After the last helicopter landed, Lian Mingyang drove the military vehicle over.

These were the last of the four Z-10As to return, the others have returned, and the pilots went to the briefing center and are preparing for the night operation.

For those pilots with old qualifications, it is not difficult to master the ways and means of piloting the "Z-10A".

Although compared with the "straight-7", the "straight-10A" is much more advanced, not only using the digital fly-by-wire control system, but also the control interface is very different, such as replacing dozens of large and small instrument panels with 3 LCD screens, and replacing the traditional toggle switch with a key switch, but the basic driving mode has not changed Mrs. Ada, and after getting acquainted, the difficulty of control has been reduced a lot.

In fact, these "old birds" are not without contact with the "Z-10A".

Before coming to the Northwest Theater of Operations, they had been flying on the simulator of the Z-10A for several hours, and a few high-ranking officers had flown over the Z-10A.

If anything, the problem is with the weapon operator.

After flying for an afternoon, the most serious problem reflected was that the weapon operator was unable to skillfully operate the fire control system of the "Z-10A".

This is also the most prominent difference between the two generations of gunships.

Although in the latest modification, that is, the "Z-7W" has adopted a new fire control system, its functions and performance are not much different from the "Z-10A", but the production of the "Z-7W" is not large, and strictly speaking, the "Z-7W" is a brand new armed helicopter.

Compared to the previous model, the "Z-7W" has a universal rate of less than 40%.

If nothing else, just twin engines and four-bladed rotors are enough to classify the "Z-7W" into the ranks of new aircraft. The use of the old model number is nothing more than to get the budget more smoothly and avoid being deliberately harassed by the big men of the two houses of the debate during the project approval stage.

In addition, the "Z-7W" is only provided to a small number of elite troops, and most of the air assault units of the Army Aviation are still equipped with old models.

Flew back and forth three times, and there was some improvement, but it wasn't very noticeable.

Now, there's no time to continue training.

When Lian Mingyang arrived with the last eight pilots, the other pilots had already eaten dinner and were discussing the night's combat operations.

In fact, each person only has one boxed lunch.

Although Atyrau was in the rear, a few hundred kilometers from the front line, the number of officers and soldiers in the garrison had increased several times, and the canteen could not be arranged at all.

At this time, as long as they can eat enough, no one cares where to eat.

Combat missions have long been drawn up.

According to information provided by the Theater Command, or more precisely the Air Force, the enemy's vanguard had advanced south of Akhtubinsk in the afternoon.

As for the troops stationed in the local Dong Luosha, there was no decent resistance.

It is not that the East Luosha army lacks the will to fight, but the enemy's advance speed is too fast, and the East Luosha army has not had time to complete the defensive deployment.

Fortunately, the reserves of the Eastern Luosha Army have set up a second line of defense about 150 kilometers south of Akhtubinsk.

In accordance with the orders given by the Theater Command, the Imperial Army Aviation took part in the counterattack tonight, blocking the enemy's armored forces to the north of this line of defense.

To be precise, to assist the East Luosha army to hold this line of defense.

To this end, it is not only the army that has been dispatched.

It was in the afternoon that the vanguard of the Imperial Army arrived at Astrakhan.

Actually, that is, a battalion of the armored brigade under the 4th Mechanized Infantry Division.

There are three ace units in the Northwest Theater, the 1st Infantry Division, the 4th Mechanized Infantry Division and the 7th Armored Division, and the 4th Mechanized Infantry Division is a rapid reaction force.

After the 7th Panzer Division was sent to Posha Bay, the 4th Mechanized Infantry Division became the number one ace in the Northwest Theater of Operations.

It is actually more accurate to say that it is a pillar.

It's just that the 4th Mechanized Infantry Division was deployed further back, in Aktobe.

This has to do with the nature of the 4th Mechanized Infantry Division, as well as the Empire's defensive strategy in the northwest.

According to the basic defensive strategy of the Imperial Army, the 7th Panzer Division was at the forefront, that is, between the first line of defense and the second line of defense. After the outbreak of war, the 7th Panzer Division will assist the East Luosha Army in containing the enemy's offensive momentum through tactical counterattacks.

This deployment is not only because the 7th Armored Division is particularly capable of fighting, but also because the armored forces lack the ability to move strategically.

No unit with hundreds of main battle tanks and infantry fighting vehicles, or thousands of combat vehicles of all kinds, is unlikely to be much better in terms of strategic mobility.

This type of unit has a powerful tactical assault capability.

Even if you are on a defensive mission, you have to be deployed behind the line of defense to ensure that you can go into battle immediately after the battle.

Because the front of the line was too wide, the 7th Panzer Division was always dispersed, and in addition to guarding Astrakhan, it also deployed a brigade in Samara and Rostov-on-Don.

