"Beep beep beep—! Warning! Warning! Locked by fire control radar! Bearing 035, altitude 21,000, distance 30 miles! Model identification... high threat! Suspected Russian-made 'Snow Leopard'-E passive phased array radar!"
The sharp and urgent radar alert sounded in the cockpit of "Poison Snake 1-1".
On the screen, the bright red symbol representing the highest level of threat was fixed on the coordinates at bearing 035, altitude 21,000 feet, 40 miles away.
The scrolling "Snow Leopard-E" model identification characters beside it added several times the weight of this threat.
Every pilot trained in rigorous air defense suppression knows what "Snow Leopard-E" means—that it's standard equipment on the top-tier Sukhoi family fighter, the Su-35S, with ultra-long-range detection capability exceeding 400 kilometers, and the horrifying ability to simultaneously track and attack multiple targets.
Being locked on by it is almost like having one foot in the grave.
"SHIT! What the hell?!"
Almost simultaneously, the encrypted internal channel erupted with the stunned exclamations of two F-15E fighter pilots.
Even from behind sealed helmets and hundreds of meters of air distance, both men seemed to sense the hair on the back of their necks standing on end and their hearts skipping a beat.
Locked by fire control radar!
This is not a normal search radar scan but the final ultimatum before attack!
It means the opponent has completed the target parameter setup, the missile seeker head may have already received the target data, and the pilot's finger might well be hovering over the red button that could trigger a mid-air funeral.
Life and death depend only on the next micro-second decision of the opponent.
What shocked the F-15E pilots more was their prior belief that the airspace over northeast Syria should belong to the US Army's reservation; after the outbreak of the Syrian civil war, this area had long been declared a no-fly zone by the US Army. For over two years, the Russian Aerospace Forces had shrunk away in the western coastal airspace of Syria, and today they appeared here without any warning, and moreover managed to avoid radar detection!
This implies that the Russian Aerospace Forces were well-prepared.
They must have avoided air warning radars in the Kurdish Control Zone through tactics like low-altitude flight!
"Damn it!"
The lead pilot cursed angrily but was helpless.
Now, it was too late for regret.
They could only face the challenge.
However, the opponent was an Su-35 air superiority fighter, while their F-15E was more inclined towards ground attack tasks, which consequently led to carrying mostly ground munitions...
A chill ran from the bottoms of the two US Army pilots up along their spines, reaching all the way to the back of their heads.
"'Poison Snake' formation, emergency tactical posture! Two-plane formation, immediately prepare for defensive maneuvers!"
After a brief moment of stunned disbelief, the experienced "Poison Snake 1-1" pilot, Major Mitchell, quickly regained his composure.
"1-2, maintain tactical spacing, watch your energy management, be ready for high-G avoidance at any moment!"
Almost as he issued the initial instructions, his right hand, clad in anti-fatigue gloves, had already swiftly flipped several switches on the communications panel, switching frequencies to the Alliance Joint Air Operations Center.
"Poison Snake 1-1 urgently calling CAOC! My aircraft in international airspace north of Latamira is being illuminated by an unidentified but highly suspected Russian Armed Forces fighter fire control radar! Repeat, locked by fire control radar! Identified model as 'Snow Leopard'-E, preliminary data platform assessment as Su-35! Request immediate identification and response instructions! Over!"
His call was clear and precise, quickly conveying the most critical information in the shortest time.
However, just as he finished speaking, another cold voice forcibly broke into the international common aviation emergency channel at 121.5 MHz.
The other party spoke English, but with a heavy Slavic accent, harsh and filled with pressure:
"Unidentified US military aircraft, attention! This is the Russian Federation Aerospace Forces 'Scythe' formation. You have illegally entered our military control and special operations area. I order you to immediately terminate all ground attack preparations and change course by 180 degrees to leave this airspace. This is the first and last warning. Any hostile action will be considered a direct provocation against the Russian Armed Forces, and we reserve the right to self-defense retaliation by all necessary means. Repeat, leave immediately!"
The voice echoed clearly through the radio waves in the cockpits of both F-15E "Strike Eagle" aircraft.
Meanwhile, at Iligo Air Force Base, the Joint Air Operations Center.
Unlike the suffocating tension in the air, it was filled with a low-frequency, oppressive busyness.
On a huge electronic tactical screen, indicators representing the "Poison Snake" formation and four suddenly appearing markers labeled as "unknown-high threat" were dangerously converging.
A vast stream of data scrolled across the side screens, mingled with keyboard clatters, deep communications voices, and the hum of equipment running.
Brigadier General William Hudson tightly clenched the red encrypted phone in his hand, his face grave, and the fine beads of sweat on his forehead seemed particularly striking in the cold air-conditioned environment.
"Yes, Joint Chiefs of Staff Office, the situation has been urgently confirmed! It's the Russian Aerospace Forces' four Su-35S fighters, their performance parameters significantly superior to our F-15E! They have used the 'Snow Leopard-E' fire control radar for targeted illumination, and have issued a clear and unambiguous armed eviction warning in the international emergency channel!"
Brigadier General Hudson reported the situation here to his superior at an extremely rapid speed.