Chapter 1893 - 1406: Mission Terminated_2

His judgment was accurately cruel.

About ten seconds later, the two 9M331 missiles, unable to obtain accurate target information from the source, exploded mid-air as per their preset self-destruct program, far below the cruising altitude of the fighter jet, becoming two rapidly dispersing and dissipating black-grey clouds, not even fragments could touch the shadow of the aircraft.

"Target radar continuously exposed while attempting to guide missiles, signal strength stable, characteristics clear!"

Larson immediately seized this fleeting opportunity.

"Grim Reaper 03, you have a clear launch window! Coordinates of the radiation source have been refreshed to your HTS!"

"Received by Grim Reaper 03! HTS has locked on to the radiation source, missile seeker head captures the signal... AGM-88, launch!"

From under the wing of an F-16CJ, a sleek AGM-88 HARM missile separated from the LAU-118 launcher.

After a brief free fall, its solid-fuel rocket engine roared to life, propelling the missile at an astonishing speed of over Mach 2 along a nearly straight trajectory, rushing toward the "Dao'er" radar vehicle on the ground that was still futilely radiating signals.

This was a typical "fire-and-forget" attack; the missile's passive radar seeker head had firmly grasped the precise characteristics and position of the radiation source, and no matter if the target was shut down, as long as it remained roughly in the position, it couldn't escape a disaster.

Ground radar operator Jassim saw the unique high-speed threat symbol representing the anti-radiation missile (ARM) on the screen, but it was too late.

"Anti-radiation missile! Missile incoming!" His voice was full of despair. Lieutenant Amir shouted hoarsely, "Emergency shutdown! Turn off all radiation equipment! Disperse!"

The radar operator desperately smacked the shutdown button, and the display screen instantly went black.

But it was too late. The AGM-88's seeker head switched to memory navigation mode in the final stage, relying on the inertial navigation system and the last acquired target information, like the Grim Reaper, accurately striking at the predetermined coordinates.

Three seconds later, an orange-red fireball rose from the center of the ground air defense position.

The AGM-88 hit the top of the radar vehicle at a near-vertical attack angle, and its high-explosive pre-fragmented warhead instantly shredded the sophisticated electronic equipment into pieces, immediately detonating the missiles yet to be launched on the nearby launcher.

A chain explosion ensued, more fireballs and thick smoke engulfed the entire position, wreckage and fragments were thrown into the air, raining down like black raindrops.

"Hit confirmed. Intense explosion, secondary sympathetic detonation ongoing. Target radar signal permanently disappeared," reported the Grim Reaper 03 pilot calmly.

Almost simultaneously, Larson's voice came again: "'Armor' system radar signal... has also disappeared. Possibly damaged by fragments, or operators have actively shut down for evacuation. Electromagnetic spectrum monitoring indicates that all known air defense radar radiation sources in the target area have gone silent. Bayonet, electromagnetic channel is cleared."

Inside the underground command post of the Tenth Division, desperate calls echoed on the radio:

"Dao'er system destroyed! Repeat, Dao'er system completely obliterated! Position detonated!"

Followed by another hoarse voice: "Armor system... we tried, interference too strong... unable to lock... we've lost our eyesight..."

Brigadier General Samir's face turned ashen under the dim light, cold sweat instantly forming on his forehead.

He suddenly turned to Song Heping, his voice trembling slightly: "Boss! You heard it! Our air defense system... all gone! Paralyzed! What do we use to fight those United States planes? With rifles? Evacuate now, use the ruins and tunnels to have a chance to disperse and hide, wait any longer it will be too late! This gamble, we can't win!"

Song Heping's gaze remained fixed on the dial of the slightly outdated wristwatch, the second hand ticking away steadily, each "tick" seemingly striking his heart.

He could feel the focused gaze from behind those Illiguo officers, heavy, uneasy, and even carrying a hint of impending collapse and despair.

Beads of sweat once again seeped from his temples, slowly sliding down with a cool sensation, but the muscles on his face remained steadfastly unmoving.

"Wait a little longer."

He insisted on his decision.

"Wait? Wait for what?" Samir's voice suddenly heightened: "Wait for their precision-guided bombs to drop down? 'JDAM' can drill into vents accurately just thirty meters, even twenty meters above our heads! 'Paveway' laser-guided bombs can sneak through door cracks! Boss, this isn't courage, it's... it's madness taking us all down with it!"

The air inside the command post seemed to congeal into a sticky mass, so heavy it was hard to breathe.

In the corner, someone indeed began to pack up scattered maps and communication records on the table more quickly and frantically, the rustling of papers extraordinarily piercing in the silence.

"Boss!" Samir stepped forward, forcibly grasping Song Heping's arm: "Enough! I order you as the highest commander of the Tenth Division—immediately organize the evacuation of the command unit's core personnel! This is a military order!"

Song Heping's arm suddenly jerked, shaking off Samir's hand.

His actions were not rough, but carried the strength of determination.

He turned back, his gaze like icy blades towards Samir, speaking slowly, deliberately: "I said, your Tenth Division is now under my command."

He paused slightly, his gaze sweeping over everyone.

"Wait a little longer."

A deeper, more prolonged roar came from afar, the ground seemed to tremble slightly.

It might be a larger-scale secondary detonation at the destroyed "Dao'er" position, or maybe something else.