189: Official announcement: The world's first third-generation and a half fighter!

Possessing overseas military bases is, to a large extent, a manifestation of a country's military strength and comprehensive national power!

It is also a key support for achieving "long-range force projection" and "forward presence"!

Although Dragon Country's overseas military base was established through a "Logistics Mutual Assistance Agreement" signed with Iraq, this is already sufficient for Dragon Country to project military power into the Middle East!

While overseas military bases are not the entirety of Dragon Country's military strength, they are an extension of Dragon Country's military power!

The news hall was in an uproar; everyone present at the press conference had never imagined that Dragon Country would drop such a bombshell!

After the USA mobilized the Sixth Fleet to blockade the Persian Gulf and the Arabian Sea, the International Community generally believed that Dragon Country would communicate and negotiate with the The White House through diplomatic channels to request that Dragon Country's oil tankers could sail in the area.

After all, Dragon Country had no military presence in the Middle East and was even less capable of confronting the powerful Sixth Fleet.

However, everyone was completely surprised when Dragon Country, in the blink of an eye, announced that it would deploy Air Force troops to the Middle East!

This will greatly alter the regional balance of power, even plunging the Middle East from a "bipolar struggle" into the chaos of a "three-kingdoms standoff"!

"Does this mean that Dragon Country's military forces will be permanently stationed in the Middle East?"

The Eagle News Agency reporter asked, his face grim.

"Our side will only carry out escort and counter-terrorism missions as stipulated by the agreement, and will not participate in any regional conflicts!"

Ministry of National Defense spokesperson Zheng Jun replied, his expression serious and his eyes sharp.

"Dragon Country Air Force has never publicly released any information about the J-16 "Qianlong" Fighter Jet before. Is the J-16 the latest third-generation fighter jet developed by Dragon Country Air Force after the j-10 "menglong"?"

The AFP reporter stood up and asked Ministry of National Defense spokesperson Zheng Jun.

After the French Air Force's Mirage 2000 fighter jets suffered a crushing defeat against Dragon Country Air Force at last year's Paris Air Show, the French Air Force regarded Dragon Country Air Force as its biggest competitor.

Therefore, at this moment, the AFP reporter was particularly interested in Dragon Country's new fighter jet.

However, facing this question, Ministry of National Defense spokesperson Zheng Jun's face showed a hint of a smile.

Because he thought of the positioning of the "Qianlong" fighter jet by Comrade Peng Lin, the chief designer of the J-16 and the chief designer of Air Force equipment development.

"To be precise, the J-16 "Qianlong" Fighter Jet is not a third-generation fighter jet, but the world's first 3.5-generation fighter jet!"

Zheng Jun faced the AFP reporter and replied.

"3.5-generation fighter jet?"

Hearing the words of the Dragon Country Ministry of National Defense spokesperson, reporters from AFP, the USA, and the Soviet Union all became a bit unsettled.

A third-generation fighter jet is a third-generation fighter jet!

But what in the world is this 3.5-generation fighter jet?

Other countries' fighter jets are all third-generation, but your Dragon Country's new fighter jet insists on being called a 3.5-generation fighter jet. Isn't this clearly meant to suppress other countries?

"How is a 3.5-generation fighter jet defined?"

"Could this be a military concept unilaterally defined by Dragon Country?"

The Pravda reporter asked Ministry of National Defense spokesperson Zheng Jun, his face showing displeasure.

His intention was very clear: the Soviet Union did not recognize the concept of a "3.5-generation fighter jet" and stated that it was a military definition unilaterally proposed by Dragon Country, which the International Community also did not approve of.

"That's right, the '3.5-generation fighter jet' is indeed a new type of Air Force fighter jet concept newly proposed by Comrade Peng Lin, the chief designer of equipment development for our Dragon Country Air Force!"

"Comrade Peng Lin is also the chief designer of the j-10 "menglong" and J-16 "Qianlong" Fighter Jets!"

"He believes that third-generation fighter jets like the J-10 possess certain air superiority combat capabilities and limited ground and sea attack capabilities. They perform to a certain extent in beyond-visual-range combat and close-range dogfights, but their overall combat effectiveness is relatively limited. When facing complex battlefield environments and advanced opponents, there are certain shortcomings in their combat capabilities."

"As a 3.5-generation fighter jet, the J-16, due to upgrades in its avionics system, weapon equipment, and other aspects, possesses stronger beyond-visual-range air combat capabilities, multi-target attack capabilities, and precise ground and sea strike capabilities. It can perform diversified combat missions in more complex battlefield environments, with a significantly enhanced overall combat effectiveness, giving it a clear advantage when confronting third-generation fighter jets!"

