Operation Beef Hammer

RSVP: 2025 17 07 – 19:30 (please sign-up asap though, as it makes things easier to plan)
Activity: CAP / Interdiction / SEAD
Theatre: Kola
Modules: F/A-18C, F-16C, AH-64D, OH-58D, A-10C, F-15E, Combined Arms
Prerequisites: None

Following the events from Operation Mashed Potato part 2, allied forces will strike within russia.

1 SITUATION

1.1 Overview

In yesterdays engagement, a friendly Apache has been shot down over own forces. Not inside the claimed territory, but on our side of the frontline. Russia denies any interference, but the wreckage is clear, and the fighter was even outside the NFZ they declared. Not only did they violate our airspace, but they shot down a helicopter, and even tried to attack our NASAM system in IVALO. We told them that we see that as a direct attack from russia, not from any mercenaries driving around in T-90s from some black market, and that we will answer accordingly.
This afternoon, our prime minister played the UNO reverse card and declared a no fly zone 40nm into russia. Almost at the same time, one of our HIMARS guys “mistyped a coordinate” somehow and leveled a power line, sending the whole area into darkness. Oops. Won’t be back anytime soon. And we finally got satellite pictures of the area.
This night, a strike package will cross the border to russia and level an ammunition depot near the border which is used for supplies to NELLIM. Satellite images proof that they resupply the front directly from that depot.
Any nearby air defense is to be suppressed or destroyed, and there are no restrictions to anything 40 miles away from the russian border near the disputed area. A few miles give or take… Murmansk is 80, and the nearest SA-10 site is 30nm in. If you’re getting shot at, you may reply with “suitable force”. Just don’t end up in Murmansk, that might be hard to explain.
Unfortunately, enemy tanks were able to push the frontline about 3km south, and are now at a position approximately there were we had the first contact, a few kilometers northeast of the bridge we locked down.

1.2 Area of operations

East of Ivalo, the area consists of forest.

1.3 Time and weather

* May 13 – 2025
* 02:00 local time
* Scattered (8200′-11500′)
* Wind 292 / 12
* 9 degrees Celsius
* FORCE QNH 2915

1.4 Air threats

MiG-29S, Su-27, MiG-31

Russian CAP in the area, but over russian soil. Unclear if they stick to their announcement to force a no-fly zone over the AO.

1.5 Ground threats

Yes. Unclear number of air defense units, most forces seem to consist of mechanized infantry. Expect some reinforcements, maybe even 2S6 Tunguska.
Further, known threats include:
– SA-10, located northeast of the area in russia (Bullseye 64 for 64)
– 2x SA-15, located south of the target
– 2x 2S6 Tunguska, located somewhere in the southern part of the AO
– A few KS-19

1.6 Friendly forces

Some tank groups east and northeast of Ivalo. It’s not much, but it’s honest work.

1.7 Civilian/3rd part

Several houses, especially in the small settlement of NELLIM in the north of the area, near the road going into russia. Marked with a blue square in the map.

2 MISSION

Fixed Wing:
The Joint Force Air Component (JFAC) has decided to establish CAP flights directly above the area, provided that there are no high altitude threats left.
SEAD will weed out any remaining or resupplied air defenses.
A strike package will take down the two ammo depots, and will serve as a backup CAP later. Strike package will consist of:
– A sweep, consisting of at least two aircraft, 10nm in front of the strike package (optionally, if ressources allow, we will send some TALDs in the direction of the SA-10 northeast of NELLIM before that)
– SEAD escort, directly following the sweep
– The strike flight itself, consisting of at least two aircraft equipped with 2000lb penetrators.
Sweep flight will establish a TARCAP to cover the retreat. SEAD escort will attack any air defenses threatening the operation. If there aren’t any, then they will focus on supporting air to ground operations.
If fuel and weapons permit, the strike package will back up the existing CAP flights.
Independent from those, CAP missions will be established directly over the AO, and aggressive sweep / CAP duties will take place in the area 40nm east of the AO. Anything inside that area is considered hostile.
Map for better overview:

Picture of the target:

Helicopters:
Helicopters will proceed along road R969 towards NELLIM with the intention of ultimately securing the area up to NELLIM so that own forces can advance and cut off supplies from that axis.
Earlier engagements faced T-90s, BMPs and Infantry.

3 EXECUTION

3.1 Commander’s intent

Secure the AO from enemy fighters. Cut off supplies from the NELLIM axis. Destroy the both depots north of NELLIM.

3.2 Packages

Package HAMMER will be the strike package, consisting of:
– ARCTIC 1, BENDER2: Sweep / TARCAP
– JESTER 1: SEAD escort
– HITMAN 3: Strike
– INDY 9: SEAD Escort

The helicopter group is organized in package SHREDDER, consisting of RAGE 9 and BLACKJACK 4.

