Friday February 09, 2018
Kabul (BNA) A US B-52 has set a record for the number of guided bombs dropped from a single bomber in a series of strikes against the Taliban. It comes as the NATO-led coalition steps up action targeting militant training camps in the north of Afghanistan and as America increases its airpower options in the country. It’s a newly acquired capability of the aircraft, which is allowing the US to hit more terrorist targets more quickly- as Major General James Hecker said:
“It used to be that the B-52 was able to drop 16 precision-guided munitions. "Now, with this new rotary launcher, it's able to drop 24 precision-guided munitions, and it could do that all in one pass.” After helping to push so-called Islamic State out of much of Syria and Iraq, the US has switched its focus in the Middle East to Afghanistan. It’s now moving over troops from Iraq to its bases in the country, as well as significantly increasing its airpower capability. This mission was carried out by an A10, part of a new squadron of the air-ground support aircraft, better known as the "Warthog”.
The targets in sight are Taliban training camps and support networks of the East Turkestan Islamic Movement, a terrorist organization operating near the border with China and Tajikistan. The Afghan air force is also carrying out almost double the number of airstrikes than coalition planes every week- around 40 missions every seven days where a weapon is deployed. Next week, NATO defense ministers will meet in Brussels to discuss the situation in Afghanistan. With the Taliban anticipated to soon launch their annual spring offensive, the US wants other nations, including the UK, to do more to increase the number of trainers, mentors and combat personnel on the ground.
forces.net
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