Last week, VFA-41 aircraft dealt a significant blow to Russian VKS aircraft in the South Ossetian Area of Operations. This reduction in enemy airborne attack capability has provided breathing room for Georgian ground forces who are still dug in around Igoeti. That said, Russian and South Ossetian armor and artillery still pose a significant threat to Georgian forces, and the artillery specifically, a threat to the capital, Tbilisi. BM-30 Smerch MLRS have been raining down into Tbilisi over the last several days resulting in significant damage to civilian targets and critical infrastructure. The Georgian Air Force is eager to get into the fight, but the Russian ground based air defense threat in the AO is still too significant for the Georgians to risk their very limited number of combat aircraft.
Some of VFA-41's maintainers have been able to coordinate with Georgia Air Defense forces and worked out IFF deconfliction to allow their Soviet built SAMs to differentiate our aircraft. In a nutshell, the Georgia SAM batteries will remain active during our flights going forward. In the unlikely event the Russians press a large force attack, falling back to the defensive Georgian air defense umbrella is a viable tactic.
MISSION
To further relieve the besieged Georgian ground forces, VFA-41 will conduct a Battlefield Interdiction sortie. There are three primary mission objectives: First, we will need to locate and destroy company and division level Short Range Air Defenses (SHORAD) that are dispersed throughout the South Ossetian AO. Secondly, we are to seek out and destroy the various Russian artillery positions threatening the Georgian troops at Igoeti and Tbilisi. The known SHORAD threats include several SA-13 Gopher IR SAMs and SA-19 Grison Electro Optical SAMs with autocannons. Known Russian artillery units include 2S3 155mm self propelled guns as well as Smerch and Grad MLRS systems. A rough “Killbox” has been set up consisting of WP3, WP4, WP5 and WP6. Any military targets within that space are cleared for engagement, but prioritizing the SHORAD and Artillery is paramount.
To assist in locating targets, our SEAL and Georgian Special Forces friends have set up an over watch position forward of the Forward Line of Troops and are operating a RQ-11 Raven UAS drone. Their Callsign is Whiplash 1-1 and they’ll be on common frequency. While not JTAC capable (no laser, but will mark target area with RED smoke), the SEALs should be able to pinpoint Russian SHORAD and artillery positions and relay targeting coordinates via MGRS grid reference. Expect Whiplash to check in around 0825 hours local time. It is highly recommended that all pilots keep pen and paper, or some other scratch pad, handy during the flight to copy down MGRS coordinates from Whiplash.
A third objective has been designated for Dealer 3 Flight. The pair of C-17’s we escorted into Tbilisi previously are scheduled to depart at the same time as VFA-41. A minimum of two airframes will need to be tasked with escorting the C-17’s (Chevy 1 Flight) out of Georgian territory and over the coast into the Black Sea as far as WP4 or until cleared to depart by Chevy 1-1. Once relieved of escort duty, Dealer 3 may make their way to the South Ossetian AO (WP5 to WP6) to assist the other Dealer Flights as able, or may return to Tbilisi if fuel or other considerations necessitate.
THREATS
As mentioned, the Russians are operating SA-13 and SA-19 mobile SHORAD systems in the AO. Intelligence suggests MANPADS may be dispersed among the armor, artillery and infantry in the AO as well. Reports indicate Russian attack helicopters are still active in the valley east of Gori and are known to escort supply convoys from Tskhinvali to front line units. There are still Russian fighter and attack aircraft at Mozdok, but after the slap they were given the other day, their sortie rates are certain to be far fewer. Dealer 3 on escort duty should pay special attention to the south for any threat from the Armenia based MiG-29s near Yerevan. Don’t go hunting across the Armenian border, but if pressed from their side and they close to within 40nm, splash ‘em.
ROE
Weapons free on all Russian or South Ossetian units within the killbox or posing a threat to allied aircraft.
MISSION OVERVIEW
DATE: 23 October, 2022
TIME: 0800 Local
SUNRISE: 0758 local
SUNSET: 1827 local
MOON:
TASK: Battlefield Interdiction/DEAD
WX: 285@08kt / SCT-BKN 18,000 / Few 36,000 / T14 / Q30.15
FLIGHT DURATION: Dealer 1 & 2= ~160nm plus loiter
Dealer 3= ~425nm
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 (CVN-) / / Freq [] / TCN / ICLS:
SUPPORTING UNITS:
AWACS / E-3A / WIZARD/ Freq 266.000 [4]
SOF Team / WHIPLASH 1-1 / 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]
*Secondary Divert for Dealer 3 (Fuel Only):
Batumi [WP3]
Rwy: 13/31
TACAN 16X
ATC: 131.000 [16]
BULLSEYE: Gori [WP6]
Route Overview Dealer 1 & 2:
- Route Map 1.PNG (4.46 MiB) Viewed 867 times
Route Overview Dealer 3:
- Route Map 2.PNG (5.19 MiB) Viewed 867 times
SOF Team Whiplash 1-1:
- Whiplash 1-1A.png (4.39 MiB) Viewed 867 times
- Whiplash 1-1B.png (3.93 MiB) Viewed 867 times
Mission Data Card:
- Z_Mission Data Card M03.PNG (59.43 KiB) Viewed 867 times