At Li Zhan's strong request, his radio call sign was finally changed - the angry old leopard.

The level of the intelligence and communications department's radio call sign is really unbearable to look at directly, and Security No. 1 and Security No. 2 are so earthy that they are really not as good as the call signs that the soldiers themselves give themselves. However, the communication plan for the exercise was formulated and implemented in a unified manner, and the soldiers had no way to change it.

The reason for Li Zhan's request to change the call sign was that he wanted to carry out the unrelated tasks of testing a new type of reconnaissance pod, attacking the islands, and recording exercises, so he should have a different call sign. The exercise command agreed.

The old flying leopard is here, and so is the new reconnaissance pod.

Let's look at the old flying leopard first.

Dai Wenming took Li Zhan to get acquainted with the situation of the old flying leopard, and the former drove the old flying leopard in the first five years of the army, which can be described as experienced.

The most obvious difference between the old flying leopard and the new flying leopard is the front windshield of the cockpit, the old flying leopard is still the classic three-piece type, and the new flying leopard is a much more pleasing monolithic type. The whole appearance of the new flying leopard is also much cleaner than the old flying leopard, and the aerodynamic shape has changed slightly.

Of course, after driving the third-generation aircraft for so long, Li Zhan also misses the old machine that uses three-piece front glass. The No. 037 J-7EGGH turned out to be such a front gear, as well as the No. 101 J-8FR that made him fall apart.

Then there is the classic aerodynamic layout of the upper wing, the thick fuselage is square, flanked by huge air intakes, and the air intakes are gradually integrated into the fuselage and connected to the two Spey engines, which looks quite harmonious. However, the single-tail layout makes this fighter a little less domineering.

If it is a double vertical tail, the wings are straightened to both sides, and the air intakes are cut into diamond shapes, which is a proper MiG-25 visual feeling!

Li Zhan once thought that when he designed the flying leopard, he referred to Mikoyan's design ideas. However, the Flying Leopard and the MiG-25 are two completely different fighters, the former is a fighter-bomber, and the latter is a high-speed high-altitude interceptor. But the Flying Leopard's high-speed performance is not weak, and it can soar to Mach 1.7, which is not weaker than many third-generation fighters.

Of course, even if the design ideas are borrowed, it is normal, if the Soviet Tu-160 and the American B-1 are parked together with the same livery, it will probably take some time for veteran military fans to distinguish them.

"This old flying leopard has been around for many years, it is the first batch, and it should be overhauled after flying for a few hundred hours, it is very leathery, but the appearance is rough." Dai Wenming patted the nose landing gear with obvious scars and said that those scars were not left by injuries, but the perennial wind and rain and the corrosion of salt at sea, even if the maintenance of the aircraft was fine, it would inevitably leave indelible marks.

It's like human skin, no matter how much you take care of it, you will get wrinkles when you get older.

Li Zhan climbed into the cockpit and stretched out his head to look at the dashboard, crying and laughing, "Commander, this cabin has caught up with the original Jian-7, it won't be broken like this, right?" ”

"When it comes to overhauling, it is sent back to the manufacturer to make improvements directly, and it will be used now, and it can be opened." Dai Wenming stood on the other side and watched, a little embarrassed, shook his head and said, "The Ninth Division is too unsophisticated, really send me a tattere." ”

Li Zhan said, "If you break the point, you can break the point, the question is that this thing can be connected to the reconnaissance pod?" ”

"Don't worry, it's absolutely fine." Dai Wenming said, "The specific operation will wait for the technical personnel to arrive, and it should arrive tomorrow." Let's go, go up and fly around. ”

As he spoke, he got into the back cabin, and Li Zhan entered the front cabin. The Flying Leopard only has a flight control system in the front cabin, and the weapon operator sits in the rear cabin, so there is no way to operate the fighter in the event that the front cabin is disabled. This has also become the reason for criticism by military fans.

However, one thing that everyone acknowledges is that in the era when all streets were J-7, J-8, and even J-6, the emergence of a new fighter with some third-generation aircraft functions that was completely independently developed was of great significance to the troops and the Chinese people.

At that time, the Air Force did not look down on the Flying Leopard, don't think that the Air Force would lower the index requirements in the era when it was poor, and the Air Force dared to propose the development of J-9 in the seventies, and its index performance is advanced in today's view, which shows how unswerving the Air Force's heart to be the world's strongest Air Force is.

Therefore, at that time, the Flying Leopard project was in danger of dying, and at the critical moment, the Navy, which lacked a long-range air-to-sea strike force, placed an order, started the Flying Leopard service, and assumed the responsibility of the Navy's only long-range air strike capability for more than a decade.

