Operation Stellarborn
Operation Stellarborn was an air campaign launched by the Commonality Air Force against the Ruvelkan Imperial Air Force across southern Ruvelka from 14 September 2008 to 10 March 2009 during the Zemplen War.
Stellarborn was originally intended as air support for Army Group Gamma during Operation Aspis, but eventually grew into a general campaign against the RIAF. The Commonality Air Force (ZVS) initial aims of providing air support for the Syaran National Army gradually evolved to include the destruction of Ruvelka's early warning radar system, air defense network in southern Ruvelka, and the destruction of the RIAF infrastructure and aircraft groupings. The RIAF aimed to destroy Syaran combat aircraft and preserve its defensive infrastructure across southern Ruvelka; Ruvelkan bombers also carried out strikes against Syaran ground forces to interdict the flow of reinforcements into Ruvelka. Both sides employed air superiority fighters, multi-role aircraft, ground attack fighters, helicopters, and drones in the thousands. Both sides suffered the loss of hundreds of aircraft and thousands of drones, as well as hundreds of pilots and thousands of ground crews killed. The ZVS was assisted by air defense systems and ballistic missile launchers from the Syaran National Army during the campaign. Ruvelkan Fusiliers, Territorial Defense Forces, and the Imperial Ruvelkan Army assisted the RIAF through air defenses and strikes on Syaran air defense systems.
Stellarborn was a hard fought campaign on both sides. The ZVS failed to destroy the RIAF forces in southern Ruvelka, though succeeded in destroying most of Ruvelka's early warning array and did significant damage to the RIAFs infrastructure in the region. The RIAF was able to withdraw from the region and maintain its cohesion, denying Syaran efforts to destroy Ruvelkas' southern air wings.
Background
Fighting broke out between Syara and Ruvelka in Zemplen in May 2008, and escalated following the breakdown of negotiations in July. A month later Syara launched the August Offensive, which gained control of most of the disputed border regions. The continued buildup of the Imperial Armed Forces of Ruvelka along the border convinced Syaran Central Command that an offensive action was necessary to destroy the buildup of Ruvelkan forces in one massive sweep. The offensive, code named Operation Aspis, began on 14 September 2008 with a mass assault across the border by three Syaran army groups in the north, center, and south. The Syaran effort to destroy the Imperial Army along the border and force Debrecen to sue for peace failed as Ruvelkan forces fell back to defensive positions along the interior of their country, denying the Syarans the battle of annihilation they were hoping for.
To support the ground campaign in the south, the Syaran 3rd Air Division was assigned as air support for Aspis, a role it maintained in the months afterwards. Syaran directives were based on the idea that the Ruvelkan armed forces could be destroyed or significantly degraded in battle, at which point the Ruvelkan government would be compelled to enter negotiations once its armed forces proved incapable of holding back Syaran forces. Although the Syarans had failed to achieve this across the entirety of the front, the southern front as a particular stalemate owing to the terrain of the Matra Mountains and the presence of strong Ruvelkan defenses. Syaran forces did not capture Albertirsa until 12 October with the cost of over 33,000 casualties.
The initial goals for the ZVS were centered on providing air support for Army Group Gamma through close air support, air strikes against high value targets, and interdiction against Ruvelkan aircraft. Ruvelkan air wings in the region, namely the 19th and 20th Fighter Groups, were responsible for similar roles for their operations, which would later include supporting air strikes into Syara. In late August 2008 Field Marshal Daniel Mladenov Todorov outlined his expectations for the 3rd Air Division to division commander Major General Emil Manevski in what would become Operation Stellarborn. Stellarborn was envisioned as a two-week air campaign during with the 3rd Air Division would strike Ruvelkan ground forces in and around the cities of Albertirsa, Pannonhalma and Valana. After some modifications by Manevski, namely directed more fighter aircraft to escort duties, Stellarborn was approved for implementation.
As part of Case Black, Ruvelka's mobilization scheme in the event of war with Syara, the Ruvelkan 19th and 20th Fighter Groups, stationed out of Aszód Air Base and Vitsyesna Air Base respectively, were responsible for the defense of Ruvelka's southern airspace. Primary goals for the two fighter groups were the prevention of incursions into Ruvelkan territory, particular to prevent deep strikes against Ruvelkan forces on the ground and vital infrastructure.
