Chapter 258: Land-Based Model

Helmet sight! Andrei was immediately excited. This thing could be said to be the first weapon invented by the Soviet Union for close-range air combat!

In close-range combat, opportunities are fleeting, and in order to capture the target as quickly as possible and get a chance to launch, the Soviet Union developed a new sighting device, which is this helmet sight!

Worn on the helmet, the missile's seeker rotates synchronously with the sight. It can be said that the missile's seeker will aim wherever the eyes look, and it is integrated into the fire control system. In this way, more launch opportunities can be obtained!

This technology was equipped on the MiG-29 and Su-27, and now it has been transplanted to the MiG-23. It seems that the Mikoyan Design Bureau intends to transform this MiG-23 into a super MiG-23.

However, if you want the helmet sight to be effective, it must be matched with a large off-axis combat missile. In later generations, it is generally matched to launch the R-73 missile. This type of missile was not put into service until 1985, and the prototype design has only been completed now.

Thinking of this, Andre couldn't help but ask: "What weapons can our MiG-23 carry?"

"Right now, the main weapons are still R-60 and R-23, but our Lightning Design Bureau is designing new missiles. When the new missiles are put into service, they can be modified to this fighter in the shortest time." Tukhaski continued to introduce: "This aircraft has many improvements. In addition to the rear engine and this helmet sight, the internal equipment is almost all the most advanced technology in our Soviet Union in the 1970s. For example, our swept wings have been computer-controlled and no longer need to be manually controlled. The Sapphire-23 radar in the aircraft is the latest improved model and can attack two targets at the same time. The electronic countermeasure equipment and automatic driving equipment are all the latest models, and it can also carry various anti-ship weapons. Except for the long-range attack capability that cannot compare with the American Tomcat fighter, other capabilities are comparable to the American Tomcat fighter."

Originally, although the MiG-23 was a Soviet heavy fighter, it had many shortcomings, such as too much emphasis on high altitude and high speed, resulting in a close-range combat capability that was not as good as the MiG-21, and the manual control of the variable swept wing, which greatly reduced the advantage of the variable swept wing in fierce air combat. However, now, the improved version of the MiG-23 has improved many of these defects. The addition of a helmet sight has greatly improved the fighter's close-range combat capability, and the use of a computer-controlled variable swept wing has made the fighter more suitable for air combat. The combat effectiveness of the MiG-23K has greatly changed compared to the original.

However, there is one flaw that cannot be avoided, which is the long-range air combat capability! With the combination of AWG-9 and Phoenix, the Tomcat fighter has the ability to shoot at a distance of 100 kilometers, and at this distance, the MiG-23's radar cannot scan the target at all!

However, as of now, there is no doubt that the addition of the MiG-23K will greatly increase the strength of the Soviet Navy's ocean-going fleet. The combat effectiveness of this aircraft is far superior to those red blacksmiths! There is no problem in establishing an air defense circle at a distance of 500 kilometers from the aircraft carrier formation.

Andrei was very interested in the cockpit for more than ten minutes before he came down from the cockpit. Looking at Gorshkov's expression, Andrei said, "Comrade Marshal, this is the carrier-based aircraft our navy needs! With the Minsk and these carrier-based aircraft, we will at least not retreat in front of the American aircraft carrier formation."

"Yes, Andrei, our Soviet Navy must have the confidence to fight a decisive battle with the US Navy in the ocean!" Gorshkov said: "We took many detours back then. Now, we have a clear goal and must develop our maritime aviation force!"

The Soviet Union had long focused on developing nuclear submarines, believing that aircraft carriers would be sitting ducks in a nuclear war. However, the last naval battle finally made Gorshkov determined that without air superiority, there was nothing!

"Yes, Comrade Marshal, in addition to vigorously developing our carrier-based aviation force, we must also develop corresponding escort warships." Andre said: "We are facing the US Navy, and the pressure of air defense is even more severe. I suggest that we can install Sky Sentinel radars and medium- and long-range air defense missiles on the basis of the Dreadnought-class destroyers, and transform them into air defense destroyers similar to the American Aegis warships."

The Dreadnought class is a large anti-submarine ship being developed by the Soviet Union. Last year, the first ship had already been built. Later, in 1983, the Soviet Union decided to install the Sky Sentinel phased array radar and SAM-11 air defense missiles equipped on the Kiev class on the basis of the Dreadnought class to make it a professional air defense destroyer. Unfortunately, the construction plan of the Dreadnought 3 has never been carried out, otherwise, the Soviet Union would have had a professional air defense system like the American Aegis system.

Now, Andrei took this opportunity to raise the issue with Gorshkov, hoping that he would pay attention to the fleet's air defense. The US Aegis system was designed to deal with the saturation attack of Soviet anti-ship missiles. However, once the Soviet aircraft carrier formation encountered the United States in the ocean, it would also encounter overwhelming missiles launched by US carrier-based aircraft.

Only a large number of air defense missiles launched vertically under the guidance of phased array radar can withstand this attack! Missiles launched by two arms cannot resist saturation attacks!

"In this way, our aircraft carrier fleet can better protect our fleet by implementing multi-layered defense, relying on carrier-based aircraft for long-range air defense, relying on professional air defense destroyers for medium-range air defense, and relying on their own air defense missiles for short-range air defense." Andre said. As a person from the air defense force, Andre said these things, and he was completely an expert.

Hearing Andrei's suggestion, Gorshkov nodded and said, "Yes, we will develop this argument after we return."

"This MiG-23 is good. We should modify our land-based fighter jets according to current standards!" Andrei still couldn't let it go. He couldn't help but express such emotion. The staff of the Mikoyan Design Bureau next to him said that a batch of land-based fighter jets had been improved and the Far East Military Region had also been equipped!

With a feeling of wanting more, Andrei accompanied Gorshkov and others to finish the inspection. After returning to Moscow, Andrei flew to the Far East the next day.

Returning to the place where he once fought, facing the same opponent again, Andrei was full of confidence. He had become the supreme commander of Hokkaido, and also got the approval of the general secretary. When the time was right, he could occupy the entire island country!

The situation in the island nation is already so chaotic, it seems that the Chi Army has developed well! Andre took the latest briefing and read it very carefully.