186: J-16 "Qianlong" makes its maiden flight!

Dragon Country.

At this moment, across its vast territory, an unprecedented large-scale highway network infrastructure project was unfolding with great fervor.

With the substantial profits brought by oil field development, the Dragon family invested a large amount of capital into infrastructure construction, and an unprecedented large-scale highway network infrastructure project was vigorously launched nationwide.

The country transformed the “black gold” from the Middle East into transportation arteries running north-south and east-west.

Many military factories that once served the war effort, after the military entered a phase of modernization, transitioned to the civilian sector, dedicating their precision manufacturing capabilities to infrastructure.

Rows of tracked bulldozers, repurposed from tank production lines, had armor-grade steel plates that could easily cleave through mountain ridges, while the rollers of heavy road compactors, forged from ship-grade steel, made the roadbed as flat as a deck with every pass.

In the Hengduan Mountains of the Southwest, tunnel boring machines, produced by former artillery factories, were rapidly penetrating rock layers.

The cutter heads of these steel behemoths were inlaid with missile-grade hard alloy teeth, and the surging cooling systems originated from submarine hydraulic technology.

Whenever a mechanical arm drilled through the mountain, the demolition team would fill it with micro-seismic explosives improved from ammunition factories, and precise directional blasting would turn the rock into paving aggregate.

On the East China Plain, heavy engineering machinery such as bulldozers, road rollers, and excavators roared day and night; these steel beast-like machines carved out new roads across wilderness, mountains, and plains.

The tracks of bulldozers rolled over soft earth, raising clouds of dust; the steel wheels of road rollers compacted the roadbed again and again, ensuring every inch of the road surface was firm and level; the buckets of excavators plunged deep into the rock, laying a solid foundation for bridges and tunnels.

As the saying goes, to get rich, build roads first!

This massive infrastructure project will not only change Dragon Country’s transportation landscape but also make the economic pulse of reform and opening-up beat more powerfully!

...Meanwhile.

Thanks to the technical accumulation from developing the J-10 Fighter Jet and the existing WoShan-10 “Taihang” aero-engine, Dragon Country’s twin-engine heavy fighter, the J-16, was finally completed.

Inside the J-16 Fighter Jet final assembly workshop, Comrade Peng Lin, dressed in a dark blue work uniform, meticulously scrutinized the silver-gray steel raptor before him.

The fully assembled J-16 gleamed with a cold metallic luster under the spotlights, its wings and fuselage lines sharp as blades, and the exhaust nozzles of the WS-10 engines exuded a sense of latent power.

Ground crew were performing final checks, using handheld terminals to verify fire control system parameters, while mechanics knelt beside the landing gear, tightening the last alloy bolts.

Comrade Peng Lin ran his fingertips over the composite skin of the wing, feeling its cold, solid texture, then ascended the boarding ladder and leaned in to inspect the all-glass avionics system inside the cockpit.

Inside, tactical parameters projected on the HUD shimmered like stars, and the multi-function display continuously showed real-time engine operating data.

He lightly tapped the coating on the fighter’s vertical stabilizer, nodding silently.

“The craftsmanship is more refined than expected.”

Comrade Peng Lin nodded to the Chief Engineer and said.

With the experience of J-10 development and manufacturing, Dragon Country’s technology in advanced fighter manufacturing became increasingly mature!

Furthermore, with the continuous increase in export numbers for the J-10E, Dragon Country has also fostered a larger aerospace industrial system, and the manufacturing cost per fighter jet is gradually decreasing!

After Comrade Peng Lin thoroughly inspected the J-16 Fighter Jet, he pushed it to the safe area.

Subsequently, the roar of the turbofan engines suddenly tore through the silence, and everyone watched as this third-generation heavy fighter was towed out of the hangar.

The morning sun gilded the J-16 “Qianlong” Fighter Jet, making it look like a national sharp blade about to be unsheathed!

...However, just as the entire country was flourishing and developing rapidly, all senior generals of Dragon Country’s Army, Navy, and Air Force gathered at the Ministry of National Defense!

Comrade Peng Lin, who was presiding over the J-16 Fighter Jet test flight, also received an urgent notification.

Because of this, he had to suspend his work and rush from the Yanjiao test flight field to the Ministry of National Defense building.

When Comrade Peng Lin arrived at the conference room on the fifth floor of the Ministry of National Defense, everyone there had furrowed brows, appearing as if facing a formidable enemy!

“What happened?”

Comrade Peng Lin realized that something major had occurred when he saw this scene, and he quickly asked.

