From the 7th Steel Company to the Synthetic Division

"So far, through calculations of the Red Army's air defense firepower deployment, we have roughly deduced the concealed areas of the Red Army's long-range rocket artillery and delineated the future operational range of the Red Army's long-range rocket artillery battalion, which is roughly in this area."

Hong Yi drew an area on the map and continued, "If we were in the heart of the Red Army's Dongping Mountain, we could choose a relatively flat area as a landing point."

Under the cover of night, the army aviation battalion dispatched transport helicopters to drop the special forces team over. If they remained undetected by the Red Army, the plan would be halfway to success.

The tactic of helicopter infiltration and airdropping special forces is already very well-established in the 7th Steel Brigade.

There are absolutely no technical problems!

“This is indeed a bold plan, but I don’t think it will be very difficult to implement,” Tian Baoguo said.

"Tell me, what are the difficulties?" Chen Jun asked.

"Judging from the fact that multiple drones were shot down by the Red Team in succession, the Red Team's radar system is indeed very tight, and there may not have been any gaps in its deployment. Drones of such small size can be detected and hit so quickly. Helicopters are even more obvious targets, so their success rate is even lower."

Tian Baoguo was not a military specialist after all. Even with the current military system reforms, where political commissars are also considered commanders and fighters, their military skills are still somewhat lacking.

Especially in integrated air-ground operations, there are even more areas where the political commissar doesn't understand.

Hong Yi was clearly aware of this as well, so he calmly explained, "We have a solution; we are considering using low-altitude penetration."

Here lies a valley formed by a river that flows directly into the sea. Helicopters can travel upstream along the valley, penetrating twelve kilometers to reach Area Zero, where they can then rappel down using either helicopter or rope.

As soon as Hong Yi finished speaking, the battalion commander of the Army Aviation Battalion came out and explained in detail: "We are preparing to deploy a formation, with two armed helicopters as cover and a transport helicopter for the deployment of personnel and equipment."

The time is 10 PM tonight. The landing and rappelling points are at this location, a flat area in a small valley, which is convenient for dropping and concealment.

The Army Aviation Battalion and Hong Yi had discussed this beforehand, so there were no problems on either side.

But others still had objections.

"I think it's too risky for helicopters to operate in this area."

Intelligence officer Qiu Ming analyzed: "Although we can fly along the valley and treetops, we can effectively avoid the radar of the Red Army's air defense fire."

However, the helicopter's flight noise and thermal infrared flow could also be detected by the Red Army, allowing them to calculate our flight trajectory.

They might not guess that our helicopters were on a delivery mission, but the sudden activity of our helicopters in an important area behind the Red Army's lines would certainly attract the Red Army's attention and vigilance, and they would immediately raise their defense level.

This is undoubtedly extremely dangerous for the special forces soldiers entering this area.

Qiu Ming's analysis is from a data perspective, and from his point of view, his analysis is indeed flawless; every point deserves attention.

"Let's all discuss how to get in safely and effectively. Don't feel guilty, feel free to share any ideas or suggestions."

Chen Jun actually had a better way to complete the delivery mission more safely.

However, he still didn't say it, emphasizing that everyone should use their brains.

"I think……"

Qiu Ming raised a question, then shared his thoughts: "I believe this is an extremely secret infiltration operation, and we absolutely cannot let the Red Army detect it in the slightest. We have targeted operations against this region."

The daytime drone reconnaissance is probing; any drones that enter the area will be shot down.

Therefore, the key to the success of our mission lies in whether the secret delivery can be carried out undetected. We must send our people in without the Red Army being prepared, without them knowing a thing or two.

Qiu Ming raised the key difficulties, which were essentially just a bunch of nonsense.

Because everyone knows this.

"The difficulty is obvious, it's right here, and it's related to whether we can defeat the Red Army."

Gao Cheng's expression was serious as he said in a deep voice, "Deputy Chief of Staff Hong, if we are to send special forces over, what do you think is the most appropriate time?"

"Tonight," Hong Yi replied without hesitation.

"What? Tonight? Isn't that too rushed?" Tian Baoguo asked worriedly.

"Yes, tonight."

Hong Yi said with certainty, "Today is the first day of the exercise. We only have two and a half days left. Even if we successfully land and take down the Chenghai defense line, it will be impossible without a full day of battlefield fighting. That means we only have one and a half days left to complete the entire landing process."

