Go back in time and be a chaebol

Chapter 2532 The Aircraft Carrier with the Red Flag Flying (First Update, Please Subscribe)
In the Mediterranean Sea, atop the island superstructure of the aircraft carrier "Minsk," the "Top Plate" radar antenna is rotating at a steady speed.

The red Soviet naval ensign fluttered in the wind.

When this aircraft carrier appeared in this sea area, the whole world was watching it. Its very existence symbolized power, a fearsome naval might.

Surrounding the aircraft carrier "Minsk" are 11 escort destroyers and a supply ship. The core of this massive fleet is the Minsk.

This aircraft carrier, capable of carrying 30 MiG-29K fighter jets, was the most powerful warship in the Soviet Union and has attracted worldwide attention since it entered service.

At this time, it has become the focus of global attention in the Mediterranean.

Its appearance could even change the voice of Western countries in the Mediterranean. No, it should be said that its appearance in any sea area would change the local situation and the local voice.

This is precisely the change brought about by aircraft carriers!

When the red signal light in the communications room suddenly lit up, Captain Kokinachev was looking into the distance through binoculars from the observation deck on the bridge.

"Captain, an urgent message from 'K-495'!" The communications officer practically jogged in, his boots clicking rapidly on the steel deck, and said:

"They are under attack from multiple sea and air forces by the SEA and request immediate fleet support."

Kokinachev's gaze shifted from the binoculars to the red mark in the center of the chart table. K-495 was now exactly 200 nautical miles from the Minsk's current position, right at the edge of the SEA Sixth Fleet's regular patrol area. After a brief moment's thought, he asked:

What are the exact coordinates of "K-495"?

After reporting the coordinates, the staff officer added,
"The telegram specifically mentioned that the Allied forces' obstruction was very decisive, and they seemed to have no intention of backing down."

The air inside the bridge instantly froze.

Refusing to compromise means the situation will escalate further.

Kokinachev glanced at his watch; the hour hand pointed to 1:17 p.m. The Mediterranean sun was obscured by clouds.

"Notify the aviation department immediately,"

He suddenly spoke, saying:

"Two MiG-29s were ejected, armed with medium-range and short-range missiles, with the mission of establishing an airborne early warning zone for 'K-495'."

After thinking for a moment, he added:
"Bring the Kh-31 anti-ship missiles!"

The Kh-31 anti-ship missile is a new type of missile developed by the Soviet technical department. It uses an integrated solid-propellant ramjet engine and has a maximum speed of Mach 3.5. Because it weighs only 610 kg, it can be carried by the MiG-29. Guided by airborne radar, it was the first supersonic anti-ship missile in the Soviet Union that could be launched from a tactical aircraft.

This newly commissioned anti-ship missile has never been shown to the world before. At this time, Kokinachev does not mind flexing his muscles, because this is flexing his muscles in itself.

"Two per aircraft!"

"But Captain, we're still 200 nautical miles from the accident site. The MiG-29's combat radius..."

The navigator couldn't help but offer a reminder.

Although carrier-based MiG-29s do not need to take off and land at harsh frontline airfields, the MiG-29K eliminated the landing gear mudguards, air intake covers, and dorsal air intake gills, thus increasing internal fuel capacity to 5200 kg and internal fuel range to 1800 km.

However, carrying two Kh-31 anti-ship missiles will definitely have an impact on its rice varieties.

"What we need is to demonstrate strength."

Kokinachev's gaze swept over everyone on the bridge:

"In past naval confrontations, we had to back down because we lacked air power. Now that we have aircraft carriers, we must show them the air power of the Soviet Navy!"

We want the whole world to see our determination and will!

The orders were transmitted like electricity throughout the Minsk.

On the flight deck, ground crew in orange overalls rushed towards their parking positions, pushing wheel chocks. Two MiG-29 fighter jets, painted in blue ocean camouflage, gleamed with the cold, metallic sheen of their R-27 medium-range missiles and R-73 short-range air-to-air missiles beneath their wings. Pilots Nikolai Andrei and Alexander Sokolov were already in their cockpits, the helmet-mounted communicators transmitting takeoff instructions from air traffic control.

"Orange Fox No. 1, engine starts normally."

Andrei pressed the start button, and the turbofan engine roared sharply, the fuselage trembling slightly, like a beast about to break free of its restraints.

"Orange Fox 2, hydraulic system normal."

Sokolov's voice carried the excitement typical of young people. He had graduated from flight school less than a year ago, and this was his first time carrying out a live-fire deployment mission.

"Ejection ready, 10 seconds countdown."

As soon as the control tower gave the order, Andrei felt a tremendous thrust on his back. The explosive force of the steam catapult instantly accelerated the aircraft, and after gliding for only a few dozen meters on the deck, it took off, with the sea beneath its wings rushing backward.

A few seconds later, Sokolov's second MiG-29 also took off successfully. The two fighter jets formed a formation in the air, like a pair of blue arrows, and flew towards the southeast.

Just as the MiG-29's landing gear retracted, hundreds of kilometers away, an SEA early warning aircraft hovered at an altitude of 10000 meters. Radar operator Ma Pengfei stared at two rapidly moving dots that suddenly appeared on the screen, his fingers flying across the keyboard.

