Operation Shadowhawk – Escort of Mother

RSVP: 2024-05-02 – 19:30 (please sign-up asap though, as it makes things easier to plan)
Activity: Mission – CAP, Air Interdiction, Escort, Strike
Theatre: Caucasus
Modules: F/A-18C, F-16, A-10C, AH-64, F-15E, AJS37
Prerequisites: Basic aircraft knowledge, rookies are welcome to signup (as long as you have done your intro flight).

1 SITUATION

1.1 Overview

Blue forces has been able to push back the red from Senaki and Kutaisi, they are now in blue hands. Sukhumi-Babushara and Gudauta are neutral, but the runways are damaged and can’t be used.
Blue Carrier group are steaming back to Batumi with a damaged CVN-72 Abraham Lincoln. The flight deck got a direct hit and are in flames. The firefighter crew are working to put it out.
Red Carrier group with Admiral Kuznetsov are about 25nm sout east of Gelendzhik. The red carrier group are sailing in heading 150.

1.2 Area of operations

NW och Senaki, NW and N of Gudauta.

1.3 Time and weather

* July 02 – 2021
* 15:00 local time
* Scattered (7500′-11500′)
* Wind from 52 / 10
* FORCE QNH 2992 / 1013

1.4 Air threats

Su-33, MiG-29S

Intel shows that Mig-29s are stationed at Maykop- Khanskaya and Mineralnye Vody. They have the cabaility to launch fighters if needed in 10 minutes. Intel shows also that the carrier group has Su-33 on the deck ready to launch.

1.5 Ground threats

BMP-2, ZSU-23 Shilka, MANPADS, SA-19, SA-10, SA-9, SA-8

Mineralnye Vody and Beslan are protected by SA-10 each. Maykop- Khanskaya, intel not sure if it’s protected by any SAM site.

1.6 Friendly forces

Blue forces has a JTAC group inserted, 35nm north of Senaki.

1.7 Civilian/3rd part

No civilians are in the AO

2 MISSION

The Joint Force Air Component (JFAC) will conduct escort of our Carrier group, conduct air strikes on a weapon factory, locate a convoy with a high rank officer fleeing Senaki and neutralized him.

3 EXECUTION

3.1 Commander’s intent

Destroy weapon factory.
Set up CAP to protect our Carrirer group.
Search & Destroy convoy.
Destroy a red sea convoy.

3.2 Packages

The mission contains 2 packages, callsign ANGELS (F/A-18) and DEVILS (A-10C, AH-64D, F-15E, F-16, AJS337).

3.3 Order of events

1. F-16s will provide air cover of our AJS37 strike mission. Once AJS37 has completed their mission and left the AO, prepare to assist with F/A-18 with CAP.

2. AJS37, destroy weapon factory, then report SMASH. Rearm/Refuel at FARP, then hit a sea convoy.

3. F/A-18s escort our Carrier and provide sea / air cover.

4. A-10s, and AH-64s locate the convoy with the high ranking officer, he is in a LUV TIGR,  and neutralize him, then report WALKOVER.

5. F-15E, be prepared to engage targets directed by Tactical.

3.4 Rules of engagement

ROE: C
As per SPINS

3.5 Acceptable level of risk

ALR: MEDIUM
As per SPINS

3.6 Flight tasking

Package ANGELS (Lead: ARCTIC11)

F/A-18
* Depart
* Stay in CAP F/A-18
* Refuel at ARCO1 or ARCO5
* Report in to STINGRAY and standby for CAP tasking
* RTB on order from STINGRAY

Loadout: FL decides

Waypoints:
1. CAP AO

AJS37
* Depart after F-16
* Destroy Weapon Factory at N 44°40’34.65″ E 39°58’29.10″ 162m
* Rearm/Refuel at Farp to be able to strike against a ship convoy in Grid DG, N 41°59’52.59″ E 38°27’38.63″ 0m
* RTB

Loadout: FL decides

F-16C
* Depart as soon as possible
* Set up CAP to provide cover to our AJS37
* RTB

Loadout: FL decides

Waypoints:
1. CAP AO

F-15E
* Depart
* Hold at WP1 (WP1) and wait for tasking

Loadout: FL decides

Waypoints:
1. Hold

A-10C ll
* Depart
* Set up coms with AH-64D, they will also be working in the AO and trying to locate and destroyt the high value target
* Search & Destroy high value target in Grid GG29, report WALKOVER when done.

* RTB

Loadout: FL decides

Waypoints:
1. GG29

AH-64D
* Depart
* Set up coms with A-10C ll, they will also be working in the AO and trying to locate and destroyt the high value target
* Search & Destroy high value target in Grid GG29, report WALKOVER when done.
* RTB

Loadout: FL decides

Waypoints:
1. GG29
2. FARP

4 ADMINISTRATION AND LOGISTICS

4.1 Airfield operations

* Kutaisi
* TCN: 44X
* Active runway: 07
* Departure via Exit East
* Approach via West

AJS37 Invisible Farp
* N 43°06’30.79″ E 40°37’24.66″ 26m

AH-64D Invisible Farp
* N 42°03’51.83″ E 41°53’28.34″ 41m

<!– Copy-paste friendly headers for flight taskings
ARCTIC1
BENDER2
CRIMSON3
DUSTY4
ELVIS5
FENRIS6
GRIM7
HAWG8
INDY9
JESTER1
KRAKEN2
LION3
MUSTANG6
NITRO5
RAGE9
SALTY1
ORCA6
PIG7
QUEBEC8
TUSK2
VENOM4
HITMAN3
CYLON5 –>

4.2 Carrier operations

NO Carrier

4.3 Tankers

As per Aerial Refueling SOP

5 COMMAND AND CONTROL

5.1 Commander

* Mission commander is STINGRAY or Tactical
* Mission commander deputy is HITMAN31
* Package ANGELS lead is ARCTIC11
* Package DEVILS lead is Hitman31

5.2 Frequencies

As per Comms SOP

5.3 Authentication

RAMROD: SEXMACHINE
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.

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

* SATISFIED – Mission declared successful
* RUBBER – Abort mission
* PETTING – Weapon factory destroyd
* DRYHUMP – High ranking officer neutralized

5.7 Bullseye

N 43°09’00” E 40°20’30”

6 ANNEXES

Target Alpha (SCUD 1)
Target Bravo (SCUD 2)
Target Charlie (SCUD 3)
Target Delta (Chemical plant)

Maps
Large size map of AO with all waypoints, tankers, carriers etc
Smaller maps of target areas with waypoints marked

AO

SA-10 Beslan

SA-10 Mineralnye Vody