Agile Combat Employment:Air Force Special Operations Forces Train on Wyoming Highways

Exercise Agile Chariot 23 on 30 April/2 May 2023 saw U.S. Air Force Special Operations Command Airmen practise operating in austere environments.Members of the 15th Special Operations Squadron out of Hulbert Field,Florida landed aircraft on U.S. Highways 287 and 789 in Southern Wyoming to simulate military operations in areas with minimal infrastructure while demonstrating maximum flexibility.The Airmen landed a Lockheed Martin MC-130J Commando II aircraft,as well as two A-10 Thunderbolt II Warthogs;an MQ-9 Reaper Unmanned Aerial Vehicle;and two MH-6M Little Bird helicopters on the remote roads.The highways had been closed down with the support of State agencies,including local emergency services,according to 1st Special Operations Wing Public Affairs.* The Agile Combat Employment (ACE) concept uses smaller,more dispersed locations and teams to rapidly move and support aircraft,pilots,and other personnel as needed.In ACE,Forward Arming and Refueling Points (FARPs) and Integrated Combat Turnaround (ICT) are utilised.15th SOS Commander Lt.Col Adam Schmidt observed that: Having the capability to land on a highway or a road can absolutely present some unique challenges to our adversaries.We can take the concepts from this exercise and apply them to any road,and in the most austere environments.* The AFSOC MC-130J,weighing about 160,000 lbs,landed on the highway at speeds nearing 140 mph/225.3 kmh.Indeed,Airmen from the Kentucky Air National Guard's 123rd Special Tactics Squadron parachuted from the MC-130J to establish and secure the highway landing zone for the incoming aircraft.In an historic first,an MQ-9 Reaper UAV assigned to the 919th Special Operations Wing out of Duke Field,Florida made the first ever landing on a U.S. highway by a UAV.The drills were intended to help plan and execute future real-world missions.Said USAF Lt.Col. Dave Meyer,deputy mission commander for EAC 23: An adversary that may be able to deny use to a military base or an airfield is going to have a nearly impossible time trying to defend every square linear mile of roads.It's just too much territory for them to cover,and that gives us access to places and areas that they can't possibly defend.* The Integrated Combat Turnarounds involve areas working to recover and relaunch aircraft in a minimum amount of time.* The MC-130J Commando II has a mission set of infiltration,exfiltration and resupply of Special Operations Forces,as well as the refueling of special operations helicopters and tilt-roter aircraft.It has a crew of two pilots,one Combat Systems Officer (CSO) and two loadmasters.It can cruise at 417 mph/671 kph at 22,000 ft and has a range of 3,000 miles/4800 km.The CSO executes electronic warfare,navigation and aerial refueling tasks.The Commando II is to support Special Operations Forces insertion and extraction into denied areas from strategic distances.It features an Enhanced Cargo Handling System;more powerful electrical generators;an electro-optical/infrared sensor;a CSO station on the flight deck;provisions for the Large Aircraft Infrared Countermeasures System;and armour.* Lockheed Martin (LMT)

Afghan War Update:US Air Force A-10s,UAV Rain Fire on Taliban in Extended Air Operation,USF-A Reveals

New details received from Task Force-Southwest today,30 May,indicate that US Forces-Afghanistan conducted a series of precision strikes over a ten day period,17-26 May 2018,killing more than 70 senior Taliban leaders.Outgoing USF-A and NATO Resolute Support commander GEN John Nicholson,US Army,added:
These strikes represent one of the largest blows to Taliban leadership in the last year,the cumulative effects of which will be felt nationwide for quite some time.*
The most devastating of the strikes was previously reported by this blog on 29 May,having occurred on 24 May.In the course of the HIMARS rocket artillery barrage by US Marines,four HIMARS rockets destroyed a known Taliban command and control node in Musa Qalah during a high-level gathering of Taliban commanders.Among the more than 50 casualties was the deputy shadow governor of Helmand Province;multiple Taliban district governors;intelligence commanders;and key provincial leadership from Kandahar,Kunduz,Herat,Farah,Uruzgu and Helmand Provinces.*
Also on 24 May,USAF A-10s struck a Taliban Red Unit commander for Helmand and his associate as they transited Sangin district.On 25 May,a shadow district governor was killed and a shadow district headquarters was destroyed in Nahr-e-Saraj by A-10s.*
On 26 May,an MQ-1c Gray Eagle UAV killed a senior IED facilitator who had coordinated IED operations against the Afghan National Defence and Security Forces;international forces;and the Afghan people for 13 years.Within the same period of 17-26 May,more than 15 other Taliban Islamist extremists were killed in separate strikes throughout Helmand.*
In conclusion,GEN Nicholson promised that:
As we continue the season of talking and fighting,we will continue to increase pressure on the Taliban and remain vigilant to opportunities for negotiated peace.