Operation/Patrol Time:
- 0600 Local
Weather/Forecast Information:
- Current temp: 69F Today's High: 86F with mostly clear skies, humidity dropping from 35% to 25% by 1200 local. Wind out of the SOUTH at 4-7mph, with occasional gusting up to 15mph.
Lighting/Visibility Factors:
- Greater than or equal to 10 miles. Sunrise at 0618 & sunset at 1929.
Notice to Air Missions (NOTAMs) & Aviation Advisory Information
- Self-propelled air defense systems remain present throughout the Severkuldzha plateau. Updated positions have been confirmed in the area near Severkuldzha, as well as locations near Sultanbent, though several other surface-to-air missile batteries have been confirmed across the wider AO.
- NWRC forces have demonstrated limited strike and air combat capabilities via both fixed and rotary wing aircraft. Coalition air operations are advised extreme caution against possible air-to-air engagements initiated by hostile aircraft that may still be launching from central Mary.
- With the elimination of NWRC-operated, self-propelled anti-aircraft (SPAA) systems inside of COP WILSON, there are no significant known surface-to-air missile (SAM) or radar threats to coalition aircraft operating in the SW Kirov area. That said, the NWRC is likely aware of this degradation in anti-air capability, and may elect to employ other means to disrupt air operations.
Theater/Strategic-level News & Intelligence Updates, Activity, and Analysis
- Aerial & localized signals intelligence (SIGINT) collection throughout the Mary Province has detected the recurring presence of localized, high-energy, broad-spectrum signal concentrations across several major radio frequency (RF) bands. Combined with several reports of temporary outages, as well as increased communications impedance and interference on bands utilized by coalition forces, it is highly likely that portable “suitcase jamming suites” are in use by NWRC forces. There is currently very limited information available regarding the capabilities of these devices. One device was identified by elements of 1st PLT earlier this week, however, exploitation and analysis of this platform are ongoing. Any information collected which may detail these units' capability, function, operation, and origin is invaluable to countermeasure development steps, so be on the lookout, photograph & report occurrences that may relate to possible electronic warfare capabilities.
Local/Tactical-level News & Intelligence Updates, Activity, and Analysis
- Review of intelligence collected over the last three weeks has indicated that most of the militants across the southern AO of Mary Province fall into two of the major identified militant groups, the 7/7 Martyrs and the Aswad-Murghab Brotherhood. Primarily, the 7/7 Martyrs are the faction most identified with activities in our AO on the western side of the Severkuldzha plateau. Differences in methodology and motivators are being evaluated and will be detailed in subsequent S-2 products.
Special Info/Patrol Objective-specific Intelligence
- The clearing of the easternmost valley of the southern Kirov area is part of a continued focus to drive a wedge between hard supply and logistics routes suspected to be used by both NWRC and militant forces across the Galkan Gory mountain range, which helms the northern end of the Southern Inhabited Shelf. In coordination with elements from 2nd PLT, Alpha Company will continue to clear the valley northwest and southwest of COP WILSON, respectively, before maneuvering south to secure critical road networks which NWRC regulars and militants alike use to move supplies and weapon systems in and around the AO.