In March, NAS, USA, National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency.

Red sat down in front of the console with a serious expression, carefully typing instructions on the keyboard to control the operation of the spy satellite in the sky.

The satellite he controlled, codenamed KH-12, is the fourth-generation product of the keyhole series of spy satellites and the world's most advanced optical imaging reconnaissance satellite.

It can take images every 5 seconds, and its primary mirror has a diffraction-limited resolution of an astonishing 0.05 arcseconds in visible light, i.e., from an orbital altitude of 250 km, it is possible to observe a target about 6 centimeters above the ground.

Even, Rhett can directly look through it and see the license plate of the vehicle.

And now, the satellite is aimed at a corner of the Eurasian continent, at a wide clearing in the center of the basin.

It was the test site of the research institute that its rivals called "Institute 611", where different types of aircraft took off every day.

Red has been monitoring the area non-stop for almost six months, and has achieved great results.

For example, he once saw an earthy yellow fighter with canard wings take off and quickly reported his findings to his superiors.

In the end, according to the judgment of the superiors, it was the latest model of the opponent's fourth-generation fighter, codenamed J-20.

He is quite proud of his achievements, of course, what makes him even more proud is this satellite that can see almost everything, and the powerful motherland behind the satellite.

What secrets can you have before us?

I heard that the operation against the J-20 failed, but so what?

In the face of absolute technological crushing, what you desperately want to hide is not finally exposed to us?

——

Although, it seems to be a little late.

However, this is much better than not being able to do anything at all.

As the lens of the scrutiny camera zoomed in, a photo was taken, which was then scanned by the satellite's own scanner, transmitted to the ground station through a relay system, and finally presented to Rhett.

He looked at the photo carefully, but this time, his luck didn't seem too good.

Nothing new to discover, it was still as quiet and lonely there as ever.

Red sighed, leaned back in his chair, and said to his colleague Char beside him:

"Another quiet day. I said, will they really have new planes? Isn't that their strategy? ”

"You know, pretending you have something technologically advanced in your hands and luring us in the same direction, consuming our resources, spending all our taxpayers' money or something."

"I remember, when I was with Russia before, this kind of thing didn't happen a lot, right?"

Char shook his head and replied:

"I don't know if I'm thinking the same way as you."

"One J-20 is already their limit, how can there be newer planes coming out?"

"Could there really be a legendary J-20B? VTOL fighters we don't have the technology yet, will they have? ”

Hearing Char's words, Red sneered mockingly and spoke:

"J-20B Well, I suggest their crews go to bed early, in a dream, maybe Santa Claus will throw a J-20B into their hats."

"You look at what they take off every day, and the J-20 that the second- and third-generation aircraft flew once last time has never appeared again."

"I wonder if there was something wrong with the plane that caused the whole project to be axed."

"Otherwise, after such a long time, how could there be no reaction at all?"

Char hummed and replied:

"I also think it's unlikely. Staring at the screen here to catch their STOVL fighter jets is like looking for a polar bear in Antarctica. ”

"It's not that it's too unlikely, it's that it's completely impossible."

"Sometimes I wonder if we're going to do this boring surveillance for another decade-—— maybe we'll be able to see what we want."

"Hahahahaha."

Red burst out laughing.

It's obviously a joke that isn't very funny, but I don't know why, he just thinks it's funny.

Perhaps, it was not the joke itself that amused him, but their ridiculous opponent.

But then again, there's nothing wrong with spying for another ten years."

"Our job is so easy, it's so much better than the poor worms in the execution team."

"At the very least, I can have my own personal time."

"By the way, Saturday night, are you coming to my party? It's right at my house. ”

Char frowned slightly, lowered his legs off the counter, and then bent down to the calendar and began to check his schedule.

"Well, maybe not on Saturday, I'm going to go to a movie that day, and I've already made an appointment."

"Dating someone? Evely? That dirty bitch last time? ”

"No, are you really going to get involved with her? There's more than one puppy at my party."

A playful look appeared on Red's face, and he raised his hand slightly, making a lewd motion.

"You know, come to me, you can at least try um. You know. ”

"Forget it, I'm old."

Char firmly refused.

In fact, he was really tempted by Red's proposal, and he didn't want to go because he knew that the party would go on all night—and it would ruin his entire weekend.

Rather than an exhausted Monday, he prefers to stay at home and rest after a moderate period of lingering.

