Empire Conquest-Chapter 840 - 90: Absolute Main Force (Part 2)

A subsonic bomber flying 350 kilometers takes no more than 25 minutes!

Of course, deploying fighters in advance can shorten interception time, but the incoming threat might also be the faster supersonic bomber.

In short, the "War-9" was designed for interception from the outset.

As the Navy Air Force puts it, the "War-11" is the interceptor among fighters, while the "War-9" is the fighter among interceptors.

This shows that every effort was made during design to meet the Navy’s performance criteria.

The most representative feature is the use of a variable-sweep wing.

Of course, given the technological conditions of the time, this was the only solution capable of providing both low-altitude, low-speed, and high-altitude, high-speed performance.

This is key to the Empire Navy’s active procurement of the "War-9B" and engine upgrades for the "War-9A."

Moreover, it utilizes a unique fire control system.

The "War-9" not only has the most powerful onboard fire control radar of today, but also the most complex fire control system, capable of controlling six long-range air-to-air missiles simultaneously against six targets within the same sector, thus becoming the first fighter globally capable of simultaneously attacking multiple targets.

Of course, radar and fire control systems are just the basics.

To make the "War-9" a true interceptor capable of firing at bombers carrying anti-ship missiles at extreme distances, the Empire Navy invested heavily in developing the world’s first long-range air-to-air missile, the KK-9 "Falcon," which has a maximum range of nearly 200 kilometers and a powered range of 150 kilometers. Its latest variant even includes active guidance capabilities.

Actually, the KK-9 is the dedicated air-to-air missile for the "War-9."

Since the long-range air-to-air missile was developed with Navy investment, it had to be used with compatible radar systems and Navy interfaces, which is why the Empire Air Force never adopted or equipped itself with this missile, consistently refusing to develop similar models citing low hit rates.

Strictly speaking, the Air Force simply has no need in this area.

When dealing with fighters, the KK-9’s hit rate is indeed low, primarily due to insufficient maneuverability and the lengthy mid-stage flight time, allowing fighters to escape by changing direction.

Fortunately, dealing with bombers, especially those executing attack missions, the KK-9’s hit rate is not low.

To be fair, the KK-9 is primarily meant for attack aircraft, not fighters.

Compared to the Navy, even if the Air Force needs interceptors, they aren’t meant to deal with bombers, at least not those requiring engagement from over 100 kilometers away.

The strategic threats faced by the Empire’s mainland stem primarily from medium-range and long-range ballistic missiles and cruise missiles, rather than bombers carrying out bombing missions.

For bombers carrying cruise missiles, firing from 150 kilometers away isn’t significantly different from firing from 80 kilometers away. Given the cruise missile’s range usually exceeding 1000 kilometers, the air-to-air missile’s range doesn’t really matter.

Actually, neighboring countries around the Empire don’t possess advanced bombers.

The capability is primarily found across the East Ocean in the Newland Republic.

Lacking a forward base, the Newland Republic’s strategic bombers mainly target military bases around its mainland, specifically those near the Howay Islands, with defense primarily handled post-war by the Empire Navy.

If needed, heavy ship-borne fighters deployed from land-based airports are used.

It’s apparent that for homeland defense, the Empire Air Force does not have a significant need for long-range interception.

Otherwise, during the development of fourth-generation fighters, they wouldn’t have directly abandoned long-range interceptors, transferring interception duties to the "War-11."

With the combination of "War-9" and KK-9, the Empire Navy first gained reliable and sufficiently powerful long-range interception capability.

Theoretically, a squad of four "War-9B" can handle threats from a single direction.

KK-9D boasts an 80% hit rate against bombers and similar large targets, meaning four "War-9B" carrying missiles can theoretically intercept 19 to 20 bombers. During anti-ship operations, the West Continent Group often ensures 60 to 80 heavy anti-ship missiles are deployed in one direction; based on each bomber carrying six missiles with 80% operational missile rate and 60% penetration rate, about 20 bombers need deployment in one direction.

These data aren’t fabricated but rather conclusions drawn from exercises.

Military Intelligence Bureau and other intelligence agencies also contributed significantly.

Additionally, to improve the success rate of strike operations, the West Continent Group often launches attacks from two or even three directions simultaneously.

Clearly, this is the crucial point.

After a carrier battle group enters combat readiness, a squad of "War-9B" must be retained on the carrier.

If the incoming bombers are detected in time, then four "War-9B" are sufficient to complete interception tasks.

Two carriers, totaling eight fighters, with four already in the air, can simultaneously handle threats from three directions at most.

Due to the limits posed by the battle area, in the East Continent Heart Sea, only threats from three directions need to be handled at most.

The Northwest Aegean Sea, the west Middle Land Heart Sea, and the Southwest North Xuan region.

Of course, there needs to be a prerequisite condition.

The enemy must not deploy fighters as escorts or arrange fighters to advance and secure air superiority.

Otherwise, 12 air defense fighters wouldn’t suffice.

This is actually what Li Shenzhi is worried about; otherwise, he wouldn’t have ordered all fighter pilots to prepare for mission deployment.

If you worry, then it’s a bit excessive. 𝕗𝕣𝐞𝐞𝘄𝐞𝚋𝚗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹.𝚌𝕠𝚖

If the enemy deploys fighter escorts, their combat intentions would be exposed, and follow-up bombers would certainly be unable to timely launch anti-ship missiles, requiring more time to reach attack zones, allowing more time to dispatch additional ship-borne fighters.

Actually, this is a very common engagement tactic.

During carrier design, various extreme situations must be considered, requiring the maximum number of fighters to be deployed in the shortest time possible.

This is why the Empire Navy has always insisted on building large carriers, and that carriers keep getting larger.

Because the larger the carrier, the bigger the flight deck area, allowing more fighters to be in standby on the flight deck.

According to Empire Navy’s theory, as long as technology allows and the cost-effectiveness isn’t too poor, carriers should be as large as possible.

The "Xue Yuanzheng" class has a standard displacement of over 80,000 tons, a full-load displacement exceeding 100,000 tons, and the planned next-generation carrier will increase by at least 15%, with a full-load displacement potentially reaching 120,000 tons, enhancing comprehensive combat power by more than 30%.

Of course, there’s scientific reasoning for determining the optimal carrier size.

During sorties while retaining the ability to recover fighters and ensuring fleet air defense as the priority, the "Xue Yuanzheng" class can position 16 "War-9B" on the flight deck, putting 12 in combat readiness while preparing the remaining 4 for take-off within 15 minutes of launching the first batch of 4, conducting refueling, armament loading, and requisite inspections.

This reason underlies why a Shipborne Air Force Wing carries at least two fighter squadrons onboard, totaling 20 heavy fighters.

Including the dispatched 4, this just utilizes all 20 fighters.

Purely from the air defense perspective, despite perhaps carrying some extra fighters, due to the inability to dispatch them all before attacks, it holds little significance.

Usually tasked with air defense and escort missions simultaneously, an A-Class Shipborne Air Force Wing typically has 3 squadrons of heavy fighters, with a minimum of 24 and a maximum of up to 30 aircraft, increasing to 36 if needed.

This time, two "Xue Yuanzheng" classes each carry 24 "War-9B."

This isn’t to suggest air defense is unimportant, but rather that Alexandria is nearby, allowing shore-based Air Force deployment of air defense fighters.

The current issue is whether relying on these 48, specifically 36 active "War-9B," can withstand the impending aerial assault?