MiG-29s Go Up Against USS Stennis's F/A-18s
Soviet-designed MiG-29s flew against F/A-18C Hornets, F/A-18E
Super Hornets and F-14D Super Tomcats Sept. 7 during joint
air-to-air combat exercises over the South China Sea.
The joint Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 14/Malaysian Royal Air Force
(RAF) exercise began with Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 115 flying
the F/A-18E Super Hornet, and Fighter Attack Squadron VFA-25 flying
the F/A-18C Hornet against the RAF MiG-29s with four one-on-one
engagements, each practicing within-visual-range air-to-air combat
exercises with the historically-adversarial MiG.
The second part of the exercise involved VFA-113 flying the
F/A-18D Hornet, and Fighter Squadron (VF) 31 flying the F-14D Super
Tomcat, conducting mock "dog fight" engagements in a beyond-visual
range exercise.
Lt. Dave Faehnle, training officer for VF-31, said the
exercise was a great opportunity to fly against an aircraft that
presents a real-world threat.
"We flew two, two-on-two runs against the MiG-29s," said
Faehnle. "We achieved our mission objective, to see their aircraft
on radar and to engage a dissimilar aircraft. It was a great
opportunity to observe some of their tactics and to exercise some
of our own radar systems."
The exercise was controlled by CVW-14's Carrier Airborne Early
Warning Squadron (VAW) 113 "Black Eagles," flying E-2C
Hawkeyes.
Lt. Jill Dougherty was the air intercept control officer during
the exercise and provided battle space situational awareness to the
MiG to find their adversaries.
"It was fascinating," said the Lexington Park (MD) native, "to
control and interact with one of the most significant threats to US
military aircraft today."
Lt. Stephen Dean flew a Super Hornet against the MIG during one
of the morning engagements. According to Dean, one of the most
impressive things he saw was when "his" MiG pulled a high
performance, nine-G turn. A nine-G turn is a turn that causes the
aircraft and the pilot to experience nine times the force of
gravity.
"One of the qualities of the MiG-29 is its superb
maneuverability," said Dean, of Oak Harbor (WA).According to
VFA-115's Operations Officer, Lt. Cmdr. Keven Harms, the exercise
was considered a success.
"The opportunity to fly against the aircraft that is considered
Naval Aviation's percentage threat, the MiG-29, was truly a once in
a lifetime event and is sure to be the highlight of the cruise for
everyone who participated," he said.
Stennis is currently on a scheduled deployment to the Western
Pacific and is scheduled to return to homeport in San Diego this
fall.
(ANN salutes Journalist 2nd Class (SW) Christopher C.
Fowler, USS John C. Stennis Public Affairs)
NTSB Prelim: Funk B85C
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