Dominate South Asia

Cuba has four air force bases in Angola, among which Menongo Base is the most important. The main air combat force, MiG-21 fighters, are deployed here, and two anti-aircraft artillery battalions are also deployed here. This day is their catastrophe.

When those fighters appeared above their heads and kept dropping bombs, they had no way to deal with it. They could only find air-raid shelters to hide. Seeing that all the fighters were blown into scrap metal, the base commander's fingers dug deeply into his flesh.

The South African Air Force has always been very weak. Why did it suddenly become stronger this time? What kind of planes are these? After the bombing, the Cuban Air Force cleaned up the base that was bombed into ruins while reporting to the top that the South African Air Force had new fighters!

Although the A-7 is not much different from its own MiG-21 in appearance, the variable-sweep-wing Tomcat fighter looks too clear. Could it be that the US Navy is intervening directly?

The Soviet Union was also shocked when they received the news from Angola. At this time, they were still worried about the disadvantages in the Afghan battlefield. The MiG-29 and Su-27 were being improved, and they could not export more advanced fighters to the Cuban Air Force in Angola. Moreover, these fighters needed special training before they could be modified, and they could not form combat effectiveness in a short time.

To deal with the situation in Angola, they could only export the MiG-23, which was more advanced than the MiG-21, and a large number of anti-aircraft missiles to deal with these air threats.

South Africa.

The Angolan battlefield, which had been a headache for several years, was almost driven out by the Angolans. Now, although it cost more, the hired Pakistani Air Force. The combat effectiveness is outrageous.

In such a short time, they have completely reversed the situation. Now, the Angolan sky belongs to the South African Air Force.

"Since the battle in the air is over, let's start the ground attack." The South African military was excited and seized this opportunity and immediately launched a counterattack.

Originally, UNITA was squeezed into the southeast corner. Now, stimulated by the victory in the air, they started a large-scale counterattack.

"Boom, boom." Walking at the front of the attacking queue is the South African horn tank.

In the armored sequence of the South African Army, the earliest is the British "Centurion" tank. This tank has powerful firepower and strong armor protection, but its mobility is the worst because it is equipped with a gasoline engine. The maximum speed is only 32 kilometers per hour and the maximum range is only 90 kilometers. It is simply a product of the World War II era.

Although South Africa has suffered sanctions from the international community, South Africa's military industry system is also extremely powerful. They have improved this tank, using a 750-horsepower air-cooled diesel engine instead of the original 650-horsepower gasoline engine, and self-developed a semi-automatic transmission instead of the original manual transmission, increasing the fuel tank capacity, and increasing the maximum range of this tank from 90 kilometers to 500 kilometers. In addition, they have also improved the fire control system. The fire control computer, the gunner's dual-channel sight with image intensifier, the commander's sight, the laser rangefinder and the gun control device have been adopted to greatly improve the shooting accuracy. This tank has an absolute advantage over the T-55 tank of the Cuban army.

The improved one is called the Horn tank.

This tank is more adapted to local conditions, that is, there is a bathtub at the back, which is deeply loved by tank soldiers.

In the previous operations. This tank has not been finalized and is being tested in the rear. Now, this tank has been officially equipped with South African troops. It can be said that it is specially developed for the Cuban army in Angola.

The 750-horsepower engine roars. The semi-automatic transmission greatly reduces the operating intensity of the tank driver, and the 500-kilometer range simplifies the logistics support. This tank rumbles forward. In the attack, the tank is the biggest assault force!

"Attention, the target is found ahead." The commander of the tank walking in the front saw a large area of ​​black smoke on the opposite side through the sight. The T-55 tank of the Cuban Army came to intercept them!

"Attack!" shouted the commander of the Horn tank.

Both sides were advancing rapidly. At a distance of 1,300 meters, the 105mm artillery opened fire while moving.

"Boom!" A 105mm armor-piercing shell accurately hit the T-55 tank on the opposite side. The tank was instantly penetrated and exploded and caught fire.

At this distance, the fire control system of the T-55 tank had no confidence in hitting the opponent. They stopped and prepared to fire. In this short period of time, the 105mm artillery on the opposite side had been hitting them continuously.

The Cuban tank soldiers were shocked. The opponent's tanks were actually firing while moving! Moreover, the accuracy was so high!

The armored cluster on the opposite side began to move to both sides at a distance of 900 meters, almost to surround them.

"Keep moving forward." The Cuban commander ordered.

In the fields of southern Angola, the tank forces of both sides competed.

