“Has this been tested?”
Then, Wang Ye turned to Li Baojun next to him and asked. Li Baojun shook his head and said:
"Not yet, because grandpa won't let me."
"They said it felt too dangerous and asked them to wait until the factory director came back before making a decision."
The grandfather in Li Baojun's mouth was the old factory director. It was just a respectful title. In fact, there was no blood relationship. The younger generation called him grandfather, and the middle generation called him uncle. Wang Ye was relieved.
The reason is also very simple. Although this idea is indeed a golden idea, in order to consume these old aircraft decades later, many research institutes have developed similar unmanned suicide aircraft, or It is said that it is more appropriate to describe it as an aircraft-shaped "cruise missile", but in today's era, Wang Ye is not optimistic about this thing because the technical foundation is too poor.
First of all, the first issue is communication, command, and guidance.
If you want to successfully unmanned this old fighter jet, you must have sufficient long-distance control capabilities. However, currently China does not have a single communication satellite. The American GPS system has not yet come out, and the predecessor of GPS is still half-baked. System, where can I find a long-distance control and communication system?
This thing can fly at least several hundred kilometers at a time, and if the communication system cannot solve it, then there is no way to truly achieve "unmanned" control. It can only do the same thing as a long-range rocket launcher, relying entirely on inertia for navigation. It's relatively poor, and without large-scale launches, it is difficult for this modified aircraft to cause much large-scale damage.
The second question is how far it can fly.
Essentially, fighter jets like the J-5 are not suitable for gliding, and even all fighter jets are not suitable for gliding in theory. This is completely different from ordinary aircraft. After losing power, the fighter jet will directly clack like an iron lump. When it falls, it cannot glide over long distances by relying on its wings like many fixed-wing aircraft, and finally make a relatively smooth emergency landing. This involves many issues such as wing design and flight angle of attack.
Without the ability to glide, the flying distance will definitely not be very far, because you can see from the butt that they canceled the original turbojet engine of this fighter and replaced it with a rocket engine. It should be that the consortium has almost completed it. The solid rocket motor is the one used in rocket launchers.
The fixed problem of solid rocket motors is their short working time. Even intercontinental missile-level solid rocket motors only work for about 200 seconds. In more than 200 seconds, the largest first-stage rocket motor has to push the missile into the atmosphere. outside, then rely on the second-stage rocket to return to the atmosphere and fly to the target, rely on the third-stage rocket for the final accelerated penetration, and so on.
However, the thing in front of us cannot fly out of the atmosphere, so a rocket engine with only tens of seconds or even ten seconds, even if it is given a large initial speed, will lose power at this speed due to its poor gliding ability. After that, it will drop very quickly, and the final result is that the range is not far. Wang Ye even thinks that this thing can fly two hundred kilometers, which is considered very awesome.
The third problem, and the most direct one, is that it is difficult for this thing to take off!
After all, if you rely on purely mechanical guidance, the aircraft cannot take off normally by taxiing, but must use an orbital launch method similar to rockets. If you want to take off normally like an airplane, you need a control system that uses human remote control. For remote control, the problem is even more complicated. Just to modify this crappy plane is not worth it. It feels a bit like making dumplings out of jealousy.
"Director! Director, are you back?"
"Hahahaha! You just came back and came to see our products?"
At this moment, I saw a group of people walking over from the side in a hurry, with smiles on their faces. The leader was a little fat and not too tall. He was the current member of the aircraft project team, surnamed Shen. Next to him was a member of the rocket project team, the female member named Han.
Hearing the voices of the two people, Wang Ye suddenly showed a smile on his face and said:
"You two just gave me a big surprise!"
"This product of yours is so unexpected. To be honest, I am very surprised. Can you briefly describe your design concept to me?"
In any case, although Wang Ye is not very optimistic about this product, as long as he takes the initiative to conduct research, Wang Ye will raise his hands and feet to express his approval and support. Besides, it is just Wang Ye's own attitude that he is not optimistic. Listen to the research and development The ideas of workers are also very important. Who knows if they will have any constructive opinions and eventually come up with something interesting.
Hearing what Wang Ye said, the two committee members looked at each other. Committee member Han, who is a female, smiled and said:
"I am the assistant, and Lao Shen is the leader. Lao Shen, please introduce me!"
In this regard, Commissioner Shen did not refuse, nodded with a smile and said:
"Then let me do it!"
Then, under the gaze of Wang Ye and everyone else, Commissioner Shen coughed slightly, walked to the side of the plane, pretended to be serious about introducing, and then said:
"The original starting point of this program was really because we wanted to resurrect this fighter jet."
