Chapter Fifty-One: Actively Preparing for War

  July 14th, at 8:30 Eastern Standard Time in the United States, Huang Guowei walked into the United Nations building.

  When China proposed military and economic sanctions against both warring parties in the Indo-Pakistani War, the whole world was shocked again.

  Not to mention the commentators invited by TV stations, even experts from American think tanks can't figure out what China wants to do.

  The sanctions initiated by the United Nations are not a joke. If the sanction resolution is passed in the Security Council and the General Assembly, all member states of the United Nations must comply. China has proposed not only military sanctions but also economic sanctions. In the view of most people, as long as the resolution takes effect, Pakistan with weaker national strength will suffer a huge blow.

  Some people have seen China's determination to promote a ceasefire between India and Pakistan, and the positive role that China has played.

  Some people saw the opposite side of it and believed that China wanted to use the United Nations to strike at India.

  In any case, most of the news media acknowledge that China's proposal in the United Nations will have a positive effect on promoting the ceasefire between India and Pakistan.

  However, soldiers in war do not have such feelings.

  On the "Chengdu" destroyer with hull number 173, the flagship of a special mixed fleet.

  Since receiving the combat readiness order from the General Staff, Lin Xiao Lei has been closely monitoring the movements of the Indian army. For this operation, the General Staff mobilized three optical reconnaissance satellites, two radar reconnaissance satellites, two military communication satellites, and also allocated two electronic reconnaissance satellites from the Military Intelligence Bureau and the Foreign Affairs Intelligence Bureau to continuously monitor India's military targets 24 hours a day. Through satellite data links, Lin Xiao Lei can not only grasp the latest situation in real-time but also maintain uninterrupted contact with other participating troops.

  Five years ago, Lin Xiao Lei would never have dared to believe that he could get support from nine military satellites in battle.

  Lin Xiao Lei firmly believed that the military satellite network, which cost hundreds of billions, was not built for a special mixed fleet with only a few escort vessels, but was tailored for an aircraft carrier battle group. As a naval commander, Lin Xiao Lei understood the importance of military systems even more clearly. A few advanced weapons could enhance the combat effectiveness of troops, while an advanced military system was the foundation of invincibility.

  As a soldier of the Republic, Lin Xiao Lei is proud of his powerful motherland.

  As commander of the special mixed fleet, Lin Xiao Lei was worried about the impending battle.

  Huang Guowei had not yet arrived in New York when the Indian army made a big move.

  The 12 army divisions deployed in the six eastern states were put on high alert, dispersed into defensive positions and made preparations to counter any sudden attack. The six army divisions deployed in East Bihar began moving eastwards, taking up positions at Siliguri and Jalpaiguri as a reserve force for the battle.

  Within twelve hours, two hundred thousand Indian troops deployed in the eastern sector completed their war preparations.

  The Indian Army acted swiftly and the Indian Air Force reacted even faster.

  At 1900 hours, the first batch of eight fighter squadrons took off from airbases near Chandigarh, Bhatinda, Adampur and Halwara; half an hour later, the second batch of three fighter squadrons took off from airbases near Sarsawa and Gwalior. Before 2000 hours, two A-50I AWACS aircraft took off from Agra airbase.

  Within a short span of an hour, Indian Air Force mobilised nearly 200 combat aircraft and two AWACS.

  The large-scale mobilisation of the Indian Air Force immediately put Pakistan on high alert, leading to all PAF combat aircraft being scrambled to prevent a surprise attack.

  New Delhi time twenty-one o'clock, alarm lifted.

  The first batch of eight squadrons of fighter jets all landed at four air bases in eastern India, while the second batch of three squadrons of fighter jets landed at two military bases near Mumbai. Two early warning aircraft also flew to eastern India and Mumbai respectively.

  Lin Xiao Lei only needs to focus on three fighter squadrons flying to Mumbai.

  Through infrared photos taken by optical reconnaissance satellites, it can be initially determined that two squadrons are equipped with single-engine fighter jets, and another squadron is equipped with twin-engine fighter jets. In combination with remote sensing photos taken by radar reconnaissance satellites, it can be further determined that the single-engine fighter jet is either a Mig-27 or a Mig-23, and the twin-engine fighter jet is an Su-30MKI.

  This situation immediately attracted Lin Xiao Lei's high attention.

  Although the Mig-27 has limited anti-shipping capability, and the Mig-23 basically has no anti-shipping capability, but can carry heavy anti-ship missiles. The Su-30MKI, which can carry up to seven anti-ship missiles, poses a huge threat to the carrier fleet. A squadron of twelve Su-30MKIs can launch nearly 100 anti-ship missiles at one time, enough to overwhelm an entire carrier fleet.

  After receiving accurate intelligence from the Military Intelligence Bureau, Lin Xiaolei immediately inquired about the details.

  The Indian Air Force has seven squadrons deployed in the Mumbai region, only one of which is equipped with Su-30MKI, and only twelve aircraft. Two other squadrons are equipped with Mig-27, totaling thirty-two aircraft. Four squadrons are equipped with India's indigenous "Tejas" fighter jets, totaling forty-eight aircraft.

  Lin Xiao Lei finally let out a sigh of relief.

  "Shining" is a single-seat light fighter, although it can carry anti-ship missiles, its payload capacity is limited and cannot use heavy-duty anti-ship missiles. The combat radius for executing maritime missions is extremely limited.

  The Indian Air Force has deployed three more "attack squadrons" in the Mumbai region, definitely to make up for the inadequacy of "Vikram".

  Thinking of the awkward situation of the Indian Air Force, Lin Xiao Lei didn't think much of it.

