Despite incurring heavy losses in the fight to establish air superiority over Georgia and the South Ossetian AO, VFA-41 has been successful in reducing Russian air forces and ground based air defenses in and around the battlespace. Georgian commanders are already in the planning stages of combat sortie generation for the Georgian Air Force and they will hopefully be joining us in the skies over the next several days. With the reduction of air defense threats in the AO, EUCOM wants to begin targeting Russian and separatist Command, Control and Logistics in South Ossetia to further degrade their fighting ability and give the Georgian ground forces a chance to begin maneuvering and perhaps organize a counter offensive.
The first additional U.S. Military units are also arriving in theatre this evening. A pair of MC-130s (Chevy 4) are scheduled to arrive at Tbilisi around 1950 hours. They are carrying AFSOC personnel and equipment to begin further preparing the airport for military operations.
MISSION
VFA-41 will conduct a night time strike on Russian Command and Control, as well as supply and ammunition depots that have been identified in and around the South Ossetian capital, Tskhinvali. The main Russian Forward Operating Base (FOB) is located in the east-central part of the city near a large stadium. Satellite reconnaissance has identified a Command and Control bunker, codenamed CONDOR (WP3) and two large ammunition depots, codenamed MAGPIE and ROBIN (WP 4 & WP5) within the FOB. Eight nautical miles north of the Main FOB is another, smaller base consisting of a FARP and an additional ammunition depot, codenamed FINCH (WP6). These are the four primary targets of tonight’s strike. The waypoints are designateable for GPS weapons employment and are believed to all be hardened structures requiring penetration capable ordinance.
Secondary targets of opportunity at the two FOBs include fuel storage tanks, a communication tower, FARP facilities, various vehicles and barracks structures. These targets may be engaged if sufficient aircraft and ordinance are available.
The soccer stadium has been deemed an invalid target at this time as intelligence suggests it may be a prisoner of war camp housing captured Georgian soldiers and possibly displaced civilians. It is imperative none of our ordinance falls errantly into the stadium, thus unguided or cluster munitions are not recommended.
Additionally, with the destruction of nearby enemy SAMs, the handful of foreign civilian airliners that have been stranded at Tbilisi airport are planning to use the cover of night to leave the area and are scheduled to taxi and depart just before our flight. They do not require an escort, but all pilots should exercise due regard in looking for conflicting traffic between the airport and the marshal area.
THREATS
The significant SHORAD units in the AO have been destroyed in previous strikes, however MANPADs and AAA remain in the AO. Expect moderate AAA in and around Tskhinvali itself. It is advised for all aircraft to fly at or above Angels 15 to mitigate threats from the ground. The Russian SA-11 battalion is still active north of the border, so it is advised not to venture much farther north than WP6.
Since our arrival in the AO, Russian VKS aircraft, including their A-50 Mainstay have rarely if ever sortied at night. That said, the Russians are thought to keep fighter aircraft on ready alert at all times at Mozdok, so a prolonged loiter at the target area is not recommended.
ROE
Weapons free on primary and secondary targets near Waypoints 3-6. However, special care must be taken to avoid damage to the stadium.
MISSION OVERVIEW
DATE: 30 October, 2022
TIME: 1900 Local
SUNRISE: 0807 local
SUNSET: 1816 local
MOON: Waxing Crescent ~30% illumination
TASK: Strike
WX: 330@12kts /Scattered 9,000 / T14 / Q30.18
FLIGHT DURATION: ~200 nm
AVAILABLE SQUADRON ASSETS:
Dealer 1: 4 x F/A-18c
Dealer 2: 4 x F/A-18c
Dealer 3: 4 x F/A-18c
CARRIER:
USS HARRY S. TRUMAN (CVN-75) / / Freq [] / TCN / ICLS:
SUPPORTING UNITS:
AWACS / E-3A / WIZARD/ Freq 266.000 [4]
Mission Tanker / / / Freq: []/ TCN:
Recovery Tanker / / / Freq [] / TCN:
DIVERT:
Kutaisi [WP N/A]
Rwy: 07/25
VOR: TACAN 44X
ATC: 134.000 [18]
BULLSEYE: Gori [WP7]
Route Overview:
- Route Overview.png (4.96 MiB) Viewed 759 times
Target Detail:
- Target Area.png (2.01 MiB) Viewed 759 times
- Target Set 1.png (1.06 MiB) Viewed 758 times
- Target Set 2.png (1.44 MiB) Viewed 757 times
Satellite Reconnaissance: (Primary Targets in Red, Secondary targets in orange, POW Camp in stadium in blue)
- Satellite Recon 1.png (7.15 MiB) Viewed 759 times
- Satellite Recon 2.png (6.61 MiB) Viewed 759 times
- Satellite Recon 3.png (6.79 MiB) Viewed 759 times
- Satellite Recon 4.png (6.49 MiB) Viewed 759 times
- Satellite Recon 5.png (6.94 MiB) Viewed 759 times
Mission Data Card:
- Z_Mission Data Card M04.PNG (62.78 KiB) Viewed 759 times