Zhu Jingyuan discussed with the craftsmen for a while and selected the general specifications of the carrier-based early warning aircraft.
Then Zhu Jingyuan continued to exhort and remind:
"The biggest difficulty in designing an early warning aircraft is first of all the integration of a large number of high-power and complex electronic equipment.
"Radio detection equipment, radio communication equipment, and the inevitable use of transistor computers.
"How to solve the electromagnetic compatibility problem of these things?
“This should be a long-standing research category, and I can’t give you any constructive advice in this regard.
“Then there’s the structural design and flight control technology of the aircraft itself.
"If the airframe of an early warning aircraft is newly designed, then the manufacturing standards will naturally have to be re-established.
"More importantly, there is a huge disc on the back of the machine. This thing will obviously directly affect the starting shape.
"So how do you keep this strange organism balanced and controllable?
"How to maximize the use of the disc radome that has to be installed and use it as a second layer of wings to provide additional lift.
“This is also an important issue that needs to be solved during the design process of early warning aircraft.
"I don't know much about this either. It's up to the specific design craftsmen to experiment and solve it..."
Zhu Jingyuan paused here, and the craftsmen immediately started discussing.
"Let the disc radar antenna provide lift? That means it was designed as a biplane from the beginning..."
"With such a big plate on the back of the aircraft, trimming and control are indeed problems, but when used as a second-layer wing, it feels like a sudden enlightenment..."
"It's different. The shape of this disc is rounded at most, and it can't be the shape of a normal wing. The key is that you can't add ailerons, flaps, or spoilers. It can only provide lift, but it can't enhance control capabilities..."
"So the control surfaces of the wing are all on the normal wing below."
"Then the control surface will be larger. Your Highness has already drawn it, a huge horizontal tail, and four vertical tails..."
"His Royal Highness has always been so humble. He has obviously already proposed the design idea, but he still said that he could not give any advice."
"There is also the issue of electromagnetic interference, and being aware of this is a very important opinion in itself."
Zhu Jingyuan and the craftsmen continued discussing in this conference room until noon.
A batch of simple ideas and preliminary design plans were formed.
A group of people had dinner at the proving ground at noon, and in the afternoon they went to see various advanced machines being tested on site at the proving ground.
This test site is the core experimental base in the southern part of Ming Dynasty. Its main task is to test various aviation and aerospace engines.
Here is a collection of Daming's most advanced aviation and aerospace engines, as well as various engines that are being tested, verified, as well as being conceived and explored.
The first is the ones we have seen this morning, the ultimate version of the piston engine used in current propeller aircraft, which uses turbocharging, water injection afterburning, or turbine energy recovery engines.
Then there are the practical turboprop engines and turbojet engines that have already taken shape.
Next is the turboshaft engine that has been designed and is being tested, which is the turbine engine used in helicopters.
As well as test engines for several rockets and missiles of different classes and specifications.
Finally, there is the ramjet engine which is a conceptual exploration.
The ramjet engine is one of the typical engines of Zhu Jingyuan's supersonic missiles in his previous life.
The concept of this kind of engine actually appeared very early, already before World War I.
However, the requirements for materials and processes were too high, and it was only in the middle and late Cold War that it became truly practical.
Zhu Jingyuan now came up with the concept and asked the craftsmen to start working on it in advance.
In addition to engines, there are also carriers for these engines, which are various types of aircraft, rockets and missiles.
There are many types of aircraft, including single- and twin-engine fighters and bombers, as well as four-engine transports and bombers.
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In terms of missiles and rockets, according to Zhu Jingyuan's suggestion, they are divided into strategic missiles and rockets with loose specifications, conventional tactical missiles and rockets of about two tons, and anti-air missiles that pursue speed and hit rate.
Finally, there are various smaller rocket launchers and rocket depth bombs.
Zhu Jingyuan, Li Rui and other craftsmen walked around the main warehouse and testing site, and returned to the previous conference room at around four o'clock in the afternoon.
Li Rui put forward new questions and suggestions to Zhu Jingyuan from the perspective of his position:
"Your Highness, according to your discussion and speculation, in the next ten years or so, the turbine, guidance, radio detection and other technologies we are developing will be gradually applied, and a new round of military equipment revolution will also begin simultaneously.
“These technologies are now being put into practical use or are about to be put into practical use, or at least they are already being developed.
"So should we start designing specialized warships in advance now?
"The design of a warship that uses missiles as its main weapon and uses radio detection technology on a large scale is bound to be hugely different from previous warships. Should we start preparations in advance?"
