VFA-41 launched seven aircraft: five Hornets and two Tomcats broken up into three flights.
All three DEALER flights launched around 1600 local time and proceeded to the rendezvous point to await the arrival of the strike package consisting of B-52 bombers out of Souda Bay and F-15E Strike Eagles out of Incirlik AB. While waiting, all VFA-41 aircraft completed ingress tanking from the two KC-135 working a tanker track north of Cyprus.
Upon arrival of the strike package, DEALER 1 was dispatched ahead of the main group to sweep the route to target of enemy fighters. Likewise, DEALER 2 aircraft, armed with TALDs and AGM-88c missiles pressed ahead to attempt to suppress or neutralize a known SA-11 battery near the target airfield.
As DEALER 1 and 2 neared target, they were met by several hostile Mig-29 and Mig-21 aircraft. DEALER 1 proceeded to engage the airborne targets, while DEALER 2 circled back around until the area was clear and then subsequently launched all of their decoys and several HARM missiles at the SA-11 site which, by then, had come active. DEALER 2 HARMS struck two of the TELAR launch vehicles (destroying one) and scored a direct hit on the SA-11's search radar, but the radar remained operational.
Approximately 5 minutes later, DEALER 3 aircraft along with the main strike package arrived over target. With the SA-11 site still emitting, DEALER 3 launched two more HARMs at the site, striking, but not destroying an additional launch vehicle. However, by then most of the SA-11'a missiles had been expended on the preceding HARMs and/or TALDs and the strike package successfully delivered all of their ordnance on target. One F-15E was lost over target due to a Surface to Air missile, but all remaining strike aircraft safely egressed to the northwest and returned to base without any additional losses.
As the bombers egressed, DEALER 3 aircraft joined DEALER 1 in engaging several more Migs that had subsequently scrambled from Tabqa Airbase. The ensuing furball lasted for approximately 10 minutes. By the end of the melee, nine Syrian Migs were shot down by VFA-41 fighters with no friendly losses due to enemy aircraft. One VFA-41 Hornet was lost, however, due to CFIT while engaging a low-flying MIG.
With additional Migs out of Palmyra just getting airborne and weapons/fuel states running low, all DEALER aircraft were instructed to egress to the West to rendezvous once again with the Tankers before returning to USS GEORGE WASHINGTON. One VFA-41 Tomcat chose to divert into NATO-held Aleppo International Airport due to low fuel, before returning to the carrier. All other DEALER aircraft completed egress tanking off the coast and then recovered safely aboard GEORGE WASHINGTON.
Despite the SA-11 site still remaining operational (somehow) and the loss of one F-15E, the runway at Jirah was disabled by the B-52s while multiple Syrian aircraft and structures were destroyed on the ground by the F-15Es. Although the loss of one airframe is unfortunate, VFA-41 successfully completed its tasking to suppress the SA-11 and keep Syrian Migs at bay long enough to ensure the strike package made it to target and delivered its ordnance on the objective
DEALER 1
1-1 Rhino 1 x Mig-23, (DCS freeze/server disconnect on RTB)
1-2 Lion - 1 x Mig-29, 1 x Mig-23, trapped
1-3 Raid - 2 x Mig-21, 1 x Mig-25, trapped
DEALER 2
2-1 Nocs AGM-88 hits on SA-11 site, trapped
2-2 Chaos AGM-88 hits on SA-11 site, (server disconnect on RTB)
DEALER 3
3-1 Mr Bean AGM-88 hit on SA-11 site, 1 x Mig-25, 1 x Mig-23, trapped
3-2 Maniac 1 x Mig-29, crashed (CFIT)
BUFF Flight enroute to target
- Screen_220703_220359.png (1.55 MiB) Viewed 1040 times
DEALER jets complete ingress tanking prior to joining up with strike package
- Screen_220704_133017.png (1.53 MiB) Viewed 1040 times
311 jet (Maniac) taking up station over the B-52s
- Screen_220704_134414.png (1.04 MiB) Viewed 1040 times
Strike package approaches target while SA-11 engages DEALER 2's HARMS/TALDs
- Screen_220704_135054.png (2.38 MiB) Viewed 1040 times
BDA: Jirah Runway severely damaged
- Screen_220703_214300.png (5.25 MiB) Viewed 1040 times
304 jet (Lion) unleashes a Sparrow
- Screen_220704_135513.png (1.67 MiB) Viewed 1040 times
Lion helps a Mig-29 meet its untimely demise
- Screen_220704_135300.png (1.81 MiB) Viewed 1040 times
