ebookland Chapter 1481 Return
Chapter 1481 Return
The ramjet engine used only for ignition simulation could not provide strong and continuous thrust enough, so the dazzling bright white light began to fall after extending for a certain distance and eventually disappeared from sight.
Zheng Hui breathed a sigh of relief and removed his fingers from the weapon control panel.
The cabin and the radio fell silent at the same time at this moment, with only the roar of the engine still echoing steadily in the ears.
This was not the first time he had used anti-ship weapons.
A month ago, he piloted the No. 07 J-15 fighter jet to complete the target shooting test of the Eagle Strike 83K, and accurately destroyed a retired anti-submarine ship with two missiles.
However, the Eagle Strike 83K is essentially no different from other countries' main equipment - Harpoon, Exocet, or KH35. Although the latest improved model has a longer range, it still cannot achieve true out-of-area attacks.
Especially today when the hypothetical enemy has begun to replace its Standard 6 anti-ship missiles on a large scale.
However, the big guy that was hit this time was completely different.
Although it is still under development, the fact that it can "ignite successfully after being launched" alone is far superior to the X51A on the other side of the Pacific Ocean.
More importantly, pilots no longer have to worry about their own safety.
The theoretical maximum range of this thing is not only longer than that of an anti-aircraft missile, but even longer than the combat radius of an F18.
Moreover, compared with the heavy anti-ship missiles equipped by the Red Navy during the Soviet era, the average flight speed of hypersonic weapons is quite outrageous. It only takes about 1000 minutes to hit a target 5 kilometers away.
In such a short time, conventional surface targets are simply not strong enough to leave the missile's own radar coverage.
Only when the target is more than 2000 kilometers away will there be a strong reliance on relay guidance.
In short, it is a weapon that can unilaterally change the rules of naval warfare.
"Thank you so much, uncle."
Zheng Hui muttered softly.
But it was still transmitted through the radio within the formation.
"07, please repeat that."
Lin Shuyan thought he didn't hear clearly.
"Nothing, just expressing my feelings..."
Zheng Hui explained, then adjusted the radio channel to report to the base:
"Unit 07, missile launch procedure completed, requesting to return."
Then adjust the flight attitude and prepare to descend.
"Flight No. 07, approved to return, heading 305, altitude dropped to 4000 meters." The voice of the tower controller came clearly.
"Unit 07 understands." Zheng Hui confirmed, glancing to the left.
Aircraft No. 08 was maintaining a perfect formation position. Lin Shuyan gave him a thumbs up, indicating that he was also ready.
The two J-15s began to coordinate turns, and their wings drew graceful arcs in the sun.
At this moment, Zheng Hui's radar warning receiver suddenly issued a slight prompt sound, and an unfamiliar signal appeared on the screen.
"Aircraft No. 07, pay attention to the 4 o'clock direction, altitude 4500." Lin Shuyan also reported to the lead aircraft, "It doesn't look like a civilian aircraft."
Even on a short-haul route like Lianhai-Seoul, it is rare for passenger planes to fly level at such a low altitude.
After a few seconds, he added another message:
“The distance is about 105 kilometers.”
Thanks to the relatively late development time, the J-15 has not yet been officially finalized, so there is an opportunity to install a new generation of passive radar receiver originally developed for the fourth-generation fighter.
In addition to being able to capture the signal source more accurately and quickly, it also has certain detection functions.
Zheng Hui narrowed his eyes and began to consider whether to change direction again and search with radar.
The J-15’s active phased array radar has powerful performance, but like almost all of its fighter peers, it is powerless in the rear hemisphere.
But at this moment, Wang Wei's voice came over the radio: "07, 08, it should be an RC12. We have issued a navigation warning before. It is probably here to scout our test launch."
The two of them became excited instantly.
"Do we need to go forward to intercept?"
Lin Shuyan asked.
This model belongs to the US Army. Although it is not as famous as EP3 or RC-135, it is also a common opponent in the Yellow Sea.
He had come into contact with them many times when he was flying the J-11BH in his old unit.
"No, return as planned."
Not surprisingly, Wang Wei gave a direct denial:
"Let the electronic reconnaissance unit handle its affairs with the special aircraft regiment."
Sure enough, as he finished speaking, the data link system showed that a new friendly signal appeared over the Liaodong Peninsula and was moving southward at high speed, marked as "C909DZ".
Obviously, a real e-sports event will soon be staged over this not-so-wide sea area.
The two J-15s maintained a vigilant posture and continued to fly northwest. As the distance shortened, Zheng Hui finally saw a silver light slightly lower than his own altitude.
It was the modified C909 electronic warfare aircraft, its fuselage painted with the blue-gray camouflage unique to naval aviation, and its back and belly covered with various antennas and electronic equipment.
Lin Shuyan sighed, and his voice came through the inter-machine communication system clearly: "To be honest, flying a special aircraft actually has its advantages. You can go out to perform actual combat missions every now and then."
Zheng Hui did not respond immediately, but he also understood Lin Shuyan's subtext -
As elite pilots of the carrier-based aircraft force, they are equipped with the most advanced J-15 fighter jets in the entire army, but have almost never performed real combat missions.
All the flying hours were spent on the training ground.
"We are different, 08." Zheng Hui finally said, "They are electronic reconnaissance troops, we are carrier-based aircraft troops, the nature of the mission is different, and the threshold of 'actual combat' is also different..."
To be honest, Zheng Hui could fully understand Lin Shuyan's feelings.
As a senior pilot with ten years of flying experience, he had fantasized countless times about flying a fighter plane to perform real combat missions.
But the closest encounter since it was put into service was when he was still in the northwest, when he was flying a J-11B and confronted an F16C that took off from Bagram Air Base for about 15 minutes.
Unlike the maritime airspace where there are large buffer zones, the land border is clearly demarcated and well-defined, so the actions of both sides are often extremely conservative.
In fact, this even seriously affected Zheng Hui's family status at one point, making it difficult for him to speak in front of his wife who flew an electronic reconnaissance plane.
"Listen, boys." A steady voice suddenly interrupted the communication channel. "I understand your thoughts, but the current mission of the carrier-based aircraft unit is to train and research tactics and methods. In order to meet the conditions for take-off and landing on aircraft carriers, carrier-based aircraft have sacrificed a lot of performance indicators. If they are just used as ordinary land-based aircraft, it would be a sheer waste of resources."
Zheng Hui nodded silently.
The J-15 is indeed a special fighter tailor-made for aircraft carriers, with powerful low-speed handling performance, sturdy landing gear design, and an additional reinforced front fuselage... Everything is to adapt to the stringent requirements of aircraft carrier take-off and landing. But as a price, compared with the basic land-based models, the maximum speed, available overload and climb rate are all reduced.
"But." Wang Wei's tone suddenly became relaxed. "You two are at the peak of your flying ability. You will definitely be able to catch up with the day when our aircraft carrier goes out to sea for a mission. By then, you will understand that every hour of training now is worth it."
Hearing this, Zheng Hui's mood brightened and he subconsciously looked to the right.
The clouds outside the cabin gradually thinned, and the outline of the Liaodong Peninsula pierced into the Bohai Sea like an ancient bronze sword. The deep blue on one side and the gray-green on the other side due to silt sediment blended with each other, creating a subtle distinction under the sunlight, just like a water-colored ribbon stretched between Laotieshan Cape and Penglai Cape.
He knew that in a place beyond the reach of the naked eye, the aircraft carrier that touched the hearts of hundreds of millions of people was undergoing final outfitting preparations.
Just as the Chief of Staff said, I will definitely fly farther than those predecessors.