Air support to US and NATO ground forces in Afghanistan continues at a heightened pace (see above). During action July 7, a USAF B-1B bomber dropped 2,000-pound joint direct attack munitions on enemy forces near Bermel, and, in the same area, USAF A-10s fired rockets and cannon rounds and dropped general purpose 500-pound bombs against other enemy positions, according to an Air Forces Central release. Near Nagalam, a US Air Force F-15E dropped 500-pound JDAMs and a B-1B launched a 2,000-pound and 500-pound JDAMs on various enemy fighter positions. Near Bari Kowt, B-1Bs dropped a 2,000-pound and 500-pound JDAMs on enemy forces, while near Molla Ashraf, F-15Es pounded the enemy with 2,000-pound JDAMs. According to AFCENT, joint terminal attack controllers on the ground confirmed the success of all the missions. In total in Afghanistan, International Security Assistance Force aircraft flew 52 close air support missions. In Iraq, coalition forces flew 47 CAS sorties.
Collaborative Combat Aircraft designs from Anduril and General Atomics passed their Critical Design Reviews early in November, clearing the way for detailed production efforts to get underway, the Air Force said. How future versions will be upgraded is still under discussion.