The number of UAS attacks in Afghanistan has increased every year under the Obama administration, according to data released by the US Air Force last week.
The statistics represent the first time the Air Force has provided annual breakdowns on the number of UAS strikes inside Afghanistan, after years of rebuffing requests for the information.
Air Force UAS average more than one strike per day in Afghanistan and are on pace to have more 2012 strikes in that country than the U.S. has launched against Pakistan over the past decade.
Since the start of 2009, there have been 1,160 strikes in Afghanistan. There were 255 strikes in 2009, 278 in 2010, 294 in 2011 and 333 through Oct. 31.
The data was released Nov. 7 as part of the monthly Combined Forces Air Component Commander statistics. Those releases traditionally include the amount of cargo flown on airlift missions but have not included UAS strikes.The data will now be updated monthly.
The statistics include only strikes in Afghanistan because the Air Force is no longer actively supporting activities in Iraq.
There were four UAS strikes in Iraq in 2009, one in 2011 and none in 2010 and 2012.
As UAS use has increased, the average number of man-nights in which weapons were used has dropped, from 165 a month in 2011 to 139 a month this year.
Photo: MQ-9 Reaper at Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan in 2009 – DOD
Source: US Air Force