"And our Dragon Country Air Force's J-16 "Qianlong" Fighter Jet is the world's first 3.5-generation fighter jet!"

Dragon Country Ministry of National Defense spokesperson Zheng Jun introduced, his statements concise and his tone steady and powerful.

His words undoubtedly made the entire press conference venue boil over once again!

Does Dragon Country mean that the J-16 is stronger than the J-10 Fighter Jet?

And with a clear advantage?

It should be known that Dragon Country's export version of the J-10E had already demonstrated overwhelming combat power in the Middle East, causing headaches for the world's Superpowers!

So, to what extent would the J-16 "Qianlong" Fighter Jet be strong?

Furthermore, the Dragon Country Ministry of National Defense spokesperson actually claimed that the J-16 is the world's first 3.5-generation fighter jet!

If Dragon Country says so, what's the difference between that and directly announcing that Dragon Country Air Force's "Qianlong" fighter jet is the world's strongest fighter jet?

Therefore, this joint press conference held by Dragon Country and Iraq, whether it was the Dragon Country Air Force's overseas base or Dragon Country Air Force's claim of the world's strongest first 3.5-generation fighter jet, was destined to cause a Global uproar!

...The next day.

The contents of the joint press conference held by Dragon Country and the Elak Ministry of Defense immediately occupied the front pages of major Global media outlets.

"Dragon Country's Military Expansion Takes Another Step: First Middle East Overseas Base Alarms Global Community"

"'3.5-Generation' Fighter Jet Controversy: Dragon Country Unilaterally Defines J-16 'Qianlong,' Challenging International Standards"

"Historic Cooperation! Dragon Country Air Force Stationed in Iraq to Escort Energy Passages"

"Dragon Country's 'Qianlong' Fighter Jet Debuts: High-Profile Announcement as World's Strongest Fighter Jet"

"..."

These news reports caught the entire Global community off guard by the "offensive" posture displayed by the Dragon Country Military!

Some time ago, Global public opinion had unanimously believed that Dragon Country had neither the qualifications nor the strength to enter the Middle East, and that its influence in the Persian Gulf would be uprooted by the Superpowers!

But later, the Dragon Country Military used a "Long Xiao (Dragon's Roar)" operation to discredit these opinions and rumors!

However, what the entire International Community never expected was that the Dragon Country Military did not revel in this great victory and celebration, but instead began to display a furious "offensive" posture!

Whether it was the first overseas military base in the Middle East and Persian Gulf regions, or the high-profile announcement of the world's first "3.5-generation" strongest fighter jet, all indicated Dragon Country's strong confidence in its own military strength!

It even dared to confront the world's Superpowers militarily in the Middle East!

...At the same time.

Peng Lin, who was dedicated to the testing of the Y-20 Strategic Transport Aircraft, naturally also noticed the numerous international discussions.

However, the messages regarding the definition of "3.5-generation fighter jet" and the title of "strongest fighter jet" were intentionally released by Peng Lin.

His purpose in doing so was only one: to demonstrate the powerful military deterrent capability of the Dragon Country Military!

The Dragon Country Military is developing very rapidly now, but let alone the International Community, even many people within the country still perceive their own military based on past conditions of hardship and outdated equipment.

This is actually very unfavorable for Dragon Country's expansion of overseas interests.

As the saying goes, "A person's name, a tree's shadow"!

Military deterrence is the cornerstone of national security, effectively curbing potential conflicts and safeguarding strategic interests!

A strong military not only deters opponents, preventing them from acting rashly, but also allows for seizing the initiative in a crisis!

For example, Dragon Country, by stationing the J-16 "Qianlong" Fighter Jet in the Middle East, directly deterred the Sixth Fleet, forcing opponents to weigh the costs of military adventurism!

Deterrence both demonstrates strength and avoids actual combat, securing energy passage safety and international discourse power at minimal cost, making it a core means of maintaining peace and interests!

Now that the reputation of the J-16 "3.5-generation fighter jet" has been established, no matter how much the USA and the Soviet Union want to act against Dragon Country in the Middle East, they will all need to carefully consider it!

Of course, before that, the J-16 "Qianlong" Fighter Jet still needs a military operation to demonstrate its strength beyond that of third-generation fighter jets!

To convince the Global community wholeheartedly!