"But later it was discovered that even though we had several J-5 fighter jets, due to the long grounding time and the dismantling of the troops, we could not save a complete set of parts. Under such circumstances, adding The factory director was not at home, so we were ready to give up temporarily."
"Unexpectedly, I happened to meet Commissioner Han. Commissioner Han made a joke. She said that since the original engine couldn't be repaired, it would be better to install a rocket engine. Anyway, they have a ready-made one over there, and it will definitely be able to fly, even fly. Faster than ever!”
"In an instant, I was stunned, and then I thought of the old story of the factory director that you modified the gas tank. Why can't we follow suit?"
Hearing this, Wang Ye had a surprised expression on his face. It was really because Wang Ye had not thought clearly about the relationship between the modification of the J-5 fighter jet and the gas tank.
In Wang Ye's confused expression, Commissioner Shen coughed lightly and continued with a smile:
"Then we started the plan."
"This plan is called a model plan for third world countries to independently produce long-range attack weapons, and the products are called 'flying bombs'!"
"As for the idea, it's very simple. First, we dismantle the entire interior of the aircraft, mainly the engine in the middle."
"Then, in order to allow the modified aircraft to fly longer distances, we decided to develop a new rocket motor. Although the solid rocket motor is good, its working time is too short and is not conducive to long-distance flights."
"As for this new rocket engine, we have identified it as a liquid engine, and we are not prepared to refer to the current liquid engines, because our product is exported to earn foreign exchange. If it is exported with fuel, the transportation will be It is very unsafe, and there are many restrictions on fuel exports. If it is transported to the local area and the customer country injects the fuel themselves, they will not be able to find those high-grade fuel liquids.”
"So, we decided to create a very simple fuel, such as liquid methane, ethane, propane, propylene, butane, butylene, etc., or even mixed petroleum gas, like the ones in gas tanks, and finally Coupled with liquid oxygen, theoretically it should be possible, so we decided on this idea and were ready to start research."
Hearing this, Wang Ye was completely stunned!
The initial research on rocket engines was all about pursuing higher fuel calorific value to achieve greater thrust and longer range, so a variety of liquid fuels appeared, many of which were highly toxic. A large amount of toxic substances will remain after launch and combustion. However, for the performance of the rocket, this kind of fuel has to be used. As for the cost reduction of fuel, it will have to wait for at least thirty years. The demand for aerospace engineering is increasing. , and even after the concept of commercial spaceflight began to be hyped, scientists began to find ways to reduce fuel costs.
In this way, those uncommon high-grade fuels are naturally not suitable because the cost is too high, and the most common and lowest-cost fuel is of course coke, which is definitely not possible. After all, no rocket can burn coal, right? Therefore, liquefied petroleum gas, natural gas, and coal gas, which are also very common, have attracted the attention of scientists. The core components are those alkanes.
However, what Wang Ye didn't expect was that in today's era, there are no rigid range requirements. After considering the cost issue, these "generals" of his own immediately noticed this direction!
at the same time.
Commissioner Shen was still minding his own business and said:
"Although I have an idea."
"But our flight crew couldn't handle it on our own, so we invited Commissioner Han and others from the rocket crew."
"Commissioner Han was very interested in this project after she joined. She raised a second question, which is that the J-5's fuselage is not suitable for gliding. We have been prepared for this for a long time, that is, adding a piece Patch! And this patch will not be added by us, but by the customer who purchased it, just like you, the factory director, are selling gas tanks. The final tail fin is always welded by the customer."
"At present, through calculations and simple experiments, we have roughly determined the size and area of the patch, as well as the fixing angle and fixing method. As you can see, it is roughly like this. Just rivet and fix it on this patch. As for the materials, ordinary materials are used. Just steel bars and iron sheets."
As Commissioner Shen spoke, he walked around under the J-5 fighter plane and made gestures behind the wings. It was obvious that after adding this patch, the entire fighter jet became more different, but the wingspan area Has been greatly improved.
"Finally, there's the launch system."
"Our plan is very simple. We use a small-angle, nearly vertical launch method, and use internal mechanical timing. After a certain flight time, adjust the nozzle rudder, and then continue to accelerate and climb until it reaches the ultimate altitude and start gliding towards the target."
"So we need many experiments and tests to determine a clear range table for the launch unit to use."
Having said this, Commissioner Shen looked full of energy and coughed lightly and said:
“All in all, this is what the final result of the project looked like.”
