Approximately what percentage of U.S. strikes in Afghanistan were conducted by Navy and Marine Corps aircraft during Operation Enduring Freedom?

• A. 60%
• B. 80%
• C. 40%
• D. 20%

Answer: (B)

In joint air campaigns, where and how air power is projected often hinges on platform reach and basing flexibility. During Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan, Navy and Marine Corps aircraft carried the majority of U.S. strikes. Carrier air wings and Marine aviation could reach targets across the Afghan theater quickly and sustain a high tempo of missions without relying on numerous forward bases. This support structure enabled Navy and Marine aircraft to perform roughly eighty percent of the strike missions, with the Air Force delivering a substantial but smaller share from its bases. The takeaway is how maritime and expeditionary aviation provided broad, persistent reach and contributed most of the airstrike capacity in the early phase of the campaign.