Crossing Savage (33 page)

Chapter 35

October 16

Airspace Over Venezuela

The Raptors were returning
to their respective stations, circling above each B-2. Meanwhile, activity at La Carlota Air Base in Caracas was heating up. A Global Hawk observed three Mi-35 Hind helicopter gunships take to the air. The air defense radar had achieved a brief lock on the B-2 prior to being destroyed by a HARM missile fired from the B-2. Now it appeared that the Hinds were being vectored toward the palace by air control—not attack—radar. Since the mission objectives included specifically limiting collateral damage to civilian infrastructure, the rules of engagement allowed only targeting radar to be attacked with the HARM anti-radiation missiles.

A helicopter gunship was not considered a credible threat to the B-2, yet under the current circumstances it was possible that the Hind could get a lucky missile shot if it was vectored close enough to the B-2.

Another concern was that the three Hinds would be moving much more slowly than the fighter jets and consequently, the Hinds just might visually detect the Global Hawk and Predator UAVs flying over the airbase. These factors were the subject of an urgent meeting onboard Thor.

Clustered in front of four flat-screen color monitors depicting the unfolding events in and around Caracas and Tegui Airbase, Colonel Horn stood with arms folded tightly across his chest, debating the unfolding events with two Air Force captains.

“They could just be redeploying to the palace, expecting a ground attack,” suggested the first captain, referring to the Hind helicopters that had just taken off.

“Current rules of engagement limit our strike-first authorization to threats to our assets only.” This comment came from the second captain.

“I'm fully aware of that, captain,” retorted a testy Colonel Horn.

The first captain jumped in, concerned that the colonel was wavering on the issue, and he wanted to take down the Hinds rather than risk losing one or more UAVs. “Sir, as long as those Hinds are in the air, they represent a threat to our assets.”

Colonel Horn had not looked at either of his officers during the short debate, preferring to study the monitors. “Agreed. The Hinds represent a low but unacceptable threat.” He shifted his attention to the two captains. “Still, I don't want to pull off the Raptors. They are each down to three Slammers plus Sidewinders, and we can't rule out the possibility that more fighters will be scrambled. We've bloodied their nose, but this fight isn't over.”

“We can use the Predators,” offered the first captain. “We're controlling the UAVs from Thor. They're too slow to keep up with the Hinds, but if we act quickly, we can reposition this one,” he pointed at a blue triangle on the screen, “into the projected path of the Hinds. We should be able to shoot 'em down before they figure out what's going on.”

“You really think one Predator can get all three Hinds?” challenged Horn.

“We'll have the advantage of surprise. The Hinds won't be expecting a frontal attack with laser-guided munitions. The Raptors have only fired radar-guided missiles.”

“I like your thinking, but it's a stretch of the rules of engagement. Get General Hendrickson on the line. I'll need authorization for this.”

“Yes, sir!”

Colonel Horn continued to stare at the screens, focusing on the action around La Carlota Air Base. The IR image being relayed from the Global Hawk showed two fuel trucks racing toward a squadron of parked helicopters. An inset screen in the lower right corner showed the radar imagery of the three Hind gunships advancing toward the Miraflores Presidential Palace. Just then the captain returned. “General Hendrickson is on the secure line,” he said, motioning toward a handset on the bulkhead below the monitors.

“Colonel Horn, sir. We have a low-level threat. Three Hinds, direct course for the presidential palace. I am recommending that we take them out.”

“Helicopter gunships aren't much of a threat against the F-22s, and they'd have to get pretty close to the B-2 to hope for even a lucky shot.”

“We've considered that, General. There are also the Hawks, and we think they might get a visual and engage.”

General Hendrickson thought for a moment, weighing the options. “Okay, but I don't want the Raptors pulled off station unless absolutely necessary.”

“Understood. We will engage with Predators.”

“Okay, Colonel. You are authorized to take down the Hinds.”

“Thank you, sir.” He hung up the handset and then turned to the captain who had suggested the plan. “Get that Predator into position; I want those gunships out of the air!”

Controlled by two airmen through a satellite data link, the pilot flew the Predator toward the flight of Hinds as if he was flying a model airplane. Except that unlike flying a model airplane, he couldn't actually see the aircraft he was piloting. All flight data and positioning was relayed via sensors onboard the Predator as well as radar data from Thor. As the separation decreased to four miles, the second operator controlling the weapons system acquired the three helicopters and targeted the closest. The laser-guided Hellfire missile was originally designed to penetrate tanks but would perform equally well on armored gunships.

Onboard the lead Hind, the pilot had just scanned over his instrument panel. Engine function was normal, fuel load was more than adequate, heading was true. He looked forward through the clear canopy into the night sky. Against the black horizon he saw a bright flash. If it had streaked across his field of view, the pilot would have thought it a meteor or space junk falling through the atmosphere. But this bright spot seemed to waver around a fixed point directly in front of him, and it seemed to be getting larger.

