Waverider configuration mid-range and short-range ballistic missiles are all designed using new technologies.
This technical route has never been traveled before.
Even successful cases cannot be found, so the early development of technology is very slow.
The most difficult thing is the design of the aerodynamic layout.
Although assisted by the YF-21 hypersonic wind tunnel, the design team has excellent conditions that other hypersonic weapon design teams in the world do not have.
But the difficulty is still greater than previously imagined.
Several plans proposed by the team failed to achieve the expected results.
The original advantage of the waverider configuration is that it has a high lift-to-drag ratio, which can greatly increase the range of the missile, and it has high maneuverability during the mid-course of the missile.
However, the missile shape plans currently designed by everyone always fail to meet the indicators used in previous theoretical calculations.
"Can we only conduct wind tunnel experiments and make adjustments little by little?"
Qiao Yang said with some reluctance, holding the latest wind tunnel data.
Wind tunnel testing has been underway for nearly a month.
However, they only tested the configuration they designed before, which could not reach the theoretical Mach 10 or above.
It can only reach Mach 8 at most, and at this speed, various instability situations will occur.
"The current situation is still expected."
Zhang Xingyang was not too angry. After all, scientific research work was never smooth sailing.
All kinds of problems can arise at any time.
"At the very least, we have verified that this road can really work."
"It can be considered a big harvest!"
This is indeed a great success. Sometimes scientific research work is not afraid of anything but the wrong route.
If it is a principle that cannot be followed, then the deeper it goes, the greater the final loss will be.
However, the issue of scientific research direction is not a problem in Zhang Xingyang's eyes.
After all, he has more than a hundred years of forward-looking vision and can avoid many possible risks.
"But if you keep experimenting like this, won't you consume too much experimental funds?"
Qiao Yang was a little worried. After all, just starting up the YF-21 shock wave wind tunnel consumes tens of thousands of yuan in electrical energy.
This does not include the cost of various equipment losses in the shock wave wind tunnel.
All added up, an experiment lasting less than one second would cost tens of thousands of yuan!
In nearly a month, they conducted at least hundreds of experiments in order to verify the aerodynamic scheme of the missile's shape!
In other words, almost tens of millions were spent in one month!
However, this money is only a drop in the bucket compared to the tens of billions spent on the wind tunnel construction process!
And compared with the output of the wind tunnel, this investment is worth it.
"Don't worry about money."
"The experimental funds for this project are sufficient, so don't worry!"
Zhang Xingyang made his promise steadfastly.
In fact, tens of millions of experimental funds per month are not a lot for such a large experimental base.
Of course, the reason why Zhang Xingyang has such confidence is mainly because of the overseas asset development plan that Zhou Zhengxiong presided over before, which has made a lot of profits in the past two years.
As a partial beneficiary, the wind tunnel experimental base also received a lot of funds from this.
Therefore, even if the state does not allocate funds, it is not a problem for the wind tunnel test base to maintain its own operation just by relying on this part of the income.
"If you want a good configuration, you still need to do more experiments!"
"If the wind tunnel blows enough, the strongest configuration will definitely come out!"
Zhang Xingyang cheered Qiao Yang up.
After all, Qiao Yang is responsible for the main aerodynamic shape modification work at the wind tunnel base.
There are many projects that Zhang Xingyang needs to be responsible for, whether it is a low-orbit satellite communication project or a manned spaceflight project, all of which require his participation.
The time that can be allocated to hypersonic missiles is really limited.
"Now the usage time of the wind tunnel is basically used to the limit by everyone."
Qiao Yang said helplessly.
People can work in two shifts or three shifts.
But the equipment is not good enough, and careful inspection is required after each experiment.
Otherwise, if any accident occurs to such a big guy, the loss will be calculated in billions of yuan.
No one can bear such responsibility.
"Unless we build another wind tunnel like this, it's going to be very difficult to improve productivity."
"impossible!"
"These wind tunnels were built with great difficulty."
"The construction cost alone exceeds 10 billion."
Zhang Xingyang directly interrupted Qiao Yang's whimsical thoughts.
"The further construction will be to build a higher-level wind tunnel with test speeds exceeding 20 times the speed of sound."