Zhu Jingyuan thought about it for a moment and did not answer directly. Instead, he asked a question:
"What is Wang Lai Wang's main task now?"
Li Rui immediately reported:
"The core task that I am directly responsible for is the design of 80,000-ton aircraft carriers and battleships.
"There are many important projects that I am responsible for as the Minister.
"It mainly includes a 24-ton steam catapult, a 300,000-horsepower boiler and a turbine system.
"A 480mm-class battleship gun, a 100-ton electroslag furnace and larger-scale hydraulic self-tightening equipment.
"Automatic loading system for naval guns with a caliber of 160 mm and below.
"Research on the linkage of radio detection and fire control computers and firing command systems.
"Feasibility study of spent uranium shells, design and development of various proximity fuzes, optimization and upgrade of submarine structure and control design.
“There are also plans for upgrading and transforming old ships that have been completed using new technologies, etc.
"If Your Highness wants to know more about it, you can ask Wang Lai to come and report to you. Lao Wang will be very happy."
Zhu Jingyuan waved his hands subconsciously after hearing this:
"With so many projects, I feel tired and panicked, so I'd better not torment him yet.
"A warship designed around guided weapons is indeed a brand new type of warship, and it does require specialized design.
"However, the conditions for designing this kind of guided missile cruiser are not yet mature.
"The most critical missile research and development has not been completed yet.
"The main reason is that the guidance accuracy is still too poor, and it has no real practical significance for the time being.
“As for the battleships, the aircraft carrier we are building now is actually almost a finished product.
"I am not planning to mount direct-launched anti-ship missiles directly on the aircraft carrier itself.
"The missiles on the aircraft carrier should be mainly airborne missiles.
"Aircrafts can be replaced at any time, and guided bombs and airborne missiles can be installed and used at any time.
"Radio detection equipment can also be installed through modification.
"The future research direction of the aircraft carrier itself is to continue to enlarge it to 80,000 tons or even 100,000 tons.
"So let's not start work in this area now."
Although Li Rui is not directly responsible for warship design-related projects, he is still familiar with the general situation of the same yamen.
Hearing Zhu Jingyuan's thoughts, he nodded subconsciously, and then realized a new problem:
"Your Highness is right. It's still too early to directly design a guided missile cruiser.
"Also, Lao Wang's side is indeed very busy, and there are no less things than mine.
"Then, speaking of Lao Wang's project, the Ordnance Department actually has a problem that needs to be determined.
"The final improvement of the aircraft carrier's combat system and the final maturity of the missile system will only take the next ten years at most.
"At that point, the battleships will have no practical effect.
"The design of the 80,000-ton battleship and the supporting 480mm artillery project should be at least five years away when the relevant research is completed and completed.
"At that time, the aircraft carrier should be able to take on its own role. If it continues to serve for another five years, it may be really useless.
"Under such circumstances, is it necessary for us to continue research on this kind of battleship?"
When Zhu Jingyuan faced this question, he obviously hesitated for a moment.
If cost and demand are not considered, and personal feelings and preferences are simply considered, Zhu Jingyuan certainly hopes to complete the design and construction of an 80,000-ton warship.
Even if we only build one or two ships, it would be good.
Zhu Jingyuan's personal heart has always been unable to reject the romance of big ships and cannons.
When considering practical issues and making normal judgments based on his own understanding of naval concepts and ideas, Zhu Jingyuan certainly knows that there is no need to continue building larger-scale battleships now.
When missile technology matures, the significance of battleships will only be the residual deterrence of the old era.
On the actual battlefield, aircraft carriers will soon be able to take the lead and completely eliminate battleships from the main fleet.
For this deterrence, is it worth continuing to build this kind of warship?
Or you can just build one or two, take over when they lose their use, and pay for them to keep them as museum exhibits.
Let future generations see directly that their country has built such a mighty and majestic war machine.
With his own personal income, he can definitely build and maintain a fleet.
Of course, I will also choose to retain some of the future large aircraft carriers and current battleships and aircraft carriers.
It is also used as a naval museum to introduce the past to future generations.
Zhu Jingyuan thought about it for a while, and then told Li Rui his analysis:
"If no large-scale naval battle breaks out in the world within twenty years or so, then battleships will still be useful.
"As long as actual combat does not break out and the aircraft carrier does not completely destroy the battleships in a naval battle, the actual deterrent power of the aircraft carrier will be difficult to surpass that of the battleships quickly.
"Currently there are no signs of large-scale wars or naval battles breaking out in the world...
"So, for now, let's continue with the step-by-step research and complete the design of the 80,000-ton battleship."
