- 5 months ago
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Short filmTranscript
00:00It's morning on January 19th, 1991,
00:04and a pair of F-15C Eagles are on an escort mission over Iraq
00:09as part of Operation Desert Storm.
00:11Captain Cesar Rico Rodriguez and his wingman Captain Craig Moll Underhill
00:17are clearing the skies ahead of a formation of 36 aircraft
00:21tasked with striking targets near Baghdad.
00:24Behind them, there are waves of F-16s making their runs,
00:28diving with 2,000-pound general-purpose bombs.
00:32They release them and the ordnance drops straight onto the Iraqi ammunition depots.
00:37Giant explosions rise from the desert.
00:40They're expecting anti-aircraft missiles and the F-16s pull hard up,
00:44releasing chaff and flares at the same time.
00:47But instead of missiles, the Iraqi Air Force has dispatched
00:51two pairs of the most advanced fighters at their disposal,
00:55MiG-29 Fulcrums.
00:58Outnumbered, the Iraqis have been keeping their distance,
01:01searching for an opportunity to strike,
01:03when they're told of two F-15s, perfect targets.
01:08It's their chance, and the pair of Fulcrums races to intercept.
01:13In the F-15, Rico gets a message from his AWACS controller, Mark White.
01:18Rico, you have two hostile contacts.
01:20One bearing 0-4-0 for 3-5, second is 3-4-0 for 6-5.
01:24Roger, we'll pick the 0-4-0.
01:26Rico chooses the most threatening target, and they turn to engage.
01:30The F-15's front-facing radars detect the contact, and it appears on their screen.
01:35Contact!
01:36But it's not the only warning.
01:38On another screen, a 29 appears.
01:42It's his radar warning receiver, or RWR,
01:45a device that tells him when enemy radars can spot him.
01:49I'm being painted.
01:50MiG-29.
01:51I see it.
01:52Rico and Mole brace for action.
01:54The two pairs of enemies, both fourth-generation fighters,
01:58have each other in their sight, and are heading towards each other in a supersonic joust.
02:04Rico selects an AIM-7 Sparrow missile.
02:08But the Iraqis have a plan.
02:10They dive far below the F-15s, attempting to use the ground clutter to conceal themselves from the radar.
02:17But it doesn't work.
02:19Aboard his F-15, Rico sees the single fuzzy contact split into two well-defined targets.
02:26I gotcha. It's two versus two.
02:28Rico selects one of the contacts and locks it in.
02:31Aboard the fulcrum, the pilot sees his radar warning receiver light up with the wail of a lock alert.
02:38But the Iraqis have yet another ace up their sleeve.
02:41They bank to the side, and suddenly the warnings go silent.
02:45Rico's finger hovers over the weapon's release button,
02:48when the radar contacts suddenly vanish from its screen.
02:52I lost it.
02:53It's a blind spot in the F-15's radar.
02:55Objects moving perpendicular to them are invisible, and the MiG-29s are exploiting it perfectly.
03:02Rico's frustrated, but it's a known tactic.
03:05The enemy reappears on radar, 12 nautical miles away.
03:08Contact.
03:09He locks it in one more time, but doesn't fire.
03:12The AIM-7 Sparrow needs him to maintain lock throughout the missile's entire flight,
03:17and he knows the enemy are going to re-enter the blind spot before the missile has a chance to catch them.
03:22Once again, the enemy disappears.
03:25Lost it again.
03:26The MiG-29s keep maneuvering across the sky, toying with the F-15's radar.
03:31Contact.
03:32Constantly blinking in and out from Rico's screen, keeping 12 nautical miles of separation.
03:37Lost it again.
03:38Rico can see what they're doing.
03:40The fulcrums are dragging them along.
03:43Over at the AWACS, Mark White keeps an eye on the situation.
03:47As the F-15s make their move, they leave the airspace that Mark's responsible for,
03:52and following protocol, he hands over Rico and Mol to another AWACS controller.
03:58Rico and Mol keep up the chase across the sky when suddenly their RWR beeps with alarm
04:04and starts filling with detections up ahead.
04:07It's an entire field of S-125 NAVA surface-to-air missiles set up to defend Baghdad.
04:15The enemy's trying to pull them into a killing field.
04:19They're dragging us into the city's anti-air.
04:21What are we gonna do?
