Combat operations are officially over in Iraq. But donÂ’t tell the U.S. Air Force, which is still flying tens of thousands of missions over Iraq.
While Iraqi ground troops have steadily taken a bigger and bigger role in the countryÂ’s security, its air force is still lagging far behind. As of this spring, the active fleet consisted of only 36 transport, 19 surveillance, and three attack planes. The Iraqi Air Force academy opened its doors just last week.
“Let us be frank, we don’t have the combat or jet fighters or intercepting planes or air defense systems,” Iraqi Air Force commander Staff Lt. Gen. Anwer Hamad Amen Ahmed told the AP in April. “We are still far from an air force’s full potential. We will need the U.S. long after 2011.”
| At least a decade. Let's hear Bambi acknowledge that. |
Through the first seven months of 2010, according to statisitics supplied by the U.S. Air Force, American pilots flew 4,620 “close air support” missions over ground troops in combat. The airmen only fired their weapons only 10 of those flights — compared to 1650 such sorties in 2007.
| So they're flying close air support but not shooting or bombing. |
But the number of surveillance flights has soared: with 6,200 sorties through July 31st, American planes could surpass 2007Â’s total by 40 percent or more.
| Much of the surveillance could be done if we had more UAVs, correct? |
In addition, U.S. aircraft ferried 470,000 passengers, and hauled 52,700 tons of cargo. |