Helicopters are definitely not for the faint-hearted, especially in the cockpit, where the view is completely unobstructed. At an altitude of over 4,000 meters, anyone with a fear of heights would be utterly terrified…
After taking a deep breath, Mavi got to work, introducing the military products to his guests.
"Mr. Shen Hongshen, this here is our Sukhoi Design Bureau. Every single Su-series fighter jet in Russia comes from this design bureau."
As a good host, Mavi guided the Chinese Air Force officers through a tour of the Sukhoi Design Bureau. He even arranged for Russian aircraft designers to answer some of their questions.
The entire process lasted for more than two hours. Once no further questions were raised, Mavi clapped his hands and addressed the officers.
"Mr. Shen Hongshen, if there are no further questions, the Russian Air Force has specially prepared a live-fire exercise to welcome you all. Would you be interested in watching it?"
The air force exercise that Mavi had arranged this time was nothing like the one he had set up for the Malaysian Air Force, which was just a standard demonstration of fighter jets bombing tanks. This time, even he was particularly excited about the spectacle he had planned.
"A live-fire exercise? Sounds great, Mr. Mavi," Shen Hongshen responded with keen interest.
"Alright, then please follow me."
With that, Mavi turned and led the group out of the aircraft design bureau to the landing pad where the Mi-26 helicopter had previously landed.
At this moment, a slightly different-looking Mi-26 helicopter was parked there. The cabin had additional explosion-resistant windows, making it resemble a sightseeing helicopter to some extent.
Seeing this, Shen Hongshen and the Chinese Air Force officers were puzzled. They turned to Mavi in confusion.
Watching a military exercise… shouldn't they be heading to the Air Force Command Center? If they were going there, why switch to another helicopter?
"Mr. Mavi, why did you bring us here…?"
Just as the group was trying to figure out what was going on, Mavi spoke calmly.
"Gentlemen, here's the situation. The upcoming live-fire air force exercise will take place in an uninhabited area over a hundred kilometers away. It will also involve multiple unmanned combat aircraft as target drones, allowing our Russian Air Force to simulate real aerial combat."
"So, to give you the best possible view of the action, I have specially modified this Mi-26 to allow you all to observe the battle up close. As for safety, you don't need to worry—several military helicopters will be escorting us nearby to ensure your security. If necessary, they will do everything in their power to protect us."
The Mi-26 helicopter that Mavi had modified had undergone special explosion-resistant treatments. Unless it took a direct hit from a missile, regular bullets or shrapnel wouldn't pose much of a threat, making it highly secure.
As soon as he finished speaking, Shen Hongshen and the 30+ Chinese Air Force officers were momentarily stunned before turning to look at him again in disbelief.
"Using unmanned combat aircraft as target drones for a live-fire exercise? That's ridiculously extravagant!"
"The Russian Air Force is insane! How much is this exercise going to cost?!"
…
Military exercises, at their core, are a huge expenditure. Every bullet and missile fired is essentially money being burned. Many countries only use near-expired ammunition for their drills.
Typically, in live-fire air force exercises, if real munitions are used, it's usually just carpet bombing or launching rockets and missiles to destroy strategic targets in the wilderness.
But what Mavi had arranged this time was entirely different! Instead of just dropping bombs, he was throwing actual unmanned combat drones into the mix. The result? A simulated aerial battle that felt just like the real thing—an adrenaline-pumping spectacle that was nearly impossible to witness in peacetime.
Faced with the astonished looks from the Chinese officers, Mavi remained calm and composed, as if this were just a routine event, nothing extraordinary.
"Mr. Mavi, is the Russian Air Force using these unmanned combat drones just for our visit, or is this a regular part of your training?" Shen Hongshen asked seriously.
Unmanned combat drones are extremely expensive. There are very few countries in the world that would dare to use them in military exercises.
"Half and half," Mavi replied vaguely, not wanting to brag too much in front of his Chinese Air Force counterparts. He wasn't about to say that this entire exercise was something he personally funded. After all, it wasn't that expensive—just a few tens of millions of dollars.
Based on the international price of unmanned combat drones, each one costs around $19 million. However, Mavi's actual cost was only $1.5 million per unit, thanks to his stakes in two major design bureaus, which significantly lowered expenses.
Seeing Mavi's reserved response, Shen Hongshen didn't press further. He simply nodded, then followed the group into the Mi-26 cabin, making his way to the cockpit to await takeoff.
The modified Mi-26 had a noticeably wider field of view, making Mavi feel like he was watching a high-budget, immersive action movie. The anticipation was exhilarating.
Ten minutes later, the Mi-26 took off with a roar, soaring into the blue sky. In no time, it had transported the group to an uninhabited mountainous area over a hundred kilometers away, where they would get a front-row seat to the upcoming live-fire aerial battle.
The sound of the helicopter's rotors roared overhead. Inside the cabin, Mavi, Shen Hongshen, and the others waited for about 15 minutes. Then, from the right side of the mountains, three military-green unmanned combat jets suddenly appeared!
Their model was the Su-27, designed by the Sukhoi Design Bureau.
These three unmanned fighter jets maneuvered aggressively in the air, diving down one moment, then accelerating into steep climbs and abrupt directional changes—mimicking the chaos of real aerial combat as closely as possible.
Closely trailing them were two Su-37 fighter jets, nicknamed the "Terminator." These were Russia's fourth-generation fighters, boasting exceptional combat capabilities, having made their maiden flight two years ago in April.
As soon as these five fighter jets appeared, Mavi, Shen Hongshen, and the others in the Mi-26 cockpit immediately focused all their attention on the aerial pursuit unfolding before them.
Since they were at a relatively safe distance, there was no need to worry about a stray missile accidentally heading their way… otherwise, that would be a major disaster. Even if the escort helicopters managed to intercept the missile, the consequences would still be unimaginable.
The five fighter jets streaked across the mountainous terrain, chasing each other from one side of the range to the other. Soon, they would enter the designated exercise zone, where live fire would be permitted.
Time ticked by, second by second.
About half a minute later, the three unmanned fighter jets at the front suddenly pulled up sharply, soaring higher into the sky!
(End of Chapter)