Kutaisi and the Bear

A variable-difficulty multiplayer strike mission in the Caucasus theatre for up to 4× F/A-18C and 8× F-14B.

Alternative scoring is available in single-player, but the brief and general design assumes that multiple intercept aircraft will be available to deal with all targets. In addition, the opposition will scale with the number of escort aircraft active in the mission.

Briefing

In an ongoing offensive to capture central areas of Georgia, an unspecified number of Tu-95 &ldquo:Bears” have been dispatched from Krasnodar to knock out Kutaisi airport. A group of F-14B:s and F/A-18Cs has been assembled to intercept the bombers before they can reach their launch point.

Presumed attack point for the Bears is the tri-state border between Russia, Abkhazia and Georgia (WPT2 and IP). Crossing the border at WPT2 will allow for an earlier intercept of the bombers but will most likely trigger a response from Russian forces. However, any such response is unlikely to follow deeply into Georgian territory.

Heavy SAM presence can be expected around Russian airports, and mobile units are suspected to be in place near Abkhazian airports as well. A narrow corridor should exist between Sochi and Minvody SAM coverage (WPT2-3).

In addition to airstrikes, ground troops have been spotted north of Kutaisi - Harriers have been dispatched to halt their advance until ground attack aircraft can be scrambled out of Soganlug.

 1. Assembly/divert (Senaki): 261MHz, 31X
 2. CVN-74 (Colt 1 F-14s):    274Mhz, 74X, ICSL 4, NTDS 303.60
 3. CVN-75 (Colt 2 F-14s):    275MHz, 75X, ICLS 5, NTDS 308.70
 4. CVN-76 (Ford 3 F/A-18S):  276MHz, 76X, ICLS 6, NTDS 317.60
 5. TWA-77 (Harrier CAS):     277MHz, 77X, ICLS 7
 6. Wizard (AWACS):           301MHz,              ATDS 302.50
 7. Badger (GCI):             302MHz
 8. Shell (Refuelling):       303MHz, 33Y

Friendly CAP is available along the route of the surface group.

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Situation

Hot start at 0730

Weather: overcast with the main cloud layer at 6,500–8,000ft. Ground wind speeds at 6-8m/s.

Objectives

• Identify and shoot down all incoming Tu-95 aircraft.

Bomber escort and Russian border CAP is likely to be present, but do not need to be engaged to complete the mission. Similarly, engaging air defences along the intercept route will offer more room to manoeuvre, but is not part of the mission.

General concept

In-game kneeboard pages provide a full description of the instrument flight plan.

Mission file

Kutaisi and the Bear.miz

What's with that name?

It's not a horrible, horrible pun… it's just what the mission is about.