Chapter 1497 Supersonic Reconnaissance

Chapter 1497 Supersonic Reconnaissance

a few days later.

There are no clouds in the sky above the Badain Jaran Desert.

Colonel Feng Xuezhong sat in the cockpit of the J-8C tactical reconnaissance aircraft, looking at the bright white curved skyline in the distance.

As for the top of his head, the color gradually transitioned from azure blue to a monotonous ink color.

Ever since he was transferred to this unit stationed in the northwest of the motherland to fly reconnaissance planes seven years ago, the sky in his eyes has looked like this most of the time.

Since there is a reconnaissance device protruding from the fuselage behind the front landing gear, this J-71208C with the serial number 8 is actually slightly inferior to its combat counterparts with a completely clean configuration in terms of speed and ceiling.

However, the mission requirements of tactical reconnaissance determine that the proportion of time they spend at altitudes above 1.8 meters is as high as more than 75%, far more than any other type of unit.

"Report, aircraft No. 28 has entered the designated airspace and is waiting for mission instructions." Feng Xuezhong glanced at the navigation screen and then reported to the command center on the radio.

"No. 28, this is Yanliang." The voice of the ground commander came from the headset, "The mission route has been updated to your navigation system, confirm receipt."

Feng Xuezhong looked down at the multi-function display and saw a new set of route data already displayed on the navigation interface.

He gently pulled the joystick, causing the not-particularly-maneuverable aircraft to slowly turn, while gradually increasing the flight altitude from the cruising altitude of 18500 meters to over 20000 meters.

After the altimeter reached 22000, he pushed the throttle, opened the afterburner, and let the acceleration pin him against the back of the ejection seat.

Today's mission is not actual combat or an exercise, but the mysterious equipment on the centerline rack on the belly of the aircraft needs to be tested at a sufficient altitude and speed.

It is said to be a reconnaissance payload for high-altitude, high-speed drones.

"Perhaps in future wars, reconnaissance pilots like us will no longer need to risk our lives..."

This sudden thought made Feng Xuezhong feel a little uncomfortable.

Although at his age he still had the energy and opportunity to switch to flying fighter jets, as a deputy brigade commander, he had found many reasons to prove the necessity of tactical reconnaissance aircraft to the young pilots who were also flying the J-8C.

I always feel like I'm about to be stabbed by a boomerang...

During this time of complaining, the speed of the plane gradually approached the limit of its current state.

"Current airspeed: 2550 kilometers per hour."

Feng Xuezhong reported to the base, while feeling the slight vibrations of the plane as it approached top speed.

The thing hanging on the belly of the aircraft is a square built-in functional module with only a very simple drag reduction design, so it has a great impact on the performance of the aircraft.

"Unit 28, you may begin reconnaissance procedures." An order came from the base.

Feng Xuezhong skillfully flipped a few switches to start the main power of the airborne reconnaissance system.

After a few seconds, a black and white infrared image appeared on the left side of the screen, while a slightly blurry cloud of dots appeared on the right side.

Next, he turned on the power switch of the experimental reconnaissance payload located in the belly of the aircraft, but this thing was not integrated into the aircraft's mission system, so he could not directly see the reconnaissance results. He could only know that it had started normally through the feedback from the multi-function display.

"Main reconnaissance system online, test payload starting...system normal."

While reporting, Feng Xuezhong watched the image on the monitor become increasingly clear.

Below the plane, the ground outline of the Badain Jaran Desert appears in different shades of gray in infrared imaging. The shady side of the sand dunes appears pitch black, while the part that is directly exposed to sunlight appears slightly brighter.

However, since it was almost nightfall, the difference between the two was not very clear.

Suddenly, Feng Xuezhong's attention was drawn to an abnormality on the monitor -

In a seemingly flat desert, several regular geometric shapes appear.

He quickly adjusted the magnification of the optical system. Although there would be some loss of resolution at this altitude, he could still clearly see that there were several 8*8 off-road chassis vehicles parked on the ground.

The long load behind the vehicle is slowly rising and adjusting its angle. It is not difficult to identify that it should be a rocket launcher guide tube or a missile launch box.

"Yanliang, aircraft No. 28 has found a ground target, and the coordinates have been marked." Feng Xuezhong, who has carried out many actual combat missions near the border, is familiar with these procedures, so his voice seems calm, "It looks like... a long-range rocket artillery position is being deployed."

Judging from the location and time, this should be the army unit participating in this year's "Firepower-Shandan" series of exercises.

He realized that his lonely reconnaissance plane was most likely carrying out a test mission while also making a cameo appearance as the "third-party force" that the General Staff has been very fond of setting up in exercises in recent years.

Thinking of this, Feng Xuezhong couldn't help but reach out to the weapon adjustment knob at the bottom of the panel and pretend to turn it to the non-existent "laser-guided bomb" column.

