Mission Overview:
Spade3 (DEAD)
Package #: 2639 (Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses)
Pkg-Mission: Strike enemy air defense assets
Target Area: 9 nm northeast of Al Amarah.
Time on Target: 21:08:32z
Sunrise: 03:41:05z (06:41:05l)
Sunset: 18:02:54z (21:02:54l)
Situation:
Be advised: Starting at 16:00:00, our ground forces will be making a major push towards Al Bussayyah.
In an effort to obtain air superiority, air command has initiated an Offensive Counter Air operation targeted at the area around Al Bussayyah. As part of this effort, air command needs you to destroy or suppress the enemy's air defenses in an attempt to clear the way for additional strikes. Your target is the Iraq 8th Air Defense Battalion, located 9 nm northeast of Al Amarah, which consists of several SA-3 (S-125) missile launchers.
Mission Overview:
Spade3 (DEAD)
Package #: 2639 (Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses)
Pkg-Mission: Strike enemy air defense assets
Target Area: 9 nm northeast of Al Amarah.
Time on Target: 21:08:32z
Sunrise: 03:41:05z (06:41:05l)
Sunset: 18:02:54z (21:02:54l)
Situation:
Be advised: Starting at 16:00:00, our ground forces will be making a major push towards Al Bussayyah.
In an effort to obtain air superiority, air command has initiated an Offensive Counter Air operation targeted at the area around Al Bussayyah. As part of this effort, air command needs you to destroy or suppress the enemy's air defenses in an attempt to clear the way for additional strikes. Your target is the Iraq 8th Air Defense Battalion, located 9 nm northeast of Al Amarah, which consists of several SA-3 (S-125) missile launchers.
Pilot Roster:
Callsign: Flt Lead: Wing Two: Elem Lead: Elem Two:
Vulture2 Cpt. Allen Lt. Takagi
Spade3 2Lt. Garcia Lt. Melnikow
Package Elements:
x = Primary Flight
Callsign: Flt #: Role: Aircraft: Task:
Vulture2 2640 ( x ) DEAD 2 F/A-18A Destroy enemy air defense assets
T/O: 20:10:00z Push: 20:49:28z Tgt: 21:08:02z IFF: M124/4/151/20130-1/32630-1
Spade3 2657 DEAD 2 F-16CM-40 Destroy enemy air defense assets
T/O: 20:26:00z Push: 20:49:58z Tgt: 21:08:32z IFF: M124/4/151/20134-5/32634-5
Threat Analysis:
Air-to-Air Threats:
Enemy CAP aircraft are likely to be operating within operation area.
Surface-To-Air Threats:
Known or suspected enemy air defenses along your flight path include:
-- SA-5 (S-200) missile launchers 4 nm north of Al Hayyaniyah
-- SA-3 (S-125) missile launchers 9 nm northeast of Al Amarah
-- SA-4 (2K11) missile launchers 3 nm west of Al Amarah
Steerpoints:
#: Desc: Time: Dist: Head: Cas: Alt: Action: Form: Comments:
1 Takeoff 20:26:00z -- -- -- -- Climb immediate Wedge Takeoff
2 -- 20:33:20z 46.4 1 275 22.0M -- Wedge --
3 Holding Pt 20:42:33z 62.6 1 295 22.0M -- Wedge Hold (Departure: 20:48:33z)
4 Push 20:49:58z 9.7 0 300 22.0M Descend immediate Wedge Rendezvous with package
5 Pre IP 21:03:10z 105.6 321 370 19.0M Climb immediate Ladder --
6 IP 21:06:23z 25.7 321 365 20.0M -- Ladder --
7 Grnd Attack 21:08:32z 17.2 319 365 20.0M -- Ladder Attack ground targets
8 Turn Pt 21:12:27z 31.3 138 365 20.0M Climb delayed ArrowHead --
9 Split 21:27:10z 117.6 141 365 21.0M -- ArrowHead Depart from package
10 -- 21:38:18z 89.1 181 360 21.0M Descend delayed Wedge --
11 Land 21:42:01z 29.7 182 360 -- -- Wedge Land
12 Refuel -- -- -- -- 20.0M Descend delayed Wedge Tanker station area
13 Land -- -- -- -- -- -- Wedge Land (Alternate)
Comm Ladder:
Agency: Callsign: Uhf [Chnl]: Vhf [Chnl]: Notes:
Intra-Flight: Spade3 -- 137.875 MHz [16] Flight Management Comms
Guard: None 243.000 MHz 121.500 MHz Distress / Emergency
Common: None 339.750 MHz [14] 123.500 MHz [14] Advisory / UNICOM
Base Ops: None 383.875 MHz [1] -- Homeplate Operations
Check-In: Chalice2 294.950 MHz [5] -- AWACS: Global Check-In
Tactical: Chalice2 350.300 MHz [6] -- AWACS: Package Comms
Dep Atis: Ras ATIS -- -- Departure Airbase
Dep Ground: Ras Ground 383.875 MHz [1] -- Departure Airbase
Dep Tower: Ras Tower 384.875 MHz [3] 119.200 MHz [3] Departure Airbase
Dep Departure: Ras Departure 383.875 MHz [1] -- Departure Airbase
Arr Atis: Ras ATIS -- -- Recovery Airbase
Arr Approach: Ras Approach 383.875 MHz [1] -- Recovery Airbase
Arr Tower: Ras Tower 384.875 MHz [3] 119.200 MHz [3] Recovery Airbase
