Roughly three-fourths of soldier deaths suffered in Afghanistan are caused by IEDs planted by insurgents.  To help stifle IED use, the U.S. Air Force is helping identify when and where IEDs are planted by using specialized aircraft that have high-resolution cameras.

The aircraft can spot when an insurgent is planting an IED near a traveled road coalition forces are known to use, or when they make phone calls to help organized attacks on troops on patrol.  If an aircraft out patrolling doesn't spot an IED being planted, military officials are interested in deploying Humvees that are equipped with electronic jamming systems that can prevent an insurgent from triggering an IED as the patrol closes in.

During summer preparations for a major military mission in the Helmand province of Afghanistan, Brig. Gen. Larry Nicholson told his troops the following message:  "I'm concerned about the IEDs, and I know you are, too," he told the Marines. "There's a hell of a lot of IEDs out there. ... And we're going to kill the guys that have a chance to get out there and lay them. But they're out there, and you need to know that."

Piloted aircraft and unmanned drones -- which will increase in use over Afghanistan in the coming months -- have helped offer soldiers on the ground an increased sense of protection.

The main challenge is for officers to do a better job of integrating increased air-based surveillance with efforts on the ground to prevent attacks on Humvees and other vehicles.  The technology has been developed well enough that a fluid combination of air surveillance and troop interaction with locals should deter some attacks.