On July 1st, a cargo ship with the Saudi royal family's logo set off from the port of Jeddah and headed out of the Gulf of Aden. The patrolling UA soldiers did not conduct too many checks on the ship and quickly let it pass.
On the same morning, Celestial Trade Navy and Moro Navy launched a joint military exercise in the Western Pacific Ocean.
Not only was it limited to anti-ship, anti-submarine, and air defense exercises, this joint military exercise also included landing operations and urban warfare subjects codenamed "Defense Determination" and lasted for three days. Although this military exercise turned into a show for Celestial Trade to show off its high-tech equipment, it still achieved the effect Jiang Chen wanted – to clarify its position to the angry NATO.
If NATO launched a retaliatory military action against Moro, Celestial Trade would never sit idly by.
If NATO wanted to expand the war beyond South America, they would have to think twice.
On the third day of the military exercise.
Five Guardian-class frigates modified with Type-50 J-type electromagnetic pulse cannons lined up on the sea, and there were more than a dozen anti-submarine destroyers, guided missile cruisers, supply ships, and submarines sailing around. Except for the lack of an aircraft carrier, the lineup of this fleet was not inferior to any aircraft carrier battle group in the world.
Standing side by side with Ivan in the bridge of the flagship, Jiang Chen squinted at the satellite image on the holographic screen.
Under Celestial Trade's "Sky Eye" military satellite, there were no secrets on the surface of the Pacific Ocean. The positions of both sides were marked on this satellite image, and various distance, direction, and speed parameters were listed.
Santos and the Moro Navy officers also stood on the bridge and looked at the holographic screen floating in front of them in amazement. Everything here was rare for them, especially the satellite image that marked the position of both sides. Anyone with a discerning eye could tell at a glance what it meant for naval warfare in the information age.
"Unfortunately, there is no aircraft carrier."
"If Celestial Trade Navy has an aircraft carrier, with such a huge information advantage, no one in the world can compete with this fleet."
Standing in the audience seats, someone let out a soft sigh of regret.
In today's naval thinking, aircraft carriers were the core of a fleet and the soul of a fleet. A fleet without aircraft carriers and carrier-based aircraft was incomplete.
In fact, when it came to aircraft carriers, Jiang Chen had considered developing Celestial Trade Navy's aircraft carriers before, but after thinking about it, he finally gave up.
First of all, Jiang Chen did not intend to waste too much of Future Military's production capacity on the sea, so there was no plan to build a warship from beginning to end. Most of Celestial Trade's warships were produced in Russian shipyards and then transported to Xin ports for secondary modification by Future Military.
The Russians were willing to sell aircraft carriers to Celestial Trade, but their willingness was limited to conventionally powered aircraft carriers. Things like nuclear-powered aircraft carriers that involved core technologies were out of the question. Even if they had a solid relationship, it would be useless. Just like how Celestial Trade wouldn't sell the Type-50 electromagnetic pulse cannon.
Modifying a conventional aircraft carrier into a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier was not on the same level as changing the main cannon of a Guardian-class frigate. Of course, it wasn't that it couldn't be done technically, but it wasn't necessary.
After all, with the ultra-long cruising radius of the Aurora-20, it didn't make much sense to have an aircraft carrier.
"127 nautical miles. Target locked."
"Fire!"
The launch hole of the guided missile cruiser opened. Accompanied by the roar, the orange swords shot into the sky.
127 nautical miles away, six scrap cargo targets were arranged in a triangular formation and sailed in the direction of Guam at a speed of 20 knots.
A total of six missiles all hit the target without missing.
The flames of the explosion burst out one after another, and the cargo ships connected and sank to the bottom of the sea.
When the high-altitude drone transmitted the image of the target ship's destruction back to the bridge, the black smoke from the explosion formed a thin line at the junction of the sea and the sky. Captain Lei Zheng put down the binoculars in his hand, turned around, and saluted Jiang Chen and Ivan.
"Sir, the target has been confirmed destroyed! All six shots hit the target without missing! "
There was applause from the audience. Not only the representatives of Moro, but there were also representatives from Hua, Russia, Frankberg, and even Nippon. All of their expressions showed a trace of surprise.
All six shots hitting the target was nothing. With the guidance of the drone, they could also achieve it.
What really surprised them was the cruising speed of Celestial Trade's anti-ship missiles …
Are you sure that's not a cannonball?
After the report, Lei Zheng returned to the captain's position and began to command his subordinates to prepare for the next stage of the exercise.
Jiang Chen withdrew his gaze from the satellite image and looked at Ivan.
"What's the next subject?"
"The sea exercise has been completed. The next is island landing operations," Ivan replied.
"It's time to test the new equipment."
Jiang Chen and Ivan grinned at each other.
…
Finally, Moro's chance to perform came.
Being poor, of course, they couldn't afford cruisers and frigates, which could easily cost hundreds of millions. However, they could still scrape together a few dozen rubber boats.
Landing operations were the only exercise they could perform.
Guardian-class frigates lined up on the sea, and four thick and long Type-50 J-type electromagnetic pulse cannons aimed at the coast from afar. Dazzling white light flickered one after another, and orange-yellow trajectories pierced through the sky. Clouds of dust from the explosion connected to the fixed bunkers on the shore.
After a round of fire, Celestial Trade's large transport ship lowered the assault boats. Most of the soldiers on the assault boats were Moro Army soldiers.
Almost at the same time the assault boats were lowered, thirty "Crocodile" Type-20 amphibious assault vehicles, about fifteen meters away from the coast, suddenly emerged from the sea. Like crocodiles pouncing on their prey, they bit down on the beach.
The first time they rushed to the beach, the well-equipped Celestial Trade Marine Corps soldiers quickly boarded from behind the "crocodiles" and followed the amphibious assault vehicles and attack drones to advance to the bombed positions.
At the same time, Moro's landing craft also rushed to the shore. Soldiers in military green camouflage rushed to the beach with light weapons and quickly occupied the fixed bunkers bombed by the ship's cannons. They raised small red flags on the bunkers and machine gun positions.
Before the start of the landing operation, Jiang Chen went from the bridge to the side of the ship.
Compared with the narrow command tower, the view here was wider and clearer.
Jiang Chen held onto the railing, put down the binoculars in his hand, and squinted at the shore. Feeling the sea breeze blowing over, the corners of his mouth couldn't help but curl up as he spoke to Ivan standing next to him.
"I feel like there's something missing there."
"What's missing?" Ivan asked immediately.
"It's in that position." Jiang Chen pointed to the shore and said with a smile, "Don't you think there's still a Statue of Liberty missing there?"
Ivan paused for a moment, then he also laughed.
"Do you want me to get someone to build one there and do the drill again?"
"There's no need." Jiang Chen shook his head with a smile and waved his hand. "If that day really comes, it won't be a drill."
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