Tornado AAR: Desert Storm Mission #1

Tornado is, in the words of Tom "KC" Basham of the late Computer Gaming World magazine, the most under-rated flight sim of all time. This is perhaps correct. Somehow, Tornado never gets the the huge following it deserves even after the release of the expansion disk (Operation Desert Storm). To the few dedicated hard-core flight sim enthusiasts, though, Tornado is remembered as one of the best flight sims of all time. The flight-, weapons- and avionics-modeling is realistic and the enemy AI is very good. These give us the correct "feel" as to how it's like to fill the boots of a very busy Tornado crew during a combat mission, despite the somewhat "generic" campaigns. Today Tornado fans wanting to relive the action can still do so because Tornado runs very well under DosBox or VDMSound.

Today, we a will join Flight Officer John Trueman and his navigator, Flight Officer Sean Nicholson, as he recounts the mission he flew during the opening night of Operation Desert Storm.

"Our mission today is to hit 2 Iraqi Army camouflaged sites close to the front. There are even more lucrative targets deeper behind enemy lines, but at this stage of the campaign the AAA and SAM threat in those area are still too high. As you can see on the map below, the enemy also maintains fighter CAP stations. We have planned our route to avoid those areas. The intelligence are never perfect, however, so even the most carefully planned route does not guarantee that we are completely safe. At the end of the mission, we are to relocate to another airfield that is better positioned for further missions."


"We will hit our targets with BL.755 bombs. These are cluster bomb units, very well suited to soft targets like the ones we are to hit today. Each site will receive a package of 4 bombs, which should be enough. Our original payload also includes two self-defence AIM-9 Sidewinders. However, we reckon that SAM and AAA are our biggest threat right now, so we elect to replace those missiles with ALARM anti-radiation missiles."


"The sky is a solid grey overcast as our heavily laden Tornado claws into the air. Immediately after we takeoff, I clean up the aircraft and sweep the wings fully aft. Then I turn on the autopilot in waypoint track mode, with a ride height of 200 feet. Hopefully, this will make us invisible to enemy Early Warning Radars, since they can vector fighters to hunt us down if they spot us. I also engage the autothrottle and set the speed to 475 knots."


"As planned, Sean immediately arms the ALARM missiles in Direct mode. In this mode, we will be able to immediately fire on any AAA and SAM in front of our aircraft that lock us up."


"We have an uneventful flight until we approach our first target, waypoint X. Apparently the target is defended by a SAM and an AAA. As they lock us up, I immediately launch an ALARM and switch on ECM. Just before the ALARM destroys the SAM vehicle, it manages to launch a missile at us. The missile is IR-guided so I prepare myself to dump flares. We only carry 28 flare bundles, so I have to wait until the missile proximity klaxon to go off before I drop a flare. Meanwhile, after the first ALARM hits, I launch a second missile at the AAA site. The flare I drop fools the missile launched at us and we get away unscathed."


"After the AAA site is dead, I immediately switch the ECM off and arm the BL.755's as we are rapidly closing on the target. As we approach the target we see the smoldering remains of the SAM and AAA sites. A few seconds before we reach the waypoint, I hold down the trigger and the bombs are released automatically. The bomblets rain down on the camouflaged site, destroying it completely."


"After hitting the first target, we immediately proceed to the second one. This target is apparently more heavily defended. I immediately find ourselves out of ALARM missiles as I launch at the SAM and AAA sites defending the target. We hit another 4 sites with ALARM missiles but there must be at least half a dozen sites down there. A SAM site launch a missile at us and I react a bit too late and the missile hits us. The warning alarm goes off as Sean calmly says, 'Our thrust reversers are out.' Great. That means we will have to rely on the wheelbrakes to stop us when we land. But currently the loss of our thrust reversers are not crucial to the mission. I have to concentrate on hitting the second target. We will worry about the thrust reversers when we return to base. IF we return to base."


