The Three-toed Crow 1 operated the improved version of the QMZ-01 quantum multi-zone radar, the QMZ-01A. However, the reduced size had caused the QMZ-01A to lose the range of the quantum radar waves.
Major Ahn Hyeok, the director of the flight systems, emitted the quantum waves in all directions to search for the enemy. He had found something in the upper atmosphere.
While Major Ahn Hyeok was typing on the console keyboard swiftly, the four objects showed up on Lieutenant Colonel Lee Du-ho’s pilot dashboard as well. Based on their location, they are 89km north of Guam at an altitude of 850km with an angle of 68 degrees and entering the outer atmosphere.
“What are those? Are they space jets as well?” Lieutenant Colonel Lee Du-ho checked his display and asked Major Ahn in disbelief.
“I think so, sir. It seems America has developed an operable space jet and deployed them on the field.”
“Very well! We have them in our sights now, so let’s confirm our suspicions! Major Ahn! Datalink to jets 2, 3, and 4 as well!”
“Yes, sir.”
“We will transition into TCS mode and fly within the enemy’s vicinity.”
“Transitioning into TCS mode, sir.”
When Major Ahn sent out the 3-dimensional quantum multi-zone radar waves similar to the Apollo satellites and detected nothing, he changed the radar waves to a single-directional one with the QMZ-01A radar. Luckily, he detected something. The powerful radar waves would be focused on a single area and had a smaller scope, but it was good at detecting unidentified objects.
A moment later, the three space jets that were patrolling the lower altitudes reached the outer atmosphere and flew up next to the Three-toed Crow jet 1. The,n they used their TCS modes to become invisible and started to speed towards the unidentified objects.
* * *
February 20th, 20201, 08:45
The seas 56km southeast of Busan (the 2nd expeditionary force’s escorting fleet)
Twenty minutes ago, the three U.S. aircraft carriers near Yokosuka port had deployed the F-35C Lightning II jets and F/A-18E/F Super Hornet jets. Once the battle between the Corean jets and the American ones started, the U.S. jets launched 266 rounds of their AGM-158D LRASM Harpoon missiles. The two Hocula destroyers and 2nd escorting fleet’s ships launched their GTAS-150 Haegung missiles and SM-2 anti-air missiles continuously to intercept the 266 rounds of the AGM-158D LRASM Harpoon missiles.
However, the issue was intercepting the missiles simultaneously. There were multiple RGM-109 ship-to-surface cruise missiles and BU-43/B MOABs falling towards inland Corea, and the Zeus 1 and 2 satellites were busy taking them down. The two Hocula destroyers and nine escorting ships from the 2nd expeditionary force could only intercept 100 missiles.
The oncoming missiles were speeding towards their targets at Mach 4, and there was no guarantee that 100% of the missiles would be intercepted. There wasn’t enough time. Based on the interception capabilities, speed, and distance of the enemy missiles, there would only be three interception chances.
To intercept the 266 rounds of the AGM-158D LRASM Harpoon missiles, over 100 rounds of the GTAS-300 Sky Sea Dragon and SM-2 ship-to-air missiles started to fly southeast towards inland Honshu. Soon, the main screen at the battle station of the Sukjong (DDG-1005) started to show a few red dots disappearing. However, only 81 missiles out of 100 were successfully intercepted. The 185 rounds of the AGM-158D LRASM Harpoon started to fly towards the 2nd expeditionary force’s ships.
“We use the Haegung missiles for the second interception attempt.” Lieutenant Colonel Ahn Hyung-dong, who had received command of the interception from the captain of the Sukjong (DDG-1005), considered the remaining rounds of the Sky Sea Dragon missiles and decided to use the Haegung missiles instead.
The 80 rounds of GTAS-150 Haegung missiles and 20 rounds of the SM-2 missiles were launched from the vertical launch pads aboard the Hocula destroyers. The 100 missiles flew into the sky and soon disappeared.
“All 100 anti-air missiles have been successfully launched! 55 seconds before the first missiles reach their target!”
While the operators reported in, the main screen at the battle station showed the missiles flying towards the red dots in blue lines. The distance between them was closing rapidly.
When the colored lines and dots met with each other, they disappeared from the screen. The interception operators started to report on the successes and failures.
“Targets 1, 2, and 3 intercepted, target 4 failed!”
When the six interception operators reported at once, the battle station became noisy.
“Each operator is to place the results on the screen and stop reporting. The arms man is to report the final results!” the operations director shouted.
“Yes, sir.”
“The second interception attempt results are in, sir. 73 rounds out of 100 have been intercepted! There are 112 rounds headed towards our fleet and they are 85 seconds away from impact!”
The first mate, Lieutenant Colonel Oh Dong-hyun’s voice came through the bridge, “Director!”
“Yes, sir.”
“This is the first mate. The Lee Sun-shin cruiser is requesting data links. They will aid in our interception, so contact them immediately and allot targets.”
“Understood.”
The Lee Sun-shin (CG-1101) cruiser that had been standing by at the midpoint of the path of the 2nd expeditionary forces, radioed in to provide aid for the interception.