It is a pity that the 7th Panzer Division has already been sent to Posha Bay.

Although the Imperial Army made adjustments within the Eastern Bloc according to the actual situation, and the three reserve divisions of the East Luosha Army filled the loopholes caused by the transfer of the 7th Armored Division, and the Imperial Army provided corresponding logistical support, the three reserve infantry divisions were certainly not as good as the 7th Armored Division.

This was the root of the rout of the Eastern Bloc in the first line of defense.

Daring to deploy like this is also related to the 4th Mechanized Infantry Division.

In the defensive strategy drawn up by the Imperial Army, the first task of the 4th Mechanized Infantry Division was to support the 7th Panzer Division after the outbreak of war.

To be precise, it is actually to plug the loopholes in the defensive line and strive to withstand the enemy's attack in the second line of defense.

From a tactical point of view, the role of firefighters played by the 4th Infantry Division.

Of course, if the 7th Panzer Division and the 4th Mechanized Infantry Division did not resist, it would be the turn of the 1st Infantry Division, which was deployed between the second and third lines of defense.

It is precisely for this reason that the 4th Mechanized Infantry Division was one of the first divisional units in the Imperial Army to be reorganized according to the standards of the rapid reaction force.

However, the "fast reversal" of the 4th Mechanized Infantry Division is not very thorough.

In fact, the 4th Mechanized Infantry Division was also carried out by the Imperial Army in military reform, and among the five selected rapid reaction units, the equipment replacement was finally started.

So far, the adaptation of the 4th Mechanized Infantry Division has not been completed.

Now there are 4 brigades under the 4th Infantry Division, and only 2 mechanized infantry brigades have been reorganized, replacing tracked infantry fighting vehicles with wheeled armored vehicles with better strategic mobility. There is also one mechanized infantry brigade in the process of reorganization, only two battalions have been reequipped, and the only armored brigade has not been reorganized.

The brigade has a total of 3 armored battalions and 3 infantry battalions, and the main battle equipment is 186 ZT-99B main battle tanks and 214 BZ-98A infantry fighting vehicles.

The point is that after the 7th Panzer Division went to Posha Bay, the vanguard of the brigade was transferred to Atyrau.

Now, on top is the unit, the 04101st Armored Battalion.

The battalion has a total of 36 ZT-99B main battle tanks, 14 BZ-98A infantry fighting vehicles, and hundreds of other combat and support vehicles.

According to the deployment, the battalion will go to the front line after replenishing fuel in Astrakhan, and will move north overnight to participate in the night counterattack.

Here's the key.

Although the mission book issued by the Theater Command does not emphasize the need to defeat the enemy, but only mentions that the enemy's offensive spirit should be thwarted through counterattack operations, in the current situation, if the enemy cannot be thwarted in counterattack operations, the combat objectives cannot be achieved.

Fundamentally, it is necessary to hold Astrakhan.

With the current situation, Astrakhan will be the first decisive field.

It is precisely in this way that it is necessary to hold Astrakhan at any cost.

After clarifying the combat mission with the squadron leader and squad leader, Lian Mingyang went to Zheng Zhishuang.

Although the task has been issued, according to the unwritten rule, the combat operation can only begin after the order of the front-line commander has been issued.

Here in Zheng Zhishuang, Lian Mingyang received the latest news.

The Kingdom of Bran has officially declared war on the Empire, sending troops to capture Scarpa Bay, and the remaining forces of the Imperial Navy have successfully withdrawn after destroying the port infrastructure.

At this point, the major members of the Western Continent Group have declared war on the Empire.

The Theater Command also issued an order to hold Astrakhan until at least 20 September, so as to buy enough time for the rear to adjust its deployment.

When Lian Mingyang was reading the electricity order, Zheng Zhishuang went to close the door.

"In the afternoon, the Air Force dispatched more than 10 reconnaissance planes, only five of which returned, and the rest were all shot down over the enemy-controlled area." Zheng Zhishuang said when he walked back: "According to the information sent by the theater command, we have also lost more than a dozen reconnaissance satellites. ”

Lian Mingyang was stunned for a moment, and looked up at Zheng Zhishuang.

Although he felt shocked by the completion, Lian Mingyang knew in his heart that at least Zheng Zhishuang would not joke with him on such a critical issue.

There is no need to joke either.

When a full-scale war breaks out, both warring sides will immediately destroy each other's reconnaissance satellites, weakening the other's reconnaissance capabilities at the strategic and operational levels.

"We have also launched an operation, and both the Air Force and the Military Intelligence Agency have made assurances that they will blind all the reconnaissance satellites of the Western Continent Group before dark."

"It's certainly not enough."

