A U.S. F-16 was riddled with small-arms fire over Afghanistan last week, causing enough damage to the aircraft that the pilot had to eject the jet’s auxiliary fuel tanks and some spare munitions.
According to Pentagon spokesman Army Maj. Roger Cabiness, the pilot was over Paktia province on Oct.13 when one of its stabilizers and munitions was struck. The pilot returned to base unharmed.
“F-16s regularly fly combat air patrols across Afghanistan in support of ground forces,” Cabiness wrote in an email.
The 555th Fighter Squadron currently flies F-16s out of Bagram Airfield in Afghanistan.
While coalition and Afghan aircraft have been shot down in the past over Afghanistan, it is rare for a jet like an F-16 to encounter small arms fire since they usually fly at altitudes outside of small arms range.
Sometimes, however, F-16s and other aircraft fly extremely low in what is called a “show of force.” In lieu of an airstrike, coalition aircraft fly an attack pattern as if they are about to fire or drop munitions but instead use their presence as a scare tactic. In the early years of the war, this was a viable tactic to help route Taliban, but as the Taliban adapted to U.S. rules of engagement, they began taking the opportunity to fire at the incoming aircraft.
While it is unclear what specific weapon systems struck the aircraft, the Taliban are known to have an array of anti-aircraft guns chambered in 14.5mm and above, as well 12.7mm heavy machines guns that can cause severe damage to airframes.
Even though the U.S. combat mission in Afghanistan officially ended in 2014, U.S. airstrikes have been somewhat continuous across the country. In recent weeks, U.S. forces have conducted more than 50 strikes in support of operations in Kunduz and counter-terror operations in Helmand Province.
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