Toaru Majutsu no Index Light Novel Volume 20/Prologue

Declaration of War (Summary)
October 18th.

Russia accused Academy City's science being the cause of global warming and extinction of many animal species, and gave Academy City (Henceforth AC) 24 hours to comply to its demands of releasing all its technology to help fix the situation. If AC refuses Russia will bombard AC with Inter-Continental missiles. The same will apply to all allies of AC elsewhere on the globe, where Russia will attack with all their might "for the sake of the future of all humankind".

Prologue (Summary)
And the 3rd World War began.

Russia should have easily overwhelmed AC with the massive amount of military resources they have, but currently on October 30th Russia is at a disadvantage and cannot breakthrough Academy City's defense. Academy City's HsF-00 is vastly superior to Russia's aircraft and can travel and the speed of sound, leading to aerial combat being dominated by AC. The HsF-00 is said to be able to circle the globe without even needing to refuel. The Japan Sea is totally under Academy City's control.

Academy City's forces have opened channels of communications with the enemy fighter jets, and bantering with them on the difference in technology. It's mentioned Academy City's aircraft can absorb friction at speed of sound, and can save up to 90% of fuel that way. The skills of AC pilots are S class, and and even perform Russian maneuvers like "Pugachev's Cobra" (Original TN: go Wiki that if interested).

All AC pilots are members of Anti-Skills, though many are actually military soldiers working in AC solely for combat purposes and only taking up teaching because they had to. The pilots in HsF-00s have their body frozen in -70 Degree Celsius, and have life-support machines (like lesser versions of Aleister's) reinforcing their internal organs to be able to handle the massive G-force while fighting.

The chapter ends by one of the HsF-00 bring out a structure like a 'Sports Kite' on the main wings, saying it's a 'wide area laser' attack unit and they will now destroy the Russians, who even if they can travel at the speed of light they won't be able to escape this attack.

[End Prologue].