"I manage to hit the second target, but as we turn to clear the area we are hit by AAA. I guess it was a ZSU-23-4 Shilka. Again the warning alarm blares. 'Our ECM is out,' says Sean matter-of-factly. Another great news. We still have a lot of SAM and AAA sites targeting us and our ECM is out. Now we have to rely on our Chaff and Flares."


"Miraculously, we survive the barrage of SAM and AAA fire. As we pass waypoint G, enemy activity seems to slacken a bit. I can breathe easier now. And I believe Sean is relieved, too. However, just as we are approaching the last waypoint, some SAM and AAA sites open up on us. They are practically just outside the fences of our new airbase! I guess when they say that we are relocating to an airbase closer to the action, they really mean it. Out of ALARMs and without ECM, I furiously dump flares to ward off the missiles launched at us. No missiles hits us this time, but one Shilka manages to pepper our aircraft with some cannon rounds. As the warning alarm goes off, Sean says,'Our wheelbrakes are out.' Now, this is just great. Without thrust reversers and wheelbrakes, we simply have to hope that the aircraft will stop before we run out of runway."


"I set up the AFDS (autopilot) for an automatic landing. As we approach the runway, I pray that we will be able to stop in time with only wind drag to slow us down. I believe I can hear Sean muttering the same prayer."


"As we are nearing touchdown, I disengage the autopilot to manually flare the aircraft. The aircraft lands with a thump. I'm not flaring the aircraft enough. I immediately shut down the engines as we thunder down the runway. It seems that the aircraft simply would not slow down. After something that feels like an eternity, but can't be more than a minute, the aircraft finally slows down enough for me to be able to steer it using the nosewheel. I start to zigzag the aircraft a bit to help it slow down. Finally, just a couple of yards before we run out of runway, the aircraft stops. 'Nice one, pilot,' says Sean, audibly relieved. We are home at last."


"We have to have the aircraft towed to its parking spot. Then we proceed to the debriefing session. We find out that we did okay on the mission. Both targets destroyed, with another 4 AAA and 2 SAM vehicles destroyed. The airframe is damaged, though, and will have to undergo some serious repairs. We are very thrilled that we survive our first mission. That we also achieve the objectives is but a bonus."

Flanker AAR: Elanif Nugpot

Although primarily an air superiority fighter, the Su-27 (as simulated in Flanker) is also a very versatile strike aircraft. It is capable of delivering various unguided and guided bomb, as well as guided missiles of many types including anti-ship missiles. Major Ivan Obelovic will tell us more about this capability as he recounts a mission he recently flew during a joint Russian-NATO training flight.

"During the recent Russian-NATO [joint] exercise, we flew as the Red Team against Turkish Air Force F-16C's playing as the Blue Team. The Red Team was based in Kerch airbase while the Blue Team was hosted by the Sevastopol airbase. In this particular training mission, we had the opportunity to show that our Zhuravlik (Su-27 Flanker, ed.) is also a capable strike aircraft. The scenario is as follows. A Blue intelligence gathering ship (simulated by a derelict Russian Polnochny-class ship) has been damaged by a Red missile boat and is left dead in the water some 300 km due south of our airbase. The objective of the Red Team is to finish the job and sink the ship. The objective of the Blue Team is to defend it."


"Our AWACS, orbiting just North of Kerch (callsign Red Star), has been monitoring the area and tells us that currently the Blue Team is maintaining a CAP flight of 2 F-16C's over the crippled ship. We also know that, if necessary, they can send in reinforcements from Sevastopol. Our plan for this mission is simple. We will have 2 flights of Su-27s participating in this mission. First to get airborne is Alpha flight, with 2 Su-27s. They will try to kill any enemy fighters around the ship. Next, with a 150-second interval will be Bravo flight, consisting of one Su-27 carrying Kh-35 (AS-17 Krypton, ed.) anti-ship missiles. I will be flying as Bravo, while my comrades Major Belyakov and Captain Isachenkov will be flying as Alpha-1 and -2, respectively. Alpha flight will be flying at high altitude, 8000 m, while I will be flying low at 1000 m to avoid detection. Furthermore, I will have my radar inactive almost all the way. I will be switching my radar on only after I reach the IP to acquire the ship and launch my Kh-35s. After I launch my missiles, I will directly RTB while Alpha will loiter for awhile to sanitize my six and, if possible, do some quick BDA."

