When_MiG-29s_Ambushed_Eagles(360p)

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*"When MiG-29s Ambush Eagles"*  A high-octane, action-packed video showcasing an intense aerial combat scenario!  *What to Expect:*  - Heart-pounding dogfighting sequences - Advanced fighter jet maneuvers - Tactical aerial combat strategies  *Watch and Experience:*  - The thrill of aerial combat - The skill and precision of fighter pilots - The power and agility of MiG-29s and other fighter jets  *Perfect For:*  - Aviation enthusiasts - Military buffs - Anyone who loves high-speed action and adrenaline-fueled excitement!

Transcript

00:00It's morning on January 19th, 1991, and a pair of F-15C Eagles are on an escort mission

00:08over Iraq as part of Operation Desert Storm.

00:12Captain Cesar Rico Rodriguez and his wingman, Captain Craig Moll Underhill, are clearing

00:17the skies ahead of a formation of 36 aircraft tasked with striking targets near Baghdad.

00:25Behind them, there are waves of F-16s making their runs, diving with 2,000-pound general

00:31purpose bombs.

00:33They release them and the ordnance drops straight onto the Iraqi ammunition depots.

00:38Giant explosions rise from the desert.

00:40They're expecting anti-aircraft missiles and the F-16s pull hard up, releasing chaff and

00:46flares at the same time.

00:48But instead of missiles, the Iraqi Air Force has dispatched two pairs of the most advanced

00:54fighters at their disposal, MiG-29 Fulcrums.

00:58Outnumbered, the Iraqis have been keeping their distance, searching for an opportunity to strike,

01:04when they're told of two F-15s, perfect targets.

01:08It's their chance, and the pair of Fulcrums races to intercept.

01:14In 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.

01:22Second is 3-4-0 for 6-5.

01:24Roger.

01:25We'll pick the 0-4-0.

01:27Rico chooses the most threatening target, and they turn to engage.

01:31The F-15's front-facing radars detect the contact, and it appears on their screen.

01:35Contact!

01:36It's not the only warning.

01:38On another screen, a 29 appears.

01:42It's his radar warning receiver, or RWR, a device that tells him when enemy radars can

01:48spot him.

01:49I'm being painted.

01:50MiG-29.

01:51I see it.

01:52Rico and Mole brace for action.

01:55The two pairs of enemies, both fourth-generation fighters, have each other in their sights and

02:00are heading towards each other in a supersonic joust.

02:04Rico selects an AIM-7 Sparrow missile, but the Iraqis have a plan.

02:10They dive far below the F-15s, attempting to use the ground clutter to conceal themselves

02:15from the radar.

02:17But it doesn't work.

02:18Aboard his F-15, Rico sees the single fuzzy contact split into two well-defined targets.

02:25I gotcha.

02:26It's two versus two.

02:28Rico selects one of the contacts and locks it in.

02:32Aboard the fulcrum, the pilot sees his radar warning receiver light up with the wail of

02:36a lock alert.

02:37But 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 when the radar contacts suddenly vanish

02:51from his screen.

02:52It'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.

03:01Rico'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, and

03:18he knows the enemy are going to re-enter the blind spot before the missile has a chance

03:21to catch them.

03:23Once again, the enemy disappears.

03:25Lost it again.

03:26The MiG-29s keep maneuvering across the sky, toying with the F-15's radar, constantly

03:32blinking in and out from Rico's screen.

03:35Keeping 12 nautical miles of separation, Rico can see what they're doing.

03:40The fulcrums are dragging them along.

03:44Over 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, and

03:52following protocol, he hands over Rico and Mole to another AWACS controller.

03:58Rico and Mole 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 is trying to pull them into a killing field.

04:22Rico checks in with a 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.

04:36They hold their altitude and deliberately continue heading towards the enemy trap, buying

04:45the strike force the time it needs.

04:48The RWR clicks every time the enemy radars scan the F-15s, and they hear them getting

04:53more frequent by the second.

04:55But the Iraqis still have a cunning plan.

04:59A third MiG-29 charges towards the F-15s from their left side, out of view from the F-15s

05:12front-facing radar, and with its own radar turned off so as not to appear in the F-15s'

05:18RWR.

05:20Despite the fight no longer in his area of responsibility, in his AWACS Mark White continues

05:25to take glances at the developing situation.

05:28He sees the new enemy approaching the scene, and immediately realizes the danger.

05:32But 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

05:54middle of battle, it could make the situation worse.

05:5815 miles and still no reaction.

06:0014 miles.

06:01White decides to act.

06:02Papa, contacts, 330 degrees for 13 miles.

06:05It'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,

06:12with vapor covering his wings.

06:14The moment his nose points towards the incoming fulcrum, it appears on his radar, just 8 miles

06:21away, well 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

06:31right in front of him.

06:32He turns on his radar and Rico appears on his screen.

06:37With 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

06:47speeds.

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

06:58visually 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

07:08friend or foe ID on the contact.

07:11But there's no time.

07:13The 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

07:3630,000 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.

07:47As he runs an ID procedure with the help of intelligence aircraft.

07:51The seconds feel eternal as they finally clear him to engage.

07:55He's given the all clear and presses the button.

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.

08:08He follows the smoke trail with his eyes and finally sees the MiG-29 aiming his nose down

08:14towards 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

08:27and parts.

08:29A wave of relief washes over Rico as he pulls out from the dive at just 500 feet high.

08:36But over at the AWACS, White can see.

08:39It's not over.

08:40Second group, north, 10 miles.

08:43Rico scans the skies.

08:44He considers turning away.

08:45By now, the strike package of F-16s is already heading home, so they've no reason to hang

08:51about.

08:52But the enemy is too close for comfort.

08:54They could be shot from behind.

08:56They need to fight.

08:58Rico turns north and the enemy appears on his screen.

09:01It'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.

09:12In 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.

09:23He 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.

09:34In that moment, Mole is overtaken by a cold sense of dread.

09:37But Rico's confident.

09:38It 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.

10:05But it's still hard to tell what it is with the bright sky as background.

10:09He holds his F-15 in his path until Rico'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 with its green camouflage,

10:22which is proudly displaying the Iraqi flag.

10:26Rico makes a wide turn left as he soars over the MiG.

10:32Looking down through his canopy, he sees the MiG performing a flat turn left, holding his altitude.

10:38In that instant, he spots an opening and the fancy shooter eye formation goes out the window.

10:44It's a dogfight.

10:45He turns upside down and pulls hard on the stick, cutting into the MiG's circle.

10:50He'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, and he pulls hard left to follow.

11:00Rico sees the MiG flying away, but he knows he has the advantage.

11:04The MiG pushes down, trading altitude for speed.

11:08Rico follows him, spiraling down towards the desert floor as the paths of both jets converge.

11:14Rico sees the MiG scream through the merge.

11:16He'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. Stand by.

11:35But Rico can feel it. This one is his.

11:38He sees the MiG coming back, and they roar past one another.

11:41He almost has him, but they can't keep up this 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.

12:08He 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, his MiG 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.

12:52Rico's heart races as he comes down from the adrenaline high.

12:56He's won.

12:58Mole appears two miles off his right.

13:00Tactical, right side.

13:02And Rico can finally afford to relax.

13:04Let's go home.

13:06Cesar 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 one of our F-16s and Hawks for breakfast.

13:26Watch the full film here.

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