Lu Ze: Things Were Getting Interesting! One Step Away from Success!

Lu Ze: Things Were Getting Interesting! One Step Away from Success!

Looking at the fighter jet on the runway, one that could only be described as beautiful.

Even the people lying in the grass could no longer stay calm.

"What kind of fighter is that? I don't think I've ever seen it before. And it looks so much better than the J-10—its appearance is so futuristic?"

"Silver paint? Why does its exterior coating look so much like that of the F-22 fighter jet?"

"With how flat the airframe is, how low must its radar signature be? Is it developing its stealth capabilities in the direction of the F-22 fighter jet?"

"You're saying the coating color is similar, and the aerodynamic layout is similar... Could it possibly be—hiss." This military enthusiast did not even finish speaking before his own thought gave him a fright.

Everyone present nearly had their eyes pop out, while sharp intakes of breath rang out all around. This was truly terrifying.

After all, the idea was not impossible. If everything matched the F-22 fighter jet, then there was only one possibility.

It was not some Generation 4.5 fighter.

Nor was it some 4++ strongest Generation 4.5 fighter.

It was a fifth-generation fighter comparable to the F-22, a fifth-generation fighter independently developed by Great Xia!

At that thought, a flurry of camera shutters immediately began clicking across the scene.

Many people unconsciously raised the cameras hanging from their chests and focused them on the aircraft in the distance.

Though the distance made the images somewhat blurry, they could still make out its general appearance and outline.

A young man in his twenties stared wide-eyed and said, "Fuck, are you guys insane? You dare take pictures of that thing?"

"Hurry up and delete them all! Do you want all of us thrown in prison?"

Climbing walls and trees just to take a look was one thing, but filming it and letting it spread around would simply be suicidal.

This was a fifth-generation fighter, undoubtedly the most classified of secrets.

If they pursued the matter seriously, even a lifetime in prison might not be enough for them. In ancient times, they would have gotten the whole 'nine clans elimination game' treatment.

At those words.

"Kid, is this your first time here?" An uncle beside him did not stop taking pictures.

"I haven't come here many times before. Why?"

"If it really involved top-secret information, they would have sealed off the entire airport long ago." The uncle shook his head.

"No one has come to drive us away yet, which clearly means they either don't care or deliberately want us to see it."

Did he have some misunderstanding about Great Xia's intelligence work?

They did not think their position was particularly hidden. In fact, the wall-climbers and grass-lurkers had probably been watched before they even arrived.

If it were truly classified information that could not be photographed, they would never have been allowed to stand around and watch. They would have been driven off long ago.

On the contrary, since no one had come to stop them, it was obvious they were being allowed to take pictures freely. It was an unspoken understanding between both sides.

Besides, where did he think all those unofficial rumors came from?

"So that's how it is." The young man decisively raised his camera and began snapping pictures like mad.

To be fortunate enough to become one of the first people to witness Great Xia's fifth-generation fighter, he could brag about it on the forums for at least twenty years. Even when he grew old, he could tell his grandson beneath the boy's admiring gaze.

"Back then, your grandpa was among the first people to see the J-20."

Watching the fighter jet in the distance accelerate down the runway, they could estimate with the naked eye that it had already reached 160 kilometers per hour.

Everyone present was a seasoned military enthusiast. How could they fail to recognize that it had entered the medium-speed taxi phase?

This "fifth-generation fighter" continued to maintain an excellent attitude and adaptability, while its braking and fuel supply systems remained entirely normal.

Can we succeed?

Can Great Xia really build a fifth-generation fighter? Can we have one too?

We can. It will definitely succeed!

All the military enthusiasts stared into the distance, praying silently in their hearts as the atmosphere fell into utter stillness.

Beside the airport runway.

[High-speed taxi phase begins.]

"Test aircraft 001 is ready. Throttle thrust: 45%." The pilot's steadfast voice reached everyone's ears.

The speed was already climbing past 200 kilometers per hour. Even Song Qinyi, who had remained calm until now, could not help but grow tense.

