Union Defence Cooperative FAB-YES Fragile K
a/c Blue 39, Machrihanish, Socialist Republic of Scotland, United Socialist Republic Air Force (USRAF), November 1973
Personal mount of Wing Leader Jon "Olias" Anderson 


The Central Aerohydrodynamic Institute of the Socialist Union promoted a tailed delta configuration for fighters in the early 1950s. Their published studies influenced aircraft designers and requirement writers for the next decade. Numerous Moscow Pact combat aircraft, including the Fishbed, Fishpot, Flagon, Flatpack and Fragile used the tailed delta planform.




The designs for what would become the Union Defence Cooperative (UDC) ORB interceptor began in 1953. Viewed as a longer ranged, all weather accompaniment to the emerging BEX Fillet interceptor, the ORB adopted the tailed delta planform encouraged by the Central Aerohydrodynamic Institute. Introduced to combat units in 1958, (and named Flatpack by the UN) the ORB's capabilities were limited by its small radar, located in the central cone of the nose mounted intake. With the intakes moved to the sides to make way for a bigger, more powerful radar, the resulting FAB was a significant improvement. The FAB was introduced to combat units in 1962 and received the UN reporting name Fragile.




The FAB series followed two parallel courses of development. The single seaters (FAB-ELO, -ELP, -REM and -YES) were pure all-weather fighters. Often operating at the periphery of Red airspace, they gained fame for their long range exploits over the Atlantic. They also served over the Mediterranean and North Africa. The two-seat FAB-XTC and -LFO were trainers, but frontline needs saw the tandem seat line of development adapted for other roles. Featuring stretched fuselages to accommodate more fuel, the FAB-AHA and -WHO were successful missile armed anti-shipping platforms over the Atlantic. The FAB-CAN and -NEU were two-seat electronic warfare versions. The single-seat FAB-COS and -LEN were photographic reconnaissance versions.



The FAB-YES modeled here was the personal mount of Wing Leader Jon Anderson in 1975. The FAB-YES had just entered service and was equipped with the Sapfir-23D-III fire control radar, matched to the R-23R Apex SARH missile; it could also cue the IR seekers of R-23T and K-9 Awl missiles. A pair of Awls and one each of the R-23R and R-23T were normally carried on fighter missions, as seen here. A twin-barreled 23 mm GSh-23 autocannon was mounted in the fuselage belly.



W/L Anderson was a combat veteran on his 4th combat tour in 1975. He accumulated 7 victories during 1963, flying the RedAir Collective BEX-HIL Lightning Fillet D with 112 Squadron in Morrocco. These were 4 USAF B-52Ds, a USN A-4E, a BrAF F-100E and a RAAF F-105D. After a tour as a weapons instructor, Anderson flew the Union Defence Cooperative ORB-KLF Flatpack C with 72 Squadron during 1964-68. Providing air defence from Lossiemouth, Anderson was credited with 12 kills during this long tour: 4 USAF B-52Ds, 3 USN P-3B Orions, 2 USAF KC-135As, 1 USN RA-5C, 1 USAF ERB-47H and a USN EA-3B Skywarrior. These types were not only typical of the maritime air warfare environment over the North Sea at the time, but also of the larger targets suited to the Flatpack's K-8 Anab missiles. After this tour, Anderson flew as an aggressor with the Fighter Combat School at Valley. 




Anderson's 3rd combat tour was during 1972. Now a Squadron Leader, and with units and personnel drawn into the counter attack to the UN's Half Back Flanker in SouthEast Asia, he was ordered to command 76 Squadron. His new mount was the FAB-REM Fragile E, armed with K-9 Awls and R-98M1/R-98M2 Advanced Anab missiles and GSh-23 cannon. He made no kills or combat actions during this 9 month deployment to Waddington.



Anderson was promoted to Wing Leader in 1974 and returned to combat in 1975. Appointed to lead the based Bill Ash Wing, Anderson was now at the forefront of the aerial interdiction of Northern Ireland (NI). Held by Royalists since the 1950 Red Revolution, NI had become a major base for UN operations in the early 1950s.  Sustained by shipping convoys and an ongoing airlift, the Reds mounted a long-term sea and air blockade of the UN enclave. Demonstrating their anti-imperialist values, the Reds never attempted to invade NI. Instead, their policy was to degrade its offensive and defensive capabilities to the point that the neutral Republic of Ireland could easily mount a campaign of national reunification. By the early 1960s the UN's capacity to launch major offensive missions from NI had been lost. When Anderson arrived at Machrihanish, the UN was waging a losing battle against the Provisional Irish Republican Army insurgents. The Reds called the UN's inevitable withdrawal from Northern Ireland Cleopatra III, an odd codename that became an open secret; Anderson called his personal Fragile K Cleopatra III throughout his Machrihanish deployment. Cleopatra III became a reality in June 1975.



Anderson's extensive kill list for his Machrihanish deployment reflects the kind of UN air traffic being used to sustain its position in Northern Ireland.  He shot down 3 RAF Canadair Teal Swan F-4M (CF-4M) and 2 USMC F-4J Phantom IIs, but most victories were against airlifters. These were 3 C-130H Hercules (1 RAF, 1 RCAF, 1 USAF), 2 USAF C-141 Starlifters, 1 C-5A Galaxy, a single USAF KC-135A Stratotanker and a USN C-2A Greyhound. This gave the Wing Leader a total of 32 aerial victories, as seen painted on Blue 39. Anderson twice engaged in combat with carrier based USN F-14A Tomcats, but these battles were inconclusive; the presence of MiG-25P Foxbat As from the Stornoway based Billy Strachan Wing usually kept the Tomcats at bay.

W/L Jon "Olias" Anderson retired after this 1973 deployment and joined a collective farm, the oddly named Sunhillow. 

Nice, a long distance runaround.
When intercepting early morning flights into Northern Ireland I presume the attack would either be from the heart of the sunrise, or from the South side of the sky...
 

Thats a roundabout way of saying good build, great story.   

Quote from: zenrat on October 13, 2025, 04:33:16 AMgood build, great story. 

It is indeed   

That looks good - the cammo's almost like a mixture of early and late Israeli cammo.

Excellent aircraft and interesing story - it is based on what model?

Excellent stuff, really liking the camo scheme. 

Quote from: Sport21ing on October 13, 2025, 08:17:57 AMExcellent aircraft and interesing story - it is based on what model?

Shenyang J-8 II Finback B

Very creative - well done!

Quote from: comrade harps on October 13, 2025, 03:01:35 PM

Quote from: Sport21ing on October 13, 2025, 08:17:57 AMExcellent aircraft and interesing story - it is based on what model?

Shenyang J-8 II Finback B

excellent - no Fairey Fulmar as promised a few months ago, but better than none 

      

love that scheme. Very nice   

Another great build, comrade! Love the scheme.