Opposing Forces
Both Syara and Ruvelka fielded large air forces consisting of thousands of aircraft prior to hostilities. In addition to fixed wing aircraft, Ruvelka also fielded thousands of helicopters both for utility and combat, while Syara fielded a sizeable but smaller number. Both sides fielded thousands of drones in various roles. For Operation Stellarborn Syara committed a total of 675 aircraft, 262 of which were fighters, 91 attack aircraft, and 322 helicopters in addition to nearly 2,000 drones. Ruvelka fielded 991 aircraft over the course of the operation, including 243 fighters, 16 bombers, 62 attack aircraft, and 670 helicopters.
At the start of the operation the 3rd Air Division counted a total of 288 aircraft. 73 of these were Zephyr air superiority fighters, 115 were Celaeno multi-role fighters, 61 Corvus and 39 Strix attack aircraft. Ruvelka's two fighter wings, the 19th and 20th, fielded a combined total of 144 AFASF-12 Drago Air Superiority Fighters, supported by 50 AFSF-8 Folivori Strike Fighters. A squadron of 16 AFSB-2 Spettro Strategic Bombers later joined the Ruvelkan forces in the southern theater to carry out strikes against Syaran targets both at the front line and Hayreniky. Following Acreas' entry into the war, JAS-16 Ravens began flying with the RIAF.
Syara and Ruvelka possessed differing organizational structures, doctrine, and tactics when it came to air operations. The RIAF was a "top heavy" force as described by Ossorian author Gwenllian Ní Áeda, constituted primarily of dedicated air superiority fighters with relatively few numbers of other types of aircraft. Close air support for the Imperial Army was mostly handled by Ruvelka's extensive fleet of attack helicopters, which numbered over a thousand. The Cacertian-built AFASF-12 Drago was Ruvelka's premier fighter and workhorse, of which over 1,000 were in service prior to the start of hostilities. The primary role of the Dragos in the event of conflict was to clear the skies of enemy aircraft, and while they maintained air-to-ground capability their primary role remained air superiority. Additional fighter aircraft fielded by Ruvelka included the AFASF-10 Donnola Air Superiority Fighter, which by 2008 was out-of-date and no match for Syaran fighters, but had been repurposed for reconnaissance and electronic warfare.
Ruvelka's air combat operations were dictated by ground controllers who directed Ruvelkan aircraft for intercept. While Ruvelka possessed Airborne Warning and Control Systems (AWACS), in 2008 much of Ruvelka's command and control functions were still carried out by ground control. Ruvelka's early warning consisted of over-the-horizon radar arrays stationed throughout the Matra Mountains, which were of significant important to Ruvelkan strategy owing to the peaks and valleys of the Matra range often disrupting radar coverage and detection. Ground based air defense systems further augmented Ruvelkan defensive measures, though fewer in number than their Syaran counterparts, were stationed throughout the District. Ruvelka's air defense operations relied on a systematic cooperation between aircraft, ground controllers, early warning radar, and air defense systems to provide total coverage. This practice of employing air defense operations as part of a combined network, similar to the ones used in Acrea, relied heavily on networked communication and effective coordination; while efficient, it was also at risk of degradation were any single element isolated or destroyed.
The ZVS by comparison was a "tactical" air force whose primary strategic goal was support for ground forces. While Syara boasted over 1,500 fighter aircraft, only 625 of these were Zephyr air superiority fighters, with the remainder taken up by multi-role fighters and older aircraft left over from the Republic of Syara. Syaran air forces relied on airborne command and control to coordinate air operations, namely through the Nyctimene platform. Syaran air defense doctrine was also significantly different; during operations, the Syarans would declare and entire sector of an airspace "weapons free", to which their air defense systems would open fire on any aircraft they detected. Syara also boasted significantly more air defense systems than Ruvelka, including mobile surface-to-air missile launchers and self-propelled anti-aircraft guns. With certain zones declared "no-go", Syaran aircraft focused on "air corridors" where they would concentrate aircraft including ground attack, air superiority, and strike missions. These corridors would often extend beyond the front line into the enemy rear echelon. Attempts to degrade Syara's air defense systems were complicated by extensive usage of decoys and misdirection.
