1 SITUATION

1.1 Overview

Tensions are rising in Syria, threatening to culminate in civil war. Amidst this turmoil, a US national security crisis is brewing. Mr W Felt, a former CIA operative gone rogue, has threatened to reveal a plethora of Top Secret documents to President Assad – whom we know has close ties with the Russians. Mr Felt arrived in Syria yesterday via Iraq and is now travelling to Aleppo by convoy. It has been decided that he must be eliminated before a deal is struck. 

We have an informant travelling with the convoy. She works for a local “escort service” that will provide company on the long ride. She will plant a GPS tracking device on Felt’s vehicle, giving us real-time information on its whereabouts. Our agent, and the rest of the “entertainment package” are scheduled to be dropped off as the convoy passes Raqqah. Our strike will be scheduled after this point. 

The Syrian airspace is heavily protected by SAM-sites and fighters but this is focused on the border regions and major air bases. As the convoy travels inland it will be relatively unprotected and vulnerable to an air strike. Getting there will be challenging but fortunately we have the mighty Strike Eagle which will be accompanied by the venerable Tomcat. 

The Syrian air force consists mainly of MiG-29A and MiG-21. It is expected that they will be on high alert with several flights airborne throughout the night. Keeping them busy will be the main tasking for our Hornets and Vipers. 

Select SA-2 and SA-3 sites in the western part of the country will be hit with BGM-109 to open an ingress corridor for the strike package. Remaining sites along the coastline and further inland, which include SA-2 and SA-5 will have to be avoided. Syria also has several SA-6 batteries that are unaccounted for, as they are mobile. 

Once the SA-2/3 sites are knocked out, the Syrians will likely send in reinforcements, including the aforementioned SA-6:s, to patch the gaps in their air defenses. Our A-10:s and Helos will make sure the egress area stays sanitized for when the Strike Eagles return.  

1.2 Area of operations

Northern and central Syria.

1.3 Time and Weather

• June 17, 2012
• Mission starts at 01.00 local time
• Scattered clouds at 7000'
• Wind From 260 / 4kts
• Temp 23°C
• QNH 29.95

1.4 Air threats

MiG-21, MiG-29A

Fighters are based at all major military airfields in the area. All-weather capability is somewhat limited but intel expects at least 20 aircraft are available either airborne or on short alert. 

1.5 Ground threats

BMP-2, ZSU-23 Shilka, MANPADS, SA-2, SA-3, SA-5, SA-6, SA-8

An SA-5 at Palmyra covers most of the mainland. SA-2 and/or SA-3 are present at all major air bases. Mobile ZSU-23, SA-6 and SA-8 are expected but exact positions are unknown. 

1.6 Friendly forces

Patriot battery at Akrotiri. 

Aegis cruiser and LHA Tarawa 15 nm off the coast from GUARD's area of operations.

1.7 Civilian/3rd part

Civilian air traffic is still active in the region but will most likely be grounded as soon as hostilities commence.

Turkey and Israel are NOT participating in this mission and their territories may only be overflown in emergencies.

2 MISSION

The High Value Target (HVT) convoy must be destroyed to preserve intel vital to our national security.

3 EXECUTION

3.1 Commander’s intent

Strike the HVT convoy somewhere between Tabqa and Jirah. Coordinates will be relayed from intel as the strike pkg nears the target area.

Keep the Syrian Air Force occupied along the coastline. Initiate hostilities on Stingray's orders. 

Sanitize the egress area for our strike package. Focus is on preventing mobile SAM systems from arriving. 

ROE B is in effect until TOUCHDOWN. After that, expect ROE C. Flight leads shall prioritize the safety of their pilots and aircraft, if in doubt, neutralize the threat. 

3.2 Packages

The mission contains 3 packages, callsign QUARTERBACK, LINEMAN and GUARD

QUARTERBACK - Strike package with F-14B(U) and F-15E

LINEMAN - CAP/OCA with F-16C and F/A-18C

GUARD - BAI/SEAD with AH-64D, OH-58D and A-10C  

3.3 Order of events

1. LINEMAN establishes CAP, on Stingray's orders commence offensive counter-air operations
2. Tomahawk strikes open the ingress/egress corridor for QUARTERBACK (brevity: TOUCHDOWN) - expected around 01.25
3. GUARD pushes to ingress/egress corridor and keeps it sanitized until the strike package returns 

4 ADMINISTRATION AND LOGISTICS

4.1 Airfield operations

• Akrotiri
• TCN: 69X / 107X
• Active runway: 28
• Expect SID ANANE and STAR IREFA

4.2 Carrier operations

CVN-72

• CASE 3
• FB: 333
• Departure radial: 120
• Departure time: ASAP
• Departure sequence: -
• Marshal check-in time: 02:45
• TCN 72X

LHA-1 TARAWA

• Tarawa on hdg 285 for 13 kts during launch and recovery
• Departure radial 110
• TCN 1X

As per Carrier Ops SPINS

4.3 Tankers

As per Aerial Refueling SOP

5 COMMAND AND CONTROL

5.1 Frequencies

As per Comms SOP

5.2 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.

5.3 Freq flow (Carrier flights)

1, 9, 3/5, 16, 15

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 Approach (ch 15) for recovery.

5.4 Brevity

• TANGOUNIFORM - Mission declared successful
• NIGHTFALL - Abort mission
• TOUCHDOWN - Tomahawks have hit SA-2/SA-3 systems in the ingress corridor

6 ANNEXES

Maps

Overview of the AO

Ingress/egress area

Target area for HVT convoy

TGT convoy as seen east of Raqqa:

Primary target: