Siheyuan: I eat melons while doing scientific research

Chapter 1466 Don't Hang Up (5k)

Another round of applause rang out. Comrades of this era were still somewhat reserved and did not have many formalities to express their emotions.

Applause is the best and most appropriate way that everyone can think of.

As for throwing a test pilot into the air, that's probably something they wouldn't do. If they were accidentally bumped or injured, things could get very complicated. While there might be more than one test pilot, continuity is generally the best approach.

"Comrade Zhendong, would you like to say a few words?" The leader turned to Gao Zhendong and smiled.

The comrades all felt it was only natural; without Gao Zhendong, there would be no plane.

To everyone's surprise, Gao Zhendong smiled and shook his head: "No, no, I'm happy just to watch the plane take off."

This plane originally belonged to this land; Gao Zhendong simply brought it into existence ahead of time, albeit in a less-than-perfect form.

That doesn't quite seem right. Under current technological conditions, it's actually quite perfect.

That's okay.

However, Gao Zhendong still didn't intend to say anything. He simply turned his head, lit a cigarette, and looked in a certain direction outside the airport.

Brothers, you don't need to hang up tickets anymore.

The two timelines seemed to converge here in a wonderful way. Gao Zhendong truly admired those physics students who risked their lives to report the good news to military enthusiasts across the country.

After all, the sign that read "Leaking secrets will get you arrested, and if you are caught, you will be beheaded" was widely circulated online, whether it was photoshopped or real.

He stood in the crowd, as if the hustle and bustle around him was both far away and very close. He just stared out of the airport and remained silent for a long time.

This is the military technology that has intimidated us the longest, most frequently, and most extensively by foreign forces, even surpassing nuclear blackmail, since that technology has a very high barrier to entry.

For a long time, this was a huge gap that military enthusiasts could never get around. Whenever this kind of aircraft was mentioned, even the most optimistic and radical military enthusiasts could only say things like "the J-8 can take down the USS Niagara at high altitude and high speed" or "it is economically feasible to trade eight for one", but they could not say that it could truly and fairly confront the USS Niagara.

Now, the roles have reversed, brothers!

The excitement will eventually pass. After the initial excitement of the successful maiden flight, even busier and more challenging work is about to follow.

The maiden flight was merely the aircraft taking off normally; there is still much to be done.

However, there is one thing that has been done since the maiden flight.

Comrades from the committee, Gao Zhendong, comrades from the Air Force and the Air Equipment Bureau, and comrades from the Southwest Institute returned to the Southwest Institute together.

As soon as I returned to the office, a colleague came up to me with a telegram.

"Chief, the data from the radar station has arrived."

What we were doing from the very beginning was testing radar cross-section data.

Stealth aircraft are a new technology, and many supporting facilities are not yet in place, such as microwave anechoic chambers and reflectivity testing platforms. Therefore, the best way to test the reflectivity of a real aircraft is to scan it directly with radar from the ground while it is in flight.

This method is a bit old-fashioned and full of the flavor of making do with what one has, but anyway, as long as it can be tested, that's fine.

The maiden flight had just ended when the specially configured radar station sent over the first test data without any delay.

The director was delighted: "Oh? Quick, quick, let me see it."

This is the core performance indicator of this aircraft, and in some ways, there is none.

After all, other subsystems, even advanced radar systems, can only offer what others have but we have. However, stealth is something that others truly do not have, which forces our comrades to pay attention to it.

The comrade who came to report handed over a piece of paper. The content was short, but extremely important.

After the director took it, he handed it directly to Gao Zhendong: "Here, Chief Engineer Gao, take a look. You're the expert on this, hahaha."

Everyone felt that all of this was perfectly reasonable, watching Gao Zhendong open the piece of paper.

A number catches the eye; the first number is 0!

Gao Zhendong was overjoyed. Good!
If it's 0, then it means that it's at least on the same level as the Great Polar Bear's Flat-27 decades later.

