MISSION OVERVIEW
DATE: 31 January 2021
TIME: 10:00:00
SUNRISE: 08:48
SUNSET: 17:49
TASK: Ground Convoy Escort/Overwatch
WX: 160@05KT 10,000SCT T04 Q30.12
FLIGHT DURATION: 100 minutes / 320nm (plus loiter)
AVAILABLE SQUADRON ASSETS:
Dealer 1: 4 x F/A-18c
Dealer 2: 4 x F/A-18c
Dealer 3: 4 x F/A-18c
Dealer 4: 4 x F/A-18c
Dealer 1-4: 3 x F-14b
CARRIER:
USS THEODORE ROOSEVELT (CVN-71) / BRC 168° / Freq 127.5 [7] / TCN 71X "THR" / ICLS: 11
SUPPORTING UNITS:
AWACS / E-2D / MAGIC / Freq 266.000 [4]
Mission Tanker / KC135MPRS / TEXACO / Freq 351.00 [5] / TCN:55X
Recovery Tanker / S-3B / ARCO / Freq 231.00 [6] / TCN:56X
SCOUT HELO / UH-1 / UZI / Freq 266.00
GUNSHIP/ AC-130 / SPECTRE / Freq 266.00
DIVERT:
Kobuleti
Rwy: 7/25
TCN: 67X
ATC: 262.0
Vaziani
Rwy: 13/31
TCN: 22X
ATC: 140.0
BULLSEYE: N 41 55.847 E 041 51.702 / Kobuleti (WP8)
SITUATION
After nearly a generation of political posturing and sporadic open hostilities – including the most recent round of conflict that has plagued the region this fall and winter; progress is finally being made to further the peace process between the Georgian government and the Russian-backed separatist movement in South Ossetia.
At the behest of the United Nations and spearheaded by a US Congressional Delegation; the Georgians, the Russians, and the South Ossetian provincial government have agreed to meet to discuss solutions to their decades-old turf war. A series of peace talks has been scheduled, the first of which will be held in the South Ossetian city of Tskhinvali at the soccer stadium on the outskirts of town.
While promising, not everyone is pleased with this turn of events. There are separatist hard-liners within the South Ossetian government and defense forces who will accept no result other than full South Ossetian independence. Likewise, Abkhazian separatists, locked in their own ongoing conflict with Georgia will also want these peace talks to fail. A more unified Georgia makes their battle for Abkhazian independence nearly impossible without continued Russian and South Ossetian support.
MISSION
VFA-41 has been tasked to provide top cover for the US and Georgian delegations as they make their way north by road from the Georgian town of Gori, across the South Ossetian border, and into Tskhinvali for the peace talks, which are scheduled to begin at noon today.
There will be two elements in the convoy carrying the delegation. The first element will be in the lead and consist of US/UN Stryker IFV’s and Humvees that will provide ground security both during the transit and around the perimeter of the stadium once the talks get underway.
Approximately 1/2 mile in trail will be the political delegation consisting of two busses and the Georgian president’s armored SUV, bookended by Georgian armored cars providing an additional layer of security. One bus will contain the Georgian diplomats and one bus will contain the accompanying US Congressional delegation.
No, tempting as it may be, you may NOT launch a Maverick at the bus full of congressmen/women.
Additionally, low cover will be provided by a UH-1 helicopter (UZI) who will scout the road ahead of the convoy and relay any perceived threat information and positional updates to DEALER flights.
The peace talks will undoubtedly last well into the afternoon and evening, so an AC-130 gunship (SPECTRE) with F-16 escort is enroute via Turkey and will take over airborne overwatch from VFA-41 once the talks get underway.
Notes:
- Barring any issues, the convoy should make the transit from Gori to Tskhinvali in approximately 35 minutes. Coupled with transit time, this mission will likely require being airborne for ~90 minutes, plus any additional time and fuel burn required to investigate/prosecute any threats.
- Mission Tanker ARCO will be in the vicinity and on station near Gori (WP2). It is imperative that at least one section be overhead with eyes on the convoy at all times. Manage sending aircraft to the tanker as required to meet this requirement.
- The Russian delegation will be arriving via helicopter from the North (very likely with their own airborne security/support) and is scheduled to arrive around the same time as the US-Georgian delegation. The Russian delegation’s LZ is across the river from and just west of the stadium. It should go without saying, but shooting down the Russian delegation would not get things started off on the right foot.
THREATS
At this time, there are no known specific threats, however given the fact that the Abkhazis and a certain percentage of South Ossetians will want these talks to fail, nothing should be ruled out.
Ground targets in the form of separatist infantry squads, armor, or terrorist IEDs represent the greatest and most likely threat to the convoy as it makes its way north.
Satellite imagery and ELINT shows no fixed SAM emplacements that will affect the mission. Both the remaining Abkhazi coastal SA-2 site as well as Russian air defense SA-10 sites are in operation, but are marked and can easily be avoided.
Both Abkhazia and South Ossetia still possess a limited number of mobile SAMs (SA-8, SA-6, SA-15). Should a mobile unit be under the command of a separatist-aligned crew, they may attempt to disrupt our operations by placing one on or just over the Georgian border along our route of flight. While a limited threat, some anti-radiation capability should be included in loadout/mission planning.
South Ossetia has no air force of its own and their Russian partners (party to these talks) are not expected to intervene unless provoked. The Abkhazian Air Force, however, has motive to interfere with or derail the peace process. Any aircraft or helicopters approaching the convoy from Abkhazian airspace (W/NW) should be considered a threat.
ROE
ROE in general remain largely unchanged. Of note:
-Any aircraft, ground units, or SAMS identified by UZI or targeting / impeding any US asset may be engaged.
-Aircraft or helicopters venturing into Georgian airspace from Abkhazia (W/NW) should be engaged if they close to within ~40 miles of the convoy.
-Russian aircraft / SAMs remaining on the Russian side of the border should not be engaged unless locking/targeting US forces.
-Russia may send helicopter gunship escort(s) with its political delegation. If so, these escorts are expected to enter Georgian airspace from the North and be confined to South Ossetia- not wandering into greater Georgia. They should not be engaged unless actively attempting to target friendly forces.
- _Snapshot_20210112133333_Overview2.png (2.73 MiB) Viewed 1450 times
- _Snapshot_20210113124609_Route Detail.png (4 MiB) Viewed 1450 times
- _Snapshot_20210112133929_Convoy Route.png (566.44 KiB) Viewed 1450 times
- Aerial View Convoy Route WP 2-3 (looking N)
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- Aerial View Convoy Route WP4-5
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