Operation Syrian Dawn

Package ARDENT

 

Situation: 

The Syrian regime is know to be in control of former Iraqi WMDs. Specifically low yield nuclear devices that can presumably be launched on SCUDs but could also be deployed unconventionally, such as in a vehicle or boat. 

Today, a UN resolution was passed, ordering Assad to surrender all WMDs including manufacturing and research equipment. While a peaceful resolution is desired, it is considered unlikely. An international coalition has been formed with the explicit intention to force Assad’s regime into submission via a full scale invasion of Syria. 

The US army will be responsible for the southern front. USMC will assault the western shores. British and German forces will be responsible for the northern front. Map overview attached (ANNEX 1).

Unless peacefully resolved by then, D-day is set for May 10th, H-hour is 01.30 local time. Mission go-ahead will depend on fair weather. 

Knowing that Assad expects a prolonged air campaigh, we will seize the initiative by having the ground assault start on Night One. The Syrian army is dug in and should be unable to respond to a rapid mechanized assault on several fronts. The Army will breach the southern border according to ANNEX 2. Close-in support will be provided by A-10C (pkg BRUTAL), AH-64D and OH-58D (pkg CRUSADER).

 

Objectives:

Support the US Army’s efforts on the southern front by:

• Establishing and maintaining air superiority over the AO
• Striking command and control resources for the Southern IADS
• Suppressing tactical level SAM-sites in the AO

 

Resources:

Aircraft: 2-4 flights of FA-18C and 1-2 Flights of F-16C (exact availability is subject to change)

Tankers: 2 x KC135 (one Navy, one AF) at your disposal, specify desired tracks

Additional resources: BGM-109 pre-planned strikes – current prediction gives Pkg Ardent a total of 6 possible target sets (e.g. runways and/or known SAM-sites) to be specified no later than D-day minus 2. TOT can be set no earlier than H-hour. 

CVN-72 will operate in the Eastern Mediterranean, off the coast of Israel. Operations begin at 01.00 local time.

Jordanian Air Base Muwaffaq Salti is at your disposal. Operations begin at 01.00 local time.

Patriot batteries defend Muwaffaq Salti and King Hussein Air College. Additional Patriots are deployed near Ramat David. They will remain weapons TIGHT until H-hour unless ordered otherwise by mission command.

 

Mission details

Air superiority

Your area of responsibility is the Southern AO centered around Damascus. The area is approx 100 x 100 nm. (ANNEX 3) 

Engage and destroy any airborne threats, weapons free from H-hour onwards. Establish and maintain CAP until H-hour +1 when you will be relieved by Air Force assets from Saudi. 

Air bases known to have fixed wing aircraft (MiG-21, MiG-29 and SU-24) are: Khalkhalah, Tha’lah, Marj Ruhayyil, Mezzeh, Al-Dumayr, Shayrat, Tiyas and Palmyra

The Syrian Air Force is dispersed, using the above mentioned airfields. Current strength in your AO is estimated at 12x MiG-21, 8x MiG-29 and 8x SU-24. However, not all are expected to be all-weather (night) capable. 

BGM-109 Tomahawks will strike the following airfields close to H-hour: Damascus, Marj Ruhayyil, Al-Dumayr and Mezzeh. This is expected to put them out of commission for the duration of your mission.

At present, the Syrians have a very modest CAP presence in your AO – never more than a 2-ship of MiG-29 airborne at any given time. This may change as our build-up in the area intensifies. 

 

Southern IADS C2

The Syrian Integrated Air Defenses on the strategic level consist mainly of SA-2 and a small number of SA-5. Resources do not allow for individual strikes on each site at this time. However, due to the top-heavy Soviet doctrine employed for command and control, it is believed that we can repeat the tactics used in Desert Storm, i.e. disabling C2 infrastructure to temporarily silence the entire IADS on the strategic level. The C2 for the southern sector is based at Sayqal airbase. The units are mobile, never staying in the same spot for more than a couple of hours. We cannot expect to hit them with the initial cruise missile barrage since the Tomahawks require many hours of pre-planning. Satellite intel has spotted the C2 unit on several occasions (ANNEX 4) and it has always been near the roads surrounding Sayqal airbase, never more than 2 nm away. Most likely, this is a restriction due to their dependence on physical cables for communications. 

Allied command has suggested the employment of SLAM-ER for this objective. Package Lead may offer alternate options. 

Destruction of both C2 vehicles will constitute a mission kill. Destruction of the support vehicles and EWR is also desired but not mission critical. 

TOT at your earliest convenience but aircraft may not penetrate Syrian airspace before H-hour.

Known locations as follows:

Southern IADS C2 (see ANNEX 4 regarding composition) within a 2 nm radius of Sayqal airbase N 33 41.07’ E 37 13.28’ elev 2274 ft

Sayqal SA-2 N 33 40.17’ E 37 12.79’ elev 2274 ft

Tiyas SA-5 N 34 29.20’ E 37 37.38’ elev 1690 ft

Al-Dumayr SA-2 N 33 36.11’ E 36 45.02’ elev 2067 ft

Mezzeh SA-2 N 33 28.20’ E 36 13.10’ elev 2355 ft

Marj Ruhayyil SA-2 N 33 19.59’ E 36 29.38’ elev 1994 ft

Al-Harah SA-2 N 33 03.75’ E 35 59.49’ elev 3509 ft

Khalkhalah SA-2 N33 05.21’ E 36 35.06’ elev 2437 ft

 

SEAD/DEAD on tactical level SAMs

Following Soviet doctrine, battlefield commanders have control over local air defenses, mainly SA-6, SA-8, SA-13, ZSU-23 and MANPADS. These will have to be dealt with individually. In the breaching area (ANNEX 2), search and destroy Syrian SAM assets focusing on SA-6 and SA-8 as these pose the greatest threat to our Warthogs and Apaches. The targets are mobile to an extent but we expect most of them to have been placed in fortified positions by D-Day. With the known enemy force structure in the AO, expect 4-6 SA-6 sites and 8-10 SA-8. Known locations will be provided in the days leading up to the invasion. Note that some are likely to be kept in reserve, radars silent, and their locations will be unknown until they are activated. Maintain SEAD patrol until H-hour +1.5. 

Known locations at this time:

SA8 1: 37S BS 7780 3983 SHAHBA
SA8 2: 37S BS 7730 3722 SHAHBA
SA8 3: 37S BS 5789 2130 THA’LAH

SA6 1: 37S BS 4330 3770 DHUNAYAH
SA6 2: 37S BS 7700 3840 SHAHBA
SA6 3: 37S CS 2460 5380 KIRBAT AL UMBASHI

 

Flight tasking

ARCTIC1

Waypoints:

1. CAP A
2. CAP B
3. SAYQAL AIR BASE

 

BENDER2 and CRIMSON3

Waypoints:

1. CAP A
2. CAP B
3. SA-8 1 (SHAHBA)
4. SA-8 2 (SHAHBA)
5. SA-8 3 (THA’LAH)
6. SA-6 1 (DHUNAYAH)
7. SA-6 2 (SHAHBA)
8. SA-6 3 (KIRBAT AL UMBASHI)

 

INDY9 and Jester1

Waypoints:

1. CAP A
2. CAP B

 

 

Annex 1 – INVASION PLAN

Annex 2 – BREACHING AREA

Annex 3 – SOUTHERN AO AIR SUPERIORITY REGION

Annex 4 – SOUTHERN IADS COMMAND AND CONTROL