Spark

March, US NAS, National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency.

Reid sat in front of the console with a serious expression, and carefully typed instructions on the keyboard to control the operation of the spy satellite in the sky.

The model code of the satellite he controls is KH-12, which is the fourth-generation product of the keyhole series of spy satellites and the most advanced optical imaging reconnaissance satellite in the world.

It can take an image every 5 seconds, and the diffraction-limited resolution of its primary mirror in visible light reaches an astonishing 0.05 arc-second, that is, from an orbital altitude of 250 kilometers, it can observe a target about 6 centimeters on the ground.

Even, Reid can pass through it directly and see the license plate of the ground vehicle clearly.

But now, this satellite is aimed at a certain corner of the Eurasian continent, at a wide open space in the center of the basin.

It is the test field of the research institute called "Institute 611" by its opponents, where different types of aircraft take off every day.

Reid has been monitoring this area for nearly six months without interruption, and has achieved considerable results.

For example, he once saw a khaki fighter jet with canards take off and quickly reported his findings to his superiors.

In the end, according to the judgment of the superior, it was the opponent's latest fourth-generation fighter, code-named J-20.

He is quite proud of his achievements. Of course, what makes him even more proud is this satellite that can see almost everything, and the powerful motherland behind the satellite.

What secrets can you have from us?

I heard that the operation against the J-20 failed, but so what?

In the face of absolute technological crushing, what you desperately tried to hide was not exposed to us in the end?

——

Although, it seems a bit late.

But it's better than doing nothing at all.

The lens of the detailed inspection camera gradually zoomed in, and each photo was taken, which was then scanned by the satellite's built-in scanner, transmitted to the ground station through the relay system, and finally presented in front of Reid.

He looked at the photos carefully, but this time, his luck didn't seem to be very good.

There is nothing new to discover, and it is still as quiet and lonely as ever.

Reid sighed and sat back in the chair, and said to his colleague Charle:

"Another quiet day. I said, are they really going to have new planes? Isn't that their strategy?"

"You know, pretending that you have something very advanced in your hands, and then tempting us to work in the same direction, draining our resources, spending our taxpayers' money or something."

"I remember, when we were with Russia before, such things happened a lot, didn't they?"

Char shook his head and replied:

"I don't know that I think the same as you."

"One J-20 is already their limit, how can there be newer aircraft coming out?"

"Will there really be the legendary J-20B? We don't have the technology of vertical take-off and landing fighters, they will have it?"

Hearing what Char said, Reid sneered mockingly, and said:

"J-20B Well, I suggest their staff go to bed early, in their dreams, maybe Santa Claus will throw a J-20B into their hats."

"Look at what they take off every day. The J-20 that the second-generation and third-generation aircraft flew once last time has never appeared again."

"I wonder if there was something wrong with that plane, which caused the whole project to be axed."

"Otherwise, after such a long time, how could there be no response at all?"

Charles hummed and replied:

"I also don't think it's possible. Staring at the screen trying to catch their STOVL fighter jets here is like looking for polar bears in Antarctica."

"It's not that the possibility is too low, but it's completely impossible."

"Sometimes I wonder if we're going to have to do this kind of boring surveillance for another ten years -- by then maybe we'll be able to see what we want."

"Hahahahahaha."

Rhett laughed out loud.

This is obviously a not very funny joke, but for some reason, he just finds it funny.

Perhaps it wasn't the joke itself that made him laugh, but their ridiculous opponent.

"...but then again, there's nothing wrong with being under surveillance for another ten years."

"We have such an easy job, so much better than those poor wretches on the executive team."

"At least, I can have my own personal time."

"By the way, Saturday night, do you want to come to my party? It's at my house."

Char frowned slightly, put his legs off the console, then bent down to the calendar, and began to check his schedule.

"Well, maybe not on Saturday. I plan to go to a movie that day, and I already have an appointment."

"Dating someone? Eveli? That dirty bitch from last time?"

"No way, are you really going to have sex with her? There's more than one puppy at my party."

With a playful look on Rhett's face, he gently raised his hand in an obscene gesture.

"You know, come to me, you can at least try um...you know."

"Forget it, I'm already old."

Charles firmly refused.

In fact, he was really tempted by Rhett's proposal, and the only reason he didn't want to go to it was because he knew that such a party would last all night-it would ruin his whole weekend.

