France | Exercise Golden Citadel

[Deleted member 5]

École de l'air
"Exercise Golden Citadel"
TOP SECRET & CLASSIFIED
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Course Name: Combat Pilot Training Skills trained: Advanced Air Force Fighter Pilot Training Location: Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, France Exact Location: TOP SECRET

Involved Fighter Units​

Air Force Squadron | Number of Participants & Aircraft	Aircraft That Will Be Part of Training
1st MRCA Squadron | 20 pilots & 30 Aircrews | 12 unit of Dassault Rafale B​	​
2nd MRCA Squadron | 10 Pilots & 20 Aircrews | 12 unit of Dassault Mirage 2000C​	​
Trainer Squadron | 20 Pilots & 30 Aircrews | 12 unit of Dassault/Dornier Alpha Jet​	​

Other Equipment Will Be Involved in Exercise Golden Citadel
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3 units of TRS 3445 Suricate Radar

2 units of RAC-3D Tactical 3D Radar

4 units Crotale NG MK3 Surface to Air Missile System

The course lasts 2 weeks, afterwards the following insignia would be given to the participants, indicating they mastered the given skill: Fighter Pilot Badge with 1 Star
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[Jamie]

⌈ NATIONAL ECONOMICS ⌋ Billed

THREAD HAS BEEN CHARGED​

 

[Deleted member 5]

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The 1st MRCA Squadron from Saint-Dizier – Robinson Air Base, the each of 12 unit of Dassault Rafale B would be armed up (Guns: 1× 30 mm (1.2 in) GIAT 30/M791 autocannon with 125 rounds, Hardpoints: 14 for Air Force versions [Rafale B], with a capacity of 9,500 kg (20,900 lb) external fuel and ordnance and provisions to carry combinations of missiles with Air-to-air: Magic II, MBDA MICA IR, MBDA Meteor, Air-to-ground: MBDA Apache ,MBDA Storm Shadow/SCALP-EG, AASM-Hammer (SBU-38/54/64), GBU-12 Paveway II, GBU-22 Paveway III, GBU-24 Paveway III, GBU-49 Enhanced Paveway II, AS-30L, Mark 82, Air-to-surface: MBDA AM 39-Exocet anti-ship missile, Nuclear Deterrence: ASMP-A nuclear missile) with necessary armaments. After load up is complete, 20 pilots would hop on the 12x Rafale B and remaining 30 airmen would board on the bus which would take them to Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, Air Force Training Academy. 12 units of Rafale B would be fully fueled and fully armed and took off from Saint-Dizier – Robinson Air Base. The Destination is Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, Air Force Training Academy. It would take them to reach 30 mins. The radars:

TRS 3445 Suricate Radar, RAC-3D Tactical 3D Radar, Crotale NG MK3 Surface to Air Missile System would be deployed to scan airspace. After landing these Rafale B’s, French Pilots would their Commanders at the HQ, where they discuss about training exercise.

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[Deleted member 5]

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The 2nd MRCA Squadron of Nancy - Ochey Air Base, the each of 12 unit of Dassault Mirage 2000C would be armed up (Guns: 2× 30 mm (1.18 in) DEFA 554 revolver cannon, 125 rounds per gun, Hardpoints: 9 total (4× under-wing, 5× under-fuselage) with a capacity of 6,300 kg (13,900 lb) external fuel and ordnance, Rockets: Matra 68 mm unguided rocket pods, 18 rockets per pod, Air-to-air: 2× Matra R550 Magic-II and 2× Matra Super 530D (Mirage 2000 C), Bombs: Mark 82 unguided bomb, Guided: PGM 500 and PGM 2000 modular guided bombs, 2× AS-30L laser-guided missile, 2× GBU-12 laser-guided bombs, 1× GBU-16 laser-guided bomb, 1× GBU-24 laser-guided bomb, 2× GBU-49 laser-guided bombs, 1× ASMP-A tactical nuclear cruise missile, 1x Spice 2000) with necessary armaments. After load up is complete, 10 pilots would hop on the 12x Mirage 2000C and remaining 20 airmen would board on the bus which would take them to Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, Air Force Training Academy.

