Technological power starts with upgrading lenses.

Chapter 429 S3 strangled in the cradle
Although China's space budget has set new records every year in the past decade, it exceeded US$22 billion for the first time in 119.4, reaching billion, ranking second in the world.

But compared with NASA's 248 billion US dollars, the difference is actually quite large.

Although U.S. dollars are actually not restricted from spending in Country M, what $248 billion can accomplish is actually not much more than what the China National Aerospace Administration can do. But the problem is that Country M's private aerospace technology group is much stronger than China's, and their scientific research expenses are not included in NASA's.

In addition, in order to support large-scale technological infrastructure in industries such as semiconductors and intelligent robots, China has also cut its aerospace budget to a certain extent starting this year. Many projects including the Long March, Beidou, Chang'e, Shenzhou, Tianzhou, and Tiangong have been affected to varying degrees.

It is actually normal for funds to be tilted. Compared with the distant future, the main goal at present is to develop rapidly by using the technology that Kangchi has already developed and to strengthen itself.

But although he understood it, when the budget was really cut, Director Ge still felt somewhat uncomfortable.

Now that Kang Chi is preparing to officially enter the aerospace field, in addition to bringing a strong scientific research team, it also means the entry of the largest "capital" in the country, which made Director Ge so excited that he couldn't sleep the whole night yesterday...

Therefore, at the end of the meeting, Director Ge asked Kang Chi another question that he was most concerned about:
“How much money do you plan to invest in the aerospace industry?”

"I haven't thought about that." Kang Chi smiled.

"The main reason is that the plan is quite long and it is impossible to make a budget. But if necessary, all the money of our group can be used for space development..."

“No one should care about this, right?”

"No, how can that be possible!" When Director Ge heard that Kang Chi was going to gather the entire group's strength to develop aerospace, the corners of his mouth immediately rose.
With Kangchi's financial resources and technology, wouldn't it be just a matter of time before Kangchi becomes the world's leading aerospace power?

"It's your own money, so of course you can spend it however you want! If anyone dares to interfere, I'll be the first to stand up and scold him for you!"

"..."

After the meeting, Director Ge privately stated that he would work out some support policies to protect Kangchi as soon as possible. If Kangchi needs any technology, he could also consider technology licensing. However, because Kangchi is obviously used for commercial purposes, a technical cost assessment must be carried out according to the process.

"But don't worry, this is just a process. I will try my best to get you a bargain price."

"That's not necessary." Kang Chi shook his head. "This is equivalent to a normal technology transaction between enterprises. After all, it is the hard work of so many scientific researchers in the country. I can't always take advantage of the country. Besides, these things are things that normal people can't buy with money. It's already very rare that you give them to me, so you just quote a normal price, and I will also send someone to negotiate the price normally."

Director Ge couldn't help but look at Kang Chi in surprise, then said with a smile: "I didn't expect Academician Kang to not take advantage of the opportunity..."

"I won't let you take advantage of me," Kang Chi explained with a smile, "Besides, we make money to spend it. If we only make money but don't spend it, how can the economy be active, right?"

Director Ge also smiled and did not continue discussing this topic.

After all, the willingness to spend money is based on the ability to make money. Although their space agency can also make money by launching commercial satellites, it basically still depends on government subsidies. Otherwise, it would be wishful thinking to develop aerospace solely through commercial activities.

Because Kang Chi needs to build the prototype himself to upgrade the items, and Kang Chi generally has two ways to build the prototype. One is to quickly make a low-level one by himself. The main task of this low-level one is to give the system "prompt words" to ensure that the system does not go astray during the upgrade process.

It feels like AI painting draws wife cards,
Another method is to obtain relatively mature technology, and after you have thoroughly mastered the technology, copy it and upgrade it. The advantage of this method is that others have already written the "prompt words" very clearly and specifically. If Kang Chi copies it, he can save a lot of time and general experience, and the possibility of upgrading incorrectly is also relatively small.
At the same time, the high-tech industry chain developed in this way is basically upgraded on the original basis, without the need to open up a new industry chain separately, so mass production is relatively easier.

So in Director Ge's office, Kang Chi briefly learned about the current leading aerospace technology projects in the country, and finally chose the technology of the "Tengyun Project" that he believed would be helpful for the construction of the space shuttle.

The Tengyun project is developing an air-to-space shuttle vehicle that can take off and land horizontally and can be reused multiple times.

