Reserve F-16s patrol skies over Iraq

  • Published
  • By Senior Master Sgt. Bill L. Goben Jr.
  • 10th Air Force Public Affairs
Air Force Reserve Command F-16 Fighting Falcon fighters are providing combat air support for U.S. and coalition forces in Iraq.

Hundreds of aircrews and support people from four fighter wings began flying close-air-support and combat air patrol missions in September on a rotational basis. The last contingent of reservists from the 10th Air Force units returns home in January.

The aircrews and support people are from the 301st FW, Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth; 419th FW, Hill Air Force Base; Utah, 482nd FW, Homestead Air Reserve Base, Fla.; and 944th FW, Luke AFB, Ariz. They are flying and maintaining 14 F-16s from the Fort Worth, Hill and Homestead wings.

“I am extremely proud of the capabilities our reservists and aircraft bring to the fight in the Global War on Terrorism,” said Maj. Gen. Allan R. Poulin, 10th Air Force commander. “Our Citizen Airmen are always ready and relevant in carrying out the missions assigned to them in support of national objectives.”

Litening targeting pods increase the ability of the F-16s to deliver precision-guided munitions on target – day or night under all kinds of weather conditions.

“The advanced targeting pod gives the pilots a greater ability to track aerial targets and increases the accuracy and employment of weapons,” said Maj. Kelly Elmore, 10th Air Force weapons and tactics officer. “In their primary role of close-air support, the pods greatly enhance what we do.”

In addition, the F-16s use the theater aerial reconnaissance system pod, which provides near-time still imagery of target areas for operational planning.

Each fighter wing rotates people into Iraq and usually swaps them out every 45 days. This kind of troop movement provides seamless coverage during the 120-day rotation in Southwest Asia. (AFRC News Service)