Operation Scorching Trust
M01 Opening Strike
Threat picture
Known threats
Ground
SA-2 · SA-3 · HAWK · Tor (9A331) · Osa (9A33) · Strela-1 (9P31) · ZSU-23-4 Shilka
Air
F-16 Block 50 · Mirage-2000C · MiG-21bis · AH-64D · SA-342M
Sea
Oliver Hazard Perry frigates · Fast attack boats
Acceptable level of risk
ALR — M01
A2A LOW: Accept only favorable engagements. AMR 2+:1. Defensive unless briefed. Losses not acceptable above 5%.
A2G MEDIUM: No single-ship FLOT. Enter SAM WEZ only with SEAD partially effective. Low-level only on primary objectives.
SEAD PARTIALLY EFFECTIVE: Cannot fully deny IADS; can delay, degrade, or distract SAM guidance.
M01 packages
Objectives
ALPHA — DEAD IADS
Destroy / degrade Egyptian IADS. Coordinates pending (which SAM sites are operational). TOT min 20 / max 30 min after TLAM. Assets: BGM-109 TLAM, A-10C II (75th).
BRAVO — TV / radio towers
TOT via Strike Common once airborne and in hold. Assets: F-14B/U (VF-143), F-16C (667th) SEAD escort. Bravo impact within 5 minutes of TLAM.
1 N 30°01’41.91″ E 31°16’51.50″ · 2 N 30°01’38.50″ E 31°16’55.12″ · 3 N 30°01’36.10″ E 31°16’55.32″
4 N 30°01’33.73″ E 31°16’51.96″ · 5 N 30°01’34.80″ E 31°16’58.02″ · 6 N 30°01’27.32″ E 31°16’57.50″
CHARLIE OBJ 01 — Antiship
Destroy frigates blockading Suez north inlet. TOT N/A. Asset: F/A-18C (VFA-211). Hornets push immediately at mission start.
1 N 31°17’00.70″ E 32°19’58.49″ · 2 N 31°15’16.37″ E 32°21’28.93″
CHARLIE OBJ 02 — SHORAD
Destroy SHORAD around north inlet after maritime threat reduced. Assets: AH-64D / OH-58D (1st Regiment).
1 N 31°15’24.82″ E 32°19’37.19″ · 2 N 31°13’34.70″ E 32°21’43.09″ · 3 N 31°16’29.34″ E 32°14’46.72″ · 4 N 31°16’00.01″ E 32°19’12.91″
Air tasking order
| Flight | Pkg | Task 01 | Task 02 | Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| F-14B/U | BRAVO | TV/radio towers | None | CVN-72 |
| F-16C | BRAVO | SEAD escort Bravo | Assist Charlie | Ramon |
| AH-64D / OH-58D | CHARLIE | SHORAD north inlet | None | LHA / rig |
| F/A-18C | CHARLIE | Anti-ship frigates | SEAD cover Bravo | CVN-72 |
| A-10C II | ALPHA | IADS cleanup after TLAM | None | Ramon |
Weather
Lightly scattered · base 8,202 / tops 8,858 ft MSL · no precip, fog, or dust. Sunrise 0557L · sunset 1725L.
Winds: SFC 090/4 · 6,500 135/14 · 26,000 045/24.
SPINS
Procedures
- F/A-18C pushes immediately against frigates. All other manned elements hold and report READY on Strike Common.
- TLAM TOT passed on Strike Common. Do not push early. Bravo impact within 5 minutes of TLAM.
- Reattack: WEAPONS FREE. BDA only if threat/fuel/timing permit — do not delay egress for BDA.
- Lost comms: last clearance; Tactical Common → Strike Common → AWACS → GUARD 243.000.
- Divert Hatzerim 251.400 AM / TACAN 96X / ILS 28L 111.30. CSAR authority: TAC Command.
Radios
| OVERLORD 1-1 / AWACS | 250.000 AM |
| MAGIC 2-1 / AWACS | 272.600 AM |
| TEXACO 1-1 boom | 251.000 AM |
| TEXACO 2-1 boom | 252.000 AM |
| ARCO 1-1 probe | 254.000 AM |
| Tactical Common | 270.000 AM |
| ALPHA / BRAVO / CHARLIE | 271 / 272 / 273.000 AM |
| Strike Common (DRAGNET) | 275.000 AM |
| GUARD | 243.000 AM |
TEXACO supports Ramon F-16/A-10. ARCO + SHELL support CVN-72 F-14/F-18.
Rules of engagement
Weapons free — with PID
Positive ID required. Hostile act/intent = self-defense. A2A needs NCTR, IFF, or AIC BANDIT. Minimize collateral. No civilian/neutral traffic. Reattack when fuel, threat, timing, and deconfliction permit.
Flight briefings
Gameplans
75th Tiger Sharks — ALPHA
Follow-on IADS cleanup after TLAM. Hold, report READY, engage surviving inactive IADS, reattack, tanker TEXACO 2-1 252.000 / 52Y, recover Ramon 251.500. Alpha 271.000. Divert Hatzerim.
VF-143 Pukin’ Dogs — BRAVO
JDAM on TV/radio towers. Hold for TLAM TOT, strike, egress under Hornet/Viper support. Dep/arr CVN-72 272.400. ARCO 253.000 / 53Y, SHELL 272.800 / 122Y. Bravo 272.000.
667th Black Knights — BRAVO
SEAD escort for Bravo; flex to Charlie if directed. Ramon 251.500. TEXACO 1-1 251.000 / 51Y. Bravo 272.000.
1st Regiment — CHARLIE OBJ 02
Hold while Hornets kill frigates, then destroy SHORAD. Tarawa/rig 264.400. No AAR. Charlie 273.000. Divert Hatzerim.
VFA-211 Fighting Checkmates — CHARLIE OBJ 01
Push immediately, kill frigates, then SEAD for Bravo egress. CVN-72 272.400. ARCO/SHELL as Tomcats. Charlie 273.000.
Considerations
Cleansed .miz files per squadron for waypoints, DTC, radios, loadouts. Plan holds close to targets for dynamic TOT. Mixed taskings — load thoughtfully. Expect pop-up attacks.