In this Inter-Deployment Training Cycle mission, we will focus on air-to-air beyond visual range (BVR) tactics and practice 1v1 ACM.
TAKEOFF AND DEPARTURE
VFA-41 aircraft will depart from Andersen AFB. Each dealer flight will be limited to a maximum of three aircraft in order to meet training range configuration requirements.
Each flight will have a set of 5 waypoints, however each flight's waypoints will be in different locations.
Flights should take off as sections/divisions and proceed directly to [WP1] once airborne (airborne rendezvous not recommended due to fuel requirements of mission)
Upon reaching WP1, flights should continue climb to 25,000' and proceed to [WP2] for the BVR exercise.
TRAINING TASK 1: Division BVR Tactics
The purpose of this exercise is to practice a "shoot and skate" BVR tactic. The premise of this tactic is that the flight will launch AIM-120's at long range, then immediately begin to establish lateral separation from the targets (rather than continue to press head-on) while still supporting their missiles with radar until the missiles go active. Once the missiles become self-guided, the division "skates" or turns cold to re-establish even more separation from the bogeys while the bogeys are forced to maneuver and evade the now-active missiles.
As the initial AIM-120's near their TTI, the division can reverse course back hot on the bogeys to re-attack, or continue to egress if in a tactically disadvantaged situation.
This tactic has the advantage of maximizing the engagement distance and best utilizes the long-range active capabilities of the AIM-120c (or Phoenix) without continuing to rapidly close with the enemy and immediately degrading into a close-quarters furball in which SA is quickly lost and short-range IR or passive radar-guided missiles can come into play.
See the linked diagram for a basic visual display of the timeline/tactic. EDIT: linked file has access issues currently … see diagram in reply below for visual description
Upon reaching [WP2], each flight will be presented with a flight of enemy aircraft ahead of them at ~80nm. Flight leads should assign targets to their wingmen and the flight should attempt to engage the bogeys with this simplified "shoot and skate" BVR procedure.
Once the bogeys are dispatched, move on to the second training objective.
TRAINING TASK 2: 1 v 1 ACM
This training task will enable each pilot to practice 1 v 1 ACM against an unarmed, but maneuvering adversary.
Once a flight downs the hostile aircraft from the BVR drill, the flight will break-up and each individual aircraft will proceed as follows:
Flight Lead goes to [WP3]
Dash 2 goes to [WP4]
Dash 3 goes to [WP5]
Upon reaching the designated waypoint, a single adversary will be spawned approximately 25 miles ahead of each pilot. Close and merge with adversary. Once merged, fight is on and attempt to down the adversary with AIM-9s and/or Guns.
After the first aircraft is downed, assess your fuel state. If you have enough fuel remaining for another round of ACM, you can return to your assigned waypoint ([3],[4], or [5]) and upon reaching again, another adversary will be spawned in the same location/distance as the first one.
IF YOU DO NOT HAVE ENOUGH FUEL FOR THE SECOND ACM ROUND, please DO NOT re-overfly your assigned waypoint (as the 2nd bogey will be triggered).
After completing the one or two rounds of ACM, proceed back towards [WP2] and rendezvous with your flight's KC-135 to refuel. After receiving gas, remain with the tanker until the rest of your flight arrives and refuels as required. Once all aircraft in your flight has refueled - return to Andersen AFB as a flight.
MISSION OVERVIEW
DATE: 25 September, 2022
TIME: 08:00
SUNRISE: 06:12
SUNSET: 17:58
TASK: Training
WX: 040@10 / Scattered 9,000 / T25 / Q29.98
FLIGHT DURATION: 300 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:
N/A
SUPPORTING UNITS:
Dealer 1 Mission Tanker / KC-135 / SHELL / Freq: 353.0 / TCN 66Y
Dealer 2 Mission Tanker / KC-135 / ARCO/ Freq: 253.00/ TCN 56Y
Dealer 3 Mission Tanker / KC-135 / TEXACO 1/ 251.00 / TCN 55Y
Dealer 4 Mission Tanker / KC-135 /TEXCO 2 / 257.00 / TCN:57Y
DIVERT
Andersen AFB
Rwy: 6 / 24
TCN: 54X
ATC: 250.1 [2]
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