"It's hard to say whether a wind tunnel like this can be built within ten years."
Wind tunnels with a speed of more than 20 times the speed of sound are basically used to verify aerospace fighter aircraft, which are the new standard sixth-generation aircraft.
In this era when the fifth-generation aircraft has not yet been completed, it is a more advanced concept, so it is basically impossible to build it within ten years.
"Of course I also know that building another one is not a simple matter." Qiao Yang said.
"I don't want the research and development work to be faster."
Although it took only one month to complete the verification of the technical route, it can be considered very fast.
But Qiao Yang still wants to make research and development work faster.
Because at this time, we need a variety of weapons to defend our increasingly severe national defense security.
The waverider ballistic missile is mainly intended to replace the already slightly backward Dongfeng-11 and Dongfeng-15 short-range ballistic missiles.
"If you have time, you can improve your current aerodynamic calculation model."
After Zhang Xingyang finished reading all the experimental records, he said to Qiao Yang.
"Didn't the Academy of Sciences get a supercomputer for you?"
"It will be shipped next week."
"Is there anything else missing? Please report what is missing and I will approve it for you."
Although the wind tunnel experimental base is located on a desolate plateau, the living conditions of the experimenters are not bad at all.
In this era where there is a general shortage of various grains, oils and non-staple foods, you can basically eat meat every day, and even some seafood during holidays.
You must know that the nearest sea here is thousands of kilometers away.
All supplies for the base are transported from other places via railways.
"In terms of food, there is not much shortage."
Qiao Yang didn't hesitate and started making requests directly.
"But in terms of warm clothing, there is still a bit to be desired."
As the person in charge of missile aerodynamics, Qiao Yang has a better understanding of the situation at the wind tunnel base.
"Isn't there heating everywhere in the base?"
Zhang Xingyang was a little puzzled. After all, there was a thermal power plant in the base that ran almost day and night.
Power plants produce huge amounts of hot water every moment, and the issue of reuse was also taken into consideration at the beginning of the design.
Therefore, heating is basically everywhere in the entire base. Even the small garden in the base has heating. Now you can see various flowering plants.
"The cold wind on the plateau is far more severe than when we were in the south."
"When there's strong wind, it's better indoors, but the heating points outside are of no use at all."
Thinking of those days, Qiao Yang still feels a little incredible.
In fact, on the plateau, this is the case all year round, and winter comes very early.
It's only September now, and it's only August on the lunar calendar.
The first snow has already fallen on the plateau!
It snows in August in Hutian. The ancients will not deceive me!
"Okay, I'll ask them to send a batch of thermal supplies as soon as possible."
Zhang Xingyang kept this matter in mind.
"Besides these, is there anything else you're lacking?"
"Gone."
After Qiao Yang finished answering, he thought of something again.
"Oh, right."
"Can you get us some of the latest journals?"
This request was a bit beyond Zhang Xingyang's expectations.
After all, the journals in this world are all very outdated in his eyes.
But this is just his own opinion. In fact, for others, if they want to understand cutting-edge research content, they still have to rely on these journals.
"Okay, what kind of content do you need?"
Since the other party made such a request, Zhang Xingyang still tried his best to satisfy the other party.
"Write an entry to me and I will have it sent to you every month."
The wind tunnel experimental base is said to be difficult, but it is also difficult. After all, it is located on a plateau with relatively poor natural conditions.
However, their conditions are still much better than those of other people who also work on the plateau.
All kinds of supplies, if there is a gap, can be delivered within a week.
——
Beidu, an inconspicuous suburban courtyard.
The yard is full of various plants.
An old man with gray hair is patiently tending to the bonsai pine in front of him.
"Mr. Luo!"
Zhang Xingyang opened the door of the small courtyard and walked in.
"I brought you a little gift."
As he spoke, Zhang Xingyang stretched out the two big boxes in his hands.
"Come on, bring any gifts!"
As a soldier who had experienced major wars before and after the founding of the People's Republic of China, Mr. Luo was very disgusted with giving gifts.
"Mr. Luo, you will definitely like this thing!"
It's not that Zhang Xingyang didn't know Mr. Luo's capabilities, but he still brought the things over.
