An A-10 from the 81st FS is marshalled into its parking spot at Bagram following a mission. USAF combat aircraft in Afghanistan are concentrated at this base near the capital, Kabul, and are heavily involved in fighting al-Qaeda and Taliban forces.

Fast jet combat aircraft have been deployed on operations over Afghanistan by Britain, France, Germany, the Netherlands and US. This Dutch F-16, in the markings of 312 Squadron, is pictured taxying out for a mission from Kandahar, carrying laser-guided bombs.

A US Navy F/A-18 Hornet positions itself on the starboard wing of a USAF KC-135R ready to take on fuel. These two air arms have approximately 500 aircraft in the region,supporting ground forces in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Other than the US, Britain has more aircraft deployed to support operations in Iraq and Afghanistan than any other nation. Providing the RAF with 'teeth' over Iraq are Tornado GR.4s, based at Al Udeid AB in Qatar.

A large part of the intra-theatre airlift work to keep the deployed air and land forces supplied falls to C-130 Hercules, such as the USAF example pictured here on a cargo mission in Afghanistan.

A USAF MQ-9 Reaper UAV, armed with Hellfire missiles, is readied for a mission over Afghanistan. Previously, video footage from a UAV such as this, or from a Predator, could only be watched by staff in the CASOC air operations centre. The ROVER datalink allows it to be viewed by forward air controllers on the ground in-theatre.

A USAF F-15E Strike Eagle from the 4th Fighter Wing takes off from Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar. This is a major hub for air operations over Iraq and Afghanistan.