"We can take the hollowed-out J-5 fighter jet, modify it with the internal liquid engine, and then export it as an exhibition model. After reaching the designated customers, they can follow our 'prohibition manual' in all spaces By adding various explosives and injecting the fuel we require into the engine, at least they should be able to distinguish between what is liquefied petroleum gas and what is liquid oxygen, right? Moreover, these things are relatively routine and relatively easy to find."
"In the end, they just need to follow the prohibition manual, rivet patched ailerons on the back of the wings, and weld a simple bracket, and then they can launch. I guess it shouldn't be a problem to fly more than 200 kilometers!"
Hearing this, Wang Ye couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief. According to Commissioner Shen, this thing is essentially an "earth cruise missile." Generally speaking, the direction is correct, and the idea of modification is not wrong either. It's just that under the limitations of technology, it's not certain what finished product can be produced.
And more importantly, their idea of using gas to launch rockets is indeed a golden idea. If this engine system can be completed, even if it is only the most rudimentary model, it will greatly promote the development of the future consortium. After all, the cost of gas is so low. Just think of ways to improve it step by step in the future. There will always be a time when it can be truly applied!
"Director, in fact, the reason why our rocket team participated in this project is because of the assignment you left before."
"For a rocket with a range of 80 kilometers, how can we increase the range by another 40 kilometers to 120 kilometers? We thought hard and felt that there was almost no good way other than increasing the length of the projectile."
"But Commissioner Shen's words inspired us, what if the final warhead has foldable wings and can glide?"
"Of course we understand the shortcomings, that is, the error will be further amplified, the accuracy will be further reduced, and even reach the point of being completely uncontrollable. Even the problem of projectile spin cannot be solved at present, but after all, this is a direction, and we hope to carry out similar Research."
Hearing this, Wang Ye couldn't help but give a thumbs up, and praised loudly:
"I think your ideas are very good."
“A certain degree of preliminary research can be conducted in this area to lay a foundation for the future.”
The reason why Wang Ye said this is because the U.S. "Tomahawk" cruise missile has been finalized and is being tested to determine whether to prepare for mass production. In the past, mass production would begin next year, which is 1983. equipment, and during the Gulf conflict, the tomahawk will perform a military miracle on the world!
Then China began to conduct in-depth and focused research on the cruise missile, namely the Changjian-10. However, this missile was not officially put into service until 2006, which was twenty years behind the world's advanced level!
Hearing this, Commissioner Shen and Commissioner Han looked at each other, and Commissioner Shen said directly:
"Director, since you approve our project, we must make a small request to you!"
In Wang Ye's nodding eyes, Commissioner Shen said directly:
"We need a wind tunnel! Without a wind tunnel, we can't conduct subsequent tests at all. The size does not need to be too large. A diameter of two meters is enough. The wind speed is medium to high, and it is best to reach high speed."
At that moment, Wang Ye was dumbfounded. He had just gone out, and before he came back and sat down to drink tea, someone was asking for a wind tunnel? Is that thing something you can get casually? And the diameter is two meters, and the wind speed is medium to high. Even if the price is not mentioned, the key is that it is very difficult to manufacture this thing!
"Well, to be honest, although your product has a good direction."
"But I feel that it has no actual effect. Although the range is relatively far, the accuracy is too poor. It may be spread over ten kilometers. I feel that it has little practical significance and no one will buy it!"
Regarding Wang Ye's statement, Director Shen chuckled and lowered his voice and said:
"Director, don't you understand? Accurate shooting has the advantage of accurate shooting. Inaccurate shooting has the advantage of inaccurate shooting. The advantage of accurate shooting can only be seen when you actually shoot. The advantage of inaccurate shooting is Make it impossible for everyone to fight!"
"Think about it, let's just say our African friends, if they have ten rounds of these things in their hands, will their neighbors dare to attack them? If you don't agree, let's practice. Aim at the military base on the outskirts of your capital. Shoot, hey! I missed the shot and landed on top of the Presidential Palace."
Accompanied by Director Shen's lively voice, Wang Ye felt his head buzzing. He felt that he must hold a meeting immediately to emphasize this issue, otherwise sooner or later, he, the leader of the consortium, would be accused of "war crimes." For these crimes, he will be arrested and imprisoned directly!
What kind of crazy idea is this! ?
There is a nuclear deterrent between big countries. The key point is that the nuclear bomb is powerful enough. There is a 'flying bomb' deterrent between small countries. The key point is that no one knows who will fall on them?
Outrageous! It's off the mark!
