Coalition air forces are providing 24-hour close air support for Operation Mountain Lion, a newly launched Combined Forces Command Afghanistan offensive against Afghan insurgents. Working with the Afghan National Army, coalition forces established security in certain areas of the country to clamp down on insurgent bombings aimed at derailing development efforts. US Air Force F-15s, A-10s, and B-52s and RAF GR-7s are currently backing up ground forces as they search out insurgent sanctuaries and supply networks. Providing intelligence-surveillance-reconnaissance data are USAF Predator and Global Hawk unmanned aerial vehicles.
The last remaining T-1 Jayhawk at JBSA-Randolph, Texas, took its final flight to the "Boneyard" at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., on July 15. The 99th Flying Training Squadron will train pilots using T-6 and simulator until it gets T-7 Red Hawk in fiscal 2026.