"Get ready to enter the refueling area."
"Got it, ready to enter the refueling area."
In the dark night sky, Wang Xiaowei turned his head and glanced at the H-6N guarded in the middle. The anti-collision lights flashed clearly.
He and his wingman took off from Forever Prosperity Island and began this cruise training after rendezvousing with the bomber formation over the Dongsha Islands. There are not many pilots in the Air and Sea Guards Corps who are allowed to fly more than two types of aircraft, and they are all veteran pilots. Wang Xiaowei, who is in his thirties, has the qualification to fly three types of aircraft: J-10A, JH-7, and J-8F, which is at the same level as the regimental commander and chief of staff.
After checking the position, Wang Xiaowei called the pilot aircraft, the H-6N being guarded, "Dongyao, Guiba requested to leave the formation, over."
"Guiba can leave the formation as planned, over." After confirming the position, the captain of the pilot aircraft approved Wang Xiaowei's request.
Wang Xiaowei gently broke the control stick, and the J-10A fighter tilted the fuselage and broke away neatly to the left. His wingman decelerated and lowered the pressure stick, and followed closely. The two J-10As of the second formation also broke away from the large formation and followed behind Wang Xiaowei.
The two H-6Ns formed a column and adjusted their course to fly northwest according to the established flight plan, maintaining high altitude and speed. After the escort fighters complete replenishing fuel, they will accelerate to catch up with them, form two formations again, and then fly the last more than a thousand kilometers.
At this point, the cruise formation has entered a relatively fragile state. The two H-6Ns have almost no self-defense capabilities, and the J-10A, which needs to be refueled in the air, is also in a very disadvantageous situation.
If an enemy plane seizes this gap to launch an attack, the cruise formation will not be able to rush.
Besides, there are tankers to protect.
Li Hai's mission is to provide protection, not only to protect the H-6N, but also to protect the J-10A. It sounds strange, but it is actually the consideration of superior leadership agencies based on training the troops' combat capabilities in complex battlefield environments.
It is not an easy task for Li Hai, who is working alone, to ensure the safety of two formations dozens of kilometers apart. The reason why it is full of fuel and fully loaded is precisely because of the consideration of being able to deal with complex situations at any time.
Wang Xiaowei hadn't seen the tanker yet. He first saw the left red and right green navigation lights approaching quickly on the lower left. He immediately judged that it was the J-8F taking off from the Forgotten Reef Airport. Soon, the information fed back by the Identification Friend or Foe system confirmed his judgment.
"Escort Guiba, this is Dong San, the tanker is thirty kilometers ahead of you, over." After confirming the identity of the plane above him, Li Hai called Wang Xiaowei.
Wang Xiaowei replied, "Got it. Twenty minutes ago, an unidentified aircraft appeared behind my formation. You should focus on the southeast direction. Over."
"Dong San understands. After entering the refueling area, you will listen to the command from the Forgotten Reef tower. It's over." Li Hai conveyed the message.
This is also a requirement in the plan.
"Gui Ba understands, follow the command from the Forgettable Reef Tower, it's over."
Li Hai turned on the afterburner and climbed, shook his wings, and then flew quickly over the J-10A formation, dragging two long orange-red tail flames towards the H-6N formation more than 20 kilometers away.
Looking at the J-8F flying away quickly, Wang Xiaowei couldn't help but secretly sigh: The J-8F is actually a very cool fighter.
The current J-10A does not need protection. There are four of them. Two can receive oil and two can cover. There is no problem with safety.
Therefore, the focus of protection is the H-6N formation.
It is not easy to modify the H-6N so that even my mother does not recognize it. Although it bears the name "H-6", it is a new fighter that spans several eras from the H-6A decades ago. Brand new avionics system, deeply optimized aerodynamic layout, brand new engine, brand new weapon system... To put it bluntly, except for the name, everything is new.
The maximum range of this product reaches 10,000 kilometers!
The J-10A is about to undergo aerial refueling for the second time, but this thing is still as stable as a dog.
And it also has the ability to refuel in the air!
That thick, long tube on the nose is not a pitot tube!
According to the judgment along the cruise formation, the main purpose of the unknown aircraft is the H-6N. The reason is simple. The H-6N equipped by Hainan Airlines is the first to perform a long-distance cruise mission. This bomber is very mysterious to many people.
Not only did Li Hai have to protect these two guys, he also had to stop the planes of the part-time photographers to prevent them from getting close to take pictures.
"Cruising Dong Yao, this is Dong San. Please maintain the high speed and I will provide you with cover. Over." Li Hai flew to the left side of the H-6N lead aircraft and got closer. He turned to look at the call from the cockpit, although he could not see to the situation inside.
The captain of the H-6N aircraft looked at the J-8F that was swaying slightly up and down with the airflow, and said, "Dongyao received, pay attention to the southeast direction, over."
"clear."
It seems that the cruising formation may have encountered a lot of harassment during this trip.
Li Hai gently pulled the lever to raise the nose of the plane. While continuing to climb, he turned around and pointed the nose of the plane toward the southeast. Then, he turned on the airborne radar and started the search mode. He wished that the unidentified planes that were sneaking around would see him.
However, the tower did not report any situation, indicating that the air warning radar on the island and reef did not detect the target.
Probably ran away.
After all, there are military forces around the Forgotten Reef, so no matter how courageous those unknown aircraft are, they still have to weigh it.
Li Hai did not take it lightly. He flew in a figure-8 shape with the H-6N formation as the center, and turned on the airborne radar to search every time the nose of the aircraft pointed outward. Such a flight route consumes a lot of fuel, which is why I filled up my fuel tank tonight during the night flight.
The H-6N formation flew close to the third west section of the line as planned, and Li Hai's flight route naturally adjusted accordingly. The focus of his vigilance was still on the southeast.
In more than ten minutes, the J-10A formation will be able to complete refueling. It will take more than ten minutes to accelerate to catch up and merge with the H-6N. Then Li Hai's mission will be completed.
The air warning radar on the islands and reefs did not detect any targets, and Li Hai's search did not find any abnormalities. It seemed that tonight's night flight ended peacefully. Thinking of the grilled seafood in the cooking class after landing, Li Hai couldn't help but lick his lips.
Life on the islands and reefs is indeed boring. The officers and soldiers enjoy themselves in hardship. It is a great pleasure to occasionally get some seafood to improve their food. That's deep-sea seafood, which is better than offshore, and you can often get unusual varieties.
"Didi dididi..."
The sudden warning sound startled Li Hai!
"Dong three! Two in a batch! Behind you!" Xue Zhengrong, who was commanding from the tower, almost jumped up, and his voice was a little distorted.
Li Hai quickly performed a barrel roll maneuver to avoid the situation. At the same time, he tried his best to point the nose of the aircraft to the side and rear, and said calmly, "I'm locked by the radar!"
PS: The exciting plot is coming, comrades, throw in all kinds of tickets!
