Chapter 1888 - 1405: Asymmetric Suppression

An hour ago, Kuwait, Ali Salim Air Force Base.

The runway lights and the work lights in the hangar area were on, casting huge aircraft shadows on the hardened ground.

On the tarmac, the killing machines were ready.

The scale of today's strike formation exceeded the configuration of a regular tactical mission, reflecting the importance of the target and the level of threat assessment.

In the briefing room, the mission commander pointed with a laser pointer at the dense markings on the satellite map southeast of Mosul:

"The target is the main force of the Tenth Division of the Iliko Government Army and the Kurdish Armed Ninth Brigade, about six thousand strong, equipped with tanks and artillery. Reliable intelligence confirms that they have obtained at least two complete modern air defense systems—Russia's 'Tor M2' and 'Armor S1'. This means we are facing a mechanized infantry division with medium-range integrated air defense capability. Our mission is not harassment, but suppression and destruction."

To this end, the 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing has reallocated its most elite offensive forces.

As one of the core hubs of the US Army in the Middle East, Kuwait is permanently stationed with tactical fighter squadrons conducting ground strike and air defense suppression missions.

This mission deployed a total of ten aircraft to form a fully functional "strike package":

4 F-15E "Strike Eagles" from the 494th Fighter Squadron "Black Panther." They are today's "fist," each equipped with a 5000-pound GBU-28 "Bunker Buster" laser-guided bomb on the centerline pylon under the fuselage (for potentially reinforced command posts), with six GBU-38 JDAM 500-pound Joint Direct Attack Munitions and two GBU-12 "Paveway II" laser-guided bombs mounted beneath the conformal fuel tanks on both sides.

The AN/AAQ-33 "Sniper" Advanced Targeting Pod and the AN/ALQ-135 Internal Electronic Countermeasure System have both powered on and completed self-checks.

Their mission is to destroy command nodes, artillery positions, armored groups, and logistics centers.

4 F-16CJ "Wild Weasels," from the 77th "Gambler" Fighter Squadron. They are "air defense hunters," born to suppress enemy air defense systems (SEAD).

Each aircraft carried two AGM-88E Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missiles (AARGM) under the wings, which can remember and attack off-radar, even using GPS/INS navigation to attack known coordinates.

Additionally, they carried the AN/ASQ-213 HARM targeting system and AIM-120 medium-range air-to-air missiles, AIM-9X Sidewinder for self-defense.

Their mission is to protect the entire formation, and once electronic jamming fails, immediately take out the enemy's "eyes."

2 EA-18G "Growlers" from the 134th Electronic Attack Squadron. This is the key to the mission's success, the "electronic shield" and "spectrum dominator" of the formation.

They appear bulky compared to fighters, with five ALQ-99 Tactical Jamming Pods hung under the wings and fuselage (covering multiple frequency bands), as well as the essential two auxiliary fuel tanks, ensuring they can loiter over the theater for extended periods, deploying jamming.

At the wingtips are the ALQ-218(V)2 Tactical Receiver Pods, capable of astonishing precision and sensitivity in monitoring, identifying, and locating radiation sources. They will weave an invisible electromagnetic net over the entire battlefield.

At this moment, ground personnel are conducting a final check.

On the dark green bomb body of the GBU-28, the yellow "Operation/Danger" marking was particularly striking under the light.

The hydraulic arm of the loading cart emitted a slight hiss. The fuel probe connected from the fuel truck to the aircraft, and the distinct smell of aviation fuel permeated the dry air.

The pilots had completed the briefing, dressed in G-suits, carrying helmets, and were conducting pre-flight aircraft checks.

Major Mike of the "Black Panther" squadron, callsign "Bayonet," patted the nose of his aircraft, "Death God 01," with a gloved hand.

There was a fierce black panther head painted below, with seven small bomb symbols underneath it, representing his seven successful strike missions prior.

Tonight, he hoped to add an eighth. He checked that the nose gear, navigation lights, and pitot tube cover were removed, then agilely climbed into the back seat.

The F-15E is a two-seater, with the front seat for the pilot and the back seat for the Weapon Systems Officer (WSO).

His WSO, Lieutenant Jensen, callsign "Document," was already in the front seat initiating avionics systems.

"Systems check list, from top to bottom."

Mike fastened his seatbelt, connected the G-suit and oxygen line.

"'Sniper' pod online, laser code set to 1688. JDAM coordinates fully uploaded, INS calibrated."

"Copy. Data link networking normal, Link-16 connection with 'Ghost' (Growler) and 'Gambler' (F-16) stable."

Jensen's voice came through the helmet headset, calm and clear.

Meanwhile, in the back seat of "Ghost 01" Growler, Electronic Warfare Officer (EWO) Lieutenant Larson was fully focused on his screen-filled console.

The initial data stream from satellites, early warning aircraft, and strategic electronic reconnaissance units was scrolling on the display in front of him.

Several preset threat radiation source symbols were marked on the screen, roughly located southeast of Mosul.

"The ALQ-218 is receiving background radiation signals, establishing a baseline."

Larson said to the pilot in the front seat, Major Rodriguez, callsign "Shadow."

"I can already capture some intermittent civilian radar and communication signals. The signal from the target area... still quiet. They're maintaining radio silence, or haven't powered up yet."

"Stay vigilant, Kael." Rodriguez replied: "The 'Tor' and 'Armor' power up quickly, with a short response time. We need to cover them before they lock onto our people."

"All units, start engines, prepare to taxi."

The instructions from the mission commander came through the encrypted radio.