That’s right, it’s the ‘space plane’ that has always been a hot topic in public opinion.

When most people first see this word, they probably immediately think of the space shuttle, and then after a brief understanding, they immediately think that this will be a high-tech replacement and successor to the space shuttle.

But in fact, there is a big difference between the two.

The term "space plane" sounds very high-sounding, but its principle is actually an "air-launched rocket".
Air-launched rockets are not a new term. Basically, all missiles launched by fighter jets can be called air-launched rockets.
An air-launched rocket refers to a rocket launched by a carrier aircraft, which can leave the atmosphere and enter the Earth's orbit.

As for why we don’t launch rockets directly from the ground, but have to use airplanes to carry rockets to high altitudes for launch?
Mainly to save launch costs,

In the past, the technology of reusable rockets was immature and not as popular as it is now. Scientists have thought of many ways to reduce the launch cost of rockets. Among them, air-launched rockets are a launch plan that uses a large carrier aircraft to replace or partially replace the first-stage rocket.

This solution allows the rocket to be at an altitude where the air is thin and the resistance is small when it is launched, while also achieving a certain initial speed. Therefore, it can carry less fuel and increase the payload ratio.

However, this solution places high demands on the carrier aircraft.
First of all, it must have a relatively high load capacity, otherwise the weight and load of the rocket cannot be lifted up, so transport planes or large passenger planes are generally used as carriers.
Secondly, the carrier aircraft’s engine performance must be good and the higher it can fly, the better.

However, China's technology in these two fields was actually quite weak before, so this solution has basically not been put into practical use or researched in China.

At the same time, air-launched rockets are also considered by the industry to be a "castrated alternative" to reusable rockets and can only serve as a transitional solution. Therefore, foreign research and development investment is not high. Only Virgin Orbit and Mojave Aerospace Expeditions are doing it, and they are not very professional.

Later, as the technology of reusable rockets gradually matured and became popular, the two companies fell into an embarrassing situation of reduced orders, financing difficulties, and projects that could go bankrupt at any time.

Having said that, the advantages and disadvantages of the aerospace plane plan, which uses the same principle as air-launched rockets, are actually very obvious.

It has many advantages, such as not being restricted by the rocket launch window and site, having an airport for takeoff and landing at any time, and being fully reused, with low single launch costs.

But its disadvantages are as obvious as its advantages, that is, it has low carrying efficiency and is only suitable for transporting personnel and small equipment.
This means that the value of aerospace planes in the military field is actually much higher than that in the aerospace field.

This is also the main reason why Kang Chi chose the "antique" technology route of the space shuttle.

In fact, to be honest, the various plans for space launch technology are more or less similar. For example, the two solid rockets and the external large orange fuel tank carried by the space shuttle act as carriers, while the space shuttle's orbital vehicle is equivalent to a space plane.

Therefore, the relevant technologies of the Tengyun Project are of great help to Kangchi in developing a new type of space shuttle.

Of course, it would be even better if we could get ready-made blueprints of the space shuttle...

Kang Chi couldn't help but ask Director Ge: "Do you think it's possible to buy the technical drawings of the Blizzard from Damao?"

"The Blizzard?"

Director Ge showed a somewhat embarrassed expression, but finally nodded: "I will try my best to help you think of a solution."
-
Coincidentally, just when Kang Chi and Director Ge finished their conversation and flew back to Dongyang, General Belfshka also arrived in Yanjing. He immediately contacted his old friend Cai Yaobin and made a request for additional war robots and the purchase of new fighter jets.

Cai Yaobin had previously "sold" ten war robots from two combat teams to them at a bargain price, and required them to use them only at the agreed time and not to disassemble the robots, otherwise they would bear the consequences.

China also sent a maintenance team, which is responsible for replacing and repairing the robot's quantum communication chips and other easily consumable parts. There is also a certain element of "supervision" involved.

This is also a routine operation for high-end equipment transactions, and Da Mao has no objection. However, they were a little skeptical about the actual performance of this war robot at first, but they were shocked when they used it.

War Devil!

That was the only word General Belfshka could use to describe the thing.

They had previously doubted China's combat capability, and had some disagreements about who was the big brother and who was the second brother. But after seeing this equipment perform so well in actual combat, they no longer had the courage to fight for the title of big brother...