Li Rui understood Zhu Jingyuan's thinking, which was "accumulating prestige".
The patriarch who has ruled the clan for decades, as long as he is not truly dead, all his subjects will always fear him.
Regardless of whether a new challenger within a group has surpassed the original overlord in actual strength, other onlookers will always recognize the original overlord as long as they do not defeat the opponent by force.
This truth is actually very simple and very true.
In Zhu Jingyuan's previous life, even in the 21st century, there were still various so-called military enthusiasts who always insisted that modern missiles could not destroy battleships.
Because the battleships were not directly hit by missiles until they were all decommissioned.
Li Rui thought about it for a while, then couldn't help but subconsciously asked:
"Then can we proactively promote a war? Use aircraft carriers and missiles to sink the opponent's battleships?"
Zhu Jingyuan asked directly:
"Why should we do this? It will not do any good to our Ming Dynasty.
"From Ming's standpoint, we should prevent battleships from being sunk by aircraft carriers and missiles.
"Can you understand why?"
Li Rui and the craftsmen on site really didn't understand.
If you were talking to other princes or even the emperor, most of them would not understand directly and would not dare to ask directly.
But Zhu Jingyuan is different. Zhu Jingyuan is a very good teacher, and the craftsmen are the most familiar with Zhu Jingyuan.
So Li Rui asked directly without hesitation:
"Please give me your advice..."
Zhu Jingyuan sat at the table, picked up several small models on the table and explained with gestures:
"If there is no large-scale war, our battleships are stronger than all the battleships of other countries.
"Our aircraft carrier is also stronger than all other countries' aircraft carriers.
"Our future missiles will be developed earlier than all other countries, and they will definitely be more powerful.
"It may be possible that at a certain special node, one of our missiles or aircraft is weaker than a certain model of other countries, and this special situation may occur.
"Even if some military personnel from other countries, such as the British, believe that aircraft carriers can unilaterally suppress battleships relatively easily, others will not fully accept it without showing the actual war results.
"At the very least, that concept will not become a consensus, but will continue to be questioned.
"The overall understanding of most politicians and military personnel, as well as ordinary people in the world, is that all types of weapons they possess correspond to similar weapons that are weaker than our Ming Dynasty.
"The statement that the British aircraft carriers can defeat the Ming Dynasty's battleships will not become public knowledge without actual combat.
"So in this case, our Ming Dynasty's weapons and equipment will be regarded as all-round strong.
"Once the war breaks out, once the aircraft carrier actually unilaterally suppresses the battleships, and even some battleships are sunk by guided missile cruisers or even guided missile boats, then the situation will be completely different.
"Military personnel from other countries will begin to believe that their aircraft carriers have a suppressive effect on Ming Dynasty's battleships, and that their own guided missile cruisers and even destroyers have a chance to sink Ming Dynasty's battleships.
"Then the battleship's deterrent effect will be gone.
"Of course, our aircraft carriers and battleships can still gain deterrence, but the overall deterrence of the Ming Navy has been reduced.
"Other small and medium-sized countries have gained the ability to challenge the battleships of the Ming Navy.
"Weapons like missiles give small countries the courage and possibility to challenge big countries.
"Just like when people stand together with bare hands, a strong man of 200 pounds will definitely form a huge deterrent to a thin man of 100 pounds, and the thin man will definitely face the strong man cautiously.
“But if both of them are armed with pistols, the strong man’s physical intimidation will be reduced.
"Even if a strong man is physically strong, he won't die even if he takes a few ordinary pistol shots, but he will definitely be seriously injured.
"What's more important is that losing the appearance gives the thin man a chance to fight against the strong man.
"The battle line is just this strong man, and the missile is the pistol.
"The aircraft carrier can be used as an archer.
"So we should avoid war as much as possible now.
"If war inevitably breaks out, we must avoid engaging our battle lines with enemy aircraft carriers and missile warships.
"Let the battle array escort the aircraft carrier, and let the aircraft carrier carry out combat missions.
"Unless the enemy does not have missiles, the enemy's battle array is obviously weaker than ours in terms of number and size.
"And the battle line is operating alone without the escort of an aircraft carrier.
"It is possible for us to use a battle array of ten ships and eight ships to deal with the enemy's battle array of two and three ships.
"This is not only because the aircraft carrier is more efficient, but also to save the last dignity for our own battle line."
After Zhu Jingyuan explained it like this, the craftsmen headed by Li Rui completely understood.
The principle is still the same, the battle array will not be easily defeated in reality, and the prestige will always exist.
The Ming Dynasty's large number of battle lines will continue to provide deterrence.
