Back in 1978, I was admitted to Northwestern Polytechnical University.

Chapter 388 The Newly Acquired Airplane

Looking at the map, India and its homeland are separated only by Myanmar. With three large external fuel tanks, the MiG-29 has a ferry range of over 2,000 kilometers, making it easy to cross Myanmar.

As for the Myanmar Air Force?

The Myanmar Air Force is practically nonexistent; their airspace is riddled with holes. Even these MiG-29s don't need to fly at extremely low altitudes; they can fly over at high altitudes without any problems.

and so……

"These damned Indians are actually supporting the monkeys behind their backs!"

"We don't know the specifics, but this time we gave the monkeys a good beating, which was a real slap in the face to the Russians. They're unhappy, but it's inconvenient for them to directly break ties with us... As for the monkeys, they've been scared by us and definitely won't dare to fight us again. I heard there's even internal division within them, so..."

So, the Russians gave MiG-29 fighter jets to India, India then gave them to China, and China used these jets to fight Siam. This cycle continued, and in the end, it was Siam that suffered!
"Hmph, we have Eastern equipment, we will definitely defeat them, President Qin. After today's discussion, we will immediately report to our superiors and try to raise the procurement funds within a week!"

Now that war is about to break out, everything must be done according to the military's orders. For the military... they even look forward to this scenario, since they can get a larger share of the benefits.

As for the danger of failure... with Eastern equipment, how could we possibly fail!
"Well, we were just talking about air force equipment. Now let's talk about the army. We believe that Western heavy tanks are not suitable for your use. Our Type 69 is the most suitable choice..."

Northwestern Polytechnical University mainly promotes the development of air power and has little involvement in ground weapons. However, what we have is enough. During the Iran-Iraq War, we sold a large number of Type 69 missiles to them. Of course, we can also export a large number to Siam.

After all, most of the battles take place on the ground. This area is full of waterways, mountains, and jungles. Western main battle tanks, which often weigh 60 tons, are not suitable for this terrain. What is needed here are medium tanks weighing around 30 tons!

Next came the army equipment. After some sales pitches, the Siamese bought a large quantity. After all, compared to the air power that could already compete with the world's advanced fighter jets, the performance of the Eastern ground weapons and equipment was not good. Of course, it was enough to bully the monkeys, and it was better than the M48 tanks that the Siamese already had.

The key is that it's cheap; a tank costing less than a million is practically a steal!

General A'Tie nodded repeatedly, accepting almost all of the equipment Qin Liang was selling—it was cheap, incredibly cheap!

Finally, the meeting ended.

"Mr. Qin, let Supana show you around and let you enjoy the scenery of our capital..."

"it is good."

Over the next few days, Qin Liang took his wife around to explore the city, investigating the local situation and purchasing power to determine which products would be most suitable to promote, while also enjoying time together.

Supana, a local expert, ran around doing everything he could. When Yang Duo'er took a liking to the shop, he went directly to negotiate and took over the shop that very day. All that was left was for Yang Duo'er to bring in her staff so that the Pacific Company's Siam branch could open for business.

April 12, Siam, northeastern region, Udon Thani Air Base.

In the distance are dense jungles, looking lush and green. Inside the base, most of the area is also covered with thick grass, enough to hide a person. This base is still relatively primitive.

Standing on the tarmac, Qin Liang looked up into the distance, where fighter jets were roaring in.

The fighter jet flying in front was very large, with twin engines and twin vertical tails. As it approached the base, its wings began to unfold, a maneuver that drew gasps of amazement from the crowd.

No matter when or where, this variable-sweep wing looks absolutely stunning when it changes its sweep angle!

Two twin-engine Q-6 fighters landed first, followed by two brand-new fighter jets.

The prominent strakes extending rearward from both sides of the nose are its most distinctive feature; just seeing these tells you how modern it is! And look at the layout of the side air intakes—it's suitable for both rough runways and has sufficient high angle-of-attack performance…

"This JF-17 will be our main export product in the future. It's only three million more expensive than the Super 7, which is a quarter of the price, but its combat power is at least twice as strong as the Super 7!" Qin Liang continued to promote his product from the side.