Although the J-8C is a pure reconnaissance aircraft and does not have the ability to use precision-guided munitions to attack the ground, he still fully simulated the attack procedure.

"Target locked...drop bomb." He whispered to himself, having of course turned off the microphone at his lips in advance, so that the person on the other end of the radio wouldn't hear him going crazy in the cabin.

Ten or so seconds later, Feng Xuezhong made a "boom" sound from his mouth to simulate an explosion.

Of course, it is impossible for a bomb dropped at an altitude of 20,000 meters to reach the ground so quickly, but since I am just amusing myself, these details don't matter.

This kind of self-entertainment during long solo flights is a little trick that reconnaissance pilots use to stay focused.

Of course, Feng Xuezhong was also very clear that in actual combat, as one of the most valuable units of the army, the long-range rocket artillery position would inevitably be surrounded by an air defense battalion equipped with Hongqi-16 air defense missiles to provide cover.

It is impossible for a reconnaissance aircraft that is neither stealth nor has an extremely exaggerated altitude and speed to approach the attack position so easily.

At this time, the image of the rocket launcher position had disappeared at the bottom edge of the screen.

He collected his thoughts and turned on the microphone again:

"The first round of reconnaissance has been completed."

"Aircraft 28, prepare to adjust course and conduct a second reconnaissance." The base gave an additional requirement, "Note, the experimental reconnaissance payload needs to be adjusted to working mode two."

"Received, adjusted to working mode two."

Feng Xuezhong repeated the command and then began to operate the control panel.

The aircraft made a wide turn over the desert, preparing for a second pass over the target area.

Unseen by the pilot, two circular holes opened at the front end of the belly pod, exposing the small turbine device inside, which began to rotate at high speed as high-speed airflow poured in.

"Mode two is activated, the pod is functioning normally."

Feng Xuezhong reported, while looking at the data sent back by the new reconnaissance system on the display.

Just as the plane was about to pass over the rocket launcher position again, Feng Xuezhong's radar warning receiver suddenly issued a short "beep" sound.

He quickly glanced at the warning panel and saw a C-band radar signal flashing from the four o'clock position, lasting less than two seconds.

"Yanliang, No. 28 received a brief radar exposure, bearing o'clock, C band, not sustained."

Feng Xuezhong reported it immediately and instinctively checked the status of the electronic countermeasure system.

"It should be the search radar of a nearby army air defense position. It doesn't matter."

The second reconnaissance went as normal and Feng Xuezhong soon received the order to return.

"No. 28, adjust altitude and prepare to return."

"Roger that, start descending."

As the altitude decreased, the atmosphere became gradually thicker and the controllability of the aircraft was significantly enhanced. Feng Xuezhong turned off the afterburner and allowed the aircraft to slow down naturally.

When the altitude dropped to 12000 meters, he opened the speed brake to further reduce the speed.

The return flight was peaceful and monotonous until more than an hour later, when the runway lights of the Yanliang base finally came into view.

"Yan Liang, flight 28 requests landing permission."

"Wind direction 280, wind speed 8 knots, landing is allowed."

Feng Xuezhong skillfully maneuvered the plane towards the runway and lowered the landing gear and flaps.

The J-71208C No. 8 touched the ground in an extremely gentle manner, and only one vibration could be felt during the entire process.

After the plane came to a complete stop, ground crew members immediately gathered around, and one group of people went straight to the test pod in the belly of the plane.

Feng Xuezhong pushed open the canopy, took off his oxygen mask, and prepared to rest in the cabin for a few minutes as usual.

But when he took off his helmet, he noticed a technical officer already waiting by the boarding ladder.

"Colonel, the mission report requires your signature and confirmation." The officer handed over a data pad. "Also, Chief Engineer Cheng hopes to hear your mission briefing tomorrow morning."

Feng Xuezhong nodded and signed his name on the data pad.

"How did the test load perform?" he asked casually.

"We still need to compare them." The officer replied briefly, "The equipment itself does not have a data link, so we can only monitor its basic working status on the ground."

"Okay, I'll have to trouble you guys later."

Feng Xuezhong said something polite in a formal manner, then walked towards a military off-road vehicle parked not far away.

Just as he opened the car door and was about to get in, he suddenly caught a glimpse of a special-looking H-6 bomber parked on the apron in the distance.

He was very sure that when he took off, that position was still empty.

Moreover, this H-6 is obviously different from common models: a fixed refueling pipe is added in front of the nose, the belly is unusually flat, and there is no arc-shaped protrusion of the bomb bay door. It is obviously specially modified to carry some large external attachments.

Feng Xuezhong squinted his eyes, trying to see more clearly.

However, the distance was too far, the light at night was weak, and there were many vehicles surrounding the plane, blocking the view from most angles.

He had no choice but to get on the SUV, only keeping this unusual sight in his mind.