Episode 78

Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses

SEAD missions neutralize, destroy, or temporarily degrade surface-based enemy ADs by destructive or disruptive means. SEAD must be an integral part of all planning and air operations, but the SEAD requirement will vary according to mission objectives, system capabilities, and threat complexity. SEAD operations are based upon the JAOP and the components’ suppression needs, target priorities, and availability of SEAD assets.

https://www.jcs.mil/Portals/36/Documents/Doctrine/pubs/jp3_01_pa.pdf?ver=2018-05-16-175020-290

9th Bomb Squadron (7th Bomb Wing), Angels 20, Sea of Japan

Lt. Colonel Massey checked his position carefully against the mission plan which had been downloaded into the jet before they took off from Japan. So far, right on target.

“Hey Billy, did you hear the one about the fighter jock and the BONE pilot?”

“Oh man, are we going to have fighter pilot jokes all the way down to target?”

“Yep.”

Bill, the offensive systems officer (OSO) just groaned and rechecked the programming of the missiles.

“One minute to burner. Lock your jocks gentlemen.”

“Lock your jocks?”

“The guy in that movie last night said that. I thought it sounded cool.”

“Umm. Well… It doesn’t.”

“Reaper one one to all Reapers. Down on the deck and buster. Release point in ten mikes. Billy, you upload the latest ARTE?”

“Yes sir, just a few minutes ago. Only a couple of changes.”

“Very well.”

As the squadron of B-1s lit off their afterburners, they also descended. Although the DPRK was unlikely to spot them over one hundred miles off the coast, it didn’t pay to take chances. Better a low observable approach than to lose an aircraft and crew due to carelessness.

As the squadron reached the launch point, they opened their bomb bay doors and the rotary racks began to release the 24 AGM-158s carried in each aircraft.

According to the ‘Airborne Radar threat evaluation report’ (ARTE), there were just over one hundred radar emitters in North Korea which had been stationary for 24 hours or more. This meant that a single squadron of B-1’s could target each of them with two air-launched cruise missiles with additional missiles to spare if needed.

“That’s it, RTB.”

509th Bomb Wing, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), Angels 30

“BONE strike inbound in ten.”

“Roger. How is ARTE looking?”

“Looks like about five in our sector.”

Unlike stationary radar sites, mobile sites were relatively difficult to target with long-range cruise missiles. While it was possible, the hit percentage was poor. This meant precision strikes from much closer ranges were required. For most aircraft, loitering over an enemy country waiting for them to light off their targeting radars wasn’t a recipe for long term survival.

However, the B-2 wasn’t “most aircraft.”

Although designed originally for penetrating strike missions, it turned out that being able to loiter over an enemy for long periods of time with a large bomb bay full of JDAM and JDAM-ER bombs made the B-2 an excellent SEAD platform. At 30,000 feet it was largely immune to Infrared guided missiles and the stealthy nature of the bomber made radar locks unlikely.

“Let’s get the first strike locked in. I want weapons release in six mikes.”

The latest GBU-31 JDAM had been upgraded with an anti-radiation seeker head similar to the one deployed in the AGM-88 HARM missile. This meant that the B-2 could target and strike radar sites even if they were moving.

At the moment, the DPRK was relatively quiet. All of the feints by the USA and South Korean forces over the last few weeks had eventually stopped generating reactions on the DPRK side of the DMZ. This type of “alert fatigue” was exactly what mission planners had been hoping for. Because DPRK units had limited amounts of spare parts and fuel, they were not able to remain in the field indefinitely. A series of mock attack runs had forced them to go on alert and then stand down repeatedly over the past two weeks. This series of alerts had apparently taken a toll on the DPRK’s overall readiness status.

“Weapons locked in.”

“Drop on my command. Drop. Drop. Drop.”

AS the JDAM equipped GBU-31’s left the bomb bay, the moveable tail fins allowed the seeker head to “fly” the bomb onto the target. To be fair, “fly” was a bit of a charitable description. The bombs were more like self-guided aerodynamic rocks. Very smart aerodynamic rocks. From 30,000 feet, this allowed them to attack a target up to 15 miles away.

“Hit! Good hit! I have multiple secondaries.”

Electronic Attack Squadron 133 (VAQ-133)

10 miles east DPRK, Angels five

“Feet dry in four mikes.”

“Banshee lead to all Banshees. Time to earn your pay. Let’s head downtown.”

Lieutenant Commander William “Froggy” Lake signaled to his wingman and headed for the deck. The job of the EA-18G’s of the 133rd was twofold. One was to encourage the DPRK to come out to fight. Unlike the B-1s which were long gone and the B-2s which may never get sighted by the enemy at all, the Growlers were easily visible on radar if the enemy chose to look.

In other words, they were the bait.

“Radars going down all over the map.”

“Looks like the bombers got their licks in. Let’s zero in the strays.”

“Turn right to two eight zero.”

“Target locked.”

“Shoot!”

“Missile tracking true. Hit! No emissions.”

As the planes of the 133rd spread out, they were able to detect and engage any active radars. At some point, the enemy would figure out what was happening and shut down to avoid being targeted.

“Going dark. I am losing lock.”

“Banshee Lead to all Banshees. Form up, elevator to angels five. Time to head back to the ship.”

“Sentry Seven to Bandit Lead. We have bandits rotating. Recommend heading one zero zero, expedite your exfil.”

“Banchee to Sentry. Wilco.”

“Banchee Lead to all Banshees. You heard the man, get in tight and buster. I want you feet wet in five.”

Now the race was on. The EA-18G’s of the 133rd were relatively fast, but burdened with external stores to support their electronic warfare role, they were not as fast as the fastest DPRK fighters.

This going to get hairy real quick. Where is the cover we were supposed to have?