The rise of a great power: starting with military industry

Chapter 337 Shooting down the MiG-21R reconnaissance aircraft (Subscription required)
Cam Ranh Bay.

This is an important military port and naval base in the southeast of Annan. It is located on the southern coast of Khanh Hoa Province. The bay extends 17 kilometers inland and consists of two inner and outer bays formed by two peninsulas in the shape of a gourd.

The inner harbor of Jinlan covers an area of ​​60 square kilometers, with a bay mouth only 1300 meters wide; the outer harbor of Pingba Bay has a water depth of 10 to 22 meters, a bay mouth of about 4000 meters wide, and a water depth outside the mouth of more than 30 meters.

The port has a narrow entrance and a rugged terrain, which makes it easy to defend. It is one of the best natural deep-water ports in the world. It controls the strategic passage between the Pacific Ocean and the Indian Ocean, has an important strategic position, and is known as the first military port in Asia.

At this time, Cam Ranh Bay was undergoing large-scale construction, with construction equipment and technical experts from the Soviet Union, plus tens of thousands of Annan workers, carrying out construction work.

In 1978, the Soviet Union leased Cam Ranh Bay for 25 years, which was later extended for another five years. The lease will not end until 5.

Cam Ranh Bay was previously able to berth large warships such as aircraft carriers and cruisers. Looking across Asia, there are not many ports with this level of capability. However, the Soviet Union hopes to further expand Cam Ranh Bay so that it can accommodate a naval fleet of the same size as the Pacific Fleet.

It is no exaggeration to say that this is the Soviet Union's most important overseas military base.

The rivalry between the United States and the Soviet Union involved all aspects, including the navy. Faced with an inferior navy, the Soviet Union began to expand its naval power at an early stage, hoping to compete with the United States in the oceans, rather than just on land.

The Soviet Union had set its sights on Cam Ranh Bay very early on, and when Annan was unified, the opportunity came.

After the Soviet Union leased Cam Ranh Bay, it had a military base in Southeast Asia, which was more conducive to controlling the situation in Southeast Asia. Secondly, the Soviet Union had always wanted to get involved in the Indian Ocean. After leasing Cam Ranh Bay, it could use Cam Ranh Bay as a springboard to further get involved in the Indian Ocean.

The most important thing is that more than half of the US merchant ships need to pass through the Strait of Malacca. The Soviet Navy stationed in Cam Ranh Bay can immediately block the strait if the situation worsens.

Now a squadron of the Soviet Pacific Fleet is stationed in Cam Ranh Bay, realizing the strategic layout of killing three birds with one stone.

This was also a command center for the Soviet Union in Southeast Asia.

The news of the Il-20 reconnaissance aircraft being shot down was reported to the Cam Ranh Bay Command Center as soon as possible.

The commander of the Cam Ranh Bay Squadron of the Soviet Navy's Pacific Fleet frowned as he listened to the report.

According to intelligence, the Soviet Union knew that China's military trade was booming, and various news indicated that the source might be from southwest China. In addition, the border war had lasted for so many years, but with a lot of Soviet aid, Annan was actually at a disadvantage.

So they made the decision to send the Il-20 reconnaissance aircraft to conduct aerial reconnaissance and find out the situation.

Only by knowing your enemy and yourself can you fight without danger.

Although there is satellite reconnaissance in space, it is ultimately not as detailed as aerial reconnaissance.

However, no one expected that the IL-20 reconnaissance aircraft would have a bad start and was shot down just after arriving in the southwest.

You know, they only have two Il-20 reconnaissance aircraft here.

"Let the Annanites send out MiG-21 reconnaissance planes!" Andre made the decision.

The Il-20 reconnaissance aircraft flew too slowly and did not fly high enough.

But the MiG-21 reconnaissance aircraft is different. This year, Annan introduced three second-hand MiG-3R tactical reconnaissance aircraft. Based on the MiG-21PFM, the aircraft is equipped with photo reconnaissance pods and electronic reconnaissance pods. The aircraft is characterized by being light, flexible, fast to climb, good transonic and supersonic maneuverability, and extremely excellent high-altitude and high-speed performance. It has a practical ceiling of 21 meters, a maximum flight speed of 18700 Mach, and a maximum range of 2.2 meters.

The MiG-21 reconnaissance aircraft is enough to cover the entire southwest. The target is relatively small and not easy to find. If it is discovered, it can quickly get rid of the fighter jets and return to Annan.

Liu Tao had just returned to Panshan Machinery Factory when he received a report from the radar station that another UFO had been discovered.

This made Liu Tao very angry. When would this ever end?
After contacting the military district and determining that the plane was not ours, Liu Tao once again issued an order to destroy it.

You know, they have important military secrets here that cannot be discovered by the enemy.

"Damn bastard, do you think the MiG-21 is safe?" Liu Tao was very angry.

The MiG-21 flies at high altitude and high speed, which is beyond China's previous air defense methods and can only be intercepted by aircraft.

But that was in the past. Now it is different. After being discovered by radar, it will be attacked by anti-aircraft missiles. Even at this moment, this MiG-21 is at an altitude of 17000 meters and flying at supersonic speed.

The air defense battalion received Liu Tao's order and adjusted the angle of the launch vehicle and entered the parameters according to the flight trajectory calculated by the computer.

"Boom~~"

The 'Aegis-1' air defense missile flew out of the launch tube. Under the powerful thrust of the missile's engine, the missile's speed continued to accelerate and flew towards the target area.

"Target found, it's a missile!" When the missile was about 21 kilometers away from the MiG-20, the MiG-21's radar detected it.

At this time, the speed of the missile had reached Mach 3, which was much faster than the speed of the MiG-21.

20 kilometers may seem like a long distance, but considering the speed of both teams, it is only about ten seconds.

"Boom~~"

The missile hit the MiG-21 reconnaissance plane and turned it into a ball of fire in the air, like a blooming firework.

Technicians began to search for the wreckage landing site in Black Hawk helicopters.

The radar can only provide an approximate area, and the exact location still depends on helicopters.

Here, searching for the wreckage is actually very simple, just look for flames and smoke.

Not long after, the wreckage was found.

Even the pilot who parachuted to escape was caught.

The pilot's parachute was stuck on a big tree. Facing the gun pointed at him, he dared not move.

When he realized that he could not avoid the missile, he chose to parachute to escape.

After all, as long as you can live, no one wants to die.

After the pilot was caught, he was investigated immediately.

Liu Tao called Li Fuguo and asked him to transfer two "Aegis" air defense battalions to the front line, and even told Li Fuguo the garrison areas.

Li Fuguo had no objection to this. After all, no matter how good the equipment was, it still had to be put into actual combat.

Being able to shoot down more enemy planes can also better demonstrate the value of the air defense battalion.

Through these actual combat operations, the air defense battalion can better accumulate practical experience and improve the technical level of the soldiers.

He has also communicated with the troops going to the front line and will send a combined battalion to the front line.

Now the 'Aegis' air defense battalion can be considered as the first to go into combat, and it can provide a safe air environment for the soldiers when the time comes.

After all, no commander or fighter wants to see or experience being bombed by an airplane.

Liu Tao dispatched two "Aegis" air defense battalions to the front line and handed the matter over to Li Fuguo, who no longer paid attention to it.

After all, he had more to do.

For example, the development of destroyers!
While solving the problem of frigates and building them, the military was observing the frigates. The specific performance of the frigates will only be known after a series of tests are carried out after the frigates are built.

But it does not hinder the navy's ambition for destroyers!
Compared with frigates, destroyers have a larger displacement, and displacement can be directly equated with combat effectiveness.

(End of this chapter)