04:22Rico checks in with the strike force and listens to the F-16s making their runs.
04:27If he and his wingman fly away, then the F-16s will be definitely intercepted by the MiGs.
04:33He makes a daring choice.
04:34Hold position.
04:35Keep pushing the bandits away until the strikes are done.
04:38Then we can get out of here.
04:40They hold their altitude and deliberately continue heading towards the enemy trap,
04:44buying the strike force the time it needs.
04:47The RWR clicks every time the enemy radars scan the F-15s and they hear them getting more frequent by the second.
04:56But the Iraqis still have a cunning plan.
04:59They know the Americans can see the missiles.
05:02They're not the trap.
05:03They're the distraction.
05:05A third, MiG-29, charges towards the F-15s from their left side, out of view from the F-15s front-facing radar,
05:14and with its own radar turned off so as not to appear in the F-15's RWR.
05:19Despite the fight no longer in his area of responsibility, in his AWACS Mark White continues to take glances at the developing situation.
05:28He sees the new enemy approaching the scene and immediately realizes the danger.
05:33But for some reason the F-15s are not evading the incoming contact.
05:37They keep flying straight even as the bandit gets within 18 nautical miles.
05:42White gets nervous.
05:43It's well within the range of the R-27 missiles.
05:4616 miles and there's still no reaction from the F-15s.
05:50He thinks about saying something on the radio, but he worries that if he disturbs them in the middle of battle, it could make the situation worse.
05:5715 miles and still no reaction.
06:0014 miles.
06:01White decides to act.
06:03Pop-up contacts.
06:04330 degrees for 13 miles.
06:06It's right in the nick of time.
06:07Rico hears the call and instantly drops his fuel tanks and pulls hard towards the new contact with vapor covering his wings.
06:14The moment his nose points towards the incoming fulcrum, it appears on his radar.
06:19Just 8 miles away.
06:21Well inside the range of each other's missiles.
06:24At the same time, the Iraqi pilot flying blind without his radar is informed the Americans are right in front of him.
06:32He turns on his radar and Rico appears on his screen.
06:38With this act, the ominous 29 appears on Rico's RWR.
06:42The two cutting-edge fighters are now aware of one another and are approaching at supersonic speeds.
06:48Rico selects the target on his display and locks it in, but he doesn't fire.
06:53The rules of engagement are that all contacts detected within 10 miles must be identified visually in cases of friendly F-117 Nighthawk.
07:02Even with the 29 on the RWR and the imminent danger, Rico holds fire and orders Mole to run friend or foe ID on the contact.
07:11But there's no time.
07:12The Iraqi selects Rico's aircraft and locks him.
07:16Rico's RWR screams with a lock alert.
07:19I'm getting spiked.
07:20He immediately turns upside down and dives, releasing radar reflective chaff.
07:25I'm getting low.
07:26The terrain will confuse this targeting system.
07:28But it doesn't work.
07:30The RWR continues screaming in his ear, warning him of impending doom as he races down from 30,000 feet at the speed of sound.
07:39Rico whips his head left and right, desperate to spot the enemy.
07:42Mole locks the target, his finger hovering over the weapon's release button as he runs an ID procedure with the help of intelligence aircraft.
07:50The seconds feel eternal as they finally clear him to engage.
07:55He's given the all clear and presses the button.
07:57Box one.
07:58The aim 7 sparrow shoots off from under the F-15 in a plume of smoke.
08:03Rico sees it streak across the sky, the smoke trail passing between his tails.
08:07He follows a smoke trail with his eyes and finally sees the MiG-29 aiming his nose down towards him.
08:15But it never gets to fire.
08:17The sparrow rushes in and strikes it square on the nose.
08:21There's a giant flash and the MiG-29 disintegrates, tearing apart into a black smudge of oil and parts.
08:28Splash one.
08:29A wave of relief washes over Rico as he pulls out from the dive at just 500 feet high.
08:35But over at the AWACS, White can see.
08:38It's not over.
08:39Second group, north, 10 miles.
08:41Rico scans the skies.
08:43He considers turning away.
08:45By now, the strike package of F-16s is already heading home.
08:49So they've no reason to hang about.
08:51But the enemy is too close for comfort.
08:53They could be shot from behind.
08:55They need to fight.
08:57Rico turns north and the enemy appears on his screen.
