"We can get tasked for air-to-air, close air support, deep strike, combat search and rescue or kill box".
Budget cuts led to a deterioration of force preparedness in the early 21st century, however, and in 2014 it was estimated that fewer than half of Germany's fighter, close air support, and airlift assets were combat ready.
"Fritz" Geißhardt is credited with 102 victories in 642 combat missions, including 37 close air support missions.
She saw three subsequent combat tours in Korea conducting close air support and strategic bombing in support of UN ground troops fighting along the 38th Parallel, as the battles lines had largely solidified by this time.
Overall, the CAF performed 67 close air support, three attack helicopter, seven reconnaissance, four combat air patrol and 111 transport helicopter sorties during Operation Storm.
The brigade's mission at that time focused on close air support, medevac missions, and other duties involving combat with Taliban and Al-Qaeda forces in the country.
Much to Pattle's distaste, the squadron was heavily involved in close air support operations and ordered specifically to avoid air-to-air combat unless attacked.
So it is now asking the US for aircraft, such as the Cessna AC-208B Combat Caravan (shown above), to perform close air support missions, presumably purchased with Saudi grant money.
As well as air-to-air combat, No. 77 Squadron is tasked with land strike, close air support and maritime strike missions.
Specifically, they show 28 Sukhoi jets, including four Su-30SM multi-role jets, 12 Su-25SM Close Air Support aircraft (which are designed to get up close and personal in ground combat to hit targets with cannons and missiles) as well as 12 Su-24M2 attack planes (handy for more general air-to ground strikes).
