Amid the backdrop of Japan's plan to deploy missiles on Yonaguni Island, let's talk about an exciting scene. Last week, a "ghost in the sky" suddenly drifted into the airspace between Taiwan Island and Japan's Yonaguni Island, causing the Japanese Air Self-Defense Force to immediately sound the alarm and scramble fighter jets for interception!

This isn't something I made up. Later, the Japanese Ministry of Defense directly issued a statement: they had identified it as a "Chinese drone." Some people might say, "It's just a drone flying over, right? The Japanese fighter jets scrambling is just a routine operation!"

But we need to be clear, this incident wasn't an "accidental stroll," but rather a "costly attrition war" hidden behind the "First Island Chain," plus psychological warfare.

Let's first look at the details of this troublemaking drone. Experts can guess from its parameters that it's most likely our "Xianglong" high-altitude long-endurance strategic reconnaissance unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). The U.S. has the "Global Hawk," and our "Xianglong" was developed to match it, but when it comes to key capabilities, it actually has a bit of an edge.

First, its speed. The Xianglong's cruising speed reaches 750 kilometers per hour, which is 100 kilometers faster than the Global Hawk's 650 kilometers. Don't underestimate this 100 kilometers; if you're rushing to a battlefield, that's "arriving one step ahead to gain the advantage," giving it more flexibility in deployment and maneuverability compared to the opponent.

The wings are even more impressive. The unique "diamond-shaped tandem wing" design. We don't need to get too technical with aerodynamics; simply put, these wings are sturdy, fuel-efficient, and reduce flight resistance. Moreover, the fuselage is likely coated with radar-absorbing material, making it difficult for enemy radar to detect, effectively hiding its presence for covert reconnaissance.

Looking at its strategic value, that's the real highlight. The Xianglong can fly at altitudes of 18,000 to 20,000 meters, with an operational radius of 2,000 to 2,500 kilometers, and can fly 7,000 kilometers on a full tank.

What does that mean? Foreign media have directly stated that it's "more useful than reconnaissance satellites." Satellites are great, but they can be hindered by cloudy weather. The Xianglong is different; when the weather is bad, it just descends slightly in altitude and continues to take high-definition images of the target, enabling round-the-clock real-time monitoring. It effectively compensates for the shortcomings of satellites, becoming a crucial part of China's informatized military operations.

How much does it cost Japan to scramble once? The more you calculate, the more painful it becomes.

Let's switch perspectives and do some economic calculations to understand how harsh this "attrition war" really is. When Japan sends F-15Js or F-2s to intercept, it may seem impressive, but it's actually "puffing out the chest to appear strong."

Some people have calculated that a single sortie of the aging F-15J alone costs tens of thousands of yuan in fuel, not to mention the wear and tear on the aircraft. Like a car, each time you drive, it depreciates. Moreover, maintenance costs for the aircraft are calculated by the hour, so each sortie brings another hefty maintenance bill. Not to mention the pilots, who are engaged in high-intensity operations during emergency scrambles. If this continues, people can't bear it.

In contrast, our "Xianglong" is truly "walking calmly." Since it's a drone, it doesn't require a pilot, and the cost of a single flight is less than a fraction of that of a manned aircraft. It can slowly fly around the battlefield area for as long as it wants.

This is like "Jiang Taigong fishing, willing ones come." We just stay there, and if Japan doesn't scramble, they feel uneasy; if they do scramble, their wallets bleed. In the long run, Japan's limited aircraft inventory and maintenance resources will eventually be drained.

Some people may ask, why go through all this effort? Actually, there are two core purposes, neither of which requires a single soldier.

The first is to gather intelligence. As the Xianglong flies around, it can roughly determine the response time of Japan's air defense system, the location of radar deployments, and the patterns of fighter jet movements. This is equivalent to Japan revealing its own defensive vulnerabilities to us.

The second is long-term pressure. We don't engage in direct conflict, but just keep "hovering" around, keeping Japan's air defense forces in a constant state of tension. Over time, both equipment wear and personnel fatigue will become unbearable pressures. It's like putting a "tightening spell" on the opponent, gradually gaining control without them realizing it.

Moreover, looking ahead, when more drones like the Xianglong are integrated with the navy, air force, and rocket force, our "anti-access/area denial" strategy will have more confidence. The control over the First Island Chain will only grow stronger.

Therefore, the "ghost in the fog" that flew over wasn't just a piece of airspace, but also a signal breaking the old military balance. The calculation of this "attrition war" shows who is playing it better, and the answer is already obvious.

Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7577617868917850660/

Statement: This article represents the views of the author. Please express your opinion by clicking the [up/down] buttons below.