Air Support
Reflecting the increased pace of operations, Royal Air Force (RAF) Harrier GR7A close air support aircraft saw a large increase in munitions (CRV7 rockets and laser-guided bombs) used supporting ground forces since July 2006. Between July and September, the theatre total for munitions deployed by British Harriers on planned operations and Close Air Support to ground forces rose from 179 to 539.
As well as the RAF and US aircraft, air support is also provided by Dutch and Norwegian F-16s and French Dassault Mirage 2000D ground attack aircraft. AH-64 Apache attack helicopters from the Netherlands, the UK and the USA support NATO and Afghan National Army troops.
Vital for coalition success are transport helicopters to support isolated units and avoid roadside improvised explosive devices as well as to conduct medical evacuations. Transport helicopters were provided by the Netherlands, Canada, the UK and the USA. C-130 transport aircraft also provide theatre transport.
On September 2 14 UK personnel were killed when an RAF Nimrod MR2 crashed; initial reports were that mechanical failure was responsible.
American, British, Danish, Portuguese and Romanian airfield protection troops guard the key NATO facility of Kandahar Airfield, which had come under Taliban rocket attacks.
Read more about this topic: Coalition Combat Operations In Afghanistan In 2006
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