Chapter 3: Spiraling

Goya pressed the single-shot button, and 1 combat missile launched from pylon 8, tracing a shallow arc as it flew towards the unsuspecting enemy aircraft. Goya's hand rested on the fire control radar switch; soon, regardless of what happened, all he needed to do was activate the radar scan

The new round of conflict between India and Pakistan has been ongoing for a week, and both sides have only engaged in limited artillery exchanges between ground forces. Occasionally, a few tactical aircraft fly to the opposing forward positions to drop some conventional bombs, targeting each other's infiltration units, but to date, no aircraft has been shot down. Now is a prime opportunity for Rahsina Goya, a rural boy from Pulbani. Therefore, the lieutenant must not squander this opportunity recklessly

"Look, it's an aircraft..." Jafar's voice abruptly stopped as he momentarily could not recall what type of plane it was. He wanted to say it resembled a Mirage F1, but in his memory, the turning radius of a Mirage F1 at this altitude would be much larger, as that type of aircraft has relatively weak power.

We have lost the target; he must have used some trick to escape. Perhaps he lowered his altitude. Goya himself could hardly believe such a judgment; even at a low altitude, he should not have evaded radar detection, as his own speed was not even 1,000 meters.

The enemy made no attempt to escape; he simply flew calmly, completely unaware that death was imminent. The R73, trailing behind with a white vapor, was close on his heels. The Pakistani pilot could have seen it with just a slight turn of his head, yet he did not do so. Perhaps he glanced back once or twice every minute. Pilots positioned at the rear in tactical formations usually tend to look back frequently. Maybe the snow-capped mountains on either side captured most of his attention; in any case, this time he was somewhat complacent.

"This is impossible; it must have crashed into the mountain," Jafar said, beginning to search the mountains on either side. He only saw a burning wreckage scattered on the snowy slope, which was the Mirage that had just been shot down.

Quickly, Jafar in the rear seat identified the target on the vertical display, but it was not a single target; rather, it was a series of intermittent signals. The opposing side was releasing radar jamming, moving almost as swiftly as Goya activated the radar.

The captain held his breath, and after the last wisp of cloud before him dissipated, he pressed the laser rangefinder button once more. The co-axial laser rangefinder of the IRST device emitted a laser beam undetectable by the enemy, and this time the ranging was successful. Soon, the infrared seeker of the R73 missile also acquired the target, and the audio signal indicating that the missile's infrared seeker had locked onto the target began to beep, signifying that the attack was almost certain to succeed

It is impossible; if it is to turn, it must certainly gain altitude, and I will definitely notice it. It must have hidden in ... ...

"This time it depends on you," said Jafar

Goya suddenly saw a small dot emerging from the clouds on the side of the snow-capped mountain, rapidly growing larger, perhaps having circled around from behind the mountain. The lieutenant could hardly believe his eyes, not because of the 6G turn, but because the opponent had not fled; he was flying directly towards him, seizing his nine o'clock position. If the opponent crossed this position and then turned, it would surely become a problem. The lieutenant could hardly believe his eyes, not because of the 6G turn, but because the opponent had not fled; he was flying directly towards him, seizing his nine o'clock position. If the opponent crossed this position and then turned, it would surely become a problem.

As Goya had anticipated, the two aircraft gradually lost speed, their turning radii becoming smaller, and the distance between them decreasing. Jafar could already see the pilots in the cockpit and could roughly estimate that the distance was about 1.5 kilometers.

Will there be a betrayal?" Jafar said

"The gods protect us," the lieutenant shouted, having achieved the first real victory. Even though he had violated the regulation against close combat, the squadron leader would surely overlook it. However, it was not yet time to celebrate. He quickly activated the fire control radar, switching to vertical scanning mode, skillfully adjusting the pulse repetition frequency to the "medium" position. Another enemy might be lurking in the mist just a few kilometers away; this was the optimal search mode.

