Chapter 1322 - Military Exercise

On July 1st, a cargo ship marked with the Saudi Royal Family emblem set off from Jeddah Port, and headed away from the Gulf of Aden. The patrolling UA soldiers did not stop the ship for long before they allowed it into public water.

On the morning of the same day, Celestial Trade and Moro Navy launched a joint military exercise in the Western Pacific.

The military exercise was not limited to anti-ship, anti-submarine, anti-air exercises, but also also included landing combat and urban combt, code-named “Defense Determination,” which lasted for three days. Although this military exercise turned into Celestial Trade showing off its high-tech equipment, it still achieved the effect Jiang Chen wanted – to show his position to the angered NATO.

If NATO launched retaliatory military operations against Moro, Celestial Trade was ready to intervene.

They must now weigh their decision if they decide to open another battlefield outside of South America.

It was the third day of the military exercise.

Five Guardian-class frigates installed with the modified type-50J electromagnetic pulse cannons were lined up at sea, and there were more than ten ships including anti-submarine destroyers, guided missile cruisers, supply ships, and submarines that patrolled around. Other than the fact that it lacked an aircraft carrier, the fleet was not inferior to any aircraft carrier battle group in the world.

Jiang Chen and Ivan stood in the flagship bridge. Jiang Chen’s eyes squinted at the satellite images on the holographic screen.

Under the “Sky Eye” military satellite, there were no secrets that could stay hidden under its watch in the Pacific Ocean. The positions of the enemy and friendly units were all marked with the distance, direction, and speed parameters listed.

Santos and Moro naval officers also stood inside the bridge as they were amazed by the holographic screen floating directly in front of them. Everything here was a novelty to them, especially the satellite image that marked the positions of the units. It was not difficult to tell what this meant for naval warfare in the information age.

“Unfortunately there is no aircraft carrier.”

“If the Celestial Trade Navy is equipped with an aircraft carrier, with such an immense information advantage, it would be impossible to find an opponent that can compete with this fleet in the world.”

Among the audience, someone sighed regretfully.

In today’s naval thinking, the aircraft carrier was the core and soul of a fleet. A fleet without an aircraft carrier and carrier-based aircraft was incomplete.

Jiang Chen actually considered developing Celestial Trade’s own aircraft carrier before, but after some deliberation, he gave up on the idea.

First of all, Jiang Chen never intended to waste too much production capacity from Future Military on the sea, so it never planned to build a warship in the first place. Most of the warships were manufactured in Russian shipyards and then brought to Xin for secondary modification by Future Military.

The Russians were certainly willing to sell the aircraft carrier to Celestial Trade, but their willingness was only limited to conventionally powered aircraft carriers. For example, it was not even remotely possible for Russia to sell nuclear-powered aircraft carriers as well as its core technology. Regardless of their relationship, this idea was off the table, similar to how Celestial Trade would never sell the type-50 electromagnetic pulse cannon.

The technical difficulty of converting a conventionally powered aircraft carrier into a nuclear powered aircraft carrier was not on the same level as changing the main-gun of a frigate. Of course, it was not impossible but more so it was not necessary.

After all, the ultra-long cruising radius of Aurora-20 made the need for aircraft carriers less meaningful.

“The horizontal distance is 127 nautical miles, the target is locked.”

“Fire!”

The launch pod of the guided missile cruiser opened, and with the roar of homing noises, the orange swords shot into the sky.

In the area 127 nautical miles away, six scrapped cargo ships were used as target ships. They were arranged in a triangular formation on the sea, as they sailed in the direction of Guam at a speed of 20 knots.

A total of six missiles all hit directly on target.

The flames of the explosion erupted one after another as the cargo ships sank to the bottom of the sea.

When the high-altitude drone transmitted the screen of the target ships destroyed to the bridge, the black smoke of the explosion could be seen in the horizon. Captain Lei Zheng put down the binoculars in his hand, then performed a military salute to Jiang Chen and Ivan.

“Sir, the targets are destroyed! All missiles hit on target!”

There was applause from the audience. Among them, not only representatives of Moro, but also representatives from Hua, Germany, and even Nippon, all of them showed the same hint of surprise.

The missiles hitting targets were nothing surprising, since they all could achieve the same result with drone guidance.

What really surprised them was the cruise speed of the anti-ship missile.

Are you sure that was not a cannonball?

Lei Zheng returned to the post and began preparations for the next stage of drills under the command.

Jiang Chen withdrew his gaze from the satellite image and looked at Ivan.

“What’s the next drill?”

“All maritime exercises have been completed. The next one is the landing drill,” Ivan replied.

“It’s time to test the new equipment.”

Jiang Chen and Ivan looked at each other and exchanged a heartfelt smile.

…

Finally, it was an opportunity for Moro to perform.

Of course, their poor financial situation made it difficult for them to afford cruisers and frigates that cost up to hundreds of millions of dollars, but they could certainly afford rubber boats.

Landing operations were the only exercise they could showcase their expertise.

Guardian-class frigates lined up on the sea, and four thick and long type-50J electromagnetic pulse cannons were aimed at the coast. The glaring white lights flashed one after another, orange ballistic trajectories ripped through the sky, and the exploding dusts connected one after another onto the bunkers on the shore.

After a round of fire barrage, the assault boat was released by Celestial Trade’s large transport ship. Most of the soldiers on the assault boats were Moro soldiers.

At almost the same time when the assault boat was put down, thirty “Crocodile-20” amphibious assault vehicles suddenly appeared out of the coast about 15 meters away. Like preying crocodiles, they bit towards the beach.

As soon as the well-equipped Celestial Trade Marines reached the beach, they quickly followed the amphibious assault vehicles and the attack drones, and advanced towards the bombarded position.

At the same time, Moro’s assault boats also reached the beach. Soldiers with military green camouflage rushed in with light weapons, and quickly seized the bunkers bombed by artillery. They raised small red flags onto the turret and bunker positions.

Before the landing operation began, Jiang Chen walked from the bridge to the deck of the ship.

Compared with the narrow bridge, the field of vision here was wider and clearer.

Jiang Chen put down the binoculars in his hand as he held onto the railing. He looked to the beach with his eyes narrowed. With the wind blowing his face and in a delightful mood, the corner of his mouth curved up as he spoke to Ivan next to him.

“I always feel that something is missing there.”

“What is missing?” Ivan asked immediately.

“It’s at that place,” Jiang Chen casually pointed to the beach, and laughed, “Don’t you think there is still a Statue of Liberty missing?”

Ivan was taken aback, and then he laughed along.

“Would you like me to get someone to build one there, and we can re-conduct the drill?”

“There is no need,” Jiang Chen smiled, shook his head, and waved his hand, “If that day comes, it won’t be a drill.”