To be honest, Belfshka previously believed that S3, which would begin with a nuclear war, was almost inevitable.

It's not that he is pessimistic, but history has already given the facts.

The claim that nuclear weapons are too powerful and no one dares to use them is actually completely untenable.

When machine guns first appeared on the battlefield and quickly ended the Civil War, everyone thought that with this kind of "weapon of mass destruction", wars would definitely not be fought in the future. Soldiers would be like being cut leeks in front of this kind of weapon, so how could wars be fought?
So there will be world peace from now on!

However, what is embarrassing is that as soon as S1 started, machine gun fire became the norm on the battlefield.

At the end of S1, new 'weapons of mass destruction' appeared again.

When tanks rampaged across the battlefield, rolled over trenches and broke through barbed wire, ending the war in an invincible manner, many people began to say that wars would definitely not be fought in the future. How could wars be fought with steel monsters like tanks?
So there will be world peace from now on!

As a result, these people were slapped in the face again. The Hans Kingdom launched a blitzkrieg of armored forces and set off S2.

Then what is the 'weapon of mass destruction' that ends S2?
It's the atomic bomb.

Then, what did these people say?

With nuclear weapons, war will definitely not happen!
This is actually deceiving yourself.

Once S3 really begins, the probability of a nuclear war breaking out directly may be higher than anyone imagines!

From a historical perspective, this may even be inevitable.

This can be seen from everyone's attitude towards nuclear weapons.

Among all nuclear-weapon states, except for Panda, the attitudes toward nuclear weapons are actually the same: to ensure preemptive nuclear force.

In other words, they have never actually said that they will not use nuclear weapons. Not only will they use them, but they will also ensure that they strike first.

What this means is, you messed with me, right?
Then guess if I will use it before you!
This is the truth and meaning of deterrence.

Human civilization has always been full of blood and killing, but the short-lived peace has created many illusions for many people.

Belfshka had been wondering what the 'weapon of mass destruction' that could end S3 would be, until he saw these war robots and suddenly realized that this might be it.

If we want to end S3, we must make an assumption: assuming that nuclear explosions have occurred in most important places, how can we maintain combat effectiveness in such an environment?

These robots seem to have already given this answer.

Communications in a nuclear explosion zone are basically equivalent to an area of ​​full-band blocking interference, but this type of robot can ignore electromagnetic interference and communicate without blind spots, so its combat effectiveness in a nuclear explosion zone is still unrestricted.

In a sense, it is a new nuclear bomb.

So Belfshka quickly concluded that S3 might have been strangled in the cradle by this robot, or the "circular communication device" installed in the robot by Chinese engineers.

That kind of 'circular communication device' is the new 'weapon of mass destruction'!
He believes that what needs to be considered now is how to use fists to put more pressure on the West at the 'end' of S3, and to use military performance to gain more say in the upcoming major negotiations.

Therefore, Belfshka has applied several times, hoping to purchase more robots.

However, Cai Yaobin could naturally see through the little tricks of the Damao family at a glance, so all their proposals were rejected.

The reason is insufficient production capacity, so only this many were produced.

Although we are all in the same boat, everyone has their own little thoughts.

From our perspective, the less high-end equipment that flows out, the better, so as to reduce the possibility of the technology being dismantled.

Although Kang Chi has repeatedly emphasized that no one else can research or manufacture this technology, it is always good to be careful.

The main purpose of selling is to deter others and gain enough bargaining chips at the negotiation table.
Therefore, unless difficulties are encountered at the negotiation table, it is possible to sell more units.

As for the new mysterious fighter jet claiming to be the sixth-generation fighter jet, Belfshka had never heard of it before.

It's funny to say that this news was actually given to him by Country M.

They took the initiative to contact Russia, provided some military exercise data, and frantically emphasized the power of this fighter.

It's clearly hinting at them:
Aren't you afraid of having such a powerful neighbor?

The intention to sow discord is quite obvious.

Indeed, Damao was a little scared after seeing it.
But they feel that as long as they put themselves in the right position and honestly act as the second in command, this big brother should still be very reliable.

Therefore, Old M’s trick is not very effective.

However, since the eldest brother has new goodies at home, it’s normal for me, as the younger brother, to come and play with them, right?
Even if we only sell them one, it will be a super weapon to protect the country.

Therefore, General Belfshka personally flew to Yanjing to ask Cai Yaobin for the treasure.

(End of this chapter)