The different aircraft utilized by each side necessitated different tactics by each side. Ruvelkas' top ace of the war, Sona Azarian, described the difference in fighting styles between Ruvelkans and Syara in a rare interview in 2015:
Dragos were built first and foremost to be close-in brawlers, and that's what we excelled at. We had the speed, climb, descent, and acceleration to rapidly close in from unexpected avenues of attack, especially if we were being screened by electronic interference or jamming. In the south this sometimes involved darting behind peaks or flying through valleys before bursting upward and ambushing a hostile flight. Once we were in close it was bore sights, heat seekers, and rapid turns and janking to get in close and force them into an uncomfortable position. The Drago didn't hold the Gs as well as a Raven, but the Drago handles the turn better at slower speeds and the angle-of-attack was better, especially the newer ones that didn't have the same stability issue the older models did. Our whole MO was to close the gap and get in tight; if we got there the only thing saving the enemy was luck. We really thrived on forcing those one-on-one engagements where our rapid maneuvers could dance around the bigger Zephyrs.
The Zephyr was a complete different beast than us. He didn't tussle as well in those close quarters but if the pilot was smart he never let it get there in the first place. Everything about the Zephyrs tactics were speed; screaming in fast, firing off a missile at speed so as to maximize the kinetics, then zoom off. Under the right conditions you'd have maybe a few seconds from your warning receiver going off and impact. They were dangerous in the right hands, and if they were smart you basically had no counter except to bug out. Since they tended to fly in pairs we learned to fly in threes; two to fight and one to jam, keep and eye out for more hostiles, and lend a hand if necessary. The Syarans would respond by targeting at long range, firing off missiles in succession as you maneuvers to escape the envelope. They wouldn't try to break us out of formation like we would, they would just keep coming and going back and forth until they had shot down everything or ran out.
Syaran pilots generally considered the Zephyr the more capable platform of the two; although recognizing the capability of the Drago within-visual-range, Syaran pilots felt the Zephyr was the more reliable. Syaran ace Damjan Tsitskov described the Zehpyr as a better "sustainment fighter".
The Dragos were terrifying up close because the maneuvers they pulled off simply weren't possible with other aircraft. Their IR missiles in particular were devastating thanks in no small part that we were flying larger aircraft with higher output engines. But I feel in the long run that gave us an edge; we could sustain movement and maneuver longer, and eventually just overpower them if the fight lasted long enough. That itself didn't last too long because by mid-2009 losses and fatigues meant squadron commanders were a lot less willing to authorize risky engagements, and a lot of the early drawn out engagements we had sort of just disappeared as people bugged out rather than risk something neither side could really afford.
Ruvelkan operations were primarily coordinated out of Aszód and Vitsyesna Air Bases. Aszód boasted the third largest airbase in Ruvelka and contained much of the command and control infrastructure for Ruvelkan airspace in the south. It was the primary target for initial Syaran attacks by air and ballistic missile strikes. While defended by Ruvelkan patrols, air defense systems, and early warning radar, it's close proximity to the coast and the border rendered it exposed to attack. A force of some 20,000 technicians remained in Aszód to maintain and repair the air base throughout Stellarborn. Vitsyesna Air Base by comparison was a mountain complex built for survivability; the airbase had been carved into a mountain, with underground bunkers for storing aircraft, supplies, fuel, and munitions. Elevators carried aircraft from storage onto the surface where they could then take off and land. Although smaller than Aszód Air Base, Vitsyensa distance, protection, and concealment allowed it to remain at a higher rate of operational readiness throughout the fighting.
Syaran forces were widely dispersed across Hayreniky. 1st Fighter Regiment flew out Rimpava Air Base, 6th Regiment out of Vakhtanya, 13th out of Kalousta, and the 17th out of Kachigna. The ZVS placed emphasis on dispersal and often split up squadrons across various smaller airfields. This tactic worsened response times but limited the damage down by counter-strikes, which were further diminished by extensive use of decoys and the creation of fake airfields.