Arr Ground: Ras Ground 383.875 MHz [1] -- Recovery Airbase
Alt Atis: Tanajib ATIS -- -- Alternate Airbase
Alt Approach: Tanajib Approach 231.100 MHz [10] -- Alternate Airbase
Alt Tower: Tanajib Tower 233.100 MHz [11] 122.800 MHz [11] Alternate Airbase
Alt Ground: Tanajib Ground 231.100 MHz [10] -- Alternate Airbase
Iff
GENERAL:
Initial STAT Settings: Modes Active: M124 Codes: M1: 51 M2: 0134 M3: 2634
M4 Validity Time (Until): Key A: Day2 00:00z Key B: Day3 00:00z
IFF Policy: M1: per team M2: per aircraft M3: per aircraft
Code Change Setting: POS/TIM
TIME EVENTS:
Rot/day: 21:00z 22:00z 23:00z 00:00z 01:00z 02:00z 03:00z 04:00z 05:00z 06:00z 07:00z 08:00z
M1: 24 01 62 03 71 73 33 03 41 02 21 11 01
M3: 24 5360 3234 4534 3060 1210 4234 4610 6710 4660 7134 2634 4110
M4: 1 A A A B B B B B B B B B
POS EVENTS:
Ingress: M4 / NOF4 Egress: M124 / SOF9
Ordnance:
Callsign: Flt Lead: Wing Two: Elem Lead: Elem Two:
Vulture2 -- Vulture21 -- -- Vulture22 --
570 x 20mm M61 570 x 20mm M61
2 x AIM-9M Sidewinder 2 x AIM-9M Sidewinder
2 x AGM-88 HARM 2 x AGM-88 HARM
2 x Tank 330gal 2 x Tank 330gal
2 x AIM-7M Sparrow 2 x AIM-7M Sparrow
Spade3 -- Spade31 -- -- Spade32 --
510 x 20mm M61 510 x 20mm M61
4 x AIM-9M Sidewinder 4 x AIM-9M Sidewinder
4 x CBU-87/B CEM 4 x CBU-87/B CEM
2 x Tank 600gal 2 x Tank 600gal
1 x AN/ALQ-131(v)1 1 x AN/ALQ-131(v)1
Weather:
Conditions @ Take Off: Target Area: Landing:
Situation: Sunny Fair Sunny
Wind: 254 deg @ 3 kts. 355 deg @ 8 kts. 299 deg @ 7 kts.
Visibility: 59km 59km 59km
Temp: 10 deg C. 10 deg C. 12 deg C.
Cloud Base: 32,000 ft MSL base 10,000 ft MSL base 32,000 ft MSL base
Con Layer: 33,000 ft MSL base 30,000 ft MSL base 33,000 ft MSL base
Support:
Callsign: Station Area:
Chalice2 (AWACS): 1 E-3 Friendly AWACS aircraft will be operating 48 nm southwest of Hafar Al Batin. Available for air detection and warning.
Rules of Engagement:
Visually ID unknown aircraft before engaging, unless authorized by AWACS.
Note: Friendly aircraft may be operating in the area.
Emergency Procedures:
Distress call:
For aircrew in a hostile area, prior to ejection, transmit on the working frequency: “MAYDAY” (three times); call-sign; and position in relation to BULLSEYE.
Combat Search and Rescue:
SAR helos are available within 30 km of FLOT. In case of shoot-down, mark closest coordinates of the survivor’s position and report the incident to the CSAR assets. Establish radio communication with survivor and execute the On Scene Commander procedures.
Alternate airfield:
Tanajib Airstrip, 26 nm northeast of An Nu Ayri Yah
Sanitise yourself and review your evasion plan of action.
Good Luck!


DEBRIEFINGEsta misión no ha sido nada sencilla, de hecho hemos tenido que repetirla varias veces, primero para quitarnos el óxido, y segundo porque la configuración de armamento que te pone BMS es la mejor opción. Al final nos decantamos por CBU-87, más seguras que arrimarnos allí con AGM-65D que nos proponían inicialmente.
Despegamos y nos vamos al punto de reunión. Allí llega una pareja de Hornet, que serán los que vayan por delante nuestra con AGM88 para anular los radares de las lanzaderas. En un momento dado Sentry nos avisa de que hay contactos enemigos en la zona. Intentamos parecer poco importantes y nos desviamos hacia el norte. Aparentemente da resultado porque siguen su ruta. Vamos acercándonos y los Hornets cumplen porque no tenemos ningún SAM activo así que armas libres. En la primera pasada no salen las bombas, nos ponemos nerviosos. El día anterior habíamos estado practicando y todo había ido bien. Bueno, un vistazo rápido al indicador de fuel, vamos por la segunda. Tampoco salen. Joer, joer... que ahora ya sí que empieza a apretar la cosa. Lo intentamos una tercera vez y si no, no vamos. Esta vez intentamos alinearnos bien, bien, bien con la barra vertical. Bombas fuera... joer, si que es fino el modo CCRP. Salimos de allí cagando leches. Hemos debido llamar ya la atención porque Sentry empieza a rajar sin parar, pero ya estamos lejos. A medio camino nos cruzamos con muchos vuelos aliados. La ofensiva está en marcha...










Al final solo destruimos una lanzadera, pero nos damos por satisfechos viendo la dificultad de la misión. No obstante, pues hay muuucho margen de mejora, así que seguiremos intentándolo.