The early Flying Leopard used the original Spey engine, and the later production used the domestic turbofan-9 of the Spey engine. The biggest feature of this engine is fuel economy, so the Flying Leopard has the same powerful combat radius and maximum range as the Su-27 series fighters.

The combat radius of up to 1700 kilometers is simply an irresistible temptation for naval aviation - in the event that the J-11 fighter cannot be obtained in the short term, the Flying Leopard is the only and best option.

The Spey engine used by the Flying Leopard is not as good as the AL-31F, but it is better than fuel economy and low failure rate, and it is suitable for a fighter mainly used for ground-to-sea strikes. Of course, although the propaganda for so many years has said that the Flying Leopard is a fighter-bomber, and the troops often use the Flying Leopard for air combat training, it cannot change the fact that the Flying Leopard is weak in air combat capabilities.

In the future, after the J-16 is put into service, the Flying Leopard will be gradually replaced, and the breakthrough progress of the J-16 combat bombardment project has directly led to the Flying Leopard C-type being shelved.

When taking off, Li Zhan clearly felt that there was a big gap between the thrust of the flying leopard and the J-15, the gliding distance was longer, and the maneuverability was very weak. He flew over the field in an orderly manner for more than half an hour to familiarize himself with the maneuvering, and then turned to sea and made a series of standard flight maneuvers over the Bohai Sea.

After two hours of flying, he found his senses, and it was only by this time that Li Zhan had a little confidence. This was followed by a second flight with a reconnaissance pod to make it handy.

When Li Zhan taxied back to the parking shed, he saw a familiar figure in the distance. After getting off the plane and seeing it clearly, I was surprised - that Qianying was actually Niu Jun.

"Senior brother!" Niu Jun was dressed in a desert camouflage training uniform, hung a headquarters armband, stepped on camouflage rubber shoes, walked over with long legs, and saluted Li Zhan with a smile.

Li Zhan hurriedly returned the salute, and asked in surprise while taking off his flying helmet, "Why are you here?" You wouldn't be a technician at the factory, would you? ”

"Of course not, but I'm a technician at the headquarters, and I'm in charge of the acceptance test of the new reconnaissance pod." Niu Jun smirked and pointed to the new reconnaissance pod that was placed on the cart over there.

Li Zhan smiled helplessly and said to himself, "It's really ghostly, you." ”

"What did you say?" Niu Jun asked.

Li Zhan said, "I said that we are destined to meet thousands of miles away, and we are really fated." ”

"yes, I'm going to jump up when I get the order, why I'll follow you wherever you go, haha!" Niu Jun laughed.

Li Zhan hurriedly introduced, "Oh, this is Colonel Dai Wenming, our unit commander. ”

"Hello." Niu Jun saluted Dai Wenming.

Dai Wenming hurriedly returned the salute and said, "You know each other? ”

"It turned out that she was a specially recruited technical officer from a school." Li Zhan said and pointed to Niu Jun's collar badge, "What's the matter with your military rank?" ”

Niu Jun hung a colonel's collar badge, such a young colonel, don't mention more dazzling eyes. At that time, he was only a major in the Beiku Niu Army, and it was impossible to reach the colonel so quickly.

"Hey, hey." Niu Jun said proudly, "I got my doctorate." ”

Li Zhan was taken aback again, and then gave a thumbs up and said in admiration, "Amazing! Engaging in academic promotion is much faster than our war, and the colonel is in place in one step. ”

According to the regulations, young people of school age with a doctorate degree can be directly awarded the rank of major when they enlist in the army, and if they have obtained a master's degree during the military academy, they can also be awarded the rank of major after graduation, and if they have obtained a doctorate, they will be directly awarded the rank of lieutenant colonel after graduation.

Niu Jun was originally a major, and he was almost a lieutenant colonel according to the number of years, but now he has a doctorate, superimposed a level, and it is logical to transfer the lieutenant colonel and directly award the colonel.

Of course, her rank is still the deputy regimental level, so a rare situation such as a colonel's deputy regiment has been formed.

It is estimated that the Beiku Tactical Intelligence Interaction Center in Beiku will give Niu Jun a lot of extra points, because even if he gets a doctorate, it is still difficult to get promoted to two levels.

"What can I do?" Li Zhan shook his head with a wry smile.

Dai Wenming was puzzled and asked, "What to do?" ”

Li Zhan pointed at Niu Jun with his hand, "My junior sister is a colonel, and I still carry two cents and two, so how can I be reasonable." ”

"Hahaha!" Niu Jun couldn't help but laugh.

Li Zhan became serious, "Colonel Niu, how to operate the new reconnaissance pod, please explain, and we will carry out the hanging test immediately." ”

"Okay, Mr. Li." Niu Jun also put away his smile and replied seriously.