"Alpha flight takes off at precisely 1630 hours (all time local, ed.). They immediately turn south while climbing to 8000 m. Alpha flight is carrying a full load of R-27, R-77 and R-73 missiles."


"Exactly 2 minutes and 30 seconds later, I get clearance from the tower to take off. After I am safely airborne I immediately clean up my aircraft and head south towards the target. I am carrying 4 Kh-35 missiles. While I am also carrying AAMs for self-defense, I will be relying on Alpha flight to keep me out of trouble."


"There isn't much happening for the next 10 minutes or so until I hear via the radio that Alpha flight is changing formation into combat spread. This means that Alpha flight has detected Blue team fighters and is nearing engagement range."


"Later, during the debriefing, Major Belyakov tells me that they have been watching the Blue CAP for awhile, via the information datalinked from Red Star. As they are entering the range of their R-27 missiles, he'd tell his wingman to loosen up the formation and accelerate to attack speed. He'd then tell his wingman to target the Blue wingman while he is going to take the leader. After receiving acknowledgment from Alpha-2 that he has sorted the bandits, Belyakov tells his wingman to engage. Belyakov himself immediately launched an R-27 missile, followed a few moments later by Isachenkov with another R-27."


"The Blue bandits, now realizing that they are under attack, breaks formation. The wingman breaks high while the leader breaks low while releasing chaff and flares."


"Belyakov's missile is apparently confused by the chaff and misses the leader. Meanwhile, Isachenkov's missile tracks the wingman perfectly and hits him amidships. The F-16C explodes while its pilot ejects."


"Belyakov immediately launches his second missile. This time the missile guided perfectly and destroys the Blue leader. The pilot also manages to eject."


"I heard Alpha flight declares 2 splashes and Red Star confirms that the area is now clear. I proceeded to the IP and climb to 2000 m. The range of the Su-27's ground radar is approximately 20 times its current altitude. By climbing to 2000 m, I should be able to detect the ship from approximately 40 km out. I switched my radar on and change to Zemlya (A-G) mode."


"I move the radar antenna to scan the sea before me, and finally I saw the target blip. I then zoom in to a higher resolution to put the radar cursor on the target. At the highest resolution, I can positively ID the ship and I immediately lock it up."


"After achieving lock-on, I immediately ripple fire all four of my Kh-35 missiles and they immediately dive to a sea-skimming altitude. Two such missiles are needed to sink the ship, but I launched all four just to make sure."


"This ship has defensive gun system that can shoot down anti-ship missiles, so I hope that by launching four missiles there will be at least two hits. Since the gun system can also track an incoming aircraft, I immediately break hard left while diving to 1000 m. As can be seen in the film taken by a camera placed near the target that we watched during the debriefing, the ship's defensive gun managed to engage and shoot down one Kh-35. However, it is too late to prevent the first 2 missiles from hitting and sinking the ship. In the frame below, taken from the film, you can just see two missiles a few moments before impact and some explosions behind them as the defensive gun system shoot down a Kh-35 missile behind them."


"Alpha flight, who are still loitering the area confirmed that they see an explosion and a smoke column rising from the target area. As planned, I immediately head north to base. As I turn north, I look over my left shoulder and see the smoke from the sinking ship."


"A few moments later, Red Star warns us that the Blue Team has scrambled a flight of F-16Cs from Sevastopol and advises all of us to vacate the area. Upon hearing this warning, Alpha flight immediately leave the area, turning north back to Kerch. We are not particularly concerned, however. The F-16C's will be arriving too late to intercept us."


"After an uneventful trip, I arrive at Kerch and land. Belyakov and Isachenkov arrive approximately 25 minutes later. After exchanging congratulations, we head to the debriefing room."


"At the debriefing, the Red Team gets 2 confirmed A-A kills and one ground target kill without suffering any loss. Mission accomplished."