Chapter 722 Dive Bombing (page 12)

Chang Haonan's prediction soon became a reality.

In fact, shortly after the Allied Operations began, Pakistan dispatched armed personnel disguised as civilians in batches to enter the junction area near the Line of Control to build defensive positions and outposts.

According to their plan, this was supposed to be a raid to achieve the established facts as quickly as possible while the attention of all external powers was focused on the Balkans.

Just as the northern powers did in 1962.

However, the sudden start of the Allied operation was too sudden.

Therefore, the Pakistani army was not well prepared on March 3 and had no choice but to bite the bullet and start the mission.

The end of the Allied operation was even more sudden.

No one could have imagined that the Balkan crisis would end in such a outrageous way.

In other words.

Pakistan's entire plan completely collapsed.

However, to some extent, the above two things are not important.

Because Pakistan greatly overestimated the combat effectiveness of its army.

They originally thought that the biggest problem in the plan would be to deal with the interference of foreign powers after completing the land encirclement, so they chose such a time point.

But in reality, the plan stalled almost at the first step.

The so-called raid did not achieve suddenness at all.

After being discovered, it turned into a confrontation.

At first, the Pakistani army, which had a geographical advantage, was able to take advantage.

But soon, the Indian army, which recovered, gradually began to use heavy equipment, including tanks and artillery, to fight back.

The situation of the Pakistani armed forces took a turn for the worse.

Ordinarily, at this point, you should consider how to end it with dignity.

but.

First of all, they have been planning this plan for more than half a year.

Secondly, the new leader who has just taken up the sword in Luo also needs some victories, at least publicity victories to increase his prestige.

So I definitely can’t just get out of here in despair.

Even if we have to withdraw eventually, we have to do something before withdrawing.

Therefore, the escalation of the conflict is inevitable.

……

early morning.

Siachen Glacier, western foothills, Saltolo Mountain.

Two Qiang-16IIIs from the 5th "Panther" Squadron were traveling northward at high speed in the ravine between the two ridges, with a total of 6 MK82 aerial bombs hanging under the wings and fuselage of each aircraft.

Compared with a normal two-plane formation, the distance between the two planes is quite far. Even when making some large-angle turns, the leading plane will briefly leave the sight of the following plane.

And there's another unusual thing about it.

The lead aircraft of this formation is the one at the back.

At this time, the lead pilot, Captain Waqas Aslam, was concentrating on scanning the mountains on both sides, while looking down from time to time to check the flight route map placed in the transparent pocket on his thigh.

In the past period of time, the heavy artillery fire deployed by the Indian army has carried out low-density but continuous harassing shelling on several forward strongholds. However, it is almost impossible for Pakistan to follow the ridge controlled by its own side in the exchange of fire. Artillery of the same level was transported across the Line of Control, and the 120mm mortars carried on horseback were completely incapable of fighting back because their range was too short.

This caused the Pakistani ground forces, which originally had an altitude advantage of about a kilometer, to suffer losses in the artillery battle. Even the superior battle-loss ratio achieved in the past few days was gradually reduced.

In order to solve this problem once and for all, the Air Staff formulated a plan to use attack aircraft to attack enemy artillery positions.

The Pakistani observation post, which was at a relatively commanding height, had actually observed the location of the opponent's firepower long ago, but remained silent because it had no countermeasures.

And today, their counterattack is coming soon.

Since the opponent's position is deployed on a reverse slope, the success rate of bombing directly over the ridge to the east is basically negligible. Moreover, behind the Siachen Glacier not far away is Huaxia. If the bomb is thrown over the boundary, there will be trouble. Big.

Therefore, the attack route can only be along the valley bottom between the glaciers, bypassing the ridges, and dropping bombs from the opposite direction.

This is a high-risk plan, not only because of the possible anti-aircraft weapons of the opponent, but more importantly, using two attack aircraft that lack terrain avoidance and tracking capabilities to fly long distances and low altitudes will itself test the pilot's ability.

Every few seconds, Aslam will report the terrain conditions ahead to his wingman flying about 2.5 kilometers ahead.

According to the plan, after approaching the target, the wingman will launch the attack first, and he will supplement it by deciding the subsequent actions based on the results of the first round of bomb drops.

Soon Aslam saw an iconic C-shaped stone formation on the hillside on the right in front, which is one of the most important landmarks in route planning.

"Panther 450, slow down now, climb to 180 meters, turn ° to the left at the next mountain pass, and then enter the attack course."

He gave orders over the radio to the wingman who was disappearing and appearing in front of him.

In this mountainous area with the most complex environment on earth, the signal stability and accuracy of the satellite positioning system are unsatisfactory, so elite pilots like the captain are still required to perform some basic skills.

The 450 meters here are obviously the height above the ground displayed by the radio altimeter, not the absolute altitude.

"Panther Two received, climbing, bomb safety on."

The wingman's clear answer came over the radio.

Although they are said to be flying "between" the ridges, the altitude of the two aircraft is actually slightly higher than the ridgeline.

It is a compromise between flight safety, radio range and concealment.

"Attention, there may be portable anti-aircraft missiles deployed on the mountains on both sides."

Aslam reminded again, and then added:

"And anti-aircraft guns."

With the end of the Allied operation, the fact that the most advanced B2 bomber was shot down by anti-aircraft guns half a century ago has spread almost throughout the world, and has even caused many countries to re-examine this traditional and ancient weapon.

This is especially true for attack aircraft pilots like them who work hard at low altitudes all day long.

In fact, the only fighter jets of the Indian Air Force that can use medium-range missiles, the Mirage 2000H and the MiG-29A, do not have particularly reliable downward-looking capabilities, so the threats that need to be focused on come from below -

Flying at low altitude in this kind of ghostly terrain, if you get through a mountain pass and find several anti-aircraft guns in front of you, the gods will not be able to save you.

Fortunately, after a deft turn, Panther 2 did not encounter what the captain was most worried about.

This made Aslam relax a little, and then continued to call:

"Tail Blade Squadron, this is Black Panther One, please report your location."

"..."

There was only some noise on the radio, but no answer.

He called again, but still got no response.

For such an important bombing, it is certainly impossible for the Air Force to send only two lonely Qiang-5s.

The 14th "Tail Blade" Squadron was the friendly force used to escort them in the plan.