The US Air Force’s newest aerial gunships are in high demand in the skies of Afghanistan, where they provide close-air support and armed over watch to US and Afghan operations, a media report said on Saturday.
AC-130J Ghostriders have already flown hundreds of sorties since beginning combat missions in June, said Col. Terence Taylor, commander of Combined Joint Special Operations Air Component–Afghanistan.
“Every night, the AC-130J is flying,” Taylor said in a phone call Wednesday. “The people they are supporting, are requesting them every single night.”
This amounts to 218 sorties and 1,380 hours in the skies over Afghanistan, he said.
The new aircraft’s missions are part of an increase in the pace of the air war following the collapse of peace talks between the United States and the Taliban in early September, and a vow by President Donald Trump “to hit our enemy harder” than ever before.
“The Ghostriders have saved lives,” said Chief Master Sgt. Edward Fry, enlisted leader alongside Taylor at the air component command.