Once the battle array is abolished, the Ming Dynasty's deterrent power will decline, and the deterrent power gap with the enemy will be greatly reduced.
Therefore, try not to fight as much as possible, and do not let battle lines fight alone, unless it is a must-win situation.
The craftsmen headed by Li Rui expressed their opinions one after another.
I understand.
Zhu Jingyuan took a breath, took a sip of water, and continued to arrange future work:
"So the work of the Ordnance Department in the next few years is to do the job at hand step by step.
"The main task of Wang Gong's side is engineering and research directly related to battleships.
"Gong Li, your main tasks here are aerospace engineering and tank-related projects.
"Electronic computers and atomic energy-related engineering projects continue to be placed at Xintianfu.
"If nothing else happens, there will be no new large-scale projects launched in the next few years."
Li Rui listened to Zhu Jingyuan's instructions and felt that Zhu Jingyuan was considering his previous complaints again, so he was ready to lighten his burden and tasks, so he quickly stood up and explained:
"Your Highness, there is no need to worry. We understand our tasks. It is not that we cannot accept the current work.
"As craftsmen of the Central Court, the treatment we can enjoy now is the best in the world.
"Your Highness, your generosity, care and guidance for the craftsmen are unparalleled in the world.
"Your achievements in invention, creation and engineering are also admired by all craftsmen.
"We are all very happy to continue to complete more research and design under your guidance."
Zhu Jingyuan smiled and waved his hand and said:
“Everyone’s work has been really intense in recent years.
"With my continuous urging, research on ordnance and technology has been progressing at a rapid pace in the past ten years.
"We have achieved a lot of important results, but the foundation is obviously not solid enough.
“So in the next few years, let’s slow down a little and settle down.
"Furthermore, I am going to change my thinking on the next stage of new warship development and design.
"We are going to wait until the relevant subsystems are completed before we start integration projects such as battleship design.
"Because our lead over the countries in Europe and the West is already large enough.
"Although we may stop and wait for them, we don't need to squeeze our potential to widen the gap with them.
"From now on, just keep moving forward step by step.
"Finally, my political training as the prince, Renwu, has now reached the most critical stage.
"I may not have enough energy to focus on engineering research in the next few years."
Li Rui wanted to persist after hearing Zhu Jingyuan's first two sentences.
But after hearing the next two sentences, I shut up immediately.
This year has been the eleventh year of Ankang.
The current emperor of the Ming Dynasty, Zhu Jianyan, was fifty-six years old in his heart.
According to the tradition left by Emperor Shizu, the Ming Emperor usually retired at the age of sixty.
Zhu Jianyan will attain the Zen throne in four years.
At the same time, the successor chosen by the emperor will return to the capital to serve as the Minister of Civil Affairs after completing local administrative training.
The period of serving as Minister of Civil Affairs is normally two years.
If the current Zhu Jianyan retires at a normal age, he will have to choose his successor in the next two years.
Zhu Jingyuan's identity is indeed very special. Officials and clan members who are a little better informed feel that Zhu Jingyuan is the confirmed heir.
Just look at the actual positions he held.
This situation has not happened before. When a certain prince was undergoing training at a local level, he was assigned additional duties or was placed in a special place.
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To all the princes.
Obviously he has been favored since he was a child, and he has been treated like this since he presided over the Western Cape Peace Conference.
But it is true that he is just a prince, and is not clearly identified as a "prince".
In fact, even the prince is just an heir.
From the perspective of ordinary Ming people, even in an ordinary manufacturer or big family, even if the patriarch and the big boss determine a certain child as the heir, the heir must work conscientiously and steadily in the last few years.
Maybe even more cautious, just like the previous princes.
It doesn't matter if you don't do well, or if you do too well, or if you don't look like your father, and it may not be possible to completely copy what your father did.
No matter what, you must have good relations with all people so that you can truly take direct control of the entire family or manufacturer after you officially take over.
Normally, other members of the family and the manufacturer, unless they intend to compete for the position of heir, will basically cooperate with the heir and the future leader as much as possible.
Li Rui and other craftsmen now naturally thought that Zhu Jingyuan should have the same mentality now.
The main focus should be on responding to administrative training to avoid being caught by possible competitors.
Therefore, Li Rui and other craftsmen immediately realized that the Ordnance Department should not cause trouble for His Highness in the past two years.
Let's settle down for a few years and don't worry about anything. It won't be too late to wait until His Highness officially takes over.
Li Rui immediately agreed with understanding:
"Thank you for your concern and consideration, His Highness. Our Ordnance Department will definitely not cause any trouble to His Highness in the past few years."