The JF-17 Thunder landed smoothly, taxied to the tarmac, and then... whoosh...

A large crowd surrounded them, completely ignoring the fact that there was a transport plane behind them!
The first thing everyone looked at was, of course, the JF-17 Thunder, since it was a brand new fighter jet. After the pilot got off, Kandalak was the first to climb on.

Phyan Kandalak was born in Samut Prakan in 1921. After graduating from the Siam Army Technical College, he went to the Air Force Flight Training School and then to the Air Force Command and Staff College. He served as Deputy Director of the Flight Training School and Director of the Air Force Operations Bureau, among other positions. In 1977, he was promoted to Air Force Commander-in-Chief.

Looking at his career, you can tell that this guy never actually flew a fighter jet. He was an administrative officer who got promoted, which was very common in the Siamese Air Force. The only person in later generations who actually flew one was a transport plane. Frontline fighter jet pilots would work themselves to death and never get promoted.

So when he looked into the cockpit, he couldn't understand it at all, but he could tell at a glance that it was very impressive because... there was no instrument panel in the cockpit, only monitors!
Even the most advanced American F-16 only has a few horizontal and vertical movements, aided by a large number of mechanical instruments. This Eastern cockpit is entirely made of glass!
Advanced, so advanced!
"This plane... it shouldn't be too difficult for us pilots to adapt to flying it, right?"

"Of course it's not difficult. As aircraft become more and more modern, conversion to other aircraft will become easier and easier. Once you are familiar with the cockpit, flying will be very simple. In the pitch direction, we also use fly-by-wire control. When flying at low altitude, it will be linked with the radar mapping function. If the altitude is not high enough, it can automatically pull up..." Qin Liang introduced in a very enthusiastic manner.

"Hmm, not bad, not bad. Then our air force should immediately select new pilots and begin conversion training!" Kandalak said excitedly.

Just then, the roar continued on the runway, and the transport plane landed. The rear hatch opened, and several vehicles drove off, carrying large cylindrical containers on their backs...

"Gentlemen, our air defense missile system has also arrived. Last year in the Bekaa Valley, our air defense missiles received positive feedback from the customer. Next, we will also help lay a communication line all the way to the Air Force Command..."

The timing of the transition from second-generation to third-generation aircraft is crucial. At this time, the Siamese adopted Eastern equipment and formed a system. After that, they could only buy Eastern equipment. They no longer needed F-16s or Gripen fighters!

Let's use our Eastern equipment instead!
Arms deals are never just business; they are also linked to politics. In other words, we can bring Siam into our camp in the future!
Therefore, not only should we have fighter jets, but we also need anti-aircraft missiles!

"This anti-aircraft missile..." Kandalak said with some curiosity.

“We forgot to mention this project when we discussed it last time. We always felt that those monkeys were up to no good and might fly over to bomb us. If we don’t have time to take off and intercept them, these anti-aircraft missiles can also come in handy.”

As they were talking, the radar vehicle had already moved to the northeast corner of the base. The radar was erected, and amidst the roar of the power supply vehicle, it began to work, projecting a large amount of electromagnetic waves eastward.

next moment……

"Four targets spotted 300 kilometers to the northeast!"

A large group of people ran over with a whoosh.

Three hundred kilometers, what does that mean?
Previously, when the US military leased their air force base, the search range of the base's radar was only about 100 kilometers. Now, the air defense equipment of the East is really advanced enough to detect a target 300 kilometers away in the first instance.
Wait a minute, 300 kilometers away, we've already crossed our own border; it's the other side's territory!

Since the conflict and friction have been taking place along the Cambodian border, Siam’s air power has been mainly deployed in the south. Now, who would have thought that four fighter jets would suddenly take off from the direction of their homeland and fly towards their side!

"Quickly, take off and intercept immediately!" Kandalak shouted.