“The USA’ Sixth Fleet, with its four Carrier Battle Groups, has now completely blockaded the Persian Gulf and the Arabian Sea!”

“Not only can our oil not be transported out, but we also cannot transport the weapons, equipment, and ammunition purchased by Iraq in!”

“Currently, the Elak Ministry of Defense has informed us of the relevant situation, and because of this, they had to abandon their bombing of Iran to prevent excessive consumption of PL-12 missiles...”

Commander-in-Chief Zhou Zhenbang of the Army, with a heavy expression, briefly introduced the situation to Comrade Peng Lin.

“The USA’ Sixth Fleet, under the guise of maintaining regional peace, not only embargoed weapons and ammunition but even specifically targeted our oil tankers and Iraq’s?”

Upon learning of this situation, Comrade Peng Lin’s expression instantly became serious.

An embargo on weapons and ammunition meant that the USA wanted to cut off Iraq’s sustained combat capability!

And blockading oil tankers was to sever Iraq’s economic lifeline!

This meant that in the Middle East, the USA was about to make a big move!

Israel was not bluffing; it was truly possible that it would launch a military strike against Iraq!

At that time, Iran, with the support of the Soviet Union, would surely seize the opportunity to counterattack!

Iraq was very likely to face the difficult situation of being attacked from both sides and fighting on two fronts!

In that instant, Comrade Peng Lin understood the strategic intent of the USA’ move.

“If the Sixth Fleet continues this blockade, Iraq’s oil won’t be able to be transported out, and its own economy will collapse even before Israel and Iran make a move!”

“Moreover, our country’s large-scale road infrastructure also relies on the revenue from joint oil development in Iraq...”

Marshal Xu Yong'an frowned and analyzed.

“How about the Navy dispatches a fleet to the Persian Gulf for escort, to solve the oil tanker transportation problem first?”

Commander-in-Chief Zhou Zhenbang of the Army suggested.

The issue of weapons and ammunition transportation could not be resolved in the short term, because the USA had already obtained authorization from the UN, and even the Soviet Union and its allies supported this resolution by the USA.

Even Dragon Country, for the time being, had no way to counter it.

However, the USA’ Sixth Fleet blocking Dragon Country and Iraq’s oil tankers under the pretext of inspecting for arms embargoes had no legal basis whatsoever.

“You know the Navy’s situation; we only have 3,000-ton Type 051 Destroyers capable of long-range operations.”

“Additionally, the entire Navy only has 1 Type 905 comprehensive supply ship.”

“While ensuring that national maritime rights are not infringed upon, the Navy can currently dispatch at most 2 Type 051 Destroyers and one comprehensive supply ship to the Persian Gulf...”

Navy Commander Li Haiyang said with a hint of silence.

Mentioning the Navy’s limited assets, he even felt a bit ashamed.

Facing the USA’ Sixth Fleet, which possessed four Carrier Battle Groups, even if the Navy sent a fleet, it would likely be a drop in the ocean.

Dragon Country and Iraq’s oil tankers had an average of dozens entering and exiting the Persian Gulf and Arabian Sea daily.

With just two Destroyers, they couldn’t escort many oil tankers at all!

“Currently, there is only one solution, and that is to request Iraq to agree to lease us an Air Force base!”

“Our military will then station J-16 Fighter Jets in Iraq!”

“Utilize the J-16 heavy fighter’s long range and combat radius to escort oil tankers in the Persian Gulf and Arabian Sea!”

Comrade Peng Lin looked at everyone and said in a deep voice.

Oil tanker escorts usually rely on surface vessels such as frigates and Destroyers, but the speed of these vessels might lag behind oil tankers, and escort formations need to be dispersed, making comprehensive coverage difficult.

However, fighter jets can cover hundreds of kilometers of sea in a short time, patrolling a wide area!

Although the cost of such an escort is relatively high, it can resolve the predicament of blockaded oil tankers!

Currently, the USA would absolutely not be willing to directly engage in military conflict with Dragon Country; as long as there are military units escorting Dragon Country’s oil tankers, the Sixth Fleet will absolutely not engage in military confrontation!

“Additionally, as long as Saddam agrees to our request, within three months, I will also find a way to resolve the issue of transporting the purchased weapons, equipment, and ammunition to the Elak Ministry of Defense!”

Comrade Peng Lin continued to add.

“Comrade Peng Lin, do you mean that in addition to the J-16 being completed, the Y-20 Strategic Transport Aircraft might also be put into use within three months?”

Marshal Xu Yong'an, upon hearing Comrade Peng Lin’s words, suddenly stood up excitedly and asked.