Chapter 134 - Ambush
At this time, ten Tomcat fighter jets were providing final guidance for their Phoenix missiles from an altitude of 10,000 meters above Hokkaido. They had been flying at low altitude, waiting in ambush for Soviet fighters.
Last time, the MiG-25s had broken through the carrier battle group's defenses and flew over the Kitty Hawk. When photographs of the overflight were delivered to the carrier's captain, Colonel Steve's hands had shaken with fury.
It was a humiliation for the Kitty Hawk, for U.S. forces in Japan, and for the entire U.S. Navy. This insult could not go unanswered.
Dealing with the MiG-25 effectively required missiles that could operate above 30,000 meters. Standard ship-based or ground-launched missiles lacked this capability. But the Phoenix missile, when modified, could meet this demand.
Although only the AIM-54A was currently deployed, after adjustments to its software and trajectory profile, it could now reach targets at 30,000 meters. This modification had taken time, as had the deployment of F-15s to Japan. These delays explained the late response to the downing of the civilian airliner by the Soviets. Only Vice Admiral Jonard Williams of the Seventh Fleet knew the full background.
Originally, the Kitty Hawk was to respond independently, but lacking sufficient capacity to counter the MiG-25 threat alone, the Navy collaborated with the Air Force. The Tomcats were deployed in ambush, patrolling low over Hokkaido to avoid radar detection. Once Soviet MiG-25s were detected by early warning aircraft, the Tomcats ascended rapidly to 10,000 meters and launched their missiles.
To cover their tracks, the F-15s engaged in feint maneuvers, using radar illumination to disguise the source of the Phoenix launch.
The Phoenix missiles climbed to 30,000 meters and sped toward their targets 60 kilometers away. The goal: destroy the MiG-25s and ease American fears about the Soviet high-speed interceptor.
A full-scale war was unlikely. Both sides were nuclear powers. Instead, Cold War confrontations often took the form of controlled regional engagements.
The Phoenix missiles were close to impact when Andrei, having identified the Tomcats' ambush, realized the threat. The DSQ-26 radar in each missile had locked on to its target.
Each Tomcat had fired two missiles. Every MiG-25 now had two Phoenixes hunting it.
Bright glints appeared in Andrei's vision—the incoming missiles. If these had been AIM-120s, they might already have scored kills. Fortunately, the AIM-54A had a limited maximum overload of 17g and was already in its unpowered flight phase.
Andrei acted immediately. He pushed the control stick forward and dove.
The altimeter's needle spun downward—25,000 meters, 24,000, 23,000...
The Phoenix missiles followed, their onboard radars tracking Andrei's MiG-25. But they were flying into a trap.
At 15,000 meters, Andrei pulled the stick back. The MiG-25 responded instantly. Its control surfaces were highly effective at this altitude. The aircraft pulled out of the dive and began to climb.
The pursuing missiles struggled to keep up. One lost lock entirely; the other tried to match the climb but lacked the energy. In moments, it lost ground and eventually self-destructed.
Andrei had evaded both Phoenixes. But danger still loomed.
Just as he began his maneuver, an F-15 fired a Sparrow missile. The U.S. Air Force and Navy were coordinating their strikes—first the Phoenix, then the Sparrow. The layered assault strategy aimed to ensure no escape.
The MiG-25 remained in danger. The hunt continued.