Silent Hunters in the Night
The tranquil darkness of the South China Sea was disrupted by the subtle yet powerful roar of jet engines slicing through the sky. A squadron of J-31C “Thunderhawk” stealth fighters weaved through the cloud layers, moving swiftly and silently toward their target.
Their mission was clear: eliminate the incoming MQ-25 “Stingray” unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and remain alert for potential enemy fighter escorts.
“All units, target in range. Prepare for engagement.”
Song Xu’s steady voice resonated through the tactical comms channel. His sharp eyes were locked onto the tactical display, calculating the optimal interception angle. The radar marked the MQ-25 drones as red dots, slowly advancing in formation—an invisible observer, trying to gather intelligence on Chinese naval deployments.
Hunting the Unmanned Intruders
“Thunderhawk Two, intercept from the left. Thunderhawk Three, provide cover.”
Song Xu issued his orders without hesitation. The six J-31C fighters split into two combat units, executing a classic pincer attack from different angles to encircle the drone squadron.
In modern aerial warfare, stealth fighters rely on infrared search and tracking (IRST) instead of active radar to avoid detection. They also coordinate through encrypted data links, ensuring precision and efficiency in combat.
As Song Xu gently nudged the control stick, his fighter smoothly emerged from the cloud cover. The vector thrust nozzles at the rear subtly adjusted, allowing his jet to approach without revealing its position.
“Target locked.”
Shen Xue’s voice came through the comms.
Song Xu quickly confirmed the five MQ-25 drones flying at staggered altitudes, maintaining an AI-controlled formation. They hadn’t detected the threat yet.
This was their only chance to strike first.
“Fire.”
The PL-15 long-range air-to-air missile shot off the rail, streaking through the night with a blinding flare. The shockwave from the supersonic launch rippled through the air.
The missile found its mark—an MQ-25 was obliterated in an instant, its shattered remains tumbling through the sky in a fiery descent.
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At the same time, his wingmen launched their missiles.
Within five seconds, three more MQ-25s were destroyed.
Only two drones remained, and now, they were reacting.
“Their AI is adjusting!” Thunderhawk Three reported.
Sure enough, the remaining MQ-25s suddenly accelerated and dived, trying to lower altitude and escape into interference zones.
“Switch to close-range combat. Pursue.”
Song Xu wouldn’t give them a chance.
Aerial Chase and Elimination
Flipping the fire control system to dogfight mode, he activated the PL-10E short-range infrared-guided missile. His helmet-mounted display (HMD) engaged—wherever he looked, his weapon system locked onto.
Pushing the throttle forward, his J-31C accelerated into a steep dive, enduring a -5G descent at Mach 1.2 to catch up with the fleeing drones.
Within two seconds, he closed to within five kilometers—
PL-10E missile lock confirmed!
Without hesitation, Song Xu fired.
The missile curled through the night sky, instantly striking its target.
The fourth MQ-25 disintegrated mid-air.
Incoming Hostiles—F-35I Squadron Detected!
Just as the final drone was about to be destroyed, a piercing alarm sounded.
“Enemy F-35I squadron approaching at high speed!”
The radar warning receiver (RWR) in his cockpit flashed red alerts—the American stealth fighters had gone active, attempting to lock onto the J-31Cs.
“Damn it! They waited for us to engage the drones before launching their attack!”
Song Xu instantly pulled back on the stick, engaging an 8G high-speed climb to break out of the F-35I’s lock zone.
“Thunderhawk Squadron, shut down active radar! Switch to passive tracking mode!”
Within seconds, the entire J-31C squadron entered “Ghost Mode,” shutting down active radar signatures and relying solely on infrared tracking and passive electronic warfare detection.
Now, they could see the enemy, but the enemy couldn’t see them as easily.
Stealth Fighters vs. Stealth Fighters
Four F-35I fighters burst through the clouds, executing a multi-angle encirclement maneuveragainst the J-31C squadron.
Song Xu quickly assessed the situation—firing now could expose their exact locations. But waiting too long would let the F-35Is get into an ideal attack position.
A decision had to be made.
“Shen Xue, flank around their rear. Go for the kill.”
“Understood.”
Shen Xue’s J-31C veered off, using its stealth capabilities to disappear from enemy detection.
Fifteen seconds later, her voice came through the comms:
“Target locked.”
She fired.
A PL-15 missile ripped through the air, streaking straight for an unsuspecting F-35I.
Direct hit!
The explosion lit up the night sky as the first F-35I disintegrated, its pilot ejecting in time.
Deadly Counterattack & Narrow Escape
The remaining F-35Is reacted immediately—one of them launched an AIM-120D medium-range missile directly at Song Xu.
Eyes narrowing, he yanked the control stick, executing a 9G barrel roll while deploying countermeasure flares.
The missile curved, barely missing his aircraft by meters.
“These guys aren’t holding back.”
Song Xu gritted his teeth, flipping his jet in an aggressive high-G reversal—now, he was behind his attacker.
The F-35I was in his crosshairs.
Engaging his PL-10E close-combat missile, he tracked the target using his helmet-mounted display.
He fired.
The missile found its mark, ripping the second F-35I apart.
The remaining two F-35Is saw their disadvantage and immediately broke away.
Victory, But at a Cost
“Thunderhawk Squadron, do not pursue. Return to the carrier.”
Song Xu exhaled slowly, watching as the American fighters disappeared from the radar.
They had won this round.
But deep down, he knew—this was only the beginning.
The real war was coming.