SECRET // SPECIAL ACCESS REQUIRED - MERCURY LAGUNA PRIME
EYESONLY • ORCON • REL TO NATO, FVEY



TARAWA STURGEON is a presumed EBE aerospace vessel encountered by Task Force 47 and Royal Australian Air Force personnel on the night of 23 April 2015 (ref: Operation ESSENTIAL NOMAD).

Upon initial detection via WILDWOOD GROUSE emissions, TARAWA STURGEON was holding station at an altitude of 80,000 feet above the Australian Outback.  After TF47 initiated its second contact with TUNGSTEN MEMENTO and BRONZE FREESTYLE entities, the craft moved to the engagement area at a maximum observed speed of 3,080 knots, as tracked by WILDWOOD GROUSE emission and thermo-optic surveillance equipment aboard the RAAF AP-3C (callsign Theta 25) supporting TF47.

The RAAF fighter and EW platform supporting TF47 (respectively, F/A-18F callsign Claw 15 and EF-18G callsign Claw 28) engaged the craft.  Claw 15 was unable to acquire radar lock and was destroyed (ref: JEFFERSON ALBATROSS) while attempting to engage with cannon.  Claw 28 made two successful AIM-9X attacks, inflicting significant apparent damage.  After the second missile impact, TARAWA STURGEON broke off the engagement and exited the area, shedding solid debris and a smoke/vapor trail.  Claw 28's crew later reported that lock-on was trivial given TARAWA STURGEON's elevated surface temperature (presumably from hypersonic atmospheric passage).

Electronic records from Theta 25 and Claw 28 are available under MERCURY LAGUNA OCHRE.