After listening to Zhu Jingyuan's reminders and suggestions, the craftsmen headed by Li Rui basically dissipated the regrets that had been held in their hearts for more than half a year.
It was confirmed that Zhu Jingyuan himself did not think the relevant research was a waste, and his worries were basically gone.
Hearing Zhu Jingyuan talk about early warning aircraft, Li Rui immediately realized something:
"Transport plane and radio station detection? Installing radio detection equipment on the transport plane is the early warning aircraft His Highness mentioned?
“This is indeed a good idea.
"The distance of radio detection is theoretically infinite, but the earth's surface is curved, and the emitted radio waves cannot return to the receiver below the horizon.
“So the actual maximum detection distance is still the horizon, which is the theoretical furthest visual boundary line.
“If you want to detect farther, you need to install the detection equipment as high as possible.
“So shipborne detection equipment must be installed on the top of the highest bridge or even on the top of the mast.
“But no matter how high the bridge and mast are, they can’t fly higher than the plane.
“If you install detection equipment on an airplane, you can detect objects hundreds of kilometers away.
“But isn’t it just a reconnaissance plane?
"The Ordnance Department is actually already trying to design a radio detection reconnaissance aircraft using bombers and fighter jets as carriers...
“The only difference from His Highness’s idea is that a transport plane is not used as a carrier.
"His Highness wants to use a transport plane as a carrier...
"Is it to install larger detection equipment?"
Zhu Jingyuan laughed directly after hearing what Li Rui said.
He just briefly mentioned the name and the things he used, and Li Rui basically understood his idea.
Zhu Jingyuan is not afraid that the craftsmen will have ideas, but he is afraid that they will not:
"Yes, the early warning aircraft I am talking about is essentially a larger and more professional reconnaissance aircraft.
"To use a transport aircraft as a carrier, we need to install large-scale detection equipment at the battleship level, as well as large-scale communication equipment.
“Moving the detection equipment onto an airplane, as long as the airplane is high enough, the theoretical detection distance can be increased to hundreds or even thousands of kilometers.
“But everyone must also know that that is only a theoretical effect.
“The actual detection distance, in addition to being related to height, also depends on the power and accuracy of the detection equipment.
“If you want to increase the transmission power, improve the processing power, and improve the accuracy by more than a dozen, you must make the device itself and the antenna larger and heavier.
“If you want to carry larger and heavier detection equipment and antennas, you can only use larger aircraft.
“Then, in addition to the reconnaissance function, what is more important is the communication and intelligence capabilities.
“Equipments with higher power, higher accuracy, longer detection range, higher efficiency and more channels of communication equipment are installed on the same transport aircraft and fly in circles over battlefields and positions.
“Continuously flying over battlefields and positions, through the replacement of a handful of similar aircraft, always keeping at least one on alert duty in the air, monitoring the surrounding hundreds or thousands of kilometers around the clock.
“At the same time, maintain direct communication with the combat command center and maintain communication with all aircraft, ships, and ground combat vehicles.
“After discovering enemies hundreds or thousands of kilometers away in advance, we cooperate with the command center to coordinate and direct all combat units on sea, land, and air to attack the enemy.
“I think that after achieving this effect, this aircraft cannot be regarded as an ordinary reconnaissance aircraft.
"So I'm going to call it an early warning aircraft."
When the craftsmen headed by Li Rui heard this, they showed surprised expressions one after another:
“This is based on the reconnaissance aircraft, achieving the effect of quantitative change to qualitative change.
"This is indeed not a reconnaissance aircraft. It is indeed very appropriate to call it an early warning aircraft alone.
“With this kind of aircraft on duty around the clock and continuously monitoring hundreds of kilometers around, enemy ships and aircraft will have no chance of suddenly breaking into our fleet.
"So...if we have this kind of aircraft...then the aircraft carrier..."