It took two seconds for the pilot to comprehend what he had just seen—a delay that would prove fatal.

“Viper One to Viper flight. Incoming missile launch! Evasive action!”

The Hinds separated and ejected flares to decoy incoming heat-seeker missiles. Viper One jerked the cyclic stick to the left, causing his aircraft to bank sharply and lose altitude.

Homing in on the reflected laser beam, the incoming Hellfire was rushing toward the Hind at nearly Mach 2. The laser designator aboard the Predator was locked onto Viper One, so it continued to track the helicopter, even through its evasive maneuvers. Moments later, the Hellfire slammed into the Hind and exploded. The night sky was instantly illuminated by a brilliant white flash. The force of the explosion rippled through the airframe, fracturing the engine mounts and severing fuel lines and hydraulics. As the twin engines, still turning at high RPM, broke free with a grinding of metal, the Hind plunged and then exploded in a fireball.

“Viper Two to Viper One, over?” The radio was silent.

“Command to Viper flight. Radar tracks a slow target bearing two-seven degrees, closing on your position, approximately two miles. Likely a drone, engage and destroy.”

“Viper Two to Command. Engaging target two-seven degrees.”

The pilot in Viper Two banked his Hind to the right and flipped two switches to activate the thermal-based targeting system and power up the missile pod. Viper Two and Viper Three were armed with Chinese-made TianYan-90 heat-seeking air-to-air missiles.

“Viper Two to Viper Three. I have lock on target, firing.” In the cockpit of the Hind, the pilot raised a red-colored guard with his thumb and then depressed the button launching the missile.

At the same instant on board Thor, the two airmen controlling the Predator had achieved lock on the next Hind, Viper Two, and launched a Hellfire missile.

Viper Two and Viper Three saw the bright flash as the Hellfire's solid propellant rocket motor ignited.

“Missile launch! Evasive action!”

The pilot of Viper Two shoved the cyclic to the right and slightly forward, causing his aircraft to move sharply in the same direction and drop altitude. Now it was a race between the Hellfire and the TianYan-90, each traveling in opposite directions toward their respective targets.

The airman piloting the Predator saw it first. “Incoming missile. Fired from lead Hind.”

“Uh, roger that,” replied the airman responsible for targeting and launching weapons from the UAV. “Looks like we fired at the same time.”

“So much for surprise.”

“Doesn't look good for the Predator,” said the airman, pointing to the inset radar image. It showed the blip representing the incoming hostile missile closing the distance to the Predator faster than the Hellfire was closing on the Hind.

Seconds later the data link from the Predator went dead as the small UAV was blown into a million pieces.

Viper Two was flying at maximum speed on a course 90 degrees from its original heading. In the periphery of his vision, the pilot registered a bright flash. His larger and faster Chinese-made missile had won the race.

“Command to Viper Two, Viper Three. Target destroyed, resume course for presidential palace. Maintain military power.”

Colonel Horn was not pleased. “I want those Hinds down, Captain,” he barked.

“We don't have any other Predators in position to intercept. Recommend vectoring Knight One to intercept with Stingers.”

“Do it.”

“Thor to Knight One. Two Hinds approaching your position bearing two-four-four degrees, altitude 12,000. Range ten miles and closing. Engage with Stingers. Repeat, do not use Slammers. Over.”

“Roger,” replied Knight One. “Engage with Stingers.”

Knight One banked his aircraft onto heading two-four-four and dropped to 12,000 feet. He was approaching the Hinds head-on.

When Knight One was three miles from the Hinds, the pilot had a solid infrared lock on the massive turbine engine of the nearest helicopter, blazing hot against a cool night sky. He opened his weapons bay to fire the Sidewinder, and when he did his aircraft became visible to radar. He was just about to launch the missile when the helicopter jinked to the right and dropped altitude, discharging flares as it did. The second gunship did the same, fleeing in the opposite direction.

Clearly the Hind pilots were both skilled. They had taken evasive action and the missile lock on the nearest Hind, Viper Two, was broken. The Raptor overshot the helicopters as Viper Two continued its turn, completing 180 degrees. He was now pointed in the direction he thought the attacking aircraft had fled, but his thermal targeting system did not reveal any obvious targets.

Still, there was a slight thermal image against the cold sky. Good enough, he thought. He fired another TianYan-90 missile. It was a quick shot, without lock, and the missile missed. But it was close.

“Thor to Knight One. Bogey has fired on you. Probable heat seeker. Uh, Colonel suggests you splash these guys and return to station.”

On board Thor, Colonel Horn was growing more frustrated by the minute with the trouble these Hind helicopters were causing; especially in light of the relative ease with which his strike aircraft had previously dispatched a dozen modern fighters.