Compared to an exhausting Monday, he prefers to stay at home and rest after a moderate lingering.

Besides, Eveli's quality may not be worse than two or even three girls combined

"Well, now that it's decided, I wish you a happy weekend."

While speaking, Rhett turned his gaze back to the screen.

A new photo has been refreshed, but it's still empty.

There is a kind of expectation in his heart, hoping that on this ordinary day, there will be some extraordinary discoveries.

In this way, not only can he get rewards from his superiors, but he also has a special psychological satisfaction.

What makes sneak peeping so exciting is that you never know what you're going to find.

Rhett took a deep breath and continued to refresh the photos.

Time passed by, and he thought that this day was nothing, but just when he was about to stand up for a rest, a photo suddenly broke into his sight.

It was a khaki plane.

To be precise, only half a frame.

From the appearance point of view, it seems to be very similar to the J-20 they have photographed before.

"Char, come and see this!"

Rhett exclaimed excitedly.

Charl, who was on the side, hurried over. When he saw the plane in the photo, his brows frowned instantly.

"This is... this is not the original J-20!"

"No? Is it a remodel?"

Rhett asked.

"It looks like a remodel. Quick, take another picture and zoom in!"

Reid tapped the keyboard immediately, and following his command, a brand new photo was refreshed on the computer screen in just ten seconds.

"hiss"

Char's expression became serious, and he pointed to the plane in the photo and said:

"This is not a J-20."

"You see, it has a completely different airfoil than the one we've seen before."

"The canard has obviously changed, and the angle of the swept wing doesn't look right."

"Also, the plane appears to be... fatter than the original J-20."

"enlarge."

Reed heard the words and rolled the mouse, the image was enlarged little by little, and finally, the plane had filled the entire screen.

He could even see the color of the pilot's helmet clearly.

"I'm sure it's not the same plane, the shape of the vector nozzle at the tail has changed, and report it up, we have a big discovery!"

Reid got up quickly, and Char took his place. Under a series of skilled instructions, the satellite in the sky adjusted the angle slightly, and took pictures one after another along the direction of the nose.

Charl stared at the picture intently, feeling a surge of emotion.

After waiting for so long, it's finally here!

This must be the latest achievement of Institute 611, a brand new aircraft.

Although it can still be clearly seen that it is based on the frame design of the original J-20, many changes make it look very special.

Char couldn't figure out what the plane was for.

If it's just an ordinary fourth-generation aircraft, why such a big change?

Moreover, some structures on the plane also made him unable to understand.

The rectangular border behind the cockpit seems to be a movable structure, but such a structure will not allow someone to set the magazine above the plane, right?

On the other side, Reid had finished his report, he leaned back in front of the screen and asked:

"So what the hell is this plane? Did we catch a big fish?"

Charles nodded and replied:

"It must be a big fish, but I don't know what kind of fish it is."

"Maybe we have to wait for those experts to come to see the problem."

"Look, there is a rectangle here, and it seems to have been opened. Is it a clamshell structure?"

"What the hell is it for?"

Rhett shook his head, he didn't know the answer to this question either.

The photos continued to be updated, and the two were surprised to find that the plane seemed to have no intention of taking off.

It just stood there, motionless.

"What are they doing pulling it out to bask in the sun?"

Rhett couldn't help but say.

"Who knows."

Char continued to examine the photo, but the next second, his eyes suddenly widened.

He discovered an incredible thing.

The shadow of the plane, something is wrong.

In the photo, the full shadow can be seen.

For a moment, Char suddenly felt that his hair was standing on end.

An important function of KH-12 is to judge the actual size of the object being photographed according to the projection of the object, so he subconsciously pays attention to the shadow.

However, how could there be a shadow of an airplane like this?

unless

It's already in the air!

Rhett also discovered this. He turned to Char and asked in disbelief:

"Is this plane flying at an ultra-low altitude?"

Char continued to zoom in on the photo, and when he saw the faintly visible flames at the tail of the plane, he finally completely accepted the guess in his heart.

Take off vertically!

This is a STOVL fighter with vertical takeoff!

No wonder.

No wonder the NSA invested such a large cost to let them monitor this test field.

The reason is very simple, what will appear here is really too important.

He took a deep breath and said with a trembling voice:

"I know what this is"

"This is a STOVL fighter, the fourth generation of STOVL."

"Red, we caught a fish."

"But...it looks like a shark!"