Communication is two way. If you are not picked up by a long-range radar but are picked up by a local radar, your position is then known to the entire network. You will also find that the ground stations play radar games; they will take turns, turning their radars on and off. (See the extract below for a description of what this looks like in Falcon 4).

MAP-2

In the map above you can see how I have rerouted the mission out over the Gulf of Korea about 20 miles offshore. I don't want to go too far out because that would increase my exposure to interception.

Way point 5 is the alternate target. AWACS shows interceptor and cargo aircraft over the water closing in on our push point. While that is still threatening, it's a whole lot less to contend with than the scheduled mission.

Since we are not in a support role, we don't have to worry about time on station and all that. We're doing our own thing here: Jake Grafton in his A6 Intruder on his way to Hanoi. It looks like a cake walk, but we know better. There are no cake walks in Falcon 4.

The original load out has us carrying two external tanks and 2 HARMS. I will opt to keep the HARMs and the extra fuel. Since I have previously reconned this radar site I know that it shuts down as soon as I lock it up. If this occurs the mission will be a waste of time, so I've planned an alternate target composed of several SA-2 sites fifteen miles to the north, close enough to be a good alternative.

EW-1

Play by Play

Taking off in a 4 ship flight, we're not to the push point when a flight of Tupolov transports shows up directly ahead at 40 miles range. At first they appear unescorted, but experience tells me it's unlikely.

Carrying extra fuel I go to afterburners up to 600 knots, knowing that the escorts will soon appear or the enemy will scramble or divert interceptors to meet my flight. Suddenly, off my 9 o'clock, a big air battle materializes. F15's and MiG29's are duking it out. Radar says they're 30 miles distant, too close for comfort. I swing left out to sea a bit for some extra cushion.

Click to continue

EW-2

As expected, the TU's escort of 3 MiG29's show up off my nose only minutes later. My attention was diverted to the battle off my beam, and as a result I'm slow to pick up the MiGs. This nearly proves fatal. I'm going to try to avoid them but I doubt we can; these Charlies have been known to shoot at anything that moves. We are at the IP now and can't possibly make the run-in as planned.

What to do -- fight or flight? Well, its 4 vs 3. Because we're relying on speed rather than stealth, I don't want to drop tanks just yet. We'll be burning tons of fuel, besides which I've still got Plan B in mind -- we are desperate to eliminate air defenses.

We do have an advantage with this encounter: we get first shot at Rmax. I decide that we'll go for it. I lock up the MiGs and order the second element to attack, holding my wingman in reserve. I'm cutting it close so I let one of my own AIM's fly. A little insurance never hurts.

EW-3

Incredily, all these missiles produce not a single hit. Two F16's nearby (not mine) go down. I'm shocked, but the MiG's are inexplicably backing off.

No, wait! There's a couple more F16's closing from the east at their 3:00 o'clock. Damn, all that adrenaline and I'm not paying attention to my speed, nearly overshooting the target. I get lucky, the EW radar is emitting and I lock up fast. Almost below Rmin for the HARM and a bad over-shoulder shot. I start a turn and let her fly anyway, but I don't feel good about this. I bank away to the right, push buttons like mad and refocus on the MiG's.

EW-4

Holy Guacamole! Haven't our guys graduated from flight school yet? Those same three MiG's are still out there, joined by two more. An F16 goes up in smoke, and an F4E is trailing smoke. They haven't hit a single MiG.

Sweet Petunia, we have a bunch of fresh pansies out there. I lock one MiG up fast and send the second element after them. The enemy is now headed east to deal with another two-ship flight of F16's coming after them from about 20 miles away. The odds are looking better.

I feel comfortable enough to make another pass at the radar station but I should have known better: it shut down and I'm out of luck. Screwed and blued. It's not going to light up again.

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