Frag Out! Magazine
Issue link: https://fragout.uberflip.com/i/713424
The third location was in Świdwin and it not only served as a place for paratroopers, but it also was a landing for Su-22 Fitters. As a part of Anakonda, „the Quick Ones" mainly performed CAS missions for the Allied troops at Drawsko, Wicko Morskie, and Wędrzyn. During episodes of Baltops, F-16 fighters also performed missions of Offensive Counter Air and Defensive Counter Air with the already mentioned units from the USA and with Eurofighters from JG 73 of Laage, as well as Swedish Gripers from the F-17 Wing of Kallinge (for example, they covered the amphibious assault in Wicko Morskie). Cover operations performed by B-52H, which operated over the Baltic Sea from the RAF base in Fairford (one of the three bombers of the 23rd Bombing Division from Minot that were stationed there) were sort of the icing on the cake – all the above mentioned aircraft formed for a moment an epic formation pictures of which became famous all over the world. Support for planes was provided by four KC-135R of the 100th ARW that were stationed in Powidz for the duration of training. Su-22 Fitters, apart from the already mentioned CAS (also during the specially celebrated DV Day, on which the guests were presented with a combined operation including F-16, Su-22, Mi-24, AH64D, Mi-17 and special forces), also performed flights for the anti-air units training in Wicko Morskie by firing SRCP-WR missile targets at 5000 meters altitude (it is a modified RS-2US missile used together with MiG-21 planes; a great stock of those missiles was left after withdrawing Fishbeds from the service). A quite unusual task was performed by one Fitter as „show of force" performed as a part of the episode „Kaper" (the Privateer). The scenario assumed a civil ship was hijacked by terrorists, unsuccessful negotiations, and taking by force. The role of Su-22 was to fly at low level and high speed that was to distract the „hijackers" and allow the attack of the operators from the GROM SMU B Squadron on RIBs and fast rope from the Mi-17 helicopters. www.fragoutmag.com