NationStates Jolt Archive

Air Combat Monthly.

Aerospace Force announces start of new aerial reconnaissance program.

Battleford, Izistan

RB-22's are set to start flying recon missions outside the national airspace of Spizania, Chevrokia, Aequatio, a Hamptonian colony, and the Clandonian Virgin Islands, Aerospace Force Air Marshal Bennett confirmed today.

"Space based reconnaissance assets are predictable and thus can be decived by clever deception on the ground. Our new RB-22 conversions do not fly predictable missions and can "look over the fence" so to speak."

The RB-22 is a reconnaissance conversion of the Candrian B-22 bomber in service with the Aerospace Force. With powerful side looking airborne radar system and electro-optics, it can deliver valuable intelligence while remaining outside of opposing air defenses. The RB-22 is rumored to include powerful signal interception gear, but this has not been officially confirmed.

There has been no word on any possible overflight program as reported last week in popular magazine Aerospace Now!

Approximate map of operations. (http://xs231.xs.to/xs231/08385/flyby559.png)

Air Force intercepts recon plane
Fighters shadow Izistani reconnissance aircraft just outside Chevrokian ADIZ.

http://starfighter.no/web/intercep.jpg
RSL F-75G fighter photographed off the right wing of the Izistani plane.

According to officials from the Department of Defense, this morning an Izistani reconnissance plane was intercepted just over 600 kilometers east of Mjålleborg in the Sefland District.

Two F-75G Kobrusha fighter planes from Strømstad AFB, already airborne, were vectored to the location of the Izistani aircraft, identified as an RB-22 reconnissance plane.

The encounter was stated to not be hostile, and the F-75s closely shadowed the Izistani aircraft for roughly 25 minutes before turning away.

Senior Defense Department officials did not comment extensively on the incident, but it was stated by Air Force chief-of-staff General Jan Peter Kristensen that "Since the Izistanis had announced this operation in advance, we were not at all surprised by their arrival," but also "we will continue to monitor this situation closely to prevent any hostile incursions into our airspace."

CBN (c) 2008

Somewhere 1,200 kilometres North of Aequatian Republic

"So what did you do then, Dolphin-One?" Asked Lieutenant Andrea Keightley as she kept her F-124A Bullwhip fight in formation with the other aircraft in her flight.

"Well, I pulled my finger out of my ass and continued eating dinner," Replied Lieutenant Commander James Cooke with a chuckle in the lead aircraft. At that moment the pilot's display chirped as he saw the incoming intelligence from the hovering E-2F Hawkeye II as it displayed eight contacts on a heading for Aequatio and he switched to speak with the entire flight, "Dolphin Flight, heads up, heavy contact burning it for the coastline... Uh, command wants us on intercept, like, now."

"Affirmative."

"Roger that, Dolphin-One."

"Copy that."

The four lightweight fighters broke and made their turn that would place them on a bearing to directly intercept the bomber-sized contacts. Once they had made their course changes, Lieutenant Keightley spoke over the flight channel, "Can they be Chevrokians?"

"No," Started Cooke, "We would have received a note if they were, they're more than likely those Izistani aircraft that they promised to send our way earlier this week."

"Fun, looks like we get to be the ones to tell them to 'fuck off' and send them packing--"

"Tally ho, eight contacts, direct front!" Said Cooke as he switched to open frequencies to hail the modified bombers, "Unidentified aircraft, you are entering the Exclusive Security Zone of the Aequatian Republic, you are unauthorized to continue on your current bearing and will follow us on a vector taking you northeast, please respond, over," He said as the four fighters took up the flanking positions in pairs around the Izistani aircraft.

"Flight officer take the yoke for a second, I gotta get on the horn."

Flight Captain Caldwell reached over and poked at the control panel and fiddled with his throat mic.

"Aequatian aircraft, Aequatian aircraft come in. This is Delta Four November Seven. We are turning to comply with the ESZ...now."

The aircraft turned, but at the same time a airframe panel rolled back and the RB-22`s side looking radar turned on. A electro-optical turret at the rear of the plane emerged and swiveled to follow Dolphin-One.

"Wow, that was easy," Mentioned the flight lead as the formation tightened up to keep reigns on the Izistani aircraft as the two groups of aircraft fixed their new course to the outside of the security zone, the ALR-67(v)3 radar warning receiver came to life as the aircraft's countermeasures processor flashed a note on Cooke's display. Raising an eyebrow and reaching forward, he switched the aircraft's computer to determine the supposed threat that activated the ALR-67 and let it cycle through its processes before it displayed the information regarding the RF signature and location, one of the RB-22 aircraft.

Just as he was about to switch frequencies to speak with the Izistani planes, he was contacted by the E-2F commander, "Dolphin-One, we're reading a massive spike coming out of your sector, over."

"Copy that, Echo-Six," Replied Cooke as he looked out the canopy at the leading RB-22, "It's the radar suite off one of the recce-bombers, they're blasting the whole zone with RF radiation, over."

"Give 'em a warning over the airwaves, Dolphin-One," Ordered the command aircraft, "If they don't comply, put a shot across their bow, over."

"Affirmative, Echo-Six, out," Said the pilot as he switched back over the common frequency, "Delta Four November Seven, for Dolphin-One, deactivate your radar suite until you are clear of the Echo-Sierra-Zulu, please confirm, over."

"Affirm Dolphin-One. Just testing."

The radar shut down, but the E/O systems remained active.

"Affirmative, Delta-Four-November-Seven, thank you," Replied Cooke as the formation continued its flight north towards the edge of the security zone. After another fifteen minutes, the Navy fighters broke and turned back, "Here's where we see you off, you be good now, Dolphin-One out," The pilot said as the flight returned to its position on the air patrol, another four aircraft from the squadron launched off the deck of the nearby carrier approached from the Southeast, coming to relieve their comrades and take up the remaining time on the patrol.

Northern Fleet Command Headquarters, Domus, Aequatius Prime
Office of Admiral Alain Raymond, CINC-NORFLTCOM

"They just led them out of the security zone fifteen minutes ago, Admiral Raymond, the carrier battle group on station will remain vigilant for anymore intruders," Said a young lieutenant, donned in the khaki service dress, "What are your orders?"

The admiral sat back in his leather chair in his white service dress, removing a Zhardesian cigar from a stained cedar humidor with the ARN coat of arms carved in its lid, "Increase patrols in the security zone, make sure the boys at Maritime Patrol know what's up, just in case their planes come across any boomers or attack boats."

"Aye-aye, sir," Said the lieutenant as he exited the office with a salute, the admiral breaking off the end of the cigar and lighting it with a long-stick match.