154: Chapter 151 New Weapons

January 5, 1982, Iraqi Air Force base.

Iraq's first batch of Cruise missiles had arrived.

These missiles were provided by the Soviet Union, model Kh-55.

They could fly at low altitudes and evade radar from air defense systems.

The Iraqi Air Force commander looked at these missiles, a satisfied expression on his face.

"These missiles will change everything," he said to the Chief of Staff.

"Yes," the Chief of Staff said, "Iran's air defense system cannot track low-flying Cruise missiles."

"When can they be put into use!?"

"Three days," the Chief of Staff said, "We need three days to test and prepare."

"Good," the commander said, "After three days, we will launch our first Cruise missile attack on Iran."

Iranian Air Defense Command Center.

Fatima received an intelligence report.

Iraq had obtained Soviet Cruise missiles.

This was very important information.

Cruise missiles were a new threat.

The Persian-4 Missile was designed to deal with targets flying above 500 meters.

But Cruise missiles could fly at ultra-low altitudes, perhaps only 50 meters.

At such altitudes, the radar of the Persian-4 Missile might not effectively track them.

Fatima picked up the phone and called Reza.

"Iraq has obtained Cruise missiles," she said.

"I know," Reza's voice came from the other side, "I have already received the intelligence."

"Can we handle it!?"

"Yes," Reza said, "But we need to change our air defense strategy."

"Change to what?"

"We need to build a multi-layered air defense system," Reza said, "Not just missiles, but also anti-aircraft guns and short-range air defense missiles."

"This takes time," Fatima said.

"We don't have time," Reza said, "Iraq will launch an attack within three days."

The call ended.

Fatima sat in her chair, pondering the problem.

Three days.

She needed to come up with a way to deal with the Cruise missiles within three days.

She picked up a pen and started drawing on paper.

What were the characteristics of a Cruise missile!?

Low-altitude flight, fast speed, difficult to track.

But Cruise missiles also had weaknesses.

Cruise missiles required a preset flight path.

Cruise missiles could not change targets.

This meant that if Iran knew the flight path of the Cruise missiles,

Iran could set up air defense positions along the route.

Fatima picked up the phone and called Karimi.

"I need the flight path of the Iraqi Cruise missiles," she said.

"This is difficult," Karimi said, "But I will do my best."

The call ended.

Baghdad, Iraqi General Staff.

Saddam Hussein was looking at the flight plan for the Cruise missiles.

The first batch of Cruise missiles would attack Iran's oil fields.

The second batch would attack Iran's ports.

The third batch would attack Iran's military facilities.

The plan was very thorough.

But Saddam Hussein also knew that Iran might already know about the plan.

Iran's intelligence system was very powerful.

"We need to keep it secret," he said to the Chief of Staff.

"Yes," the Chief of Staff said, "But this is difficult. Too many people know about this plan."

"Then reduce the number of people who know about this plan," Saddam Hussein said, "Only the highest-level personnel should know."

"Yes," the Chief of Staff said.

But it was already too late.

Iran's agents already knew about the plan.

Kermanshah, Iranian Air Defense Command Center.

Karimi's report arrived.

Iraqi Cruise missiles would attack from three directions.

The first direction was from the northwest, targeting oil fields.

The second direction was from the west, targeting ports.

The third direction was from the south, targeting military facilities.

Fatima looked at this information and began to formulate an air defense plan.

She needed to set up air defense positions in these three directions.

But she only had ten Persian-4 Missile units that had not yet been deployed.

Ten missiles, three directions.

This was not enough.

She needed more air defense systems.

She picked up the phone and called General Javadi.

"I need anti-aircraft guns and short-range air defense missiles," she said.

"We have some," Javadi said, "But not many."

"How many!?"

"About twenty anti-aircraft guns and ten sets of short-range air defense missile systems," Javadi said.

"Then deploy them all to the air defense positions," Fatima said.

"This will be difficult," Javadi said, "We need time to deploy."

"We don't have time," Fatima said, "Iraq will launch an attack within three days."

"Okay," Javadi said, "I will deploy them as soon as possible."

The call ended.

Fatima sat in her chair, looking at the map of the air defense positions.

She was thinking about how to use limited resources to deal with Iraqi Cruise missiles.

This was a huge challenge.

But Fatima was already used to challenges.

January 8, 1982, Iraqi Air Force base.

Iraqi Cruise missiles were ready.

The commander ordered the Cruise missiles to be launched at 8:00 PM.

Twenty Cruise missiles, divided into three formations, attacking Iran from three directions.

Iranian Air Defense Command Center.

Fatima was looking at the radar screen.

At 7:50 PM, the radar began to capture targets.

Twenty targets were flying towards Iran.

"All air defense positions, prepare," Fatima said over the radio.

All air defense positions replied simultaneously: "Ready."

Fatima looked at the targets on the screen.

These targets were at a very low altitude, only 50 meters.

This was a huge challenge.

But Fatima had prepared for this.

She had changed the settings of the air defense radar to be able to track ultra-low-altitude targets.

"Target entered effective range," an operator said.

"Position One," Fatima said, "Fire."

A Persian-4 Missile launched.

But this time, the missile did not hit the target.

The Cruise missile's speed was too fast, and tracking was too difficult.

The missile exploded in the air, but did not hit anything.

"Failure," the operator said.

"Continue firing," Fatima said.

Another missile launched.

This time, the missile hit a target.

A Cruise missile exploded in the air.

"Hit!" the operator shouted.

But nineteen other targets continued to fly in.

"Position Two, fire."

"Position Three, fire."

"Position Four, fire."

Missiles kept launching, but only a portion hit their targets.

Most Cruise missiles evaded the missile tracking.

They continued to fly towards Iranian targets.

Iran's oil fields.

A Cruise missile hit an oil well.

Explosion.

Flames rose.

Another Cruise missile hit an oil storage tank.

Another explosion.

Iran's ports.

A Cruise missile hit a dock.

Explosion.

Iran's military facilities.

A Cruise missile hit a radar station.

Explosion.

Iranian Air Defense Command Center.

Fatima looked at the data on the screen.

Twenty Cruise missiles, Iran shot down five, fifteen hit their targets.

This was a huge blow.

Iran's oil fields were destroyed, Iran's ports were destroyed, Iran's military facilities were destroyed.

Fatima's face looked terrible.

She knew this was a failure.

Her air defense system could not effectively deal with the Cruise missiles.

She picked up the phone and called Reza.

"We failed," she said.

"I know," Reza's voice came from the other side, "But this is not your fault."

"Then whose fault is it?"

"It is my fault," Reza said, "I underestimated Iraq. I thought the Persian-4 Missile was enough to deal with the Iraqi aerial threat. But I was wrong."

"What now?"

"Now," Reza said, "We need to change our air defense strategy. We need to develop a new air defense system, a system capable of dealing with Cruise missiles."

"This takes time," Fatima said.

"I know," Reza said, "But we must do it."

The call ended.

Fatima sat in her chair, looking at the explosion data on the screen.

She was thinking about how to develop a new air defense system.

This was a huge challenge.

But Fatima was already used to challenges.