The closest one is their base, and... judging from the direction the target is moving on the radar screen, it's heading straight for us.

What are they going to do?
We've only just received our first batch of planes, and these guys are already getting impatient and want to come and bomb us?

At the airport, the roar of engines rose and fell as two twin-engine Q-6 fighter jets taxied onto the runway and took off rapidly with afterburners engaged. Although they were only carrying Lightning-9 missiles for self-defense, they were still determined to move forward under the current circumstances!

Our two targets are flying much faster than the enemy's!

The two sides are rapidly approaching each other.

Two hundred kilometers, one hundred and fifty kilometers...

"Target is descending, entering ultra-low altitude! Target is expected to disappear from ground radar screens! Activate data link!" Data link!
This thing... the Siamese had never encountered it before, but now, they could see that the bright spot on the radar screen was still there. Logically, the target should have been blocked by the curve of the Earth by now.

"Currently, the information displayed on our radar is the target searched by the airborne radar of the twin-engine Q-6 fighter jet, and then transmitted back," Qin Liang explained.

Everyone's eyes widened. This is possible?

The distance between the two sides is still rapidly closing, one hundred kilometers, eighty kilometers...

"The target is shifting!"

"The target has returned!"

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief as they watched the four targets fly away on the screen.

Now, the enemy's fighter jets have penetrated about 80 kilometers into our airspace! If it weren't for the advanced long-range air defense radar deployed here, and the fact that fighter jets have been scrambled, the enemy would definitely have succeeded! The thought of our newly purchased aircraft being bombed sent chills down everyone's spines.

"General, should we continue the pursuit? We're faster than them; we're sure we can catch up and shoot down their planes!"

Gandhara gritted his teeth and said, "Forget it, by the time we caught up, we had already crossed the border. Let's turn back."

"Yes."

Qin Liang glanced at the other side. Clearly, they didn't intend to cross the border to bomb. What was going on? Were they afraid? Or…?

No rush, the fire needs to build up little by little.

"The two sides were 80 kilometers apart before the other side spotted our aircraft. This matches the maximum search range of the MiG-29's onboard radar. Unfortunately, we still couldn't catch up and couldn't visually determine the specific model of the enemy aircraft."

"Hmph, no need for visual inspection, it's definitely a MiG-29. They're trying to launch a surprise attack on our base! They want to destroy the planes we just bought. Hmph, we won't let their plot succeed!" Gandhara gritted his teeth. "As for not pursuing them, we're just afraid of alerting them. We'll wait until we send people to find out the exact location of those fighter jets..."

Once we've located the planes, we'll raid their base! Those damned MiG-29s deserve to be destroyed on the ground!

After today's events, they are now completely convinced that the monkeys are shifting their attack targets and launching a large-scale attack on them. Of course, they cannot sit idly by and wait to be killed!
In the past, when the monkeys crossed the border, it could be said that they were eliminating Cambodian guerrillas. But now? It's officially starting a war with the Siamese, and they're using the most despicable tactic of sneak attacks!
"Your pilots are probably not ready for this kind of mission yet. After all, the aircraft has only just arrived and they need to undergo training..."

"Yes, that's a problem. We...we're requesting foreign pilots! We're willing to pay for their assistance!"

Hundreds of kilometers away, several large aircraft burrowed into the mountains. These aircraft were long and slender, and to increase the electromagnetic wave reflection area, a layer of aluminum foil was added to their surface.

It has missile wings in the center, a cross-shaped tail rudder at the rear, and a small jet engine. Its appearance is very similar to the Tomahawk.

That's right, it's a battle axe!
It flew north and eventually disappeared without a trace.

The old nest, Longzhen base.

On the concrete runway, weeds were visibly growing in the seams, and they were quite lush. On the tarmac, the weeds were growing even more rampant, and the old MiG-21s looked like they were about to rust.

Nearby, a newly built hangar, which is actually just a shed, houses eight brand-new MiG-29 fighter jets.

