Narrative:

We were flying the fingr 3 arrival (into dal). We had been given several speeds and step descents during the arrival. At approximately FL300; we were issued a clearance to descend to fl 210 and I began the descent on the profile that we had programmed in the FMC (fingr at 9000'). At approximately FL230 were given a level off and a left turn of 30 degrees. I complied with the clearance. We were then given a turn back direct to fingr and told to cross 15 north at 10;000 ft. The distance and altitude from the fix required a 320 KT descent with the speed brakes extended. I asked the first officer to say goodbye to the passengers and I began the descent with a rate of approximately 4500 FPM. At approximately 15;000 ft and 20 mi from fingr; I received a TA with a target slightly to my left and an amber -38. I placed the aircraft in cws; shallowed out the descent some (approximately 2800 FPM); and began to look for the traffic. I noted what appeared to be a small; fighter jet coming from my 8 o'clock position and traveling at; what I estimated to be; 450-500 KTS based on how fast he was pulling away. I pointed this out to my first officer (a former F-16 pilot) and said; 'where's the rest of them?' a few seconds later; 2 more fighters appeared from the same position only closer traveling at the same speed.I pulled the nose up in cws and once they were clear; I looked around for more traffic. I did not receive a TCAS alert from the last 2 fighters and they never showed up on my TCAS display. I resumed my descent and contacted ATC concerning the event. I told him the first military jet was squawking; but the two in trail were not and that it was much closer than it needed to be. He responded with; 'roger.' he issued the traffic alert to a crew (another carrier) in front of us and said they were VFR. The fighters were apparently VFR; and not talking to anyone at 11;000 ft going 500 KTS in a very congested area. I was never issued a traffic alert from ATC and I did not receive a RA.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: An Air Carrier Captain reported a flight of VFR Fighter aircraft at 11;000 FT created a conflict during his descent into DAL on the FINGR 3 Arrival. ATC did not report the traffic.

Narrative: We were flying the FINGR 3 Arrival (into DAL). We had been given several speeds and step descents during the arrival. At approximately FL300; we were issued a clearance to descend to FL 210 and I began the descent on the profile that we had programmed in the FMC (FINGR at 9000'). At approximately FL230 were given a level off and a left turn of 30 degrees. I complied with the clearance. We were then given a turn back direct to FINGR and told to cross 15 north at 10;000 FT. The distance and altitude from the fix required a 320 KT descent with the speed brakes extended. I asked the First Officer to say goodbye to the Passengers and I began the descent with a rate of approximately 4500 FPM. At approximately 15;000 FT and 20 MI from FINGR; I received a TA with a target slightly to my left and an amber -38. I placed the aircraft in CWS; shallowed out the descent some (approximately 2800 FPM); and began to look for the traffic. I noted what appeared to be a small; fighter jet coming from my 8 o'clock position and traveling at; what I estimated to be; 450-500 KTS based on how fast he was pulling away. I pointed this out to my First Officer (a former F-16 Pilot) and said; 'Where's the rest of them?' A few seconds later; 2 more fighters appeared from the same position only closer traveling at the same speed.I pulled the nose up in CWS and once they were clear; I looked around for more traffic. I did not receive a TCAS alert from the last 2 fighters and they never showed up on my TCAS display. I resumed my descent and contacted ATC concerning the event. I told him the first military jet was squawking; but the two in trail were not and that it was much closer than it needed to be. He responded with; 'Roger.' He issued the traffic alert to a Crew (another carrier) in front of us and said they were VFR. The fighters were apparently VFR; and not talking to anyone at 11;000 FT going 500 KTS in a very congested area. I was never issued a traffic alert from ATC and I did not receive a RA.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of April 2012 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.