09:00It's just beyond 10 miles, so he's clear to shoot it down.
09:04He runs an identification procedure.
09:06It's hostile.
09:07He selects the contact on his radar screen and locks the target.
09:11In the enemy plane, the Iraqi hears the lock alert and he breaks into a sharp evasive maneuver.
09:17But it makes no difference.
09:19Rico's lock holds strong as his finger hovers over the button.
09:22He lights up as a diamond on my scope.
09:25Say again?
09:26It goes from a solid radar contact to a diamond, which tells me he's friendly.
09:30Mole's systems have identified the contact as a friendly aircraft.
09:33In that moment, Mole is overtaken by a cold sense of dread.
09:37But Rico's confident.
09:39It has to be another MiG.
09:40But he needs to prove it with his eyes.
09:43The two prepare for the fight.
09:45Rico elects to identify the target and Mole gets ready to take the shot.
09:49Rico races towards the enemy, which is coming straight towards and above him.
09:53He keeps low, letting the bogey get closer.
09:56Then he pulls up.
09:58Engines burning at full throttle.
10:01He can see the belly of the bogey right in front of him.
10:04But it's still hard to tell what it is with the bright sky as background.
10:08He holds his F-15 in his path until…
10:12Rico's F-15 roars within 50 feet of the bandit.
10:15And as he does, he finally gets a good view of the enemy's top side.
10:20With its green camouflage, which is proudly displaying the Iraqi flag.
10:26It's a MiG-29!
10:29Rico makes a wide turn left as he soars over the MiG.
10:33Looking down through his canopy, he sees the MiG performing a flat turn left, holding his altitude.
10:39In that instant, he spots an opening.
10:41And the fancy shooter eye formation goes out the window.
10:45It's a dogfight.
10:46He turns upside down and pulls hard on the stick, cutting into the MiG's circle.
10:51He's crushed by 10 Gs of force, pushing the F-15 to its limits.
10:55He sees the MiG roar past in front of him.
10:58And he pulls hard left to follow.
11:00Rico sees the MiG flying away.
11:02But he knows he has the advantage.
11:04The MiG pushes down, trading altitude for speed.
11:07Rico follows him, spiraling down towards the desert floor as the paths of both jets converge.
11:14Rico sees a MiG scream through the merge.
11:17He's getting closer!
11:19He pulls hard, feeling the blood rushing down from his head.
11:23As he does everything to bring the Fulcrum into his sights.
11:28Far above, Mole can see his leader tangling with the enemy and spots an opportunity.
11:33I can come in. Standby!
11:35But Rico can feel it. This one is his.
11:38He sees the MiG coming back and they roar past one another.
11:42He almost has him, but they can't keep up the trajectory as they're rapidly running out of altitude.
11:48Rico pulls with all he has, powering through 10 Gs of force.
11:52Through the crushing Gs, he sees the beautiful sight of the Fulcrum moving into his sights.
11:59Rico selects an A9 Sidewinder and starts to pull, aiming ahead of the MiG for the best chance of impact.
12:05But the Iraqi pilot sees it and a desperate last ditch attempt, he turns upside down and pulls hard towards the ground.
12:12Rico's ready for the Iraqi to try something, but he's shocked to see the MiG dive straight for the sand.
12:18He doesn't even think of following and pulls up to the left, letting the MiG go.
12:23The Iraqi pilot starts to pull up and is crushed by extreme G forces as his plane continues towards the ground.
12:29The sand fills his windshield as he pushes the afterburners to maximum.
12:33His MiG's screaming as it pulls beyond its G limits.
12:36He's doing everything to bring the nose up.
12:38But it's not enough.
12:44And the MiG 29 Fulcrum and its Iraqi pilot crash into the desert sand.
12:50Rico's heart races as he comes down from the adrenaline high.
12:55He's won.
12:57Mole appears two miles off his right.
13:00Tactical, right side.
13:01And Rico can finally afford to relax.
13:04Let's go home.
13:05Chesar Rico Rodriguez would tally up three victories total in his career,
13:11making him tied for the top spot of MiG victories for pilots after Vietnam.
13:16We hope both pilots like our film.
13:20It was close today.
13:21Two same generation fighters.
13:23True.
13:24Not like when our F-16s ate hots for breakfast.
13:26Watch the full film here.
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