Weferling Airstrike

The Weferling Airstrike was one of the opening airstrikes of the 2020 Ausfer-Ziridavan War, fought on December 11 2020. The airstrike, which was commanded by Ziridavan air force general Velichko Dancho, was launched early in the morning before the Ziridavan offensive in the breakaway state of South Kardzhali. The goal of the strike was to eliminate the ANDF's ability to sortie from the Weferling AFB, and to destroy as many aircraft on the ground as possible to deal a heavy blow to the Ausferilandian air force. Within just 1 and a half hours, the Ziridavan air force had successfully disabled the airfield and destroyed almost all of the ANDF's aircraft on the ground, at the cost of just 1 -5 Mk. 2 and 1 damaged KFZ-7ZKs. Electronic warfare was used effectively in the operation in order to defeat Ausferilandian air defenses, which were also targeted and destroyed.

Strike
At 5 AM local time, 10 KFZ-7ZKs escorted by 8 Mirage 2000-5s took off from the Balchik airbase near Krazalskgrad. Supporting the operation was a Boeing 737 AEW&C aircraft, and an ETTFZ-20H electronic warfare aircraft. Jamming of Ausferilandian radars and air defenses had begun just before the initial airstrikes on Ausferilandian forces began, which gave the Ziridavan forces a major advantage. The Mirages in the operation took the lead, and as soon as they crossed the border, they were warned by the AWACS that they were approaching 2 Ausferilandian V-10FKs. The fighters were deemed to be a threat to the formation, and were the first targets of the operation.

Captain Yakov Radomir and 3 others broke from the formation to intercept the Cyclones, leaving the rest to provide cover. Soon after however, they are engaged by Ausferilandian IVR 97M MANPADS, which had not been affected by jamming. Although most managed to defend against the missiles, one Mirage was hit and damaged, and turned back to attempt to return to base. However, it suffered an engine failure just near the border, forcing the pilot Atanas Rayno to eject. He was later rescued by separatist forces, though.

Despite losing one wingman, Yakov continued towards the V-10s, which had taken a sharp turn towards them at this point. They were now on the Mirage's radars, prompting Yakov to order one of his wingmen to cover him as he and another engaged. However, the V-10s were ignoring the Mirages, and were instead moving to engage the Ziridavan Boxfalkes. Using this opportunity, the two Mirages began to lock onto the Ausferilandian fighters with Leshoyad AAMs while moving into a firing position. Yakov fired the first two missiles, followed by his wingman Kiril Valeri. All three of the missiles successfully hit their targets. After this, the 3 Mirages regrouped with their formation.

Minutes later, the strikes on the airfield began. Ausferilandian V-10s had already begun taxiing to intercept the incoming fighters, but were soon unable to take off as the runway, as well as air defenses in the area, had been targeted first. A Crotale fired two missiles at a Boxfalke, and while one hit, it only caused minor damage. Despite that, the fighter was ordered to return to base. Nonetheless, the airbase's runway and SAMs were soon destroyed, and the remaining KFZ-7ZKs began to bomb the fighters which previously attempted to take off, as well as other aircraft still parked. Almost all the targets were destroyed using precision-guided bombs such as and s.