“Radar operator, datalink to the Lee Sun-shin, and we will now perform interceptions with just the Hocula destroyers and the Lee Sun-shin cruiser. Allot the targets for the Lee Sun-shin!”
“Datalink complete! We have given them 50 targets, sir.”
“Once the targeting is complete, launch the missiles.”
“Fire.” The operations director quickly gave the order to launch.
The two Hocula destroyers each launched 25 rounds of GTAS-150 Haegung missiles. The Lee Sun-shin (CG-1101) cruiser that was 175km northeast also launched 50 rounds of GTAS-150 Haegung missiles as well and they headed south.
“33 seconds before the first missiles reach the target!”
The crew of the Sukjong (DDG-1005) all watched the screen.
“5 seconds from impact, 4, 3, 2, 1.”
The skies above the northern Honshu Sea started to fill up with flashes of light. The senior operators of the battle station started to report about the interception results.
“106 rounds out of 112 have been intercepted! The remaining 6 are 38km from our location and 27 seconds from impact.”
Out of the hundreds of red dots, only six remained on the screen.
“Great! Transition into the automatic terminal phase interception.”
“Transitioning into the automatic interception system.”
When the operations director gave the order, the arms operators started to manipulate the consoles.
The Hocula supercomputer aboard the Sukjong (DDG-1005) started to allot targets to its sister ship, the Jeongjo (DDG-1007), based on the auto defensive systems. Each ship launched three rounds of the Shield-M short-range missiles.
The 16 MLRS launch pads emerged from the rear chopper hangars of two Hocula destroyers to launch six rounds of the Shield-M missiles.
Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!
Ten seconds later, six flashes of light coming from an explosion could be seen from the bridge. Soon they disappeared and only black smoke remained.
* * *
February 20th, 2021, 08:45
The seas 70km southeast of Jeju Island (the 7th mobile fleet, 71st maritime flotilla’s location)
Thirty minutes ago, the 71st maritime flotilla’s three Hocula destroyers had successfully intercepted all AGM-158D LRASM Harpoon missiles launched by the F-35C Lightning II jets from the Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78) aircraft carrier by using their own missiles.
The RGM-109 Tomahawk missiles launched by the 3rd fleet’s 11th carrier strike group were headed towards Jeju Island. The interception for them was still ongoing.
The S-LAM 300 Skybow A2, Haegung, and Sky Sea Dragon interception missiles from the anti-air brigades at Jeju Island, and the three Hocula destroyers continued to fly south. Each time the missiles flew by, the number of RGM-109 Tomahawk missiles dwindled.
The RGM-109 Tomahawk missiles flew through the skies while avoiding detection from the enemy radars by weaving in and out. The S-LAM 300 A2 Skybow missiles raised their altitudes and crashed into them.
Boom! Boom!
There were 389 rounds of RGM-109 Tomahawk missiles when they were first launched, but now only 100 rounds were remaining due to the continued interceptions. This proved that the Corean cruise missiles were excellent at intercepting the enemy missiles, but the precision of the radars which were unhindered by jamming waves played a part as well.
Meanwhile, the 11th carrier strike group’s 48 F-35C Lighting II jets attacked the 2nd expeditionary force’s ships with their AGM-158D LRASM Harpoon missiles once they were targeted by Corea’s CF-21P Phoenix jet’s S-AAM-500 Cobra missiles. The Lighting II jets engaged in a battle against the 111th flight battalion’s 24 CF-21P Phoenix jets.
However, the 32 F-35C Lightning II jets were outmatched by the Corean jets and were soon taken down. The surviving 16 jets all started to retreat and head back to their carriers. Unlike their enemies, the 111th flight battalion’s 24 CF-21P Phoenix jets were unharmed and started to fly around the skies in groups of flight wings to patrol for enemies.
Moments later, the dashboard of the 111th flight battalion’s CF-21P jets started to sound the RWR alarm. Then, the alarm started to warn about missile launches.
The pilots of the CF-21SP jets had never experienced their jets being locked on by a missile since they started piloting the 7th generation Phoenix jets, so they were surprised. However, they all sprayed chaffs and flares under the flight wing commander’s orders and started to scatter while emitting powerful SECM jamming waves.
-Typhoon 1! This is the battalion commander. Multiple bogies at the south point. The distance at 55 check! Each flight wing is to make evasive maneuvers and retaliate, over!
Lieutenant Colonel Park Tae-gwang, the commander of the 111th flight battalion, started giving out orders through the communication line. Dozens of black missiles started to fly towards the 111th flight battalion at Mach 6.
Boom!
Two rounds of black missiles flew towards each CF-21P Phoenix jet. One of the jets moved with a force of 10Gs to avoid the first missile, but the second had struck the rear of the jet. The explosion had caused the jet’s rear to be torn off.
Boom!
The rear of the jet caught on fire. Before the entire jet exploded, the automatic ejector system activated, allowing the pilot to escape safely.
Three more CF-21P Phoenix jets exploded from the sudden missile attacks and the flaming shrapnel started to fall to the surface. The remaining 21 CF-21P Phoenix jets followed the battalion commander’s orders and launched their S-AAM-200 rattlesnake missiles to the enemy jets after locking on. The radar display identified the jets as F-22SR Super Raptor jets.