In the past, the Cuban army mainly relied on the air force. When they were advancing, the air force would destroy the enemy in the sky, and they only had to move forward. But now, as the air force has temporarily lost its combat capability, they are facing the South African army alone, and their disadvantages are immediately revealed.

The more than 70 T-55 tanks that attacked this time were all destroyed by the Horn tanks. However, only three of the Horn tanks hit mines and lost their ability to move.

Behind the Horn tanks, Oryx and Honey Badger armored vehicles followed. Both of these are wheeled armored vehicles, which are more advantageous for running on mountainous terrain. Behind these armored units are a large number of UNITA troops.

3,000 South African National Defense Forces, 3,000 South West African Territorial Army and 5,000 UNITA soldiers quickly advanced towards the north. Their progress was rapid. In two days, they advanced to the Lubango-Menonge line.

Having lost their air superiority, the Cuban Army and the MPLA troops were retreating steadily.

These days, Pakistani mercenaries have not taken off. As the Cuban Air Force was destroyed in one fell swoop, it was difficult for the Cuban Air Force to restore its combat effectiveness in a short period of time. Without opponents, it had no combat targets when flying. Rick led his own personnel and Recharge your batteries and leave the skies of Angola to the South African Air Force to guard.

Rick remembered his mission. When he came here, in addition to fighting, he also had to build relationships with the military industry personnel here. South Africa's military industry system is extremely powerful. Even for fighter jets, they are capable of self-research. For example, they are currently working on A Carver fighter improved from the Phantom fighter!

Although South Africa is modifying their Mirage fighters, no matter how they are modified, they cannot meet future needs. They need a brand-new fighter with obvious characteristics of a third-generation fighter. Atlas Aircraft Company of South Africa has assembled the Mirage F1 under license and is responsible for the overhaul and refurbishment of all Mirage fleets of the South African Air Force, becoming the main contractor for this project.

At the same time, South Africa hired a number of engineers from France who participated in the Mirage 2000 project, and Israel also provided Lion technology for reference. Now, this fighter aircraft has been designed on paper and is ready for the next step of full-size model. The designed fighter has a strong Mirage origin, and its layout is similar to that of the later Indian LCA.

At the same time, because they do not have access to advanced engine technology, they can only use the old "Ata" 9K-50 engine, which is an engine from France.

France's engine development is also quite backward. The seemingly advanced Mirage 2000 fighter jet is only a single-rotor turbofan engine. Moreover, as an engine for the Mirage 2000, it will not be exported to South Africa.

Rick watched the South African Air Force Commander Dennis hanging around his own fighter planes. Rick knew what this guy wanted to do. The South African Air Force was envious of these advanced Pakistani fighter planes. However, the United States had long made regulations not to allow them to fly. They have access to these fighter planes, and the people who maintain them are Pakistanis.

"Hey, Rick, nice to meet you." Dennis shouted immediately when he saw Rick. Although Dennis is a lieutenant general, the South African Air Force now relies entirely on the Pakistan Air Force to fight. They are very polite.

"Well, I'm happy too." Rick said.

"The performance of your fighter planes is too powerful." Dennis said, "It would be great if our air force also had such fighter planes!"

South Africa has been sanctioned by the world and cannot import any advanced fighter aircraft from foreign countries. It can only develop its own.

"If a country's air force wants to be strong, it is not possible to buy them. It is more important to develop them yourself." Rick said: "We are equipped with American-made fighters, which are powerful because they are bought."

This sentence spoke to Dennis's heart: "Yes, we also want to develop advanced fighters, but unfortunately, there are too many restrictions."

"Actually, the composition of a fighter jet is also very simple." Rick said: "Engine, avionics, and body, it's that simple."

It sounds simple, but just one engine has blocked the necks of many countries that want to develop their own. Sweden's Gripen uses American engines, Israel's Lion also plans to use American engines, and China's The self-developed fighter jet was almost aborted many times because it had no engine. As for South Africa, the only option was the old turbojet engine.

"Yeah, unfortunately, our reserves are not enough." Dennis said: "In terms of engines, we have a big gap."

As the commander of the Air Force, he was the one who made the final decision on the Engraver fighter jet project, and he was naturally aware of its flaws.

"We have secret channels to obtain Spey engines." Rick said: "If you need to buy it, we can connect it." (To be continued ~^~)

PS: PS: Thanks to Happy Tiantian, Yanyan’s Dad, Send Baozi, 1993 Sarajevo, Yan Ran Yisheng and other friends for their tips! Thanks to pangyunyun, yaJy2304, hp9394, Lian Yixin, Shining Death and other friends for their valuable monthly votes. Please continue to ask for monthly votes, please subscribe, and please like!