  The war lasted for twelve days, and the Indian Air Force lost 70% of its combat strength. One hundred and ninety Su-30MKI aircraft were reduced to one hundred and seven, more than one hundred and seventy "Mirage 2000" were left with less than eighty, and there were about two hundred and forty Mig-29, Mig-27, Mig-23, Mig-21 and "Tigers" fighters. The Indian-made "Tejas" fighter was mainly deployed in the east and south, and the loss was not great, leaving about one hundred and ten aircraft. Excluding the low-combat-effective Mig-21 and Mig-23, the non-air combat capable Mig-27, and the "Tejas" fighter that even the Indian Air Force did not trust much, there were less than two hundred air-to-air fighters left.

  It can be said that the Indian Air Force is "exposed" at this time.

  To ensure the security of major cities like New Delhi and strategic locations, at least 100 air superiority fighters need to be deployed in the northwestern theatre. To put pressure on China, at least 80 air superiority fighters need to be deployed in the eastern sector.

  Being able to deploy twelve Su-30MKIs to the Mumbai region is truly a rare and precious thing.

  At 1:30 New Delhi time, an optical reconnaissance satellite passed over southern India.

  As reconnaissance satellites transmitted digital infrared photos to the ground control center, which were then relayed to the General Staff's Battlefield Information Processing Center, combat alerts sounded immediately.

  Five minutes later, the special mixed fleet received battlefield information from the General Staff Headquarters.

  Lin Xiao Lei just had dinner.

  "Commander, just received news, Indian fleet has left Cochin Port."

  It's really not letting people take a break! Lin Xiao Lei slightly furrowed his brow and glanced at the huge tactical screen. The staff immediately understood, displaying the tactical intelligence on the screen.

  Lin Xiao Lei walked up to the screen when an aide brought him a cup of coffee.

  The Indian fleet has just set sail and it is still unclear whether they will head south to return to the Bay of Bengal or north into the Arabian Sea.

  Lin Xiao Lei had no illusions. A total of nine warships set sail, with the Indian Western Fleet almost emptying its docks.

  Lin Xiao Lei didn't have the slightest worry.

  Before nightfall, a J-10 squadron was patrolling near the fleet. Around 10:30, an "Airborne Warning 2000" belonging to China Aviation will arrive to support. The three J-10 squadrons deployed near Karachi can take off within five minutes and arrive over the fleet in an hour.

  The array is already in place, will the Indian Western Fleet come to a decisive battle?

  Lin Xiao Lei took a sip of coffee and was so focused on his thoughts that he didn't even feel the blisters forming on his lips from the scalding water.

  The situation is very unfavorable for India. If the task force cannot be destroyed as soon as possible, not only will seven fighter squadrons be tied up in the Mumbai area, but with the arrival of four more fighter squadrons from the naval aviation, the Indian Navy and Air Force will also lose the initiative.

  The Western Fleet of India will definitely go north to challenge the Special Mixed Fleet.

  Lin Xiao Lei was thinking about the tactics his opponent might take.

  "The Shining" fighter seized air superiority, Su-30MKI fleet used long-range anti-ship missiles to attack the carrier fleet, and Mig-27 arrived last. The Indian Western Fleet will launch an attack 200 kilometers away with "Bengaluru"-class destroyer's "BrahMos" anti-ship missile. Submarines will also be deployed to sneak up on the carrier fleet's air defense destroyers while they are busy dealing with the missile attacks.

  Very standard and also very clichéd tactics.

  Lin Xiao Lei smiled faintly, this tactic he had practiced no less than a hundred times in training and drills.

  Just as he thought of this, the staff officer walked over. "Commander, the analysis results are out."

  Lin Xiao Lei immediately turned around, but because of the big movement, the coffee in the cup spilled out.

  "Three 'Bangalores', three 'Delhis' and three 'Talwars'. Additionally, there may be two to three 'Scorpene'-class submarines."

  "Did the submarine leave port with the fleet?"

  "No. The electronic reconnaissance satellite has detected abnormal electromagnetic activity about 150 nautical miles south, which is initially judged to be a regular Indian submarine."

  Lin Xiao Lei nodded slightly and said: "Assemble the main staff officers and each ship's captain, convene a combat meeting in fifteen minutes."

  "Yes!"

  After the staff officer left, Lin Xiao Lei's gaze returned to the screen once again.

  One hundred and fifty nautical miles, a conventional submarine would need at least twenty-four hours to get there. The Indian fleet had just left Cochin Port and would also take about twenty-four hours to reach the northern waters of the Amindivi Islands.

  Thinking of this, Lin Xiao Lei glanced at his watch again. It was five minutes past ten.

  Tomorrow night at this time, we will engage in a decisive battle with the Indian fleet.

  Fifteen minutes later, Lin Xiao Lei walked into the tactical conference room. Through the tactical communication channel, other captains could participate in the combat meeting on their respective warships.

  "Gentlemen, the Western Fleet of India has just left Cochin Port. I predict that battle will break out within twenty-four hours."

  No one was surprised, everyone was waiting for the moment of decisive battle with the Indian Western Fleet.

  "The details have been sent to everyone, so I won't explain it again." Lin Xiao Lei sat down in the main officer's position, "Now, we need to determine how to fight this hard-won battle."

  The discussion soon fell on two important issues.

  First, air defense; second, anti-submarine warfare, especially the latter. The composite fleet was covered by air forces but not by shore-based anti-submarine patrol aircraft. The twelve anti-submarine helicopters in the fleet could only guarantee anti-submarine patrols in key directions and could not take care of every direction.

  After the meeting, Lin Xiao Lei had his aide send a report to the General Staff Headquarters.

  What's most headache-inducing for the Navy Rear Admiral is not being unable to determine the whereabouts of Indian submarines, but rather being unable to determine the whereabouts of the four attack nuclear-powered submarines accompanying the special mixed fleet!

  ****

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