Читаем Chimera полностью

With such non-maneuvering targets, it might as well have been a training exercise. Each successive Akash slammed into its target and the threat picture reduced. Within minutes, twelve interceptions had brought the number of surviving YJ-62s down to nine. At this time the battery was out of ready-to-fire missiles and had to reload. Control now passed to the parked 9K31 Strela point-defense systems that began launching their infrared missiles from just outside the airbase perimeter at Baghdogra. Several vehicles were parked around the airbase and launched more missiles than there were targets for them. Coupled with zero maneuvers from the YJ-62s, the engagements were sharp and quick. All nine missiles inbound over Baghdogra were terminated before they could reach it. The last two missiles exploded just beyond the runway, spreading red-hot shrapnel all over, but otherwise did no damage.

OVER EASTERN TIBET

DAY 6 + 1850 HRS

The two Chinese Su-30s pulled away silently and menacingly from their last refueling operation before entering combat. Eight J-10s from the 44TH Fighter Division passed below them. Four of these J-10s were armed for air-to-air operations and another three were armed for strike missions. The last J-10 was filling the role of EW support against Indian radars following the loss of their Tu-154M to Indian fighters three days earlier. The ten PLAAF fighters headed south to capitalize on the temporary gap in the Indian aerial coverage over Bhutan…

OVER SOUTHERN SIKKIM

DAY 6 + 1855 HRS

“Inbounds! Multiple inbound tracks! Counting ten fighters!”

The radar operator shouted over the intercom just as Roy confirmed the successful intercept of the last Chinese cruise-missiles over Baghdogra. He let out a silent curse and ran over.

“Give it to me!”

“Eight J-10s and two Su-30s flying top cover! Heading down Bhutan straight for Paru!”

Oh shit! Roy thought.

“Who’s up at our end?”

“Nothing useful!” the operator replied emphatically, checking the airborne roster. “Seven Mig-27s from Hashimara. Five An-32s, two returning from Paru three that had just scrambled from Baghdogra. One Mi-26 offloading at Paru, several Mi-17s around Sikkim, Bhutan and Baghdogra. Sharpshooter Flight refueling from the MARS bird from Bareilly, and they are out of weapons! The nearest Battle-Axes Mirages are still a good distance away!”

The mission-commander knew what had happened.

What the hell have I done?

But there was no time for recriminations now. Just then the operator checked the screen again, as one more flight logged in:

“Four Mig-21s from Baghdogra, call-sign Bull-rider, are available!”

“Get Bull-rider to engage and interdict the Chinese strike force,” Roy ordered instantly. “Tell everybody to bug the hell out! Especially those transports and helicopters! Tell that Mi-26 crew at Paru to stay on the ground and not attempt to fly out. Request priority assistance from Eagle-Eye-Three to the east and see if they can lend us some Su-30s to deal with this. And get the Battle-Axes to punch afterburners and head straight in! Those Mig-21 pilots are not going to survive this fight without help!”

As his crew got down to work, Roy stood straighter and watched the events unfolding in front of his eyes…

SKIES OVER BHUTAN

DAY 6 + 1900 HRS

“Release one! And two!”

The Wing-Commander “Bull-rider” Tikkar commanding the four Mig-21 Bisons felt his aircraft shudder and become lighter around him as two R-77 missiles streaked from under the aircraft and pulled up into the darkening skies, their exhaust trails disappearing into the gray clouds. Six other missiles from the rest of his flight followed suit.

The screeching RWR alarm inside the cockpit reminded Tikkar and his pilots that the skies were far from friendly. Enemy missiles were also in the air as the two Chinese Su-30s had released a salvo of four missiles in quick succession…

Bull-rider flight had just released all of their available R-77s on the two inbound Su-30s. Tikkar was far more comfortable taking on the eight J-10Bs in a “merge” engagement where the agile Bisons could out-turn and out-burn them. The same did not apply to the much more formidable Su-30s.

The Chinese Su-30 pilots were betting on a second round of BVR after evading the first round of Indian missiles. So they were preserving some rounds. Tikkar knew there would be no second round: range and terrain prevented it. Experience counted in these matters. The two Chinese pilots had made their first tactical error…

“Turn and burn, people! Break! Break!” Tikkar commanded.

He instantly pushed throttle all the way into afterburner, immediately feeling the sudden jerk of acceleration.

Fuel is good. All green!

He flipped the aircraft to the side, pulled back on the stick and saw the snowcapped Himalayas below fill his view. The RWR was screeching now.