In early winter, clouds and waves surge in the airspace of northern Xinjiang. Several fighter jets returned one after another after completing a round of difficult tactical verification. At an airport of a certain unit of the Northern Theater Command Air Force, the roar gradually subsided, and the pilots stepped out of the cockpit, still carrying the solemnity and sharpness of aerial combat on their faces. A pilot's sleeve was slightly rolled up, revealing a faint indentation on his arm - the mark left by the anti load suit during sustained high load maneuvers. Faced with the inquiry, he smiled and said, "Attention is all on the situation and operation, and muscles have already adapted to this' extreme memory '." In his eyes, indentation is not a burden, but a new combat power tempered by the deep integration of the body with the aircraft and tactics. Using the latest equipment means fighting the toughest battles. As the first heroic unit of the People's Air Force to be established, participate in combat, and achieve victory, this unit was the first to be equipped with domestically produced new fighter jets and also the first to face profound changes in the mode of combat power generation. Practicing to the upper limit of the outline, hitting to the edge of the weapon, and flying to the maximum payload has become their training routine. Today's aerial combat is a triple competition of human physiological limits, equipment performance limits, and the combination of human and equipment limits. ”A leader of the department said that the determining factor in connecting the new quality combat power generation chain still lies in people. With the improvement of the informationization and intelligence level of the combat platform, the difficulty of "flying" has decreased, but the ability indicators of "fighting" are expanding exponentially. He unfolded a "combat capability growth curve chart" drawn in recent years and told reporters: in the early stage, it was a steady upward line, representing equipment familiarity and the formation of basic tactics; After a certain node, the curve suddenly rises, pointing to the cognitive breakthrough and decision-making leap of "people" in the system. The night is already deep, but the physical training room in the air service building is still brightly lit. A pilot from the "Strong Vanguard Flight Squadron" is undergoing daily rigorous training: squats, bench presses, agile stair steps... He said that the "speed" and "breadth" of the aerial battlefield have already redefined the "load" from both physiological and psychological dimensions. Sometimes, the victory or defeat is only within seconds. Last year, in a practical confrontation, his fighter jet was firmly "bitten to the tail" by the opponent. Get rid of, reverse, lock - he completed more than 10 precise operations in extreme overload, and finally achieved "reverse killing" in the electric light and stone fire. While striking his opponents, he also surpassed himself. Sometimes, battles cross mountains and seas. That year, during a cross regional maneuvering mission, the formation took off and landed continuously at an unfamiliar airport, crossed clouds late at night, and conducted a long sea cruise. The entire process was embedded in tactical background, and the pilots completed multiple breakthrough flights. The aviation military doctor Wang Tianshi sighed, "Physiological indicators can be monitored, but willpower and spirit cannot be quantified. This task is a test of the dual combat limits of pilots' physical and mental abilities." If "physical load" is a traditional topic, then "cognitive load" is a new challenge that comes with air combat in the new era. From single air combat to complex electromagnetic environment confrontation, from single aircraft performance competition to integration into joint system operations, the "system melting pot" is reshaping pilots' battlefield thinking and role cognition. The new fighter jet is not only a weapon platform, but also an aerial command node. Today, pilots are not only top fighters, but also calm and composed commanders, decisive and sharp decision-makers. ”The leader of the department said that pilots must intervene in mission planning in advance, judge the center of gravity of the battlefield in real time, adjust tactical positioning on the fly, and fully hone their abilities in situational awareness, battlefield analysis, and decision-making on the fly. The system concept delves into the details of combat. Opening a flight training log, the reporter found that the clear division of roles emerged: someone was in charge of the "central military tent" to dispatch and command, someone was responsible for "sensors" to provide intelligence support, and someone was playing the role of "assault hands" to implement fast attack and quick recovery... In the system, each fighter jet was a "key puzzle". A joint exercise a few months ago has left an 'old pilot' feeling unsettled to this day. At that time, his formation suddenly lost ground information support, and the battlefield was instantly shrouded in fog. Without hesitation, he immediately called for air support. In an instant, the data chain surged again, and the battlefield situation became clear, helping him win with one strike. In the past, we used to think about single player victories, but now we are in a joint victory game, and officers and soldiers have a more sensitive perception and judgment of the battlefield situation and mission intentions. In the past, we were thinking about how to 'control an airplane', but now we are thinking about how to 'win a war'. "This" veteran pilot "admitted that technology and action are only the foundation, and the real competition lies in whether we can grasp the key in massive information and make decisive decisions in complex situations." This requires a brave heart, a strong opponent, and a clear mind. "Every joint exercise and training with brother troops opens up a new battlefield perspective for the officers and soldiers of the unit. That year, in a highly anticipated competition across the entire Air Force, a certain unit of the department won the "Golden Helmet". Behind the praise, there are also concerns - a pilot sighed after his victory: "The opponent's progress is advancing by leaps and bounds, and today's tactics may be cracked tomorrow. Our responsibility is to make the 'shelf life' of victory more lasting." This sense of urgency has driven the department to continuously shift its research focus from "teammates" to "opponents", and from the "arena" to the "battlefield". Upgrade from 'training individuals' to' building a strong system ', and strive tirelessly on the path of accelerating integration into the system and iterative upgrading. On the wall of the flight attendant building lobby, a map is densely marked with dozens of small red flags. Each red flag represents an airspace they have fought in. Nowadays, this red color is still spreading. What kind of pilot do we need today? ”Faced with a question, the leader of the department pondered for a long time: "Perhaps there is no standard answer. But they must be top-notch fighters who dare to challenge their physical limits, explore their cognitive boundaries, and question the future battlefield. They not only need to learn how to control new fighter jets, but also have the determination and ability to win the next victory