After Li Rui muttered this, he suddenly realized something:
"We already have radio detection equipment that can guide aircraft, artillery and missiles at night, and if we design this kind of dedicated early warning aircraft, does the aircraft carrier still need battleship escort?"
The several craftsmen on site headed by Li Rui are all the top core craftsmen of the Ming Dynasty, and they are all from the Ordnance Department.
The latest technological development status of Ming Dynasty, Ming Dynasty's latest armament innovation and exploration plan are directly handled by them.
The key is that most of them, along with Li Rui and Wang Lai, have directly communicated with Zhu Jingyuan many times.
So they all knew that according to Zhu Jingyuan's vision, battleships would be eliminated sooner or later.
The future naval fleet will be purely centered on aircraft carriers.
In addition to Zhu Jingyuan's direct explanation, these craftsmen themselves will also think about how the battleship was eliminated.
Today we discussed the early warning aircraft, and they immediately realized that this might be an important node.
If the battleship can be discovered hundreds of kilometers in advance, the battleship will have no chance to get close to the aircraft carrier.
When Zhu Jingyuan heard this, he couldn't help but smile again.
However, Zhu Jingyuan did not directly respond to Li Rui's inquiry, but asked another question:
"How is the progress of missile research?"
Li Rui immediately put aside the unanswered questions:
"The missile tests on the ground have been able to reach a range of 150 kilometers.
“The main problem is accuracy. Smaller missiles have limited accuracy, and larger missiles are difficult to install on destroyers.
"At present, it can barely be used to attack ground cities, and it is still difficult to achieve combat against ships."
Zhu Jingyuan nodded again after hearing this:
“There are still several directions for missile research in the future.
“The first is strategic missiles. The farther the strike distance, the better, and the larger the throwing weight, the better.
“The pursuit of one-hit kills, used to destroy enemy cities, fortresses, bases, and massacre populations.
“Then there are tactical missiles, of which there are many types, including surface-to-surface, surface-to-ship, ship-to-ship, and ship-to-ground.
“It is equivalent to a substitute for various types of artillery, but has a longer range and higher accuracy.
“Finally, there are air defense missiles, including surface-to-air, ship-to-air, and air-to-air.
“Dedicated to dealing with enemy aircraft and possible enemy strategic missiles.
“No matter which one, the higher the accuracy, the better.
“So the focus is still on accuracy.
“But relatively speaking, anti-air missiles have the highest accuracy requirements, while strategic missiles have lower accuracy requirements.
"As far as ship-based and ground-based anti-surface and anti-ship missiles are concerned, if they can control the weight within three tons, have a range of about 40 kilometers, and have a hit rate of more than 50% against battleship-sized targets, they can be ready for deployment. .
"How long does it take to reach this level?"
Li Rui made a little evaluation in his mind:
“The key still depends on the research progress of radio detection and guidance equipment.
"My personal judgment... may take three to five years..."
Zhu Jingyuan breathed out softly:
"Three to five years. Then it may take three years to build a new warship modified with this kind of weapon.
“Even if we modify the drawings now, reserve space, and install them directly after the equipment development is completed.
"After the installation and testing, it will still take time to enter the navy on a large scale and finally form combat effectiveness.
"It may take seven to eight years, or even ten years, to complete the missileization of the fleet...
“By that time, radio detection equipment can be upgraded for another round, early warning aircraft, guided bombs and proximity fuzes should be basically mature and practical, and jet carrier-based and early warning aircraft should also be put on ships and practical.
"The combination of these devices will create a new round of naval revolution and a comprehensive military revolution.
“I think you can call it a hit rate revolution, a distance revolution, and a speed revolution.
"Guided weapons will directly increase the hit rate from less than 10% to more than 50%.
“Increase the combat distance from more than ten kilometers to hundreds of kilometers, and expand the field of view beyond the sea level.
“The flight speed of aircraft will also increase from the current hundreds of kilometers to a thousand kilometers, or even above the speed of sound.
“Disruptive changes in weapons and equipment will lead to disruptive changes in combat methods.
