Chapter 19: Emergency Situation

At the same time.

Qilin War Zone Headquarters.

Inside the conference room.

Zhang Mingrui sat at one end of the meeting table, with his immediate superior, Huang Han, on his right.

Opposite them was a team of experts from the Second Academy of Aerospace.

“The new generation of long-range air defense missiles must have anti-stealth capabilities.”

“Chief Engineer Zhao, this is our only requirement.”

“No room for negotiation.”

After hearing Huang Han’s opening remarks,

the silver-haired team exchanged glances, showing some hesitation.

This was already the eighteenth meeting.

The research team from the Second Academy of Aerospace and the military had communicated repeatedly,

but progress was minimal.

The cause was clear.

There was a huge gap between the Academy’s research level and the military’s expectations.

Academician Zhao Hengyan, who led the team, kept rubbing his forehead.

“Chief of Staff Huang, I understand your feelings,”

“but the technology is still the main issue.”

“We do have anti-stealth radar, but it cannot be immediately applied to air defense missiles.”

He had explained similar issues many times before.

Stealth aircraft were not invincible.

The 38th Institute under the Electronics Science Group had a radar model called JY-27.

It was a meter-wave radar.

The long waves emitted by this radar could not be absorbed by the stealth aircraft’s radar-absorbing layers.

Hence, it could detect stealth planes.

But the strength and weakness of meter-wave radar were one and the same.

As a long-wave system, its detection accuracy was limited and could only roughly locate targets.

Therefore, it could not provide precise guidance.

This device was only suitable as a detection instrument.

“Currently, the optimal solution against stealth aircraft is to use the JY-27 radar to relay data, indirectly guiding the missile defense system.”

“To directly replace the missile defense radar with anti-stealth radar will take time.”

“We are still working on quantum radar technology…”

Before Chief Engineer Zhao could finish,

Huang Han cut in sharply, “How long will it take?”

“At least three years, at most five.”

Huang Han pursed his lips.

He knew this was just an empty promise,

with no real timeline.

But on second thought, he realized the researchers were not slackers.

They were surely doing their best.

Scientific research was not something decided on a whim.

So he compromised.

“Alright, we don’t demand speed, but precision.”

“However, before the new air defense missile project is launched,”

“you should assist the troops in coordinating anti-stealth radar with the missile defense system.”

According to Zhao’s alternative proposal,

the only effective method at present was using the JY-27 radar combined with the Red Banner missile system to intercept stealth fighters.

Though this added an extra airborne situational relay step compared to using the missile defense system alone,

this additional step made all the difference.

After all, stealth fighters moved at Mach speeds.

Half a second’s delay could translate into several kilometers difference.

If a replacement solution was to be used, it had to be well integrated.

“Also, the Red Banner 9 system has been experiencing a higher failure rate recently; can this be addressed?”

“Uh... I’ll try to arrange it.”

Zhao again dangled a vague promise.

As the manufacturer of the Red Banner 9, they were naturally obliged to maintain and repair the equipment.

But he had his difficulties.

“There is a large batch of equipment nearing its maintenance deadline.”

“So failure rates are increasing.”

“We are trying to ramp up production capacity.”

“But Chief of Staff Huang, you know we don’t just serve your war zone alone.”

Hearing this, Huang Han’s face darkened completely.

Blah blah blah,

everyone has their difficulties; I have my problems.

Dragging this out was not a solution.

Whenever the troops assembled, two or three vehicles would break down.

At this failure rate, forget about combat.

Even a full assembly was problematic.

“Chief Engineer Zhao, don’t give me those excuses.”

“If your factory’s capacity is insufficient, send more people here.”

“Along with the unit’s maintenance company, we’ll handle minor issues ourselves.”

It’s better to rely on ourselves than beg others.

Most of the current vehicle faults were in the chassis, which was relatively easier to fix.

But relying on the maintenance company alone wasn’t enough; professional guidance was needed.

“Minister Zhang is currently short seven vehicles.”

“Some we can repair, others we can’t.”

“Send your people over as soon as possible.”

Before anyone could respond, Zhang Mingrui suddenly raised his hand.

“Chief of Staff, it’s six vehicles, not seven.”

“Why one less?” Huang Han looked up.

“I assigned vehicle number 013 to be outsourced for repair; it should be fixed today.”

???

Huang Han was a bit stunned.

He remembered that vehicle 013.

During the last exercise, it broke down right on the position,

which thoroughly infuriated him.

The maintenance company worked on it for three days without success and said it had to be returned to the factory.

“So, the maintenance company can fix it now?”

Zhang Mingrui tested the waters.

“It’s not the maintenance company.”

“Not the maintenance company? Then who else in the war zone can repair vehicles?”

Zhang Mingrui braced himself and replied, “I found someone from outside…”

Before he could finish,

Huang Han’s iron fist slammed harshly on the table, eyes blazing with fury.

“Are you crazy?”

“You dare let a civilian repair missile vehicles?”

“What about discipline?”

The experts opposite shook their heads in disappointment upon hearing this.

Zhao Hengyan couldn’t lose his temper like Huang Han,

but he was also extremely dissatisfied with Zhang Mingrui’s move.

“Minister Zhang, you’re being reckless.”

“I won’t even mention discipline.”

“The Red Banner 9 is our best missile defense system.”

“Do you think civilians can fix it properly?”

“This is an international joke.”

Huang Han tried to restrain his emotions,

endure and let it pass.

But the more he thought about it, the angrier he got.

He drummed his fingers violently on the table.

“Zhang Mingrui, effective immediately, suspend your duties.”

“If anything happens to that vehicle, we will see you in a military tribunal.”

Zhang Mingrui hurriedly tried to explain, “Chief of Staff, please listen to me. The person repairing it isn’t purely a civilian; he is a reservist officer with very high skills.”

“No matter how skilled, can he fix the Red Banner? Do you take me for a fool?”

Huang Han, now furious like a raging bull, was unstoppable.

Just as he was about to unleash a torrent of curses,

a quartermaster burst in, saving Zhang Mingrui.

“Chief Huang! There’s an emergency.”

Still fuming, Huang Han’s eyes flashed coldly.

His aura was suffocating.

“Don’t you see I’m in a meeting about equipment?”

The quartermaster swallowed hard, gathering courage.

“An emergency situation. We received intelligence that a Moldovan F-35 has taken off and is suspected of entering our jurisdiction…”

Bang!

Huang Han leapt to his feet.

“Everyone, the meeting is adjourned immediately!”

“Follow me to the joint command center.”

“An enemy aircraft is approaching—it could be a major incident!”