The 12 units of Mirage 2000C would be fully fueled and fully armed and took off from Nancy - Ochey Air Base. The Destination is Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, Air Force Training Academy. It would take them to reach 30 mins.

The radars: TRS 3445 Suricate Radar, RAC-3D Tactical 3D Radar, Crotale NG MK3 Surface to Air Missile System would be deployed to scan airspace. After landing these Mirage 2000C’s, French Pilots would their Commanders at the HQ, where they discuss about training exercise.

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[Deleted member 5]

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The trainer squadron of Paris Air Base, the each of 12 unit of Dassault/Dornier Alpha Jet would be armed up (Guns: One 27 mm Mauser BK-27 Revolver cannon in centreline gun pack with 120 rounds or one 30 mm DEFA in centerline pod with 150 rounds, Rockets: Two Matra rocket pods with eighteen SNEB 68 mm rockets each or two CRV7 rocket pods with nineteen 70 mm rockets each, Missiles: Two AIM-9 Sidewinders; two Matra Magic IIs; two AGM-65 Mavericks, Bombs: 2,500 kg (5,500 lb) of payload on five external hardpoints, including a variety of bombs such as the Hunting BL755 cluster bomb or Drop tanks for extended range) with necessary armaments. After load up is complete, 20 pilots would hop on the 12x Dassault/Dornier Alpha Jet and remaining 30 airmen would board on the bus which would take them to Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, Air Force Training Academy. The 12 units of Dassault/Dornier Alpha Jet would be fully fueled and fully armed and took off from Paris Air Base. The Destination is Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, Air Force Training Academy. It would take them to reach 30 mins.

The radars: TRS 3445 Suricate Radar, RAC-3D Tactical 3D Radar, Crotale NG MK3 Surface to Air Missile System would be deployed to scan airspace. After landing these Dassault/Dornier Alpha Jets, French Pilots would their Commanders at the HQ, where they discuss about training exercise.

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[Deleted member 5]

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After the necessary maintenance and refueling is complete, Few experienced pilots are assigned into Alpha Jet to roleplay as "Aggressor" against all other Rafale B and Mirage 2000 C pilots.

This first course will focus on improving the French fighter pilots offensive capabilities.

Considering the relevance of dog fighting at short-range by highlighting the importance of the position relative to the opponent. Focus would be made on maneuverability and short range combat tactics. Out performance of another pilot and that pilot's aircraft is critical to maintain the upper-hand.

The considered "basic" maneuvers, which the pilots would have already seen during their instruction, would be reviewed and the pilots mastery of them improved.

These maneuvers are identified as:

• Combat spread
• Pitchback
• Bell Tailslide
• Split S
• Immelmann turn
• Thach Weave
• Scissors
• Chandelle

All squadrons would make a total of 30 sorties during this course, plus participate in a series of theoretical classes conducted on ground and with the use of simulators.

No live-fire exercises are scheduled during this course.

Before the start of each sortie, all aircraft would be subject to the routine check and fully fueled.

 

[Deleted member 5]

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The first sorties would focus on the initial maneuvers a pilot usually executes while engaging an enemy aircraft or aircraft in dogfight.

Combat spread is one of the most elemental maneuvers for pre-positioning before engaging. A pair of attacking aircraft will separate. The fighter with the lower altitude becomes the defender, while the wingman flies above in "the perch" position. The defender will then attempt to lure their opponents into a good position to be attacked by the wingman.

This maneuver would be confronted with defensive splits, that basically consist of a pair of fighters splitting into opposite directions, forcing the attackers to follow only one aircraft. This allows the other defender to circle around, and maneuver behind the attackers.

This first drill would be carried out by each squadrons designating attacker and defender pairs and pairing them up against each other, trying to get missile locks short-ranged or machine gun barrage (simulated). Once complete, they would exchange roles. The first 3 sorties would consist of this exercise.