“Just like the way the traditional Army fought, the change from line infantry with muskets to rifled skirmishers was as significant.
"At that time, the combat capability of one aircraft carrier may exceed the ten aircraft carriers currently available.
“When the aircraft carrier formation goes to sea, it can really do without the battleship escort.
“It’s just that since we have battleships, we can plug missiles into the battleships and continue to use them.
"Wang Lai is not here...I told him later that we can start planning and designing a guided missile cruiser.
"On the battleships and cruisers to be built in the future, relevant installation and modification space can be reserved..."
The craftsmen headed by Li Rui all know what Zhu Jingyuan said about individual pieces of equipment.
The Ministry of Ordnance, the Imperial Consortium, and Daming Aviation are all conducting relevant research.
Some were directly proposed and arranged by Zhu Jingyuan, and many were conceived by the craftsmen themselves, who submitted applications and received Zhu Jingyuan's direct permission and appreciation.
What Zhu Jingyuan is describing now is the effect of the combination of these things.
When the craftsmen were thinking about this scene in their minds, Li Rui seemed to suddenly realize something:
"Your Highness...if nothing unexpected happens, the future situation should be as you expected.
"In another ten years or so, these equipment will gradually mature, and the military's combat methods will once again develop subversively.
“At the same time, our Ming Dynasty’s current weapons and equipment have been subverted compared to the world war era.
“It is equivalent to the world war being an era, now it is an era, and ten years later it will be another era.
"If there is no large-scale war in the Ming Dynasty or in the world in the next ten years, the main equipment installed in our current era will be... skipped without practical application?"
Zhu Jingyuan was slightly stunned when he heard this statement.
Thinking about it carefully, it seems that this is indeed the case.
Comparing it to previous lives, it is equivalent to advancing the First World War to the 19th century. The Second World War did not break out, and it directly entered the Cold War era.
To be specific, equipment such as propeller fighter jets were eliminated without large-scale use in war.
Of course, the premise is that there really will be no large-scale war in the next ten years.
It will also take time for jet fighters to become fully popular and fielded, and for propeller fighters to completely withdraw from the fighter ranks.
Zhu Jingyuan thought of this and looked at Li Rui with a smile:
"Does Gong Li feel sorry?"
Li Rui shook his head subconsciously:
“I can’t say it’s a regret, it’s just a very strange feeling.
"How should I put it... I strained my nerves and worked hard to tackle the problem for more than ten or even twenty years, but in the end it was completely useless.
"So I feel so empty inside that I feel a little tired..."
Zhu Jingyuan felt that these words were slightly familiar.
Li Rui previously thought that with the jet engine, the previous research on propeller aircraft would be in vain.
But the feeling of speaking out this time is obviously different from before.
Zhu Jingyuan vaguely felt that he might have misunderstood something:
"Tired? Take a rest when you are tired...
"After the world war ended, I didn't ask the craftsmen to work overtime...
“It’s not accurate to say it’s useless.
"It is not directly used in large-scale wars, but it is used in daily training and duty.
"Counting from the armistice of the world war, twenty years is actually not a short time to complete the change of an era."
Li Rui quickly shook his head and explained:
"Your Highness, I forgive you. I don't mean to complain. It should be said that I am feeling...
"Previous craftsmen, ordinary craftsmen, would never have had the experiences I had."
Zhu Jingyuan smiled and shook his head after hearing this, and patted Li Rui's shoulder gently:
“I know you have been tired these past few years, and I roughly understand why you feel tired.
"Before I directly intervene in matters related to scientific research, the situation when craftsmen develop a new device should be like this:
"The craftsmen who study the principle have discovered some new theory, or achieved some new technical effects, or the users have summarized their experience in use and formed some new ideas.
“Engineering craftsmen design practical equipment around this new theory, technology, or idea.
"For example, the original battleship main gun did not have a turret. After the Navy realized the role of the turret, it asked craftsmen from the Ordnance Department to design the turret.