Even if he knew this gift, Mr. Luo would never refuse it.
Zhang Xingyang carefully opened one of the boxes.
It was an extremely exquisite rocket model, and you could even see the miniature manned spaceflight logo on it.
"How did you make this thing?"
As soon as Mr. Luo saw what was in the gift box, he couldn't take his eyes away.
As someone who has devoted the rest of his life to the aerospace industry, Mr. Luo really has no resistance at all to such a gift.
"Isn't this an encouragement from above to develop aerospace tourism?"
"This is the latest product launched by them at the Xichang Launch Base."
"The Hongyan modified rocket model of Shenzhou-1 was launched!"
"Not bad."
Mr. Luo held the rocket with a height of fifty or sixty centimeters and praised it with a cheerful smile.
"Is this made in your own processing plant?"
“It feels like the workmanship is good!”
"It is indeed true. In fact, everything here is scaled down."
Zhang Xingyang pointed at the rocket and said:
"Of course, only four or five of these full-scale models have been made."
"I just wanted to give you one."
Mr. Luo seemed to have never seen such an exquisite rocket model before. He looked up and down for a long time before he realized what he was doing.
He should have invited Zhang Xingyang to sit in the house.
"Come in and sit down, I'll pour you some tea."
After entering the house, Mr. Luo took out a tea jar from the cabinet in the main room and began to prepare tea.
It was also the first time for Zhang Xingyang to come to Luo's hometown.
However, he also knew before that Mr. Luo's wife passed away early and his son was working in the south, so he was the only one at home.
So two people can also talk about things involving confidential content.
Mr. Luo took out two large, period-looking porcelain cups and poured a full cup of tea.
"The Longjing tea my son sent from the south is quite good to me. You can try it."
Mr. Luo was in a good mood at this time, smiling like Maitreya Buddha.
Zhang Xingyang took a sip, it was indeed good.
It is smooth in the mouth and has a sweet aftertaste.
“Good tea!”
"I heard that you have done a lot of big things recently?"
Mr. Luo is still very well-informed. Although he is mainly responsible for the aerospace field now, his old comrades are everywhere.
"Which aspect are you talking about?"
He has done a lot of things in the past two years, and Zhang Xingyang doesn't know what exactly Mr. Luo is referring to.
"The Navy was planning to send you a banner some time ago!"
After taking a sip of tea, Mr. Luo smiled and said:
"The explosives you made are really perverted."
When Mr. Luo said this, Zhang Xingyang knew what the other party was talking about.
The ship-borne 300mm rocket launcher is extremely ferocious whether it is attacking the ground or attacking the ship.
The emergence of total nitrogen explosives means that the power of hundreds of kilograms of explosives can now be achieved with only a few kilograms.
It can be said that it has changed the shape of future war to some extent.
"Good luck, I came up with it by tinkering in the laboratory."
Zhang Xingyang made an excuse casually. After all, the appearance of this thing cannot be investigated in detail.
Mr. Luo also knew that Zhang Xingyang would not want to go into details, so he didn't care too much about him making excuses to deal with him.
"It's a pity that the range is still not far enough. It would be nice if it was farther."
Mr. Luo sighed somewhat nonchalantly.
"It cannot cover the entire foot basin!"
As an old man who survived that war, Mr. Luo has an unimaginable hatred for footbaths.
After all, his parents and brothers all died in that war.
"After all, the 300mm rocket platform is only a little bit big, and the limit is already 600 kilometers."
Zhang Xingyang can also somewhat understand Mr. Luo's mood.
“But if it’s a larger platform, it’s not that difficult to do this!”
Although Zhang Xingyang's words were vague, Mr. Luo vaguely understood what he meant.
"Do you have a new research plan?"
"I just don't know if I will have the chance to see that day!"
Mr. Luo is now almost ninety years old. As his life comes to an end, he misses this little bit.
"There will be a chance, Mr. Luo." Zhang Xingyang said.
The new waverider configuration medium-range ballistic missile has a designed range of 4,000 kilometers.
It is enough to complete the attack on any place in the footbath.
Even Guam in the Pacific Ocean is within its deterrent range!
(End of chapter)