"Sir, two aerial targets detected, speed Mach 0.82, heading 135 degrees, altitude 8000 meters, preliminary identification as MiG-29s." His voice broke the silence in the AWACS cockpit. The AWACS commander immediately leaned towards the screen, his brow furrowed. This heading, this speed, clearly indicated they were heading towards rescuing a Soviet submarine. He immediately picked up the encrypted communicator and connected to the nearby aircraft carrier "Friendship's" airborne command center:

"This is Hawkeye 13. We have detected two Soviet-made MiG-29s maneuvering toward sea area 225. We request immediate interception."

On the flight deck of the USS Friendship, two F-3 fighter jets were already on standby. The moment they received the order, pilot Zhang Kuiyong and his partner Shao Dongjie started the engines. The F-3's iconic movable canards looked extremely distinctive, and the Sky Sword missiles under the fuselage resembled venomous stingers poised to strike under the sunlight.

"Wildcat 1, interception order received, two MiG-29s as targets," Zhang Kuiyong pulled the control stick, and the F-3 took off with a deep roar, forming a standard intercept formation with his wingman.

Several tens of minutes later, Andrei's radar warning device suddenly emitted a piercing beep. He glanced down at the display screen and saw two unfamiliar dots of light rapidly approaching from the right, less than 30 kilometers away.

"Orange Fox No. 2, watch out for a suspicious target on the right."

Andrei's voice sounded a little nervous because the radar detected them at such a close distance!

The MiG-29 uses the Soviet Union's most advanced radar, which can detect fighter jets at a range of up to 90 kilometers. However, it only detected a suspicious signal at a range of 30 kilometers, and the signal was extremely weak.

"It's F3! It must be them!"

Sokolov roared. They had received intelligence from the intelligence service that the F-3 fighter jet had a very small radar cross-section, roughly one-third that of a regular fighter jet.

"They're coming!"

Andrei slowly pressed down the control stick to keep the fighter jet flying steadily.

Minutes later, the two F-3s had closed to visual range. Zhang Kuiyong, piloting his fighter jet, cut in from the flank and rear of the MiG-29 formation; the SEA double-star insignia under his wing was clearly visible. He switched to the public communications channel and shouted in English:

"Soviet pilots, this is all-controlled airspace. You are interfering with our military operations. Change course immediately and leave the area!"

After the static on the public channel subsided, Andrei's voice came through, firm and clear, with the distinctive rolled "r" sounds of Russian:
“SEA pilots, this is international airspace, and according to international law, we have the right to pass through here. Your ‘military operation’ is a unilateral military operation without UN authorization, and you have no right to restrict the freedom of flight of other countries’ aircraft.”

Zhang Kuiyong frowned and closed in again, two F-3s forming a pincer movement, trapping the MiG-29 formation in the middle. "I warn you again, withdraw immediately!"

"Necessary measures?"

Andrei suddenly pulled the control stick, and the MiG-29 made a belly-showing maneuver on one side of its fuselage before quickly regaining its course. What was he demonstrating?
It's to make it clearer to others that he's carrying KH-31 anti-ship missiles under his wings!

Upon seeing the enemy's weapons, Zhang Kuiyong frowned deeply. He could tell the enemy pilot was highly skilled; the maneuver was not only a display of strength but also a silent warning. He immediately contacted the carrier's command center, requesting further instructions.

"Maintain escort and monitor its course."

The instructions from the command center were quickly relayed.

"We are conducting operations in this area and must take precautions against interference from Soviet aircraft."

The pilots who received the order could only keep their F-3s 1 kilometer behind and to the side of the MiG-29, forming a tight escort formation.

However, the other side did not venture deeper, but instead remained flying along the edge.

The aerial standoff resembled a still image, with four fighter jets maintaining a delicate balance under the leaden sky. Meanwhile, beneath the sea, the crew of the nuclear submarine "K-495" finally breathed a sigh of relief.

"Our plane has arrived!"

Petrov said somewhat excitedly:

"Now, on the high seas, we are no longer alone..."

The Mediterranean Sea remained calm, sunlight filtering through the water and casting dappled shadows on the surface. The submarine, like a silent, steel giant shark, moved slowly through the dark waters.

In the air, the planes from both countries accompanied each other.

The rendezvous between the submarine and the carrier strike group went exceptionally smoothly. After the nuclear submarine "K-495" rejoined the strike group, the Minsk continued its voyage eastward.

Kokinachev stood on the bridge, looking at the distant sea, a barely perceptible smile on his face.

The first naval standoff between the Minsk and the Minsk ended in a draw!
"Captain, the SEA destroyer 'Yongning' is approaching us, about 100 nautical miles away."

The reconnaissance staff reported.

Kokinachev picked up his binoculars, but he couldn't see anything on the distant sea horizon. This was the target spotted by the Ka-31 early warning helicopter. At that time, the Soviet Union's fixed-wing early warning aircraft was still under development.

"Notify the entire fleet to enter Level 2 combat deployment."

He ordered, "Maintain course and continue sailing toward Syria."

On the deck of the Minsk, ground crew began to get busy, and more MiG-29s were pushed to takeoff positions.

The entire carrier strike group resembled a giant beast awakening, displaying a powerful deterrent force.

(End of this chapter)