Operation Long Arm

Operation Long Arm  was the name of the military operation undertaken by Airedalandia during the Ebelinian Revolution to eliminate the international threat posed by fanatical socialists in the closing stages of the Ebelinian Revolution in what became known as the

On July 9th, 1992, Valhunnia's SpySat-12 reconnaissance satellite captured images of the 7th Artillery Division of the People's Republic of Ebeline Army preparing its nuclear-tipped intercontinental ballistic missiles for launch. After the images were verified at 17:45 GMT, they were passed from Valhunnia to the Royal Airedalandian Intelligence Corps, which briefed Prime Minister Andrew Wellington and informed the Royal Air Force of Airedalandia by 18:15. At 18:28, the order was given by Andrew Wellington to launch jets against the ICBM facilities in a pre-emptive strike.

At 18:44, the first of 28 Airedalandian Aerospace Systems Tornados took off from RAFA Nicktown. Leading the assault were 8 Tornado SEAD I aircraft armed with anti-radiation missiles that destroyed Ebelinian air defences along a 50 mile wide corridor to allow the main force through. The main force, 16 Tornado FB IIs, were armed with 2,000 lb laser-guided bombs, the first time such weapons were deployed in combat by Airedalandia. The entire force was escorted by 4 Tornado FE IIs that over the course of the mission destroyed 3 Demetov-09 fighters scrabbled to intercept by the Ebelinians. The Ebelinian jets, did, however, succeed in downing 1 Tornado SEAD I, whose pilot ejected safely and navigator was killed upon impact.

By roughly 20:30, the main force reached the launch sites, and successfully destroyed all 20 mobile missile launchers as later confirmed by a post-operation reconnaissance flight conducted the day after by a lone Tornado FR II.

While returning to rendezvous with an aerial refuelling flight, two Tornados were fired upon by rebel forces, and one was shot down. It was soon realized that the crew, who had ejected safely, were Airedalandian, and the crew was kept at a military camp until it was arranged for an Airedalandian helicopter to pick them up on September 21st as part of the withdrawal process.