“Then the craftsmen of the Ship Department changed the exposed main gun into a turret type based on the original battleship drawings.
“Even if you are designing a new warship, most of the components on the warship are ready-made.
“Usually only a small number of parts with new technologies and new requirements will be modified.
“After my direct participation, the main research and development tasks gradually changed.
"For example, I originally requested the new high-speed battleship project.
“I require the shape of the hull to be completely redesigned. I require the underwater part of the hull to have a new line shape, a square stern and a bulbous bow. All this needs to be calculated and simulated for verification.
"I require the design of a new battleship with a steam turbine of sufficient power, and you go and develop a large-scale steam turbine.
"I request that coal-fired boilers be no longer used. Boilers with sufficient power are required. You go to work on large-scale small water tube oil-fired boilers.
"We proposed a new armor formula, and the relevant craftsmen conducted experiments to verify it.
“I proposed a new armor layout, a new mine protection scheme, and a new hard-hooded hood armor-piercing projectile.
“I demand higher-standard naval guns and craftsmen to specialize in naval guns.
“Later, it was discovered that the targets I proposed for naval guns could not be achieved, and I asked the craftsmen to research on the steel materials for producing naval guns, which led to the research on electroslag remelting technology.
“In other words, most of the entire battleship is brand new.
“Inside and outside, up and down, I don’t know how many parts need special research and special experimental verification.
“The difficulty of these two scientific research methods is not at the same level at all.
“The work intensity of the relevant craftsmen is certainly not at the same level.
“I’m used to the old way of working, but now I definitely feel tired.
“Even if you don’t work overtime at all, you will still feel tired.
“Just like skilled craftsmen in small workshops, even if they are used to working twelve hours or more every day, they may feel very tired after working ten hours on the production line.
“Because the work intensity is too different...
“It’s fair for everyone to feel tired.
“But there is no way around it. If you want to implement various new technologies, you need to tackle key problems and do research.
“This kind of tiredness, this kind of continuous tiredness, can produce enough revolutionary new technologies.
“What I can do is provide everyone with as stable and favorable living and working conditions as possible.
“As I have always demanded, production line workers should be paid higher wages than ordinary workers.
“Make the workers feel that the hard work is worth it.
“But the problem is that the big workers are still different from ordinary production line workers.
“As a highly educated intellectual, I think your pursuit in life should not just be about living a better life, not just making more money and enjoying better food and clothing.
“A large part of pursuit should be the value of life.
“Now everyone has discovered that things that have been studied hard for a long time may not have direct effects and will be eliminated.
“So I suddenly felt extremely tired and decadent.
“Even if we know that these studies are necessary, they will be useful in the future.
"As long as the expected effect is not achieved, there may still be a sense of disappointment...
"I think that the fact that you feel this kind of loss and frustration shows that you are truly responsible and ideal, and are not just ordinary people who only know how to make money and enjoy themselves.
"So I think at the same time, while everyone feels disappointed, they should also feel satisfied, right?
“An era has passed before many people realize it and have never experienced it.
"Come in a hurry, go in a hurry...
“Only you and I, only all of us who have actually participated in this era, have fully experienced this era and left behind memories that only belong to us.
"So, we don't need to regret. What we need to regret is those who don't know..."
The craftsmen headed by Li Rui were slowly stunned when they heard what Zhu Jingyuan said.
Most craftsmen themselves don’t know why they feel uncomfortable.
Some craftsmen feel that the significance of the previous work has been eliminated because of the subsequent development of new technologies.
Now after listening to Zhu Jingyuan's interpretation, everyone realized that the real reason was that their spirits were too high.
It is the high-level need for self-realization that has not been fully realized.
After hearing Zhu Jingyuan's final explanation, the mood of the craftsmen changed again.
That kind of detached feeling similar to "everyone is drunk and I am awake alone" seems to be very good...
(End of chapter)