Zheng Zhishuang pursed his mouth and said: "The Beigu Group has not yet participated in the war, we have no reason to attack, just tonight's counterattack is enough." ”

Lian Mingyang nodded and didn't say anything.

He began to say that the Beigu Group would provide the information it had to the Xilu Group.

It's just that after a few transfers of information, there is no timeliness at all.

"According to reliable sources, the West Losha Forward Force is 2 armored brigades, and one of the armored brigades of the Hindman Army crossed the Volga yesterday."

"What time was yesterday?"

"Early in the morning."

"Why is it delaying for so long?" Lian Mingyang stood up suddenly, and looked very angry.

He can't be blamed for such an important news, which was nearly 40 hours late, and if it were someone else, I am afraid that he would have been scolded.

One day was enough time for the Riman armored forces to catch up with the forward troops of Xiluosha.

This means that it is possible that there are 3 armored brigades rushing to the front!

Given the performance of the West Camel Army, the West Continent Group may have made an adjustment, with the Armoured Armoured Corps acting as assault knives.

The most critical point: the assault force of West Luosha has advanced about 200 kilometers, and has suffered heavy losses during this time. After passing through Akhtubinsk, it is very likely that the assault force of Western Luosha is already at the end of its strength, so at this time, let the armored brigade of the Manman Army come up and continue to launch assaults, so as to maintain the momentum of the offensive and hope to successfully capture Astrakhan.

If it is only an armored brigade of the Hindman Army, it is not a big problem.

The point is that it is very likely that the Western Luosha Army has already been resupplied and continues to advance south along the Volga River following the Ferman Armored Brigade.

As a result, it is necessary to face 3 armored brigades at once!

"What about the air?" Lian Mingyang controlled his emotions, after all, at this time, getting angry with his direct superiors would not solve the problem.

"That's what I want to remind you of."

Hearing Zheng Zhishuang say this, Lian Mingyang immediately tightened his brows.

"Although there is no reliable information for the time being, there is reason to believe that the 3rd Low-Altitude Assault Brigade of the Manman Army Aviation has reached Volgograd, and it was also in the early hours of yesterday morning."

"You ......"

This time, Lian Mingyang jumped up directly, and stretched out his hand to point at Zheng Zhishuang.

"I just got the news, too." After Lian Mingyang sat down, Zheng Zhishuang continued: "After the start of the war, the Air Force lost dozens of tactical reconnaissance planes, and our reconnaissance satellites were also knocked down a lot, so even the Military Intelligence Bureau could not guarantee that it could provide accurate battlefield information in a timely manner. What's more, if there is a problem with the information, even if it is not accurate enough, the unit that provided the information must bear the relevant responsibility. ”

"I understand."

Actually, Lian Mingyang has already thought of this.

It is because of the great responsibility, so as long as it comes to tactical intelligence, each unit is very careful, and many times it appears to be overly cautious.

According to the unwritten rules within the military, information that is not reliable enough is exchanged privately.

This is done to avoid liability.

While there are many shortcomings, there are also merits, such as allowing front-line commanders to obtain critical intelligence in a timely manner.

As for whether the intelligence is credible or not, it is up to the front-line commanders to judge for themselves.

"Before you arrived, I received word from the Jangara side that you had encountered helicopter gunships from the Army Aviation Corps in Silosha during the battle."

"How many 'Tigers' are there in the 3rd Aviation Brigade?" Lian Mingyang didn't beat around the bush, and asked directly.

Although it was a "Shilka" self-propelled anti-aircraft gun that shot down Lian Mingyang, at that time, the main reason for Lian Mingyang's downing was actually those "hinds".

If he hadn't exchanged fire with the "Hind", Lian Mingyang would definitely have been able to spot the anti-aircraft gun in time, and he might have been able to avoid it when it was attacked.

"At least dozens of them, maybe more."

Lian Mingyang smiled bitterly and sighed, not knowing what to say for a while.

The 3rd Air Assault Brigade is the number one ace unit of the Yamaman Army Air Force, which has been stationed in West Luosha for a long time, and its main task is to assist the West Luosha Army in launching an offensive.

To this end, the 3rd Air Assault Brigade was the first to be equipped with "Tiger" helicopter gunships.

Prior to this, the brigade was equipped with several helicopter gunships, including the "Little Antelope" produced by the Rock Kingdom, and the "Big Lynx" jointly developed with the Bran Kingdom. It's just that these are not really gunships, and they can't perform anti-armor missions.

Strictly speaking, the "Tiger" is the first type of helicopter gunship of the Western Continent Group.

In fact, the "Tiger" is also the only advanced armed helicopter that can challenge the "Z-10A" in addition to the AH-64A of the Newland Republic.

It's just that this helicopter only flew last year and has not yet entered the mass production stage.

Dozens of planes suddenly popped up, and Lian Mingyang couldn't accept it at all.