Sorties 4 to 8 would consists of a similar procedure, but the defensive maneuvers would be expanded with the implementation of "sandwich" maneuvers (two defenders flying side by side at the same altitude and when an attacker maneuvers onto the tail of one aircraft, the defender will make a sharp turn away from the wingman. Simultaneously, the wingman turns in the same direction as the defender. When both fighters turn 90 degrees, they will come into single-file alignment with each other, "sandwiching" the attacker in the middle. Because the attacker is distracted chasing the defender, this allows the wingman to because maneuver onto the attacker's tail for an easy shot.

As well as making "breaks" (at the moment the attacker is spotted incoming from behind, the defender will breaks. The maneuver consists of turning sharply across the attacker's flight path, to increase angle off tail, exposing the attacker's guns for only a brief instant.


All squadrons would carry out this first 8 sorties.

 

[Deleted member 5]

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The pilots would continue their training, always according to the plan, and involving all Fighter & Trainer Squadrons in the French Air Force.

The maneuvers to be practiced would get increasingly more difficult and demanding. As a new way to counter an enemy aircraft "breaking", the pilots would now practice once more (like they did during initial training) the famous "barrel roll". This maneuver consists of performing a roll and a loop, completing both at the same time, resulting in a helical roll around a straight flight path and a virtual 90 degree turn, using all three dimensions, in the direction opposite of the roll. The move culminates with the attacker aircraft's nose pointed in the direction of the defender's travel.

This move would be practice by facing flights of 2 aircraft against each other and trying to outmaneuver with the this tactics. Once complete, the roles would be exchanged in order to both groups be attacker and defender.

Sorties 9 to 10 would consist of this practice.

Afterwards, on sorties 11 to 14, the pilots would expand their "generic" barrel roll with the more demanding and difficult Lag displacement roll and High-g barrel roll.

The first one is used to reduce the angle off tail by bringing the attacker from lead pursuit to pure, or even lag pursuit. The maneuver is executed by rolling up and away from the turn, then, when the aircraft's lift vector is aligned with the defender, pulling back on the stick, bringing the fighter back into the turn.

The second is a combination of a loop and a snap roll. A high g barrel roll is a last-ditch defensive maneuver, performed when the attacker has achieved a suitable guns solution, in order to cause an overshoot. The high-g barrel roll is a violent maneuver which is performed much more aggressively than a normal barrel roll.

Once again, these maneuvers would be trained by facing 2 times and exchange roles (attacker/defender).

All pilots would carry out this exercises in order to gain mastery of the different types of barrel rolls.

 

[Deleted member 5]

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Continuing with the Exercise Golden Citadel, Fighter Training Program, the Squadrons would now begin working on improving their executions of High-side guns pass, Immelmann Turns and Split-S.

The first one is basically a tactic to be employed on the offensive in those case where the attacker has achieved a high altitude advantage vis a vis the target aircraft. It consists of a powered dive toward the rear quarter of a lower flying opponent. Shooting with the cannons in a single, high-speed pass, the attacker uses excess kinetic energy to disengage from the fight in a zoom climb back to a safe altitude, restoring the potential energy allowing so the attacker to set up another attack and dive again. A high-side guns pass is a very effective tactic against a more maneuverable opponent, where the turning battle of a dogfight is best avoided.

The second maneuver, the Immelmann Turn, is essentially a trade-off between airspeed in favor of altitude at a 180° change in direction. The aircraft performs the first half of a loop, and when completely inverted, rolls to the upright position.

Finally, the Split-S is the opposite of the Immelmann Turn, consisting of rolling inverted and pulling back on the stick, diving the aircraft into a half loop, which changes the aircraft's direction 180°.

The pilots would practice the maneuvers first alone, and then in simulated dogfights, were pairs of aircraft act as defenders and others as attackers, exchanging roles in order to both sides train and practice all maneuvers.

Flights 15 to 18 would consist of this exercises.

 

[Deleted member 5]

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Training would continue with more maneuvers being practiced up to perfection.