Course of the Campaign
On 14 September 2008 Syara had amassed 194,000 troops in Hayreniky opposite 250,000-275,000 troops in the Aszód District. Although the Syarans had mobilized sooner Ruvelka's deeper reserve system began to outpace Syara in the number of troops. Army Group Gamma had the objective of encircling the main field armies of Ruvelka's Army Group South by attacking in the direction of Dunakesi in the north towards Kremred, and through Albertirsa into Sniabinka in the south. The two pincers were expected to link up somewhere in the Lillkoro-Vitsyensa-Rovirele operational area. The center of the Syaran forces, 5th Army would then advance and crush the now encircled Ruvelkan forces.
The plan, like the other Syaran operations further north, was too ambitious and beyond the capacity of the Syaran National Army to accomplish; Syaran commanders expected levels of resistance similar to those encountered in the Imerti Conflict three years earlier and were unprepared for the more motivated and spirited Ruvelkan defenders. The mountainous and wooded terrain of southern Ruvelka also limited possible avenues of advance for the heavily mechanized Syarans, who for logistical reason were forced to rely on a handful of roadways and routes to move forward, which in turn were identified by the Ruvelkans who were able to mass forces to concentrate on particular locales. Although the Syarans were able to leverage their superior firepower to defeat Ruvelkan forces in tactical engagements, Syaran units were unable to outright destroy most Ruvelkan formations, who utilized their light infantry methods to withdraw into dense terrain the Syarans could not readily follow. Because the Syaran goal was the destruction of Ruvelkan combat forces and not just the seizure of territory, Syaran commanders were reluctant to simply bypass Ruvelkan forces and instead felt compelled to engage and destroy all Ruvelkan forces they came across, which often proved more difficult than expected thanks to a mixture of Ruvelkan stiffness and difficult terrain. Syaran officers were additionally reluctant to advance with the knowledge that sizeable Ruvelkan forces remained entrenched behind their lines out of fear that Ruvelkan light infantry armed with anti-tank guided missiles, recoilless rifles, and MANPADs could wreak havoc on Syaran supply lines, a fear that proved well founded.
As a result the Syaran operational plan fell apart almost immediately as it began. In the north, Syaran forces of 8th Army made initial progress overtaking Ruvelkan outposts along the border but became bogged down in the Battle of Dunakesi, which did not fall until 24 September and allowed the Ruvelkans to shore up their defenses in the northern Aszód District. In the south the Syaran 10th Army was almost immediately stonewalled by the Battle of Albertirsa, centered around the closed city which had been a centerpiece of Ruvelka's defensive strategem in the south. A protracted siege did not result in Syaran victory until 12 October, and although Syaran forces gradually disengaged and continued their advance prior as permissible, the battle still disrupted Syaran operational tempo.
The 3rd Air Division had been tasked with supporting the advance of Army Group Gamma but quickly found its operational objectives straining the capacity and sortie rate of its fighter regiments. As requested by Division commander Lt. General Emil Manevski the Syaran National Army unleashed a series of 38 ballistic missile strikes against Ruvelkan defensive positions and command centers, including Aszód Air Base. On 15 September a flight of three Ceyx bombers launched air strikes against Aszód, following two days later by a deep strike by Celaeno fighter-bombers. The Syarans targeted Ruvelkan hardened aircraft shelters, command and control centers, and the runways in order to inhibit Ruvelkan air operations. Despite dropping 20,000 kilograms worth of explosives on Aszód Air Base the site remained operational, in part due to its size (which made singular strikes of limited effectiveness as Syaran strike packages had to remain small to limit detection) and the rapid repairs conducted by Ruvelkan ground crews and engineers.
