Rare view of U.S. strike on Taliban forces

Unmanned Predator spy planes are used by the U.S. military for reconaissance and to provide real-time images for attacks.

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Newly declassified video from an unmanned U.S. spy plane shows how U.S. aircrews were able to use real-time overhead images to conduct pinpoint strikes against Taliban forces during the height of war in Afghanistan.

This is the first time the Pentagon has released combat video from the remote-controlled spy planes, which have been crucial to the effectiveness of the air campaign in Afghanistan.

The video, from a U.S. Air Force Predator drone, shows the scene on the ground as an AC-130 gunship uses the Predator to pick out enemy vehicles and people from a series of buildings, including a mosque, and score direct hits on the targets.

CNN NewsPass VIDEO CNN's Jaime McIntyre provides the first declassified pictures that show the Predator's pivotal role in actual combat (September 6) Play video    Facts about Predator Mission: Medium-altitude, long-endurance unmanned aerial reconnaissance vehicle. Operation: 55 ground personnel aided by the aircraft's color nose camera, day camera, infrared camera for low light, and radar for looking through smoke, clouds, or haze. Characteristics: Length: 27 feet (8.22 meters) Height: 6.9 feet (2.1 meters) Speed: up to 135 mph Range: up to 400 nautical miles (454 miles) System cost: $40 million (1997 dollars) Source: Air Force link

On the tape, people can be seen moving around, and the aircrews and ground controllers can be heard discussing the targeting, taking special care to avoid striking the mosque.

The video was first made public by Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. John Jumper at an Air Force Association symposium February 14 in Orlando, Florida.

Jumper showed the video to an Air Force audience to demonstrate advances in providing live video from spy drones directly to attack aircraft, to aid targeting.

"This was not done six months ago. It is done every day today and it is getting better by the day," Jumper said at the symposium.

Because the tape was shown in a public setting, CNN was able to persuade the Pentagon to declassify it and provide it for broadcast.

Air Force officials said the attack shown in the video took place in southern Afghanistan around December or January, but would not provide the exact date or location.