Great Power Long Sky

Li Lu's thinking has changed compared to three months ago.

Previously, he was single-mindedly focused on avenging Chen Hai, and to achieve this, he first needed to find a way to detect stealth aircraft.

As Li Lu gained a deeper understanding of radar detection technology, he gradually realized that this was not something that could be accomplished overnight.

Following that, the USS Kitty Hawk, which was lingering in the outer seas, frequently scrambled fighter jets to harass them. In particular, this reconnaissance mission made Li Lu realize that the real threat at present was a large number of third-generation fighter jets.

No matter how powerful the F-22 is, it will most likely be deployed to the mainland first in the short term, and the number will not be large.

There is even a view that the attack on the tail of Chen Hai's plane was not carried out by an F-22, but by another culprit.

Even the most powerful radar cannot guarantee that it can detect all aerial targets within its coverage area. What if there was another aircraft in airspace number three at that time?

A few days ago, Li Lu and Fang Dong communicated by phone about the progress. Li Lu suggested to Fang Dong that it might be possible to use two radars placed in different locations to detect stealth aircraft by cross-detection.

Fang Dong clearly told him that it was theoretically feasible, but the success rate in actual operation was still very low, unless a large air detection radar was installed on the ship and a radar array was formed by connecting several such ships with a communication line.

Isn't this the theory behind phased array radar?

Each ship is equivalent to a launch unit, and several ships are several launch units.

It is obvious that, given the current state of the naval forces, this is simply impossible.

No matter how anxious Li Lu is, he has to respect the current technological reality.

After the meeting, Wang Yong and other leaders, along with staff and technical personnel from the headquarters, air force command, and military region, reviewed the reconnaissance operation.

Xu Hailiang gestured for Li Lu to wait a moment. After the others left, he pulled Li Lu aside and whispered, "The division commander called me and wants to appoint you as the captain of the second battalion, a promotion that's exceptional."

"If you go and test-fly Project 10, this whole thing will fall through."

Li Lu was taken aback. "I'm just a deputy company-level acting platoon leader, and you're going straight to battalion commander?"

Xu Hailiang said, "That's what you call a promotion through special procedures. My regiment is among the next batch of units to be upgraded to Su-27 fighters. In just a few years, you'll be flying third-generation fighters. Why bother with the Project 10 test flight?"

His view is realistic: no matter how fast Project 10 progresses, it cannot be as fast as purchasing and importing Su-27s for deployment.

Moreover, in everyone's eyes at present, how can domestically produced fighter jets compare to the technology of the Soviet Union, even though that old brother is dead.

Optimism and inferiority are intertwined, forming the accompaniment of this era.

People are full of confidence in the future of the country and firmly believe that the future will be better and the country will become stronger. However, after a long period of weakness, and after witnessing the advanced technology of foreign countries, they have seen the gap between themselves and others. When a domestically produced airplane is produced, it is only natural that they subconsciously think it is not as good as similar foreign products.

Or it could be described as a cognitive inertia.

We've been lagging behind for too long; how could we believe that the day we become powerful will come so soon?

The Su-27 is a good aircraft. After learning more about the aircraft, Xu Hailiang and his colleagues even became superstitious about it.

In Xu Hailiang's view, no matter how strong Project No. 10 is in Sichuan, how much stronger can it be than the J-8 fighter jet in the north?

He wasn't alone; many pilots shared the same view.

Li Lu, however, felt strongly that China's aviation industry was about to enter the takeoff phase and would be able to take off in a few years. The No. 10 project in Sichuan was likely to be a milestone.

He slowly shook his head and said, "You can't rely on others. In the end, it's our own technology that's reliable. Besides, Project 10 has a beautiful aerodynamic shape. I think it will be an excellent fighter jet."

"Chief of Staff, I've already decided that we'll put the tactical tests for engaging stealth aircraft aside for now. Without finding a way to detect stealth aircraft, there's no point in discussing tactical tests."

"The higher command has included attacking aircraft carriers in the scope of the tactical testing group. This is an urgent task and a real threat."

"There's no other way with the J-6 and J-7; they're too small to even carry a single anti-ship missile. Right now, we have no other options but the JH-7 and Project 10."

Xu Hailiang said, "What about Su Liangqi? Take this opportunity to ask your superiors to transfer two aircraft from the Ninth Regiment for you, or even just one."

Li Lu said with a wry smile, "Chief of Staff, Regiment Commander Gao Wei probably didn't tell you the truth. You may not know, but their regiment made a fool of itself in the large-scale military exercise at the end of last year. At that time, apart from aerial fire and artillery, they couldn't fight anything else, and they were not integrated into our command mechanism."

"Those planes are just empty shells now."

Xu Hailiang was stunned; he truly had no idea about this situation.

Li Lu slowly said, "The Russians want to make money, but they don't reveal any technology, which makes the Ninth Regiment's modifications very difficult. Everything has to be approved by the Russian technicians and pilots. What's going on here?"

He waved his hand and said, "In the short term, the most suitable aircraft is actually the JH-7, but unfortunately, the higher-ups will not borrow aircraft from Hainan Airlines, let alone purchase JH-7s."

Xu Hailiang raised his eyebrows and said, "So you're requesting to be transferred to Hainan Airlines if you can't test fly Project 10?"

Li Lu said helplessly, "It's a last resort. Do you think I'd be willing to leave the Air Force? What would I do without planes? The Kitty Hawk was lingering in the outer sea this time. If it were lingering in the territorial waters, would we just stand by and watch them act arrogantly?"

"Battalion commander and company commander are just different positions. I don't really care about the difference in rank."

Xu Hailiang couldn't help but take a step back, looking Li Lu up and down, and said with emotion, "A scholar should be looked at with new eyes after three days of separation. You've only flown back for a short while, and your ideological awareness has improved by more than one level. I'm very surprised."

Li Lu shook his head with a wry smile and slowly said, "Chief of Staff, when I was reconnaissance of the USS Kitty Hawk, even when I was attacked by the Phalanx close-in weapon system, I was not afraid. I was not afraid when we made the emergency landing either. At that time, I was focused on making the maneuver perfect."

"When I was writing my summary last night, I was scared, terrified. The more I thought about it, the more scared I became. I kept thinking, if I had sacrificed myself at sea, what could I, Li Lu, have left for the army, what contribution could I have made to the country and the people?"

There's nothing there, absolutely nothing.

"Now that there is an opportunity to explore tactics and methods for attacking aircraft carriers, I am the most experienced pilot, and I will take the lead without hesitation. I am duty-bound to leave some good tactics and methods and experience for the troops."

Xu Hailiang couldn't help but feel a deep sense of respect.

Li Lu's genuine emotions revealed his flesh and blood side; he knew everything, but he was just an ordinary person.

After a long silence, Xu Hailiang said in a deep voice, "I support you."

Li Lu nodded gratefully.