Tipping Point 05.Korea by John O'Brien

Author:John O'Brien [John O'Brien]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2023-03-10T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eight

35,000 feet over central South Korea

2 August, 2021

When an RQ-4 slid into position on the eastern seaboard, the second E-8C monitoring the eastern and central sections of South Korea moved toward its new mission. Given the rough terrain and its ability to mask much from the aerial command center, especially with the wide track it had to cover, the JSTARS moved to focus on the central mountains. As it entered its new racetrack pattern, the radar sensors were able to focus more on the North Korean valleys that led south. There, the operators were able to identify some additional traffic heading through the ravines. However, as expected, there weren’t many enemy formations angling toward the central region. To verify that and in order to get a deeper look into the rugged terrain, the onboard operations officer ordered the modified 707 to move farther north.

* * * * * *

The North Korean valleys north of the DMZ were crowded with attack fighters from all nations involved. The American F-16s had already cleared to the south, with the A-10s still working their way along their egress routes. Higher up, just above the sharp crests, flew the remnants of the North Korean Air Force, the survivors scurrying back to their bases or roads that served as emergency runways. Higher still were the South Koreans in their F-16s and F-35s that continued to harass their North Korean counterparts.

Grigori and the other four Mig-29s of his flight shared those valleys, although he was unaware of just how crowded the airspace actually was. He and the others, flying low-level with their equivalent of the American LANTIRN (Low-Altitude Navigation and Targeting Infrared for Night) system, had their radars in standby mode. He didn’t want to emit any electronic signals and alert the Americans in their electronic warfare aircraft and their airborne command posts.

In order to remain off radar, he was doing his best to stay glued to the southern slopes north of the ridge lines. That gave him the best odds of using the terrain to mask himself from the American E-3s and E-8s that had to be orbiting south of the DMZ. When he could, he would quickly skirt to an adjacent valley, gradually working his way south as he flew east. The tactic seemed to be working so far as his threat warning systems remained silent, only occasionally chirping as he flew over a saddle or ravine into the next valley.

Flying just scant feet above the treetops, the Russian Federation major could swear he heard and felt the scrape of branches against the underside of his wing. He could feel the tension in his neck and shoulders from having to concentrate so intently, but it was crucial if he was to circumvent the American technological advantage.

Coming up on an intersection of valleys, his running east-west, and the cross one heading north-south, he damn near crashed into the hillside he was racing along. First one, and then a second A-10 emerged from the north side of the intersection, crossing in front of the Mig’s nose before vanishing south.

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