Mercenary's War

Short-range surface-to-surface missile, or you could call it a long-range rocket, anyway, testing a Frog-7 isn’t a simple matter.

First off, although this thing is outdated, it still has a maximum range of 68 kilometers. If you just set it up and fire it, what if it lands in a residential area?

If it accidentally hurts someone, that would definitely be bad. But just firing it without concern is also a huge waste, completely losing the point of testing. You always have to set a target, check the range, see the accuracy, and test the skills of Niva and those missile troopers.

The error margin of the Frog-7 missile is indeed large, but if it lands within a kilometer of the target, it’s considered acceptable. However, if it misses by over ten kilometers, then that’s an issue with the missile troopers.

Besides, Niva and Dmitry, along with their team, haven’t handled missiles in over ten or twenty years. Whether they can still operate them proficiently needs to be verified.

Therefore, to test fire, first, you have to send someone to set a target, then inform Niva about the impact zone, and let them fire only after that.

The ones going to set the target are also missile troopers, but Gao Yang also sent Taylor and Vasily. Taylor is a professional air strike guidance officer. Although he guides targets for air strikes, he’s received professional training, and he’s at least better than Gao Yang and the others, who are complete amateurs.

As for Vasily, Gao Yang firmly believes there’s no military skill the Black Demon doesn’t know. Besides, just being used as an observer is absolutely no problem.

Niva is busy with the missile troopers, while Gao Yang and the others sit in the distance, watching the preparation work of the missile troops through binoculars.

The power of the Frog-7 is still considerable. Gao Yang is worried that if the Frog-7 missile doesn’t fly out and explodes on the launch pad, being too close would mean total annihilation. Although this possibility is small, it’s better to stay far away.

Niva is in command, while Dmitry accompanies Gao Yang, explaining to him.

Compared to the explosive Niva, Dmitry appears more gentle and refined, with a demeanor and elegance characteristic of an intellectual.

"The target area is set at fifty kilometers away. Currently, we only know the rough distance, but not the specific direction. So once the target area location is confirmed and reported back, our calculator soldier will need to work out the specific data. This will take some time, but not for long before we can launch."

Gao Yang put down the binoculars and said to Dmitry beside him, "Does it rely solely on calculations?"

Dmitry smiled and said, "No, launching rockets and missiles are entirely different things. Rockets don’t have seeker heads; you calculate data like artillery and then launch them. Missiles, on the other hand, also require data calculation, but you also need to set the inertial seeker head to realize the significance of the missile."

Gao Yang nodded and said, "Got it."

Dmitry continued, "If it’s targeting a fixed target and is a surface-to-surface missile placed on a fixed position, all the data is predetermined. For instance, an intercontinental missile on strategic duty can be launched immediately after completing launch preparations. However, tactical short-range surface-to-surface missiles can’t have their seeker head preset. So, the speed and accuracy of short-range missiles depend on the quality of the missile troopers."

"Thank you, I understand this time."

Politely thanking Dmitry, Gao Yang continued to watch the missile launch preparations.

The target area data came in, and Niva quickly issued the launch command. Subsequently, a missile soared into the sky. After a few minutes of flight, Taylor sent back his observation report.

"The missile has landed. The estimated impact point is about one thousand two hundred meters from the target, over."

"Understood, a bit far from the target, be cautious, over."

After asking Taylor to move farther from the target, Gao Yang said to Dmitry, "One thousand two hundred meters away, is that a good result?"

Dmitry smiled and said, "For an unguided Frog-7, this result is already quite good."

Gao Yang picked up the walkie-talkie and said in a deep voice, "Niva, fire the remaining two missiles as well."

The next two Frog-7s were launched one after another. The second one deviated quite a bit, hitting over three kilometers from the target. With such accuracy, it hardly scares anyone.

The third Frog-7 was a bit better, hitting about six hundred meters from a target the size of a car. This barely grazed the edge of the explosion radius, but even Dmitry said it was a fluke. In actual combat, you can’t rely on such precision every time.

Weapons like the Frog-7 are suitable for targeting city objectives, as demonstrated in the missile attacks on cities during the Iran-Iraq War. However, if you want to target combat troops, you have to rely on mass launches to ensure damage effects.

The Frog-7 and Scud can be removed from Gao Yang’s original weapons list because these weapons don’t match his combat mode. Even if the Houthis Armed Forces can provide dozens of Frog-7s, they’re of no use.

Gao Yang still prefers calling the Frog-7 a missile rather than a rocket because he thinks a missile sounds more imposing.

Once the missiles were fired, and there was no more danger, Gao Yang and the others went to the launch base. Upon seeing Niva, Gao Yang immediately smiled and said, "Congratulations, Mr. Nikolayevich, your team did very well."

Niva smiled self-satisfactorily and said, "Although not a real missile, after not firing for decades, finally getting to do it once again was exciting. Sir, when can we get real missiles?"

Gao Yang said, "It won’t be long, probably the day after tomorrow. You’ll have limited time to get familiar with the missiles, at most two days, then we have to set off for Aden."

Niva waved his hand confidently, "No need for two days, a few hours are enough."

After boasting, Niva seemed to suddenly remember Dmitry, quickly looked at him, and loudly said, "Colonel, what do you think?"

Dmitry sighed and said, "Stop calling comrade, can’t you change this habit? But I agree with you, familiarization with the equipment doesn’t require two days. As long as there’s no issue with the missiles, we can immediately enter a combat-ready status."

Niva nodded, then said to Gao Yang, "Exactly."

Gao Yang checked his watch and then said to Niva and Dmitry, "We need to study the tactics. Please pack up and return to the base; we’ll go ahead. Please come to see me after you return, and we’ll study together."

Niva saluted solemnly and said, "Yes, Commander."

Dmitry shook his head helplessly, saluted Gao Yang, and gently said, "Yes, sir."

Gao Yang quickly left the missile base, then called to Satan’s group, "Our combat mode needs to change now. Let’s go back and research a new way of combat."