In this next few sessions, focus would be put on low and high Yo-Yo maneuvers. The low yo-yo consists in sacrificing altitude for an instantaneous increase in speed, with the aim to make the objective overshoot. This maneuver is accomplished by rolling with the nose low into the turn, and dropping into a steeper slice turn. By utilizing some energy that was stored in the vertical plane, the attacker can quickly decrease range and improve the angle of the attack, literally cutting the corner on the opponent's turn.

Instead, the high yo-yo maneuver usually follows the execution of a low one and is very difficult to counter. It is used to slow the approach of a fast moving attacker while conserving the airspeed energy. The maneuver is performed by reducing the angle at which the aircraft is banking during a turn, and pulling back on the stick, bringing the fighter up into a new plane of travel. The attacker then rolls into a steeper pitch turn, climbing above the defender.

The high yo-yo maneuver has also a defensive variant, which will also be reviews during these sessions due to its close relation with the standard high yo-yo maneuver. This maneuver is performed when the attacker rolls away from the turn to begin the correction. The defender will begin to relax the turn by easing off of the stick, called "unloading", which causes both turn radius and speed to increase, restoring the fighter's lost energy. If the defender maintains the same angle of bank, the subtle maneuver will be very difficult for the attacker to spot. When the attacker completes the out-of-plane maneuver, the defending fighter has regained some of its energy. This allows the defender to, once again, turn harder into the attack, regaining an angular advantage over the higher energy attacker. If the attacker is surprised by the maneuver, a high Yo-Yo defense might even cause an overshoot.

As with all previous sessions, the Squadrons would split in groups and face each other in dogfight drills, having to put into use the maneuvers reviewed. Once complete, roles would be exchange in order for all participants to practice both sides of the drill.

 

[Deleted member 5]

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Next up on schedule would be the practice of the different types of "Scissors" maneuvers. Sorties 20 to 22 will be dedicated to this.

The so called "scissor" maneuvers are a set of turn reversals and flight path overshoots intended to slow the relative forward motion of the aircraft in an attempt to either force a dangerous overshoot, on the part of the defender, or prevent a dangerous overshoot on the attacker's part. The defender's goal is to stay out of phase with the attacker, trying to prevent a guns solution, while the attacker tries to get in phase with the defender. The advantage usually goes to the more maneuverable aircraft.

On turn, the Scissor maneuvers can be divided into three groups: Aggressor Dassault Rafale B vs. Mirage 2000C & Dornier Alpha Jet respective aircraft.

- Flat scissors
- Rolling scissors

The first one is usually executed after a low-speed overshoot in a horizontal direction, while the latter are more common to happen after a high-speed overshoot from above.

As usual, the exercises would be conducted by splitting the groups and making teams of 3 face each other, later on exchanging roles.

 

[Deleted member 5]

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With 22 successful sorties, during which all pilots have retrained and improved their dog-fighting skills by carrying out multiple times several offensive and also defensive maneuvers, the last 3 flights would be destined for the Squadrons to carry out a competition to determine the best dog-fighters in each fighter squadrons. The pilots would conduct each of them 6 combat simulations paired up against the same amount of opponents, 2 per sortie.

The pilots who after all 6 "combat" achieved the best win/loss ratio and kill count would earn a special distinction as the most proficent fighter in its Squadron, and also elegible for future elite training and courses within the French Air Force. During this final exam, the pilots would be indicated to carry out as many, and in the most efficient way, of the maneuvers practiced. The combats would be reviewed by experts and graded for internal purposes. After all 30 sorties have been finally completed, the pilots would obtain their advanced air wing badges and return to normal duties, awaiting further training courses.

Training has been completed. The 12 unit of Dassault Rafale B would return to Saint-Dizier – Robinson Air Base, 12 unit of Dassault/Dornier Alpha Jet would return to Paris Air Base and lastly, 12 unit of Dassault Mirage 2000C would return to Nancy - Ochey Air Base along with all personnel. Again, all personnel and air assets has been returned to their respective bases. These pilots are awaiting for next phase of training.