If we cannot destroy the Red Army's long-range rocket artillery battalion in the remaining day and a half, then we will lose everything and have no chance at all.

We had no choice but to turn back and go back to watch the urban warfare between the 708th and 909th Brigades.

Therefore, the sooner we figure out the long-range artillery camp and destroy it, the sooner we can launch a frontal attack, and the higher our chances of victory will be.

With only three days to launch the attack, the sooner Chenghai City is captured, the better; no one wants to drag it out until the last minute.

"What if we take advantage of tonight's high tide to launch a frontal assault on them? We can change the fleet formation and, taking advantage of their inattention at night, cross the Red Army's blocking line at full speed," the fleet commander suggested.

“This is definitely not going to work. The loss and risk of your house are too great. You’re betting on the enemy’s negligence. The probability is too small and too uncontrollable.”

Chen Jun rejected the fleet commander's proposal and, to prevent the discussion from going astray, corrected him, saying, "The only feasible solution is to send the reconnaissance team in. We should start a research and discussion on this point."

"As long as my special forces can infiltrate and reach the designated location tonight, I believe they can pinpoint the location of the Red Army's long-range artillery battalion by the second half of tonight and another day tomorrow," Hong Yi said confidently.

"I think the safest way is for the Air Force to send high-altitude transport planes to conduct nighttime high-altitude parachuting behind enemy lines, which can effectively avoid the Red Army's radar," said the battalion commander of the Army Aviation Battalion.

"As long as the accurate coordinates and time are provided, this plan should be fine. But now we need to finalize the flight plan, route, and altitude, and report them to the Air Force so that we can possibly launch the operation tonight," Wang Qingrui said.

"And the ideal method is to exit the cabin at high altitude and open the parachute at low altitude."

Hong Yi had previously been dedicated to training parachuting, and he was very knowledgeable about this subject. He explained in detail: "High-altitude rapid descent involves the Air Force sending a transport plane to take the reconnaissance team to the airdrop area, where they jump from an altitude of 5,000 meters to avoid enemy radar."

Furthermore, the parachute cannot be opened at high altitudes; it can only be opened when the altitude is approximately 300 meters from the ground.

Low altitude is a radar blind spot, and the human body's reflective surface is negligible in radar. In addition, the descent speed is very fast. All these factors combined mean that high-altitude low-opening maneuvers can avoid radar to the greatest extent possible.

With the cover of night and the noiseless parachute jump, it was difficult for the enemy to detect them.

Of course, high-altitude low-opening (HALO) is an extremely difficult parachuting technique, impossible to perform without hundreds of jumps, so it's generally beyond the capabilities of ordinary troops. Fortunately, our brigade is somewhat special, already possessing organized special operations units, so completing this mission shouldn't be a problem.

The 7th Steel Brigade has a special operations force that is rare at the brigade level, which is what Hong Yi is most satisfied with when he joined the 7th Steel Brigade.

"Visibility is very poor at night, and to perform such an extreme high-altitude low-opening maneuver, isn't it too dangerous? Isn't it a bit too risky?" Tian Baoguo asked worriedly.

"Risk and reward go hand in hand. In order to minimize the risk as much as possible, I propose that the team members participating in this operation must be veteran special operations soldiers who have undergone relevant rigorous training, preferably those veterans who have received special training," Hong Yi said solemnly.

“There is a difference between training and actual combat. When carrying out such a difficult mission for the first time, technique is only part of the equation; mindset is even more important,” Wang Qingrui pointed out.

"Since we've discussed this much, does that mean our Army Aviation Battalion has nothing to do with this?" the Army Aviation Battalion Commander said helplessly, showing little interest.

"How could you not be involved? You are one of the main characters."

Chen Jun first calmed the anxious army aviation battalion, then looked at everyone present and said, "Everyone has had a very good discussion, and all aspects have been considered. Through everyone's brainstorming, a very suitable plan has been put forward."

For the challenges we are currently facing, a high-opening, low-closing strategy is indeed a good approach.

At least on large-scale battlefields at the campaign level, where the enemy has great depth, the high-risk, high-reward strategy of high-jumping and low-opening can indeed solve our immediate problem.

However, this is not a large-scale battlefield, but rather a rehearsal equivalent to a localized war, so…”

Chen Jun paused here to allow everyone to digest the meaning of his words, and after everyone had given up their doubts.

