Chapter 175
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Chapter 175: The Whale Swallowing Blitzkrieg
"Quick, quick, quick! Refuel and load the auxiliary fuel tanks!"
"You, you! Get the rocket pods ready, and load the air bombs, hurry up! The systems must be checked; the pilots can’t do everything alone, you must ensure everything is in order!"
"Young men, let’s move! We have one hour left!"
Several Pakistani ground crew commanders shouted as Lin Mo and the pilot "Caviar" drove past the busy tarmac in a transport vehicle. The Azrael flying squadron had four FC-20s and three A-5s in three attack formations, all preparing intensely. Additionally, on another tarmac, six A-5 fighter jets and helicopters were also being readied.
The two squadrons at the Peshawar Air Force Base were rearming their FC-1 Fighting Dragons, and the extra A-5s were perfectly suited for ground attack missions.
Ammo and fuel trucks raced back and forth; loading ammo was no simple task. The bomb fuses still had safety rings attached, which would only be removed right before takeoff.
Inside the semi-open military-style pilot rest tent, medics were ready and waiting. As soon as the pilots arrived, they quickly began pre-flight physicals, including psychological evaluations.
Each pilot was attended to by a group of medical personnel, and the checks were completed swiftly.
Meanwhile, at the Persian Cat command center, Captain Feng and Colonel Ali stood in front of a large map, introducing the night flight combat plan after confirming attendance.
Both sides communicated in English; as pilots, it was a mandatory language, and both countries’ forces were highly qualified personnel, so there were no language barriers.
"It is now Islamabad time, 5 PM. We will launch in one hour." Captain Feng raised his wrist to indicate the time.
Everyone checked their timing devices; some had watches, while others used pocket watches or pendant-style electronic clocks.
"The reconnaissance personnel have confirmed that there are secret assembly points for Indian forces here and here, with approximately fifteen tanks and armored vehicles, as well as anti-air missiles and heavy machine guns. Our target tonight is to eliminate them. India has deployed the latest radars; we must be prepared for counterattacks from their fighters, especially the Mirage 2000."
The fighting strategies from both sides were not new; they followed a familiar pattern of blitzkrieg every few years, coupled with a protracted strategy that involved constantly nibbling away at the enemy. Small units frequently engaged near the ceasefire line.
Even yesterday afternoon, had Lin Mo from Team "Knights" not proactively taken out the Indian air defenses and radar, they would have still faced attacks from suspected Indian special forces.
The Indian intent was clear: to target Pakistan’s air force and contest air superiority. It was easy to imagine Indian aircraft potentially crossing the Kashmir ceasefire line and appearing over Islamabad, the capital of Pakistan.
Colonel Ali followed up on Captain Feng’s statement, pointing on the map to outline the positions of ground attack units and their attack steps. About two regiments would be spread along the hundred-kilometer ceasefire line, aiming for multi-point breakthroughs to eliminate Indian footholds.
The Indian air defense was to be neutralized by ground special forces, while the Azrael squadron would bombard armor units, provide fire support, and intercept Indian air force attacks.
As Colonel Ali spoke, a Pakistani major distributed a mission briefing to both Chinese volunteer pilots and local Pakistani pilots.
The introduction to the operation only took fifteen minutes. The air force was responsible for fire support and taking out the toughest targets.
The Pakistani ground forces were the main focus, with Team "Knights" and Team "Ghouls" handling aerial interception along with ground fire support, equipped with AIM-7F Sparrow air-to-air missiles, AIM-9 Sidewinder air-to-air missiles, rocket pods, and one 250-kilogram air bomb.
The three A-5s of Team "Wild Wolves" and another A-5 unit from Pakistan were primarily armed with AIM-9 Sidewinder missiles and AGM-65 Maverick missiles, also mounting 500-kilogram bombs.
This action was a retaliatory strike; Pakistan did not intend to escalate the war and had not deployed large-scale bombardment or air superiority attacks. Their fighter jets were geared more towards a multipurpose combat mode, accommodating both air and ground missions.
"Alright, everyone, review the plan. If you have any questions, ask me. For those who want a bite to eat, there’s some snacks nearby. If anyone has special needs, feel free to voice them."
Captain Feng finally stood up and addressed everyone.
A line of chefs pushed in several buffet carts, arranging them in an L-shape along the tent’s edges, offering vegetables and meat. They even catered to the Chinese pilots’ dietary habits, providing noodles, rice cakes, rice, tea, and coffee, with a complete selection. It was essential to eat dinner in advance, as the following mission would be physically demanding.
