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"Andre, it's getting late. You're on duty tomorrow, go get some rest." Kozhedub, ever the cautious veteran, had noticed some of the engineers frowning at Andre's remarks. Not wanting any further tension, he stepped in to cut the conversation short.
Just as Andrei turned to leave, Simonov called out, "Young man, you've got quite the mind. If you ever have the chance, come to Moscow. We should talk."
That stopped Andre in his tracks. He had so much more to say—thoughts about the future Su-27 fighter and the overbuilt radar that weighed over a ton. If integrated circuits had been used from the start, a few hundred kilograms could've been saved. That weight savings could have spared the airframe from years of revisions and design back-and-forth. The Su-27's performance might have peaked much earlier.
But it was only 1976. The Su-27 was still ten years away from being finalized. And while Andre knew what lay ahead, saying anything now would be too dangerous. He was still just a pilot. If he mentioned the T-10 or hinted at future specifications, the KGB would likely drag him into a basement for interrogation.
Still, Simonov's invitation filled him with hope. "Yes, if I get the chance, I'll come."
As he stepped down from the EP-3, Andre knew this was no small moment. For the first time, Soviet engineers had come face to face with the West's most advanced electronic warfare aircraft. That alone might shake up their rigid thinking. Maybe now they'd reconsider their obsession with outdated vacuum tubes and move toward integrated systems.
The radar design bureaus—whether NIIP or NIIR—had to be paying attention. If even a fraction of the EP-3's capabilities were understood and replicated, it could change the course of Soviet electronics.
Back at the dormitory, Belenko was already asleep, snoring loudly, knocked out by the vodka. Andre stared at him in the dim light. This man was a walking time bomb. Brilliant, jaded, and ready to snap. The temptation to defect still hung around him like a cloud.
What was Andre supposed to do? Try to change his mind? Report him? The guy had covered for Andre once, even lied to the commander to protect him. That counted for something. If there was any way to steer him off the path to betrayal, Andre would try.
Lying in bed, his mind raced. His first day here had been anything but ordinary. His mere presence was already shifting the timeline. What came next? Could he prevent history from repeating itself?
The next morning, the sky was clear and sharp. Andre walked out of the dorm to find the EP-3 gone. It must have been dismantled overnight—either stored in a hangar or already on its way to Mikoyan or Sukhoi for reverse-engineering.
After a quick breakfast at the base mess hall, he made his way to the hangar. There it stood—his new fighter. The MiG-25PD. A massive upgrade over the original MiG-25P, especially when it came to radar.
Gone was the old Cyclone-A system. In its place was the improved Sapphire-25 radar, derived from the MiG-23's Sapphire-23. The new system had a 90cm antenna and an extended range of up to 115 kilometers. With a new fire control computer and updated scanning system, it could now perform basic look-down/shoot-down operations—finally giving the MiG-25 some flexibility in altitude engagement. NATO had already dubbed it "Foxfire."
The radar used a pulsed Doppler and continuous wave setup—vastly superior to the older monopulse system. It still wasn't on par with the AWG-9 radar in America's F-14 Tomcat, but it was a major leap forward for Soviet engineering.
Even more impressive, Andre spotted the TP-26-SH1 infrared search and track system mounted just beneath the nose. Although not as refined as future models on the Su-27 or MiG-29, it marked a meaningful step in sensory integration. While Soviet engineers lagged in microelectronics, they were adept at combining simpler systems to create effective battlefield tools.
This IRST system could track targets at up to 45 kilometers, functioning well even under heavy jamming. Combined with the upgraded fire control software, the aircraft was now capable of launching both the heavyweight R-40s and the nimble R-60 dogfight missiles.
Looking at his assigned aircraft, Andre felt a surge of pride. He'd earned this—his actions had brought him this reward. Even though other pilots would soon be flying similar models, he was the first. He had made an impression, and that mattered.
He climbed the ladder and stepped into the cockpit. The controls felt familiar. Soviet aircraft often retained similar layouts between models, which made transitioning easier. Unlike the West, where new aircraft meant relearning everything, Soviet design emphasized continuity—even if it sacrificed some ergonomic comfort.
Inside, the panel layout had barely changed. The main difference was a few new knobs and switches for the radar system. Andre fiddled with them, curious to explore the new interface.
Suddenly, a sharp wail split the air.
The base's air defense siren had begun to sound.
Emergency.
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