"Nothing must go wrong," he muttered.

The high-speed taxi phase generally took place at around 200 to 250 kilometers per hour. At speeds where takeoff could barely be achieved, the J-20 might briefly leave the ground. This was the stage with the highest testing risk and was extremely prone to flight accidents.

Everyone fixed their eyes on the J-20 without daring to blink, watching it race back and forth across the runway before braking.

[Speed: 238 KM/H.]

[J-20 test aircraft: all attitudes normal. Power and fuel delivery systems operating normally. Avionics system operating normally. Radar operating normally. Thrust-reverser braking system functioning normally. Beginning deceleration...]

After more than ten minutes of testing, the results were in. The J-20 deployed its speed brakes, began slowing down, and came to a steady stop on the runway.

In an instant, thunderous cheers erupted both inside and outside the grounds, from military enthusiasts climbing trees and lying in the grass alike.

If this had been a successful maiden flight, they would have already set off firecrackers in celebration.

"The test is complete. A perfect success!"

"But we haven't succeeded yet. We're only one step away—take that final step, and we'll succeed!"

"Then Great Xia's fifth-generation fighter will arrive!"

Many researchers struggled to keep their emotions under control and stop themselves from crying.

They could not celebrate too early. Their development had not officially succeeded yet, and the J-20 had not officially succeeded either.

They were now only one step away from success. Having completed the high-speed taxi test, their next task was the maiden flight.

"We must complete the maiden flight by October." Song Qinyi stared at everyone. "This is not only the military pledge I made."

"It is also a gift to the people, the expectation of more than a billion people. Accelerate work on the test aircraft immediately!"

"Yes!" everyone answered in unison.

There were only a little over three months left. They had to deliver this gift right on time.

At the same time, it was also a "generous gift" prepared for Eagle Sauce. They only hoped Eagle Sauce could accept it calmly rather than fly into a rage.

Meanwhile.

At Eagle Sauce's LLNL Laboratory employee dormitory, it was already nighttime.

Just as Lu Ze was preparing to rest, a new email notification popped up from the system.

[We will conduct a J-20 taxi test today and reveal some information that can be disclosed. It may create an opportunity for you to divert Eagle Sauce's attention. We hope you will ensure your personal safety at all times. If necessary, we can provide any and all assistance.]

[Additionally, we will export small drones in batches...]

Naturally, these actions being carried out here would be reported to the Mysterious Organization.

After all, the foundation of all cooperation between both sides rested on absolute trust and reliance. If they did not cover each other's backs during actions like this, that would be a disastrous mistake.

Looking at the message in the email on the retinal display, Lu Ze frowned. "The J-20 is already conducting taxi tests?"

"It seems like only a little over half a month has passed since I submitted the F-22 fighter jet technology, right?"

Great Xia's development of the J-20 must have already reached a certain stage. Furthermore, after obtaining the complete design blueprints for the F-22 fighter jet, it could rapidly correct some shortcomings in the J-20's design layout.

It could even make use of the traditional approach of crossing the river by feeling Eagle Sauce's stones. How could it not be fast?

"Looking at it this way, the development progress isn't too outrageous."

Lu Ze then looked at the second line of information, and his brows immediately rose. "Palestine is going to use small drones against Israel?"

He had not expected Great Xia to find a way to apply this small drone technology so quickly.

In his previous life, it had taken several wars before the entire world realized that small drones could be so useful.

Given a little more time, Great Xia might even invent drone swarms, wouldn't it?

"Looks like things are getting interesting." A smile curled across Lu Ze's lips.

In the past, it had always been the "heavenly soldiers" using modern weapons to crush their opponents, which was why they could achieve such enormous results. Small drones, however, had leveled that disparity to a certain extent.

When the "heavenly soldiers" discovered that they too could be remotely sniped, or even have a bomb dropped directly onto their heads, would they still call ahead to notify others that their homes were about to be bombed?