Chapter 201 The Truth

The manually adjusted variable sweep wing that people criticized was improved to a computer-controlled variable sweep wing. Of course, there is still a gap between the analog computer and the digital computer control of the Tomcat fighter. The single engine at the tail of the fuselage was changed to two engines with a total thrust of more than 120 kilonewtons. For this purpose, the rear fuselage was redesigned.

After various improvements, the MiG-23 was renamed MiG-23A in 1977. Its combat effectiveness has undergone a complete transformation. Originally, its close combat capability was not strong, but after the Mikoyan Design Bureau installed the latest secret helmet sight, its close combat capability also changed greatly.

It can be said that except for the long-range interception capability, which cannot be compared with the Panda fighter, the MiG-23A can compete with the Tomcat fighter in other aspects.

Moreover, the MiG-23's variable swept wings can reduce the required take-off speed during take-off, giving it an innate advantage in being able to fly on an aircraft carrier. If the aircraft carrier on our side really has an angled deck raised, the MiG-23 might be able to fly on it.

Unfortunately, the Soviet Union was born at the wrong time. Its aircraft carriers experienced ups and downs, and various plans were constantly aborted. When the Kuznetsov aircraft carrier was finally built, the MiG-23 was already out of date. The new MiG-29 and Su-27 came out, so naturally these two aircraft were used to modify carrier-based aircraft. Finally, the Red Navy chose the Su-27K.

Now, the time is right! There is still hope that the MiG-23 can be put on board.

"Andrei, the Navy will seriously consider your proposal." As the commander of the Navy, Gorshkov naturally knew about the MiG-23A carrier-based aircraft. When he heard Andrei mention it, he immediately felt that he thought alike.

"Report, Eagle Squadron is conducting aerial refueling." At this moment, the captain of the aircraft carrier came over to report to Gorshkov.

Aerial refueling! As long as this aerial refueling can be successfully completed, the mission of confusing the Americans will be accomplished.

A big guy like the MiG-25 has no possibility of being put on board a ship. The previous series of actions were all to confuse the Americans!

The leap deck that appears in front of the angled deck of the Kiev aircraft carrier is actually built with scaffolding and covered with a layer of tarpaulin. From outer space, it looks like a leap deck. In fact, it can only be stepped on by people, and the deck will collapse if a car drives on it!

Then, before departure, two scrapped MiG-25s were hoisted onto the Kiev with a crane and hidden in the hangar. When the US reconnaissance satellite passed overhead, they were hoisted up in a grand manner through the side elevator. In this way, the Americans were fooled!

In order to verify, the Americans will make tentative contact, so they must discover that the incoming aircraft is a MiG-25!

Of course, the two MiG-25s did not take off from the Kiev, but from the Petrel base more than a thousand kilometers away in the north. They took off when the two fleets were about to come into contact, and flew at a very low altitude to avoid being discovered by the Americans.

Although the MiG-25's maximum combat radius is one thousand kilometers, this is data at high altitude. At low altitude, the dense atmosphere will bring several times the resistance and the range will be greatly shortened.

Therefore, the Americans would never doubt that the two MiG-25s flew from land. If they flew from land, they could only fly from high altitudes and would definitely be discovered by their early warning aircraft and warships' radars.

Flying at a very low altitude near the aircraft carrier Kiev and then flying towards the US aircraft carrier formation, the Americans would naturally think that the two MiG-25s took off from the Kiev and wanted to give the US aircraft carrier formation a "surprise."

Even if Americans will find out that this is a scam in the future, at least for now, they have been fooled. The American early warning aircraft escaped, and the American aircraft carrier formation retreated!

The Americans did not observe that two MiG-25s, whose fuel was almost exhausted, were refueling in the air over the sea more than 400 kilometers away from their formation.

Two Tu-16 tankers were flying steadily at an altitude of three thousand meters, with a refueling pipe hanging from the tail of each aircraft.

The Tu-16 was the main bomber of the early Soviet Union. Its two turbojet engines were located at the root of the wings, forming a unique aerodynamic layout. In addition to being equipped in the Soviet Union, this bomber was also exported to many countries. In China, its own H-6 series of bombers were formed.

Since the range of bombers could not meet the needs, the Soviet Union had long begun to study the technology of refueling between bombers. One bomber was used as a tanker to refuel another bomber in the air to extend the range. It can be said that the earliest Soviet aerial refueling aircraft were modified from bombers. It was not until the successful development of the Il-76 that the Il-78 aerial refueling aircraft was improved on the basis of this transport aircraft. That was in the 1980s.

Now, the Tu-16 is old and has been replaced by the Tu-22. There are more and more aerial refueling aircraft based on this bomber. However, the carrying capacity of this bomber-based aerial refueling aircraft is limited, which is not enough to provide enough fuel for two MiG-25s. At the same time, it is also for backup. In case one Tu-16 fails, there is another one to share the fuel.

Just last year, the MiG-25 underwent a mid-life upgrade and was equipped with a retractable aerial refueling probe.

At this time, the refueling port at the front end of the MiG-25's nose had been opened, and the refueling probe extended out of the nose, just above the number 027.

Lieutenant Alexander opened the goggles of his helmet and looked at the probe outside through the glass in front of the narrow cockpit.

Although I have received several aerial refueling trainings, this subject is still very difficult and I cannot complete it successfully every time. Now, there is no way out. If I cannot successfully dock, I can only parachute out.

With his gloved hands, he gently pushed the joystick. After a rapid flight at high altitude, the temperature in the cockpit had exceeded fifty degrees. Now, his palms were still sweating. His eyes were fixed on the approaching refueling cone.

The Tu-16 in front was flying steadily. Behind the fuselage, a refueling pipe was flying along with it. The refueling cone at the rear of the pipe was shaking constantly.

The bulky MiG-25 was slowly approaching the refueling cone, twenty meters, ten meters, five meters, three meters...

A gust of side wind blew the refueling cone to one side, and the first docking attempt failed.

After exiting, Lieutenant Alexander re-entered and watched the refueling cone gradually approaching. Lieutenant Alexander was quick-eyed and quick-handed, and immediately stuck the probe inside.

"Docking successful!" Alexander couldn't help but shout.

After docking, the oil line opened automatically, and a steady stream of fuel flowed into the MiG-25's internal fuel tank. Now there was no need to worry about not having enough fuel for the return flight!