Free Iron Wolf by Dale Brown

officer said with a shrug. If the commandos were willing to take the risk, so be it. He saw Zelin’s confirming nod and added, “Start lasing your target. We’re approximately three minutes out from your position.”
    â€œDid you get that, Sentinel Two?” Zelin asked his wingman.
    â€œTwo,” a laconic voice said, responding with his position in the formation.
    â€œI’ll make the bomb run,” Zelin told the other pilot. “You hang back about five kilometers. If the Poles bring up that damned SAM radar again, get ready to nail it on my command! Clear?”
    â€œTwo.”
    The major switched his attention to the leader of the Su-35 flight. “ Drobovik Lead, cover us. But stay low for now.”
    â€œShotgun Lead acknowledges,” the fighter commander replied. “Just don’t leave us down eating dust too much longer, Major. I’ve already practically harvested some clodhopper’s wheat field for him the hard way.”
    Zelin grinned. “Very good, Shotgun. Out.” He glanced at Starikov. “Let’s use two KAB-500Ls.”
    â€œI concur,” the weapons officer said. “They’re the best option.” He began entering commands into his attack computer.
    New flight-director bars appeared on Zelin’s HUD, marking the course selected by the computer’s bomb program. He pulled back on the stick and increased power to the Su-34’s two Saturn turbofan engines. The fighter-bomber climbed fast, soaring toward an altitude of seven thousand meters at more than eight hundred kilometers per hour.
    The KAB-500L was a five-hundred-kilogram laser-guided bomb. In service for more than three decades, it was a powerful and accurate weapon—able to deliver its high-explosive warhead within a few meters of a chosen target. But it had weaknesses, ones it shared with other laser-guided weapons. Attacking with full precision required dropping the bomb within a relatively small “basket.” This was a zone that met two basic requirements: the KAB’s seeker head had to be able to see the targeting laser, and the bomb itself had tobe high enough and falling fast enough to guide itself all the way to the laser-designated target.
    In this attack, Zelin and Starikov would have to drop their bombs from an altitude of at least seven thousand meters, which meant their Su-34 would be more vulnerable to attack by Polish SAMs if Warsaw decided to escalate the situation.
    â€œTen kilometers to estimated release point,” Starikov reported, echoing the data shown on Zelin’s HUD.
    A shrill radar warning warbled in both crewmen’s headsets.
    â€œX-band. Single emitter,” Starikov said, peering at his displays. “It’s that same SNR-125.”
    â€œSentinel Lead, this is Two,” their wingman radioed. “Shall I take it out?”
    â€œNegative,” Zelin said. “We’re still well outside Polish airspace. They’re not going to risk firing first.”
    Or so he hoped.
    Technically, of course, he and Starikov were not going to be attacking from inside Polish territory. Since their bombs would have to fly more than nine kilometers to reach the terrorists shooting up those Spetsnaz troops, they would be released in Ukrainian airspace. Somehow, though, he doubted the Poles would care much about that little legal nicety once bombs starting exploding on their side of the river.
    Sweating now, he focused on flying his aircraft right down the path selected by the attack computer, making small adjustments with the stick and throttles to stay on course and speed.
    â€œFive kilometers,” Starikov told him. The weapons officer keyed his mike, radioing the Spetsnaz team they were supporting. “Hunter, this is Sentinel. Keep that laser on target, but get your heads down now! We are attacking!”
    Twin growling bass notes sounded in their earphones. The KAB seeker heads “saw” the targeting