Chen Jun then continued, "High opening and low closing prices mean high risk and high reward, that's true. If it's the only way, then there's no other choice."

However, in the current battle for Chenghai, a high-opening, low-closing strategy is not the only way.

We also have a safer and more efficient method, with a much lower risk factor than the high-jump, low-opening method, yet it can achieve the same objective and complete the reconnaissance mission.

"Wow~"

The entire audience erupted in uproar, and everyone's expressions changed.

"Is there a better way? Impossible, right? A high jump and low opening is already the limit of the limit."

As one of the people who understands special operations best, Hong Yi has exhausted all his knowledge and can only come up with the method of high jump low opening. He really can't think of any other way that is safer and more efficient than high jump low opening.

Qiu Ming, Tian Baoguo, and the others were also surprised. They had racked their brains countless times beforehand but had not come up with a better solution.

Chen Jun, who had previously remained silent, has now easily come up with a better solution.

How could this not shock everyone!

Only Gao Cheng, who had worked with Chen Jun for many years and had gone from being shocked to becoming numb and accustomed to the miracles Chen Jun had created, showed no surprise on his face, only an air of taking it for granted.

Brigade Commander Wang Qingrui, of course, understood Chen Jun. Urged by his inner curiosity, he couldn't help but laugh and scold, "Chief of Staff, stop keeping us in suspense and tell us quickly so we can all broaden our horizons."

"it is good."

Chen Jun smiled and nodded, then said, "This time, the Land and Sea No. 1 exercise will set Chenghai City as the combat point, and all three parties will conduct exercises around this point."

However, unlike regular exercises, no specific exercise scope was planned.

The fact that the 708th Brigade traveled over a thousand kilometers to get here, and that the entire process was within the scope of the exercise, further corroborates this point.

If we can make use of this, then breaking through the Dongping Mountain defense line will not be difficult.

For example, we could have the Army Aviation Battalion dispatch transport helicopters to transport special forces teams participating in reconnaissance, bypassing the Dongpingshan defense line directly from the outside to the rear.

The reconnaissance squad was deployed in the rear and began reconnaissance from behind the enemy lines.

In this way, the dense air defenses deployed by the Red Army in the forward positions can be bypassed, allowing the Red Army to invade from the weakest point of the enemy's defenses and catch the enemy off guard.

The Red Army had only one anti-aircraft battalion, which had to guard the Dongpingshan position, protect the Yuanhuo Battalion, and defend the city of Chenghai.

This meant their air defense capabilities would be dispersed, and they certainly wouldn't be able to provide dedicated defense for the rear.

Moreover, given Chu Zhangang's traditional combat thinking, he would never have imagined that we would break with conventional exercise strategies and use his rear as a breakthrough point.

This method can also transport reconnaissance units, and the risk factor is far lower than that of high jump and low opening, so there is no need to worry about accidents happening in the process.

Therefore, considering all the factors mentioned above, I believe that invading from the rear is a more suitable strategy.

When Chen Jun explained his proposed plan in detail, clearly outlining the main points, everyone present understood and their eyes lit up.

indeed.

They had all been like Chu Zhangang, as Chen Jun had said, bound by traditional routine exercises, focusing their attention on breaking through the Dongpingshan defense line.

They never imagined that if they simply went around them from the side, the Red Army, which was trapped in Chenghai City, would have no way to deal with them.

Now, awakened by Chen Jun's words, everyone present suddenly understood, their minds became clear, and they had no choice but to admire Chen Jun from the bottom of their hearts.

Those with whom he had a good relationship, such as Gao Cheng, were even more generous with their flattery.

In this lively atmosphere, Chen Jun's new proposal was unanimously approved without any suspense, and it jumped directly to the formal implementation stage.

Next, each unit should take its place and prepare according to the plan proposed by Chen Jun.

It's not about striving for it.

Instead, before nightfall today, Hong Yi and the top leadership must finalize the plan in detail, and the army aviation and special operations battalions participating in the operation must be ready to depart at any time.

The Blue Army's 7th Steel Brigade, as the attacking side, has begun preparing for a crucial major operation.

Inside the command center of the directing department responsible for this exercise, leaders at all levels were already in place, waiting to watch a spectacular joint land and sea operation.

Team Leader Tan, who had already returned from abroad, went straight to the exercise command center and met with Chief of Staff Shen to inquire about relevant matters. (End of Chapter)