Me: F/A-18F EPE with 2 x GBU-38, 2 x AGM-88E, 3 x AIM-120, 2 x AIM-9X, one tank, gun + 8 x F-22A (randomly generated)
Opposition: 12 x MiG-21, 2 x Su-27 Flankers with assorted missiles
Started off as a strike on a fuel tank on Khe Phat heading north from the deck. Made my third waypoint near Hue and began the low level approach as going through the mission editor I saw the Red Air I would be facing. Once I passed Hue and went low Red Crown called off the first set of bogies, then the second, and then the third set. Fair enough as the Raptors were coming from my southwest and were maneuvering to intercept. On a hunch I selected the farthest northern targets which were the Flankers. I locked and fired both AIM-120s at each Flanker, hoping to take them out of the fight. I can handle Fishbeds but the more sophisticated Flankers would probably shoot me down. By that time I was almost running parallel with the Fishbeds as I went for my attack run. Upon cresting a hill, I fired off a HARM at an unknown radar (gotta update the threat library, natch) and selected my JDAMs. After finally getting my target designated I let one fall then went into A2A mode, as by this time I was directly behind the Fishbeds. Targeting one of the Fishbeds I selected my 9X and fired, while a supporting Raptor fired... not good since his 9X may fly into my tailpipe... which didn't but both my missile and his struck, and he got the kill in the end. Okay, time to get out of here as one tried to pop me with an Atoll, dispensed flares and maneuvered and targeted another Fishbed, he overshot me and I targeted him. He slowed down and I got my nose on him and fired my last 9X, and with him "hanging" in the air the 9X tracked and killed him.
Needless to say I got out of dodge, with one remaining Fishbed, who tried to pop me with another Atoll, jink and dispense flares, it missed, hit the deck and make it back to the deck. The Raptors managed to down the remaining Fishbed with a guns kill while I made my way out of there.
Takeaways. Non-standard DACT but shows again the usefulness of doing this kind of "work". Things to remember is accurately reading your radar display and also using the overhead map, as well as use of the F6 key. Also threat prioritization is the key here as well, since I decided to remove the Flankers first and use both mine and the Raptors so all they had to do was work on the little fish (no pun intended). Also is a case of a strike mission where you have to kill the target and survive in an environment like that.