The night sky over the South China Sea remained silent, yet at high altitudes, it had already become a battlefield of life and death. The U.S. F-35I fighters were executing their hunting tactics, while the Thunderhawk squadron, trapped under the electronic warfare blockade, was forced into evasive maneuvers, constantly searching for a breakthrough.
The tail flames of missiles streaked across the night. An AIM-120D missile narrowly missed the Thunderhawk squadron’s formation, ultimately self-destructing less than five hundred meters away. Song Xu took a deep breath, feeling the cockpit tremble. The intensity of this aerial battle was a severe test of both physical endurance and mental resilience, and they were still far from escaping danger.
“They’re forcing us into their encirclement!” Shen Xue’s voice carried urgency. Her fighter rolled and dove, evading an F-35I lock-on, but two more U.S. fighters immediately flanked her from both sides.
Song Xu narrowed his eyes and quickly scanned the battlefield, realizing that the U.S. tactics were even more meticulous than expected. They were not simply relying on the stealth advantage of the F-35Is to engage independently but had adopted a multi-layered coordinated attack strategy.
The first layer was an electronic warfare blockade. EA-18G Growler electronic warfare aircraft were continuously jamming the Thunderhawk squadron’s radar systems, making it difficult for them to obtain accurate battlefield data.
The second layer was long-range missile interception. The F-35Is, equipped with AIM-120D missiles, were applying constant pressure from beyond visual range, preventing the Thunderhawk squadron from stabilizing their formation.
The third layer was close-range encirclement. After successfully weakening the Thunderhawk squadron’s battlefield awareness, the U.S. forces deployed a crossfire entrapment strategy, making it extremely difficult for them to evade or mount an effective counterattack.
“If we continue to evade passively, we’ll eventually be worn down.”
Song Xu knew that the current situation was highly unfavorable. They had to take the initiative and disrupt the enemy’s rhythm.
“All units, switch to ‘Lightning Assault’ mode!”
The comms channel fell silent for a second. Shen Xue was the first to react, immediately adjusting her flight posture to execute the new tactic.
“Thunderhawk One, executing command!”
“They’re accelerating all of a sudden? What are they trying to do?”
Inside the U.S. command center, Night Owl One stared intently at the tactical display. The Thunderhawk squadron had suddenly altered their formation—not to continue evading, but to go full-throttle in a direct assault toward the EA-18G electronic warfare aircraft.
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“They’re trying to destroy our electronic warfare support!”
Lieutenant Colonel Thomson quickly analyzed the enemy’s intent.
“They know that F-35Is require electronic warfare support to suppress enemy radar systems. If they take down our Growlers, our stealth advantage will be significantly reduced!”
Colonel Graham’s expression darkened. “Order the F-35I squadron to intercept! Protect the EA-18G at all costs!”
The Thunderhawk squadron continued accelerating, charging straight toward the EA-18G Growler.
“They’re moving to defend!” Shen Xue observed the radar feed as multiple F-35Is shifted formation, scrambling to block their advance.
“But they reacted a second too late.”
Song Xu yanked his control stick, snapping his fighter into a sudden leftward roll, gaining a positional advantage.
The lock-on alert sounded—target, EA-18G acquired.
A sharp, rhythmic beep filled his cockpit. Song Xu didn’t hesitate.
“Missile away!”
A PL-15 long-range air-to-air missile roared off its pylon at Mach 5, streaking toward the electronic warfare aircraft.
The EA-18G pilot immediately detected the incoming threat, initiating desperate evasive maneuvers while deploying countermeasures. However, the PL-15’s advanced radar guidance system was unaffected by the interference and remained locked onto the target.
A massive explosion erupted in the distance. The Growler disintegrated mid-air, its debris scattering across the sky.
“EA-18G destroyed! Electronic warfare support has been neutralized!”
Inside the U.S. command center, the tactical display flickered as their electronic jamming coverage collapsed.
“They knew exactly how to dismantle our tactics.” Night Owl One exhaled sharply, then coldly ordered, “F-35I squadrons, switch to full offensive mode! No more reliance on electronic support—we go into dogfighting!”
The U.S. fighters descended, transitioning into within-visual-range combat. Armed with AIM-9X short-range heat-seeking missiles, they aimed to eliminate the Thunderhawk squadron in close-quarters combat.
Colonel Graham watched the screen and muttered, “We underestimated their ability to counterattack. But now, both sides have lost electronic warfare support. From here on out… this is a test of pilot skill.”
Without electronic warfare support, the F-35Is no longer held an overwhelming stealth advantage. The battle instantly evolved into a chaotic aerial melee—a pure contest of maneuverability, reflexes, and combat instincts.
One F-35I attempted to outmaneuver Song Xu, but he swiftly executed a diagonal barrel roll, slipping into the enemy’s blind spot. With a precise pull of the trigger, he launched a PL-10E short-range missile.
The missile struck instantly, and the F-35I exploded into flames.
But before he could regain his bearings, another F-35I locked onto Thunderhawk Three’s tail.
“Missile launch! Evade! Evade!—Ahhh!”
Thunderhawk Three’s fighter was struck directly, breaking apart in a violent explosion. The pilot managed to eject just in time, his parachute barely opening before he plunged into the dark sea below.
Both sides were suffering losses at an alarming rate—this was a battle of attrition.
During a high-speed maneuver, Shen Xue spotted an F-35I’s mistake and immediately dived onto its tail. She squeezed the trigger, unleashing a burst of cannon fire that shredded through the enemy aircraft’s wing. The pilot had no choice but to eject as his fighter spiraled out of control.
Song Xu gritted his teeth, quickly reassessing the battlefield.
They had successfully taken down the U.S. electronic warfare aircraft, crippling the enemy’s strategic advantage. But the cost had been heavy—Thunderhawk Three was lost, and Thunderhawk Five was severely damaged.
“If we keep dogfighting like this, our losses will only continue to mount.”
“We need a window to disengage, or this will turn into a pointless bloodbath.”
At that moment, a new radar signal appeared on their screens.
In the distance, a formation of U.S. B-21 stealth bombers was silently closing in.
Song Xu’s expression darkened instantly.
“Their real killing move isn’t the F-35Is… it’s the B-21s.”
If those stealth bombers successfully completed their mission, everything they had fought for would be in vain.
He took a deep breath and issued a new command:
“Thunderhawk squadron, adjust targets! Full-speed intercept the B-21s! We cannot afford to fail this mission!”