Back when the country was founded, the main force of the Lao Air Force consisted of dozens of MiG-21 fighter jets. However, due to the lack of personnel to maintain them, these fighter jets could no longer fly after a few years and were left to be exposed to the sun and rain at the base.

The tires were flat, the maintenance hatches on the fuselage were open, and the parts inside were nowhere to be found. This batch of fighter jets was completely useless. Even if the old base wanted to maintain its air force, it didn't have the personnel or funds!

In comparison, those MiG-29s in the hangar are much more advanced!
With its sleek fuselage and blended wing-body design, the entire aircraft appears as a unified whole. I had never seen such a modern aircraft before!
"This plane is so beautiful."

"Of course, this is the Soviet Union's most advanced MiG-29!"

The guards at the base stared wide-eyed at the planes, while inside the hangar, a group of arrogant Indians were giving a lecture to a bunch of monkey-like air force personnel.

Chetri, an Indian air force advisor, pointed to the fighter jet behind him and said, "When this fighter jet was designed, maneuverability was the primary factor. The shape was designed by the Soviet Central Fluid Design Institute. The leading-edge extensions on both sides are used to generate vortices, increasing the lift of the wings. Its high angle-of-attack maneuverability is excellent! It can fly at least 60 degrees!"

"The two engines give it a powerful thrust-to-weight ratio. As the American fighter mafia once said, in modern air combat, whoever has more energy will win!"

"In close-quarters combat, in addition to radar, you can also use ISRT and helmet-mounted sights!"

A group of monkey pilots, their eyes gleaming, finally couldn't hold back any longer and asked, "Can this aircraft compete with the most advanced twin-engine Q-6 in the north?"

"Of course. Variable sweep wings are third-generation technology, while our MiG-29 uses fourth-generation technology, giving us a generational advantage! Nguyen Minh Hung, don't you have any confidence in our aircraft?"

Nguyen Minh Hung shook his head: "No, I have confidence! I request that the planes be put into flight now, and that we be trained and ready for the battlefield as soon as possible! Right now, planes from the north are flying overhead at any time; it's an insult to us..."

The monkey air force didn't lose many pilots, but they lost their equipment! Moreover, even if the Russians sent their remaining supplies, it wouldn't be of any use; outdated equipment would just be sent away, and they needed advanced equipment!
Now that they have the eight MiG-29s, they can't wait to get the fighter jets flying and get them running smoothly!

It's important to understand that you can't just fly an airplane as soon as you get it. Flight training can easily take more than six months, and becoming a seasoned pilot takes one or two years and hundreds of hours of flying experience!
"Want to fly?"

"Ah."

"Alright, then memorize the entire flight manual. As long as you can answer fluently, I'll fly the two-seater and take you up in the sky to experience it!"

“Mr. Chettley, we have memorized the flight manual, but there are a few parts we don’t understand and would like to ask you about.”

"Ask away, we're all in the same boat now, I'll answer patiently."

"Excuse me, the manual says the maximum angle of attack is 30 degrees, but you just said it can fly at 60 degrees?"

"The manuals are for ordinary pilots. We are elite pilots, and we must dare to push our limits!"

"When you're taking us for a flight next time, could you give us a 60-degree angle of attack?"

"This... of course not, you'll throw up! Next question!"

In fact, the MiG-29 has been in India's hands for less than three months, and the Indian pilots have only mastered the basic operation of the aircraft. To say that they can fly the MiG-29 to its full potential is pure nonsense!
However... that doesn't stop them from boasting. The Soviet instructors said they could fly up to 60 degrees, so they Indians can fly up to 60 degrees too!
"In close-quarters combat, if the ISRT (In-Sight Detector) doesn't work properly, switching to the helmet-mounted sight requires flipping six switches. Do we have this opportunity to switch on the battlefield?"

"Practice makes perfect!"

In the distance, someone poked their head out from the grass, observing through binoculars.

"They're all in the hangar!"

"Yes, we need to determine the exact coordinates of the hangar! Bring the Beidou terminal!"

　PS: Back then, the old base was in the air force.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)