Once the scale of the invasion had become clear, the RIAF had scrambled much of its fighter force as possible to both intercept Syaran aircraft as they crossed the border and disrupt efforts at striking Ruvelkan targets. An estimated 130 Ruvelkan aircraft rose to meet some 150 Syaran aircraft on the first day and night of the war, but despite the large number of aircraft the first few days saw limited direct engagements, largely due to the abundance of jamming and electronic counter-measures deployed by both sides. Ruvelkan and Syaran pilots both reported the opening days of the offensive were a chaotic and confused affair as effective command and control on both sides practically collapsed under the scale of the operation. The constant electronic interference generated by both sides made pilots reluctant to engage at beyond-visual-range for fear of an accidental friendly shootdown, while the crowded airspace further played havoc on effective tactical control. Although over 70 missile launches were reported in the first 36 hours of the campaign just three shootdowns were confirmed; A Syaran Celaeno was downed by a Ruvelkan Drago over Pannonhalma on 14 September, followed seven hours later by a Drago shot down by a Zephyr, before a Syaran Corvus was downed by a Ruvelkan surface-to-air missile.
Per their doctrine the Syarans established "air corridors" through which their aircraft could fly through to reach targets on or behind the front line; all other sectors of air space were declared "free fire zones" where their air defenses would open fire on any aircraft that entered into range. Ruvelkan recognition of these air corridors eventually allowed for a more "organized" division of air combat over the front lines, but being restricted to certain air space also resulted in more crowded skies. Ruvelkan squadrons responded to this by attempting to wait outside the "exits" of these air corridors at which point Dragos would pounce on Syaran flights, and in turn the Syarans began developing "overwatch" tactics to "counter-pounce" Ruvelkan efforts. Fighting in these air corridors often came down to rapid, violent, and often close range engagements.
Early operations
The 3rd Air Division of the CVS had been given an enormous series of tasking for Stellarborn. Not only did the 3rd Air Division have to provide ground support for Army Group Gamma, it also had to interdict the movement and supply of Ruvelkan forces, engage and destroy Ruvelkan aircraft, and also degrade Ruvelka's air defense and early warning network. By October 2008 it was clear to the command staff of the 3rd Air Division that the division simply lacked the ability to do so effectively. Syara's fleet of ground attack aircraft, the subsonic Corvus and Strix aircraft, were too light to carry significant payloads and highly vulnerable to ground fire; more than a dozen were destroyed or heavily damaged within 30 days of the start of operations. Celaeno fighter-bombers were generally superior, being faster, flying higher, and carrying a wider variety of munitions, but every flight of Celaenos dedicated towards close air support meant there were less flights available for interdiction, combat air patrols, and deep strike missions. Zehpyrs had the air to ground ability to strike deep targets, but doing so limited their air superiority sortie rate. Syaran objectives were simply too vast for their available fleet of aircraft to handle.
From the Ruvelkan side the operational picture was mixed. While the Syarans had been able to capture several major urban areas, namely Dunakesi, Valana, Pannonhalma, Simdivka, Albertirsa, and Keszlis, they had made little further inroads. While RIAF had not delivered significant damage to the 3rd Air Division, Ruvelkas' overall strategy in the air seemed to be working. Kevin Vincze, overall commander of Ruvelkan air forces in the Aszód District, noted in a report to Debrecen that Ruvelka's air groupings in the south had largely held their own in combat against the ZVS. Nevertheless Vincze noted that several prominent issues remained; the inability to crack the Syaran air defense network, and the limited success of counter-strikes against Syaran air operations infrastructure. The RIAF's Suppression-of-air-defense (SEAD) capability was insufficient to handle the volume and scope of Syara's extensive arsenal of air defense forces, and Syaran usage of decoys and misdirection wasted increasingly limited stockpiles of anti-radiation missiles and precision munitions. Attempts to strike Syaran airfields and bases in Syara itself could only feasibly be accomplished by Ruvelkas' AFSB-2 Spettro Strategic Bombers, which for their own protection had been rerouted to airfields in the Kenderes Steppe, which then flew west just north of the border of Mansuriyyah before launching their stand-off munitions while over the Bay of Aszód, and then turning back east and speeding back to friendly airspace.
By the end of October both sides began facing a similar problem: attrition. Both the ZVS and RIAF entered the conflict with significant stockpiles of fuel, spare parts, munitions, and repair tools, but after two months of intense air operations all of these were beginning to run low. As had the Zemplen War had revealed, modern warfare consumed resources far faster than most nations had been prepared for.