182: Chapter 182 Deployment

In the center was the integrated information big screen, showing real-time data on the surrounding airspace.

"The Flying Dragon Squad is making final preparations before takeoff. Academician Chu, let's wait a moment."

"Alright, no rush."

Chu Ge and Commander Li found empty seats and sat down. Chu Ge stared at the information on the big screen regarding the outer sea area. It was very calm there; apart from passing airliners, there was no intelligence on military aircraft yet.

On the base runway, Wang Wei and his team had already sat in the cockpits. After the ground crew finished helping the pilots check one last time, they withdrew from the scene.

After identity verification, Wang Wei and his team started the carrier-based aircraft engines. After a slight pause, the three carrier-based aircraft took off one after another and disappeared from everyone's view shortly after.

"Flying Dragon 2 and 3, take note. We have all switched to silver-grey low-visibility paint this time. The Southeast Naval Aviation Base will first dispatch a formation of 4 to cruise, and we will follow behind them."

"Don't scare the Japanese pilots. Everyone, hold back a bit. If you don't need to expose our performance capabilities, don't. Just crush them with speed."

"Flying Dragon 2 received."

"Flying Dragon 3 received."

Soon, the three carrier-based aircraft reached the coastal waters. The blue ocean was currently beneath Wang Wei and his team's feet. Wang Wei leaned over to look, and he smiled; this was the environment he was familiar with.

"Captain Wang Wei, the AWACS command plane is requesting to communicate."

"Connect!"

"Flying Dragon Squad, this is the Southeast Theater KJ-500A AWACS. The JJ-16 formation from the Southeast Base is cruising 50 kilometers to your northeast. We will provide you with the latest aerial dynamics from the rear. Stay safe, over."

"Flying Dragon Squad received. Thank you, comrades on the AWACS. We will go meet up with our teammates first. Goodbye."

"Goodbye."

After Wang Wei cut off the communication, he summoned his teammates to fly toward the airspace where the JJ-16 formation was located.

The JJ-16 formation was currently at cruising altitude. They hadn't turned on their active search radars; with the AWACS acting as their eyes from behind, they were quietly waiting for their mysterious teammates.

"Lead plane, Wang Wei and the others have been gone for quite a while, right? Rumor has it they went to assist with the test flight of new fighter jets. Do you guess we're getting new gear again?"

"It should be the carrier-based aircraft for the aerospace carrier. Going to Academician Chu's place, you can figure that out with your eyes closed."

"..."

As the two were talking, they were completely unaware that the Flying Dragon Squad was already following them from behind.

"Flying Dragon Squad, maintain the current distance from the JJ-16 squad ahead. Accompany them on a patrol circle first, and wait for the Japanese fighter jets to come knocking."

"02 received. I say 01, are we here to act as bodyguards for the JJ-16s?"

"What's wrong with being bodyguards? It fully demonstrates our high combat value. You want them to be bodyguards for you instead? Don't you feel awkward?"

Wang Wei's words left 02 speechless.

...

At the Japan Yonaguni Island Air Force Base, a piercing alarm sounded. Koizumi Ichiro grabbed his helmet and ran toward the tarmac.

When he arrived, the ground crew was already in position. Koizumi Ichiro grabbed the ladder and climbed into the cockpit.

"Major Koizumi, the aircraft check is complete. Everything is normal, you can take off."

After Koizumi Ichiro made a gesture, he slowly lowered the cockpit canopy.

"Base, Koizumi Squad is ready. Requesting to enter the runway for takeoff."

"Approved. Koizumi Squad, take note. There is an unidentified formation of 7 fighter jets in the direction of Diaoli Island. The base orders your team to join forces with the Sasaki Squad to go and investigate the situation. The AWACS is already in position in the relevant airspace. Stay safe, over."

"Received."

Koizumi Ichiro lowered his headset and switched to the squad communication mode. After everything was ready, he began to maneuver the plane to taxi out from the tarmac.

"What unidentified fighter formation? It's clearly China's fighter jets. It's like daily drills; is there no end to this? Seven came today too. Stupid Chinese people, always thinking about suppressing us with numbers."

"Captain Koizumi, we are deploying F-35s today, and two squads at that. We will definitely beat them to a pulp."

"Don't underestimate the enemy. There are experts among the Chinese pilots, and their JJ-20 stealth fighters have an advantage over us in close-range dogfights."

Koizumi Ichiro still remembered the Chinese pilot he had engaged with. He knew the other party's skill level was no worse than his own.

"Alright, take off one by one. After takeoff, assemble in airspace 223 and fly in formation to the designated sea area. The airborne early warning aircraft will provide us with intelligence. The squad is not allowed to turn on active radar at will and expose ourselves."

"Hai!"

After Koizumi Ichiro finished speaking, he lowered his headset, made a gesture to the wingman beside him, and began communicating with the tower. After receiving approval, he put his headset back on.

On the runway, two F-35s began to accelerate and soon pulled up, flying into the sky at a 45-degree angle. The fighter jets behind them began to taxi immediately after...

They had been doing this routine almost every day recently: checking, driving away, escorting...

Koizumi Ichiro felt that if this kind of operation became the norm in the future, they wouldn't need to train or take vacations. Every time he thought of this, he gnashed his teeth in hatred.

"We must give them a taste of our power today! But it's very strange, it seems like I haven't encountered that Chinese person named Wang Wei for a long time. Wang Wei, it would be best if you are here today. We haven't decided the winner between us yet."

Koizumi Ichiro muttered to himself. His squad soon flew to the assembly airspace. After joining up with the Sasaki Squad, the 8 F-35s headed straight for the incident sea area in combat formation.

"Koizumi Squad, you will reach the target airspace in 10 minutes. The target is divided into two groups: one four-aircraft formation and one three-aircraft formation. Pay attention to identification!"

"Koizumi Squad received. Sasaki Squad received."

At the same time, in Wang Wei's cockpit, Flying Dragon One began to sound an alarm.

"Attention, Captain Wang Wei. 8 fighter jets are flying toward our airspace at high speed from the northeast. Through database feedback, the eight aircraft are F-35A stealth fighter jets. There is one AWACS 200KM to the rear, model E-3C."

"Special attention: There is an RC-135W reconnaissance aircraft operating 300KM to the southeast."

"The system senses that the RC-135W's radar signals are mainly concentrated in our current airspace. The radar they have turned on is a reverse detection radar."

"From this, all electronic signals, bearings, as well as the frequency and operating bands of our early warning, guidance, and tracking radars can be collected. The system automatically determines its threat level as Level 1. It is recommended to initiate electronic attack suppression."