The "Meat Sauce" member from Team "Knights" winked at Lin Mo, asking, "Have you ever tried night combat?"
In contrast to Lin Mo, who had only been flying for a year, "Meat Sauce" had considerably more combat experience and was willing to share some tips with his teammate.
"I’ve only done ground attacks at night, not dogfighting, but I think it should be fine?" Lin Mo shrugged and flashed a confident smile as he got up to grab a plate from the buffet.
Light Mirror Technique, oh, Light Mirror Technique!
This was Lin Mo’s trump card for night combat; he had fully adopted this simple spell as a vital part of the airborne spell sequence essential for modern fighter jets.
Even at night, there would be faint light. For Lin Mo, the Light Mirror Technique enhanced the visual effects of collected images, making visibility almost equal to daytime without needing to turn on night vision equipment.
Although bombers operate in night raids, the complexity of aerial combat dramatically increased, complicating interceptions by the Indian air force. Once the fighting started, the skies would be pitch black, particularly in mountainous regions, where fighting at low altitudes could even lead to collisions with mountains, resulting in fireballs.
"Meat Sauce" also grabbed a plate as he shared his own experiences. As an experienced pilot, the strength of a partner remained crucial; he wasn’t afraid of god-like opponents but dreaded teammates who were less competent.
"Keep an eye on the altimeter, and remember the mountain heights on the map! And don’t forget the night navigation equipment; adjust it in time. Sometimes the fire from explosions can obscure your vision…"
"In the evening, I’ll take the lead for the main attack; you provide support as my wingman. It’ll be easy as long as you maintain altitude and trust the on-board computers. If you can’t see, the enemy won’t either." "Meat Sauce" filled his plate as he talked.
Though Lin Mo spoke with confidence, he still felt slightly uneasy. It was like casual chatter, but the exchange of combat experience was beneficial. Other pilots experienced in night combat also shared their insights freely.
There was no sense of nationality among them. Whether they were from China, Pakistan, or Russia, they would soon face a common enemy. The more experienced their allies were, the better their chances of reducing losses.
There was no need for anyone to take the lead or remind others; the air force was always well-prepared before a mission. Time in the air equated to hours on the ground. As comrades on the same front line, they generously shared their invaluable experiences.
"Yes! Thank you!" Lin Mo smiled slightly. Even though he had his own tricks, he sincerely appreciated the kindness from his partner "Meat Sauce."
"Meat Sauce" proved to be an air combat elite with shootdown records. The night combat experiences and little tricks he shared were all unrecorded in textbooks; they conveyed personal insights and real experiences.
Everyone hurriedly filled their stomachs, opting for high-energy foods, especially meat. Once action commenced, the physical and mental drain would be immense, so preparing food and resting before the mission ensured optimal combat readiness.
On another note, pilots managed their stamina no less than professional athletes. Each understood that even slight mood fluctuations could significantly affect their energy and reflexes.
Thirty minutes later, all pilots took their positions, making final preparations beside their aircraft. The cleaned runway lights blinked on; several ground crew members held signal wands to indicate the launch order. Ground crew responsible for weapons began to tally and record the removed fuses and hangers, ensuring that once fired, nothing would go wrong.
"This is ‘Persian Cat.’ Now connecting to the secure private channel, ID ×××××. Starting signal detection." All pilots entered the cockpits, put on their helmets, and as they closed their hoods, the voice of the command personnel from the China-Pakistan joint command center, "Persian Cat," filled their headsets. The airport control tower originally managed takeoff monitoring and communication.
Boom!
The first to take off was the airborne warning aircraft ZDK-03 "Tiger Shark." It would ascend first to activate its passive detection system, monitoring electronic signal sources within a 600-kilometer radius, detecting especially fighters with on-board radars and radar stations. In combat mode, it would activate its active phased array radar for extensive scanning.
"Team ‘Black Panther’ 1 is airborne!"
"Azrael Squadron, ‘Wild Wolves’ A-5 squadron, airborne!"
"Azrael Squadron, ‘Knights’ FC-20 squadron, airborne!"
"Azrael Squadron, ‘Ghouls’ FC-20 squadron, airborne!"
"Ura!"
The last to roar was the quirky Russian pilot "Caviar.” Everyone collectively chose to ignore him. This MiG pilot had proven to be a spirited member of the Azrael squadron; he had valiantly participated in defending the pilot dormitory during last night’s ambush and had emptied two magazines from his sidearm.