Besides, Evely's quality may not be worse than that of two or even three girls combined

"Well, now that it's decided, let's have a great weekend."

As he spoke, Red turned his gaze back to the screen.

New photos have been refreshed, but there is still nothing on them.

There was a kind of expectation in his heart, hoping that on this ordinary day, there would be some unusual discoveries.

In this way, not only can he receive rewards from his superiors, but psychologically, there is also a special satisfaction.

What makes voyeurism exciting is that you never know what you'll find.

Red took a deep breath and continued to refresh the photo.

Time passed minute by minute, and he thought that the day would be nothing, but just as he was about to stand up and rest, a photo suddenly broke into his sight.

It was an earthy yellow plane.

Half a shelf, to be exact.

In appearance, it looks very similar to the J-20 they have photographed before.

"Char, come and see this!"

Red cheered excitedly.

Char on the side hurried over, and when he saw the plane in the photo, his brow instantly furrowed.

"It's . This is not the original J-20! ”

"Not? Is it a modification? ”

Red asked.

"It's like a makeover. Quick, take another one and zoom in! ”

Red immediately tapped the keyboard, and as he commanded, a brand new photo refreshed to the computer screen in just a dozen seconds.

"Hiss"

Char's expression became serious, and he pointed to the plane in the photo and said:

"This is not a J-20."

"You see, it's completely different from the one we've seen before."

"There's a noticeable change in the canards, and the angle of the swept wings doesn't look right."

"Moreover, the plane seems to be more than the original J-20. Be fatter. ”

"Zoom in."

Red scrolled the mouse, the image zoomed in little by little, and finally, the plane had filled the entire screen.

Even the color of the pilot's helmet, he could see it clearly.

"I'm sure it's not the same plane, the shape of the tail vector nozzle has changed quickly, we have made a big discovery!"

Red hurriedly got up, Char took his place, and under a series of skillful commands, the satellites in the air adjusted the angle slightly, and took one photo after another in the direction of the nose of the plane.

Char stared intently at the photo, his heart surging with emotion.

I've waited so long, and it's finally here!

This must be the latest achievement of the 611 Institute, a brand new aircraft.

While it's still obvious that it's based on the original J-20 frame design, the numerous changes make it stand out.

Char couldn't guess what the plane was for.

If it's just an ordinary fourth-generation aircraft, then why make such a big change?

Moreover, some of the structures on the plane also made him unable to understand.

The rectangular frame behind the cockpit looks like a movable structure, but it's not like someone would put a magazine on top of an airplane, right?

On the other side, Rhett had finished his debriefing, and he came back to the screen and asked:

"So what the hell is this plane? Did we catch a big fish? ”

Char nodded and replied:

"It's definitely a big fish, but I don't know what kind of fish he is."

"Maybe we have to wait for those experts to come and see the problem."

"Look, there's a rectangle here, and it looks like it's open, yes. Clamshell construction? ”

"What the hell is it used for?"

Red shook his head, he didn't know the answer to the question.

The photos continued to be updated, and the two were surprised to find that the plane did not appear to have any intention of taking off.

It just stopped where it was, motionless.

"What are they pulling out to bask in the sun?"

Red couldn't help but say.

"Who knows."

Char continued to examine the photo, but the next second, his eyes suddenly widened.

He discovered something incredible.

The shadow of this plane, something is wrong.

In the photo, you can see the full shadow.

For a moment, Char suddenly felt his hair stand on end.

One of the important functions of the KH-12 is to judge the actual size of the subject based on the projection of the object, so he will subconsciously pay attention to the shadow.

However, how can there be a shadow of an airplane like this?

unless

It's already in the air!

Red also noticed this, and he turned to Char and asked incredulously:

"This plane. Is it flying at ultra-low altitudes? ”

Char continued to zoom in on the photo, and when he saw the faint flames on the tail of the plane, he finally accepted the speculation in his mind.

Vertical take-off!

This is a STOVL fighter with vertical take-off!

No wonder.

No wonder the NSA would invest so much money to let them monitor this test site.

The reason is simple, what is going to appear here is too important.

He took a deep breath and said in a trembling voice:

"I know what it is"

"This is a STOVL fighter, a fourth-generation STOVL aircraft."

"Red, we've caught a fish."

"But. It's like a shark! ”

(End of chapter)