Thus, the lieutenant decided to implement Plan A, which involved first eliminating the aircraft behind him in a secure manner. He believed that any Pakistani fighter jet, even the renowned F-16D from the 5th Squadron (Falcon), would not be able to engage him in a one-on-one confrontation. Moreover, the aircraft in front of him was temporarily unobserved, and it was likely just another older model like the Mirage III (in Pakistan's ambush tactics, the lighter Mirage III multi-role fighter is often used to lead the heavier Mirage VI bomber). It can be anticipated that after witnessing his teammate being shot down, the aircraft ahead would likely react by desperately lowering its altitude to evade, and perhaps he himself would end up crashing into the mountains on either side.

Goya pressed down on the turn pedal, simultaneously tilting to the right, diving at a steep angle, and descended to 1,500 meters (relative altitude) in one go. He thought that his opponent must be in a state of extreme panic at this moment, and his phased array radar, at this distance, if the angle was right, would be sufficient to see through his electronic jamming and decoy targets. The next steps would be very simple, using the remaining 1 air-to-air missile or 2 R27 missiles to send him to meet his maker in a few minutes. He thought that his opponent must be in a state of extreme panic at this moment, and his phased array radar, at this distance, if the angle was right, would be sufficient to see through his electronic jamming and decoy targets. The next steps would be very simple, using the remaining 1 air-to-air missile or 2 R27 missiles to send him to meet his maker in a few minutes

"Damn it, enemy aircraft at 10 o'clock!" Jafar shouted. The opponent was approximately 3 to 4 kilometers away, and he was rapidly moving backward on the cockpit canopy, clearly trying to seize a position from which he could launch missiles into the turning circle. It was a very agile aircraft, unlike the slightly underpowered Mirage III fighter.

The lieutenant saw through the conspiracy and executed a roll, pulling up the nose of the aircraft. Although he lost some speed, the nose could not be directed towards the enemy. Nevertheless, he was not outmaneuvered by a light aircraft. The enemy plane continued to hover in the upper right area, not making a full-speed acceleration. Goya took a deep breath and reminded himself that in such a scissor chase, the anxious party is more likely to fall into the trap

"You underestimate me, you little pup," the lieutenant scolded. He knew that as long as he did not make any mistakes, he would gradually gain the upper hand. The continuous high-angle turns had already caused both sides to lose most of their speed. However, the captain was very confident that this enemy aircraft, whose model could not be identified for the time being, was at best a single-engine light aircraft, clearly not powerful enough to contend with the Su-30. If he delayed for another few seconds, either it would lose its turning rate and be left helpless, or it would lose altitude and crash to the ground. In any case, it would be very difficult to turn the situation around. Moreover, the lieutenant was confident that he still had a trump card that he had not yet used.

You little rascal, where do you think you're going

Goya silently prayed that his opponent would not look back, hoping that in this moment, the God of War would stand behind him, ensuring that the opponent had not the slightest inkling. Time seemed to freeze; from a distance, one could see the tail flame of the missile slowly approaching the Mirage. Then, just as anticipated, the Mirage transformed into a fireball and began to fall.

What a cunning thing

Pulling up the nose of the aircraft does not yield any advantage, as the opponent's turning ability appears to be quite formidable. The lieutenant pushes down the nose and attempts to increase the turn rate with a 7G maneuver, which he has never tried in training. After more than ten seconds, he gradually occupies the leading path, but the situation begins to change again. The opponent calmly slows down and gradually moves upward, forcing the lieutenant to lift his head to see this small target. Goya realizes that the opponent seems to be waiting for him to make a mistake, anticipating that he will rush ahead during this aggressive spiral pursuit.

The situation has changed contrary to the lieutenant's judgment. The Su-30, in its relentless pursuit, found that this target, like the scattered foil strips, gradually disappeared from the multifunction display (vertical radar display). Goya had always considered himself an experienced hand, yet at this moment, he had no corresponding plan in mind. This seemed entirely implausible. Up to this point, Lieutenant Goya had not been able to see his prey and could only tentatively assume it was also a Mirage. If he could not see the opponent, the worst-case scenario would be that he would inadvertently charge right in front of it. Goya had always considered himself an experienced hand, yet at this moment, he had no corresponding plan in mind. This seemed entirely implausible. Up to this point, Lieutenant Goya had not been able to see his prey and could only tentatively assume it was also a Mirage. If he could not see the opponent, the worst-case scenario would be that he would inadvertently charge right in front of it.