Chapter 61: Aerial Scalpel
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
“Leader, it’s Chief,” the voice crackled through the speaker.
“Hello, Chief.”
“The other side of the sea has already made contact. They’ve informed us that a test plane is en route due to a navigation system malfunction.”
“Understood, Chief.”
With a brisk click, the call ended.
The commanding officer at the air force control center stared at the sprawling display before him, his expression clouded.
Never had he anticipated that the cutting-edge technology they were putting to the test could withstand the electronic countermeasures so effectively.
This turn of events was jeopardizing his well-laid plans.
He desperately hoped to force the intruding aircraft into an emergency landing.
But the present scenario painted a different picture – the plane showed no signs of complying, let alone descending.
As for employing alternative tactics, the risks were too great, and the repercussions even more dire.
His frustration mounted. “Signal the maritime unit to continue the electronic countermeasures. We need to keep that aircraft annoyed, if nothing else.” Though other options remained elusive, at least this one could hamper the intruder’s maneuvers.
On the opposing side.
Tang Rui’s gaze flitted to the fuel gauge, a knot forming in his stomach.
Maintaining supersonic speeds consumed fuel at an alarming rate; a mere two minutes had depleted a fifth of his reserves.
To elaborate, he had a meager eight minutes left at this pace.
“Why the delay?” His impatience spilled over as he monitored the screen.
Two more minutes elapsed.
It was evident that the enemy’s electronic warfare plane persisted in its disruption tactics, yet abstained from any other offensive actions.
A realization began to take root within Tang Rui’s mind.
This foe wasn’t aiming for a fight.
International protocols, veiled agreements between nations, barred direct hostilities even if an aircraft trespassed into another’s airspace.
The repercussions were too severe.
Considering tonight’s circumstances, their strategy was to incapacitate the intruder through electronic interference, then induce a voluntary emergency landing.
This method had precedent.
“Their aircraft was on an exercise. Yours entered the zone and fell victim to interference, leading to system malfunction.”
The blame conveniently shifted to the trespasser.
A clean narrative, indeed.
But now, their adversary exhibited resilience against their interference tactics, destabilizing Tang Rui’s calculations.
The enemy’s plane wasn’t a pushover. Nor was it willing to concede, evident from its unyielding flight.
Tang Rui’s mental turmoil deepened.
Firing a missile was out of the question. Even launching an aerial bomb was inadvisable.
The conundrum persisted – to engage or not to engage.
Both choices harbored immense consequences.
As Tang Rui grappled with his dilemma, a solution surfaced – an audacious one at that.
Their aircraft might lack the reach, but what about the drone?
The Black Swift had been tamed to Mach 4 post-electronic intervention.
Perhaps a direct exchange with the intruder was in the cards.
Examining the fuel gauge, a flicker of determination crossed Tang Rui’s eyes. “Replacing one with the other isn’t necessary. 1 can perform surgery on it.” A memory surged – an aerial technique known as “scalpel in the air,” pioneered by Mao Xiong above the Barents Sea.
To simplify, it involved speeding beneath the opponent’s aircraft, using the vertical tail to disable their engine.
Conditions had to be met – outpacing the adversary and possessing a drooping tail.
The drone, by chance, fulfilled both criteria.
Tang Rui’s resolve solidified.
The throttle descended to its lowest depths.
The drone’s engine roared to life.
4.1… 43- 43-
Acceleration surged, and the drone drew nearer to the Black Swift.
Firm hands gripped the controls as Tang Rui’s gaze remained fixed.
It was merely fortuitous that prior modifications fortified the engine.
Without them, the venture at 21,000 meters would have met swift failure.
Tang Rui’s eyes bore into the screen. The Black Swift approached, exhaust flames illuminating the sky.
And then…
In an instant, Tang Rui seized his opportunity. The drone’s tail collided precisely with the Black Swift’s engine, inflicting damage.
At 21,000 meters, the two craft intersected, followed by a flare of fire, before diverging.
One engine spewed black smoke and ignited.
Speed plummeted.
Tang Rui throttled down the drone, a grin tracing his lips as alarms blared.
Inside the Black Swift, lights flashed, alarms blaring.
“Engine 1 compromised.”
“Insufficient power.”
“Disengage afterburner, lower altitude.”
“Hawkeye to base, Engine 1 compromised.”
Static replaced coherent communication.
“Captain, our course?”
“Cut Engine 1 fuel, descend, maintain safe speed.”
“Copy.”
The Black Swift decelerated from Mach 4 to Mach 0.7.
Altitude fell from 21,000 meters to 13,000 meters.
The malfunctioning engine ceased its smoking.
Fuel flow severed.
Within the command center, the radar echoed an unambiguous signal – the
Black Swift was now detectable by any radar, thanks to the compromised tail. “Contact Fishing Unit 2. Why the deviation in speed and altitude?” “Unit 2, received. Uncertain. Investigating.”
Moments later, a reply arrived.
“Target’s Engine 1 malfunctioned. Single operational engine. Tail damage likely related.”
As the response was poised for a follow-up, another message came in.
“Dock, intruder detected – drone on target’s left.”
Drone? Bewilderment coursed through the command center.
They had not dispatched any drones for tonight’s maneuvers.
“Curse it all!”
“Unit 7, any anomalies?”
“Dock, this drone assailed the target, tail-slicing it.”
A small drone’s implications clicked – the Black Swift’s veil of stealth had been stripped due to the damaged tail, rendering it radar-visible.
“Contact Unit 7 – any further developments?”
“Confirmed tail damage. Tail-cutting executed by a small drone..”