[Argentina] Exercise Cannae

[Naio90]

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EXERCISE CANNAE​ Classified Information ​

Operation Background

Considering the Italian Kingdom's belligerance and clear interest in igniting a major armed conflict, and aware of the usage of the F-16E Block 60 Fighting Falcon as the Italian Air Force's main aerial combat platform, the Argentine Air Force Command has decided to improve the training proficiency of the argentine pilots stationed in Alexandria by carrying out simulated encounters against that type of aircraft. Training will also include theoretical classes regarding the capabilities, strenghts and weaknesses of the F-16. Specialized skill aquired: aerial combat agains F-16 variants.

Deployed Forces

► 1st Aggressor Squadron Section A ║ 30x Personnel ║ 12x F-16E/F Block 60 ► 21st Fighter Squadron Section A ║ 30x Personnel ║ 6x Su-30MKI Section B ║ 30x Personnel ║ 6x Su-30MKI Section C ║ 30x Personnel ║ 6x Su-30MKI Section D ║ 30x Personnel ║ 6x Su-30MKI ► 22nd Fighter Squadron Section A ║ 30x Personnel ║ 6x MiG-35 Section B ║ 30x Personnel ║ 6x MiG-35 Section C ║ 30x Personnel ║ 6x MiG-35 Section D ║ 30x Personnel ║ 6x MiG-35 ► 4th Fighter Squadron Section A ║ 30x Personnel ║ 6x MiG-35 Section B ║ 30x Personnel ║ 6x MiG-35 Section C ║ 30x Personnel ║ 6x MiG-35 Section D ║ 30x Personnel ║ 6x MiG-35

Logistical Details

The exercise would take place over argentine air space in Alexandria and its surrounding and international waters in the south-east Mediterranean Sea in sector KM. All aircraft would take off fuelly fueled and manned at all times, with their systems active and different types or armament for training purposes. All operations would be carefully monitores from the ground. Special lodging would be prepared for the visiting Aggresor Squadron, their aircraft and technical equipment and spare parts. The Aircrafts from the 1st Aggressor Squadron, plus technical equipment and training utilities, would be securely shipped on the argentine merchant navy MV Tero from Buenos Aires to Alexandria through GF>HF>IF>JF>KF>KG>LH>LI>LJ>LK>KL>KM, on international waters and the Suez Canal. Navigation speed would be adapted, if necesary, to make the journey without technical stopovers. MV Tero would be fully fueled, crewed and with all its systems operating.

 

[Naio90]

With the arrival of the MV Tero to Alexandria and the offloading of the aircraft and equipment, everything would be in place to begin with the exercise.

First of all, all pilots of Fighter Squadrons 4, 21 and 22 would be gathered in the main conference room, together with the pilots of the 1st Aggresor Squadron, a set of instructors and the command of the air force detachment in Alexandria.

After the introduction, the group would be split into their original squadrons and each assigned a room, specially conditiones to hold the theoretical part of the instruction process.

The lessons would begin with comparisons between the F-16 and the fighter aircraft employed by the assisting pilots: Su-30MKI and MiG-35.

From a performance and technical point the Russian Sukhoi Su-30MKI has a big edge over the nimble and smaller F-16. The Flanker-H agility includes thrust vectoring. Canards do play some role however it plays a smaller part as this was to compensate for the heavy nose of the Flanker which required stability in the form of the canards. Furthermore, the Flanker has a long range, heavier weapons carrying capability and a slight edge in radar detection as well as carrying the much longer range R-77 Adder missile and the semi active R-27 Alamo. On the other hand, the F-16 is superior being its small size would be difficult to detect, giving the F-16 some edge on direct close range dog-fighting. Therefore, it would be prefeed to employ BVR or long-range vectors in an engagement between the Su-30MKI and the F-16.

The same would be done afterards with the MiG-35, so that the pilots have a direct cmparison between the aircrafts and can adapt a strategy on the go if they encounter one.

All would be secret.

 

[Naio90]

After 2 days of theortical lessons about the capabilities of the F-16 and direct comparisons between that aircraft and the ones operated by the Argentine Air Force, the pilots would be brought to see and inspect the F-16 parked in the hangars.

They wold be split in smaller groups and each of these would be guided by technical staff and F-16 pilots. They would explain the features they saw the days before in the theoretical lessons, including the cock-pit, the viewing angles and potential blind-spots.

The argentine pilots would learn everything they would need to know about their potential opponents, in order to be ready to move on to practical training.

All this would be done in secret.

 

[Naio90]

The Aggresor Squadron would be divided into 3 groups, each consisting of 4 F-16 and their respective crews. They would be assigned shifts and the pilots of the 4th, 21th and 22th Squadron would be divided in groups and given different timetables to go against their assigned shifts of F16's. Day and night operations would be scheduled.

One of the F16s of each shift would remain on the ground and used as back-up or reserve in case necesary. All aircraft wold depart fully fueled, crewed and with training configuration for their armament.

The first part of the training would consist in practicing long and medium-ranged detection by the pilots of the F-16 given their distinstive radar signature and considering their most probable approach altitude and direction, epxloiting them to their advantage.

This would be down in different scenarios: high-altutude approach, low altitude approach, day/night, reduced visibility and even with multiple aircrafts operating in the area to make the pilots getpractice in distinguishing the F16s patterns on their radars among a war-like scenario.

All pilots would do this on their respectively assigned slot.

Secret.

 

[Naio90]

After some flight hours practicing the detection and approach against the groups of F-16s, the program would move on to the next stage. This time, it was time to practice positioning in favorable and unfavorable circumstances in a mid to close ranged combat scenario at different altitudes.

The pilots would not only practice their own maneuvers but also witness how the F-16s managed to counter the attempts to position and get a lock and how the aircraft behaved, for example, noting the angles, speeds and climbing rates of the US made aicraft. Once accustomed to this, the argentine would be in better position to take the correct tactical decisions and in far less time, improving their odds in a direct engagement.

All pilots would do this on their respectively assigned slot. All aircraft adnc rews would receive the proper supplies and resting.

Secret.

 

[Naio90]

With the experiences learned, now the pilots and groups would move on to a more direct, closed-range combat scenario. This would allow the argentine pilots to witness from up cloase how the F-16s performed in sharp turns, climbing and falling. They would use this, in addition to the theoretical knowledge elarned int he first stage of the programm to come up with counter-maneuvers and tactics to exploit the weak points of the F-16s by achieving superior positioning and firing.

Lastly, combat simulations would be performed, where the argentine pilots in their Su-30MKI and MiG-35 would go directly against the pilots and F-16s of the Aggressor Squadron in 1 vs 1 combat and 3 vs 3. Specific rules of engagement would be set to make the argentine pilots undergo favorable and unfavorable scenarios and to push them to be prepared for all possible circumstances they could encounter on the battlefield.

This would happen above the sea and above ground terrain and in different weather conditions.

After this last stage, performed by all argentine pilots of the included squadrons, a final debriefing would be held were individual analysis would be done and final comments, remarks and calls of attention would be given to the argentine pilots by the experts.

To finish, certificates of proficiency would be xtended to the pilots and the corresponding records would be updated on their personal files.

Everythign would be prepared to ship the F-16s and their support cargo back to mainland Argentina. The pilots and crews of the 1st Aggressor Squadron would would board comemrcial flights back.

Their aircraft and cargo would be safely secured on the same merchant navy ship they used to get there and shipped back on the same route in (backwards), remainin on argentine and international waters, crossing through the Suez Canal.

Training complete.

 

[Jamie]

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