What jet sees the most action today in iraq and afghanistan?

Bob

Yeah, not sure where the others were getting their facts, but I can tell you from personal experience that every aircraft you mentioned - except the F-22 - is in active use in both OEF and OIF. Just because you read about an aircraft on Wikipedia and see the manufacturer's intended use for the plane does not mean for a second that the plane only serves that function. Each one of those planes is capable of air-to-ground combat and is currently serving in that role. One of the primary planes used right now in combat is the AC-130 gunship. Granted, it is not a jet, so forgive me for deviating, but it is an awesome thing to hear the sound of an AC-130 pass overhead. Scares the pants right off the enemy. Makes guys like me sleep well at night.

As for UAV's, most of them are NOT - in fact - flown by the Air Force. Many are flown by whatever unit owns them. Many Army units own and operate UAVs, as do Marine and Navy units. Other agencies also operate UAVs. The larger recon UAVs are controlled by the Air Force, but those are few and far between. The Air Force's primary role in OEF and OIF right now is CAS (close air support) for ground pounders.

Ray

Um... about none. Naturally, the A-10 is the primary work horse because it is specifically designed for close air support. The Air Force's current role is basically that of high-altitude UAV operator and bomb taxi occasionally. The military has been trying to get away from the heavy bombs due to the political fall out that comes with dropping a 500-2000lb bomb in a neighborhood.

Edit: "High altitude UAV operator". I worded it that way specifically because the Air Force specializes in the larger, high altitude UAVs. "bomb taxi". I worded it that way because that is what close air support is. You taxi the bomb from the base and drop it where the guys on the ground tell you to. Any aircraft can do it, but it's the primary mission of the A-10 and since it is the best at it, it gets to do it the most. Every time I have had a mission where we have been tasked with close Air Support, it has ALWAYS been rotary wing. (helicopters). Last year when I was in Iraq, living at an Air Base, even on missions to major Air Bases to places like Balad, I think I saw only a small handful of fighter aircraft taking off or landing. It's too cost ineffective to have the jets up just loitering waiting for close air support missions. There isn't that much demand. However, there is a small demand on larger missions and again, those are more likely to be filled by A-10s if available.

These are boring days to be a fighter jock.

CARL G H

dude, all these planes serve different yet similar uses. the A10 is likely very popular in the mountains of afghanistan as it can manuver so well, as stated by another much of the air attacks are strongly dowm. the f18 hornet is used for protection more than anything at the moment im sure, f16 eagles are ground support as needed by troups. the most popular are none of these but the hilocopters gun ships these machines can deliver whats needed and take people quickly to safety.

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