Threat Guide

THREAT GUIDE This document contains information that you should be familiar with while flying F/A-18 OIF. The first section lists all the types of mission roles you are expected to fulfill as a Hornet Strike/Fighter pilot. The second section contains a reference section with detailed information about the vehicles, aircraft, SAMs, AAA and ships that you can encounter while operating in the Iraqi theater. The reference section presents specifications and a side view for each friendly and enemy system. F/A-18 OIF contains a wide variety of types. The various types are: Mission Descriptions: AR – Anti-Runway This type of mission involves invading enemy territory and neutralizing an enemy airbase by eliminating their capability to deploy/recover aircraft. Other structures on the airfield, such as the control towers, also make tempting targets. AT – Anti-Tank This type of Close Air Support mission will require you to concentrate solely on the destruction of the enemy’s heavy armor (tanks). Such missions may or may not be performed with the aid of friendly troops in the area. CAP – Combat Air Patrol Enemy fighters are a constant threat to friendly forces. Because they want the advantage of surprise they usually don’t announce their attack times. Therefore, Combat Air Patrols are a constant duty. Your F/A-18 will be outfitted with a wide range of air-to-air weaponry and usually one or more external tanks. That excess fuel will come in handy while manning your CAP! CAS – Close Air Support The friendly forces on the ground have been engaged by overwhelming enemy firepower and now need your assistance! Make sure you can positively identify where the enemy troops are, don’t accidentally drop on friendly positions and have a “blue on blue!” The pilot is often unaware of the nature of the SAM and AAA threat until he is closer to the target area. This mission requires a high amount of flexibility and caution. Escort This mission involves safely escorting one or more aircraft during their own missions. Usually the aircraft you will be assigned to escort shall have little or no self-defense capability. Depending on the type of aircraft you must protect, you’ll probably find that aircraft requiring an escort will be 1 THREAT GUIDE considerably slower than the enemy A/A aggressors. Keep the bad guys as far away as possible to ensure mission success. Intercept Enemy fighters have been detected heading into friendly territory. Your mission is to eliminate this threat. In the case of an integrated enemy strike package (bomber escorted by fighters), mission success depends upon eliminating the strike aircraft (bomber). However the fighters are likely on an escort mission of their own, and their job is to prevent you from doing your job! SEAD – Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses This type of mission involves destroying or degrading enemy SAM or AAA sites. This mission is usually given in preparatio…