3.3 Order of events

– ARCTIC 1 and BENDER 2 will be sweep / TARCAP. They go in first and will aggressively engage any fighters in the AO. 4 planes.
– INDY9 will be SEAD escort and take care of the SA-15 south of the target. Follows ARCTIC 1 in a 2-5nm trail, offset 2nm to the south to avoid shooting HARMs through the ARCTIC 1 flight. Will attack SA-15 site at waypoint 4. 2-4 planes.
– HITMAN 3 will be the strike flight, tasked with destroying both depots. Will follow INDY9 in a 10-15nm trail. Arnament is at least 2x 2000lbs penetrator per plane, at least two planes.
– JESTER1 is backup
ECM will be required to keep the SA-10 northeast of the target at bay. All flights use a RIGHT turnout south to avoid the SA-10, as we will touch their engagement envelope. All CAP flights will flow south after the strikers are done, and will avoid the SA-10.
After the attack, those airplanes that have a sufficient amount of fuel and weapons left will establish an aggressive CAP mission above the area in finland. Remaining AG ordnance will be spent on targets of opportunity if possible.
If we get additional airframes, then we will use TALDs to get rid of the SA-10, and either suppress or destroy it. In that case, the TALD flight will be KRAKEN 2, and they will go in together with ARCTIC 1, offset to the north.

Helicopters in package SHREDDER will progress along road R969 towards NELLIM, shown in the left side of the picture, about in the red area. If they should meet stiff resistance, requesting help from the SEAD / recon package is recommended.
PIG 7 will work in the southern part from RAJA-JOOSEPPI westwards, while the helicopters will focus on the road towards NELLIM. PIG 7 will support helicopters if necessary / useful.
Working on the southern AO is NOT a fixed requirement. If enemy resistance is deemed to be worked on more effectively together, then PIG 7 may focus on R969 instead. NELLIM is priority.

3.4 Rules of engagement

ROE: C
As per SPINS
No restrictions on hostile contacts.

3.5 Acceptable level of risk

ALR: MEDIUM
As per SPINS

3.6 Flight tasking

Waypoints, package HAMMER

* 1 Kittilä or Bardufoss (Home Airfield)
* 2 Hold
* 3 Target
* 4 SA-15 site
Further points for reference
* 5 NELLIM
* 6 RAJA-JOOSEPPI border post
* 7-11 Front line of troops for better visualization

Waypoints, other fixed wing

* 1 Kittilä or Bardufoss (Home Airfield)
* 2 NELLIM
* 3 RAJA-JOOSEPPI border post
* 4-8 Front line of troops for better visualization

All fixed wings except HITMAN 3 start from KITTILÄ, HITMAN 3 starts from Bardufoss with is about 90nm longer distance compared to KITTILÄ.

 

RAGE9 / BLACKJACK 4

Interdiction northeast of Ivalo.

Loadout: FL decides

Waypoints:
1. Ivalo
2. Own forces near Keväjärvi
3. Last contact with enemy forces
4. Suspected artillery position
5. Nellim

4 ADMINISTRATION AND LOGISTICS

4.1 Airfield operations

 

<!– Copy-paste friendly headers for flight taskings
ARCTIC1
BENDER2
CRIMSON3
DUSTY4
ELVIS5
FENRIS6
GRIM7
HAWG8
INDY9
JESTER1
KRAKEN2
LION3
MUSTANG4
NITRO5
RAGE9
SALTY1
BLACKJACK4
ORCA6
PIG7
QUEBEC8
TUSK2
VENOM4
HITMAN3
GREYHOUND3 –>

4.2 Carrier operations

none

As per Carrier Ops SPINS

4.3 Tankers

As per Aerial Refueling SOP

5 COMMAND AND CONTROL

5.1 Commander

* Mission commander is STINGRAY

5.2 Frequencies

As per Comms SOP

5.3 Authentication

RAMROD: PAINSHOWER
As per Authentication SOP

5.4 Freq flow (Airfield flights)

7, 9, 3/5, 7
Remain on Tower (ch 7) during startup and departure. Go to Check in (ch 9). Expect Tactical (ch 3) or CAP A (ch 5). Use Tower (ch 7) for recovery.

Expect everyone to be on CH3 after checkin. CAP might be moved to CH5.

Notice: Frequence flow depending on availability of AWACS.

5.5 Freq flow (Carrier flights)

1, 9, 3/5, 16, 1
Remain on Tower (ch 1) during startup and departure. Go to Check in (ch 9). Expect Tactical (ch 3) or CAP A (ch 5). Use Marshal (ch 16) and Tower (ch 1) for recovery.

5.6 Brevity

* 

5.7 Bullseye

N 68 40.00′ E 27 35.00′

6 ANNEXES

 

Maps

Snippet from northern corner along road 969: