WHITE DEATH FLIGHT -10X LCA-0630 HRS – 200 KM DUE EAST OF CAR NICOBAR
- Wing commander Sekhawat put the aircraft on a gentle turn to starboard anticipating the next order from Phalcon will be for his flight . This is a scenario he has practiced many times over Bay of Bengal with USN and RN .Only difference is this time it will for real .Also for the first time Astra will be used in combat in true beyond visual mode. The whole military world will be watching this battle .
White death flight –ocean eye – we have bogies in your area – 8 J-11 – altitude 1000 meters -distance 270 km – make altitude 100 meters till further advise –heading 030 till further advise –over
- ocean eye –white death lead – making altitude 1000 meters- speed 1100 km/hr –request weapon free
- standby white death
- white death flight-flight lead – spread out – confirm data link and IFF working –intend launching Astra salvo on clearance from ocean eye – 8 bogies –white death 1 3 5 7 will launch first – 2 4 6 will follow on –over
- white death lead –ocean eye – bogies now 180 kms – speed 1400 km/hr – course no change –altitude now 4500 meters –you are weapons free on BVR only – over
- copy that ocean eye –maintaining emcon –radar on stand by –making altitude 5000 meters – speed same – confirm weapons free –over
- stand by white death flight –clearing the friend lies
EW DELHI: India took the first step towards joining a select group of nations by successfully test-firing a prototype of the beyond visual range (BVR) air-to-air missile 'Astra' from the Chandipur interim test range on Friday.
The 'Astra' missile, on the drawing board for several years, is being developed indigenously to arm all fighters in the IAF's inventory, including the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) when it becomes fully operational by around 2010.
"This was just the first ground-launched test. Such tests will be followed by a series of in-flight tests from fighter jets. The missile will probably take five-six years to become operational," said a source.
However, the first-ever test of 'Astra' is important because BVR combat is increasingly becoming the norm, as opposed to WVR (within visual range) combat, in modern air-warfare.
"The days of aerial dog-fights are getting over...the ability to detect, track and destroy enemy aircraft much before they come in visual contact is the game now," said an expert.
Though the 3.8-m long 'Astra' version test-fired on Friday had a strike range of 25-40 km, defence scientists are looking at a 80-100 km 'head-on' range.
Powered by a solid-fuel propellant at present, the missile is to be armed with a 15-kg high explosive warhead. IAF's frontline fighters like Sukhoi-30MKIs and Mirage-2000s are currently armed with some expensive BVR missiles of French and Russian origin like the 'Matra Super 530D' and 'AA-12 Adder'.
"Astra, once ready, will prove to be more advanced and much cheaper. With a speed of more than 3,000 miles per hour, it will have micro-systems and mid-course guidance systems on board to keep after a moving target," said an official.
"It will also have electronic counter-measures to evade enemy fire," he added. Only the US, Russia and a few NATO countries have the capability to develop such a BVR air-to-air missile at present.
-white death lead-ocean eye –you are weapons free –repeat weapons free –cleared to go active now – keep this frequency open for real time update –over and good hunting .
Wing commander Sekhawat watched the target data being down loaded from the satellite hook from the Phalcon . It took almost 90 seconds as the transfer speed was not upto the mark .Moment the console indicated data transfer is complete he clicked on the air search radar and could see the 8 J-11 s in twin diamond formation bearing down on his flight . They were still outside his Astras range but with a closure speed of nearly 3000km/hr time was running out fast
-white death flight –lead –you are weapons free – cleared to go active –over
The radar warning receiver started in intermittent blip confirming he was being painted and quite a few slammers will be on their way in a matter of seconds .The powerful radar of J-11 had a distinct advantage thought he as he armed a pair of astra missiles and waited . While the J-11 s were painting him .LCA s small size and low observablity features made it difficult to develop a missile launch solution for the waiting R-77s .
At precisely 100 kms from the incoming Chinese aircraft the shoot prompt came up on the head up display .Sekhawat nudged the stick to port and the aiming circle overlaid on the target icon , two klick s and two J-11 S were marked for death ,the radar warning receiver screamed as the J-11 s launched their weapons .sekhawat waited a second more and then launched both the missiles together ,as the missiles dropped clear ,he punched out a half a dozen chaff packets and turned into the incoming missiles ,punched out another 4 chaff packets and turned at right angles .The first of the incoming R-77 flashed past the second stayed locked on .sekhawat dived for the ocean with gut wrenching negative g dive pulling out at the extreme last moment –the R-77 followed –into the ocean . He did not even have time to see the second of his Astra have scored a kill . As he pulled up his radar warning receiver screamed again and this time it was a pair of r-73 S launched by the lead J-11 . Sekhaat turned into the missiles ,punched out couple of flares and climbed for the sun ,
-white death lead – bandit 4 o clock – angels 4000 meters – engage
- copy ocean eye –turning to engage
Sekhawat turned into the new threat ,cued in by the all seeing Phalcon .He could see the sunlight glinting off its wings and then something more as the starboard wingtip of the J-11 flashed and a single R-77 headed for him in a rush of speed .Sekhawat did not hesitate as he triggered of a pair of R-73 s and then punched out a couple of bundles of chaff and tried to turn out of the engagement zone of the incoming R-77 . He was a wee bit late as the R-77 hit the tiny aircraft right under the starboard wing ripping it open from its mounts .As the tiny aircraft tumbled out of the sky into the deep blue of the ocean the last of the r-73 S fired by Sekhawat found its mark –blowing the J-11 hell and beyond
In a matter of less than 5 minutes 3 more LCA s were down and with them went down an equal number of J-11 s .Those that survived were now low on fuel and weapons and it was time for delivering the killing stroke
-white death flight – ocean eye –break out –repeat break out – heading 120 –altitude 500 meters –over
-ocean eye –white death 3 –breaking out –heading 120 –descending to 500 meters –out
BLACK EAGLE FLIGHT 6 X MIG 29 -0612 HRS
Wing commander Suman Chatterjee listened to the transmission with mounting anger ,it was obvious the LCA s were not doing too well against the heavily armed J-11s even with their superior avionics and low observability features . The tactical air net came alive with his call sign
- black eagle – ocean eye – target 5 J-11 – heading 320 –altitude – 5000 meters – engage now –you are all weapons free –repeat all weapons free –over
- ocean eye –black eagle lead –engaging now –copy weapons free
Suman liked going to combat with full power –fuel economy be damned .As he pushed the twin RD 33 engines to their full capability and the air speed indiactor jumped to 1400 km/he ,he also keyed in his team mates
- black eagle flight –black eagle lead – engage –now
The six Indian fulcrums corkscrewed into missile launch position on full afterburner. At precisely 60 km from the PLAAF flight they switched on their radar and at 50 km they launched their r-27 ER s –a pair for each of the J-11 s even before the Chinese pilots could get a lock on .The Indians fulcrums closed in as the radar warning receiver screamed warning and at launched a pair of R-73 as a follow on shot making sure nothing survives . Still a lone J-11 survived ,trying to escape with a smokey engine .
Wing commander Suman closed in ,eased back on the throttle, allowed the floating cross hair settle on the flight deck of the crippled J-11 and pressed the trigger without remorse .The last of the J-11 a simply disintegrated as the 30 mm shells fired at more than 1800 rounds per minutes ripped out the aluminum structure into bits of waste metal with a seven second burst
) the time comes!