Dai Wenming left after a few words, and the rest of the matter was up to Li Zhan, he couldn't help if he wanted to, and he was about to have a joint training with other pilots who participated in the exercise.

Li Zhan and the maintenance team began to study around the reconnaissance pod, the more advanced things are, the easier the way to use, after some explanation, everyone found that the use and maintenance of the new reconnaissance pod is very simple, and it is much easier to serve.

Niu Jun said, "This reconnaissance pod is actually called a comprehensive tactical pod, which is a product derived from the Beiku tactical intelligence interactive system, and has a lot of functions, including electronic warfare functions. The shortcomings you can see, the body is too large, and the smaller planes can't carry it. The institute is doing research on miniaturization, with the ultimate goal of developing a universal tactical pod that can be used by all active fighters, and will even develop multiple models, such as for helicopters. ”

Li Zhan said, "Since it is a derivative of the Beiku tactical intelligence interaction system, does it mean that the system is needed as a support to play its full role?" ”

"That's right." Niu Jun nodded and said, "However, the integrated tactical pod itself is a mobile air relay station and a small information processing station. As long as it is within the coverage of the Beidou system, it can play its full role. Of course, warships, aircraft, etc. need to be equipped with tactical intelligence terminals, so as to form a three-point, one-line network. The biggest problem at present is that the coverage of the Beidou system is limited, and the accuracy and signal are not ideal. ”

Li Zhan smelled the actual combat value of this thing, and nodded slowly, "You mean to say that this pod is more of a mobile WiFi to ensure communication between land, sea and air, right?" ”

"Senior brother, you are so smart." Niu Jun looked at Li Zhan with adoring eyes and said, "The integrated tactical pod focuses on communication relays, and reconnaissance and guidance and electronic warfare are secondary functions. ”

Obviously, it's impossible to make everything great, and they interfere with each other, so they have to be focused.

"What is the range of communication relays?" Li Zhan asked.

"XXX km."

Li Shixian was disappointed, "It's a little small. ”

Niu Jun said angrily, "This is just a pod, and it is considered the world's advanced level with this range." A real communication relay station needs to use medium and large aircraft as a platform, such as the U.S. military's E-6. Further down the battlefield communication relay also requires aircraft as a platform, such as the U.S. military's E-11A. ”

Smiling awkwardly, Li Zhan said, "It's me who got the horns of the bull." Can this pod solve the problem of data incompatibility of Russian-made aircraft? ”

Niu Jun shook his head, "It can't be solved, only aircraft that use domestic avionics systems are supported." ”

This means that the imported Su-27SK and Su-30MKK cannot share the data of other models, cannot be sent and cannot be accepted, and the commander can only direct these fighters through voice communication. Unless the avionics systems of these fighters are replaced with domestic ones.

After fully understanding the comprehensive tactical pod, Li Zhan had an intuitive evaluation of this thing - the communication relay function is very practical, and the electronic jamming function is very chicken. Even the significance of the high-definition camera installed on it is more present than the electronic jamming function.

However, it is not easy to do this step, especially the function of battlefield communication relay, which directly broadens the combat scope of the troops without worrying about losing contact.

According to Niu Jun's guidance, the maintenance officers and soldiers hung the comprehensive tactical pod on the heavy pylon in the middle of the belly, and connected the electric door in the pylon, and then Niu Jun instructed the maintenance officers and soldiers to install two flat-panel operation boards in the front and rear cockpits, just like installing a color large-screen central control in the auto parts city, and like hanging a huge full-screen mobile phone at the air outlet, the smell of the cottage is strong.

It's been done smoothly, and apparently Niu Jun has done many experiments before.

Li Zhan and Niu Jun, one front cabin and one rear cabin, Li Zhan operated the operation board to familiarize himself with the situation, Niu Jun stood up in the rear cabin and watched Li Zhan operate while teaching.

"Yes, if it weren't for the fact that I had to bring a reporter up to shoot the whole process, I would have applied to my superiors to let you fly with me, and you would have tested the combat performance of the pod in the rear cabin. It's a pity that the superiors have already decided, and the propaganda is greater than the sky. Li Zhan said helplessly, but his tone was clearly light.

Of course, he didn't want Niu Jun to follow, and if he had a wife, he couldn't pay attention to all aspects like before.

What's more, Niu Jun is still his first love, so he has to avoid suspicion.

Niu Jun said, "Yes, I'm also a photojournalist, I'm a reporter in our unit, you see I have brought all the equipment here." ”

Li Zhan looked back in amazement, and then looked in the direction pointed by Niu Jun, and the professional camera bag was placed in the corner.

"I'll take off for a test in a while, and I'll also familiarize myself with the operation of aerial camera." Niu Jun said happily.

Li Zhan wanted to hit his head on the cockpit dashboard.