Seeing this number, Gao Zhendong felt a weight lifted off his shoulders; everything was settled!
Although he had done his best to incorporate all the technology available in this era into the aircraft, Gao Zhendong was still somewhat worried about how it would turn out. After all, without seeing concrete evidence, there was still a possibility of unforeseen changes.

And now, this number is undoubtedly great news.

The number following the 0 was not 0, but Gao Zhendong was not disappointed. This was scientific and objective. If there had been another 0 after the 0, Gao Zhendong would have suspected that there was something wrong with the radar station.

However, it was impossible for the radar station to malfunction. For this test, the most advanced radar, the latest model with extensive combat experience in the south, was specially deployed.

"Radar tests show that the new fighter jet's forward RCS is 0.3 square meters!" There is no other clear data yet, because the aircraft on its maiden flight cannot fly in a special flight attitude for radar testing. It can only test whatever it can see. The first thing tested is the most important indicator - forward RCS.

0.3, much lower than the Bian-27. Gao Zhendong was somewhat surprised, after all, the Bian-27 came from the 21st century and could be considered the gatekeeper of fourth (fifth) generation aircraft.

But upon closer inspection, it seems quite normal. This aircraft has an S-shaped air intake, a smoother and more streamlined belly and fuselage, and a smaller airframe, which the Flat-27 lacks. Even if all other conditions are the same, it is not a fantasy that this aircraft has a significantly lower RCS than the Flat-27.

However, the comrades were unaware of these intricacies; they were still surprised, and some comrades didn't even know what it all meant.

"So low?"

"No, isn't this just like a wok?"

"It's a bit bigger than a wok, and about the same size as a cutting board for dry food."

"It's about the size of a large chopping board."

"Is it really that effective? Even the smallest frontal area of ​​that plane is still quite large, how could it be so small?"

Although everyone has their own version of events, the numbers are there and they can't be wrong, since Gao Zhendong couldn't possibly have fabricated them.

"Chief Engineer Gao, what does 0.3 mean?" Although the number is specific, its effect seems somewhat abstract to those who are not in this field, so the Air Force comrades posed this question to their most trusted researcher—Gao Zhendong.

Gao Zhendong thought for a moment and smiled, "A 0.3 square meter RCS means that by the time the enemy detects our fighter jet, they will already be within the no-escape zone of even our earliest medium-range interceptor missiles. Moreover, by then, our medium-range interceptor missiles will have already been launched and will be about to meet them head-on. If it is a new medium-range missile or even a long-range missile, they will not even have a chance to get close enough to detect the aircraft."

For the Air Force and Air Equipment Bureau personnel, this example is incredibly clear because it directly incorporates combat cases.

"So, they were shot down before they even spotted us?"

Gao Zhendong nodded and then shook his head: "You could say that, but you can't say that either. After all, missiles have a hit rate. With factors such as interference, maneuvering, and missing the target, there are always some lucky ones that might survive until they make contact with our aircraft."

understood.

"I understand. The enemy has to rely on luck to survive long enough to be detected on radar."

Gao Zhendong nodded: "Yes, that's right. But by then, under good weather conditions, you'll be able to see it with your own eyes, hahaha."

Moreover, at that time, the enemy aircraft, whose energy was almost completely depleted, was about to face large off-axis infrared air-to-air missiles equipped with helmet-mounted sights, so the chances were actually not many.

The advantages of stealth fighters are now truly apparent, and the morale of all comrades has soared to new heights.

"Then this battle on the other side will be tough, hahaha."

"Excellent! Even more delightful is the sight of warplanes disappearing into the clouds, bringing smiles to faces both the military and civilians." The committee leader couldn't help but burst into poetry.

Gao Zhendong couldn't help but glance at him. "Wow, this level of skill isn't like your usual style."

Although it's just average, it's at least average.

"There's something you should consider putting on the plane." After the initial excitement, Gao Zhendong remembered something. "What is it?"

"Lumberjack lens." The Lumberjack lens was invented relatively early, at the end of S2.

"Lunnberg lens? What would you do with that on a stealth aircraft? It would destroy its stealth capabilities." The comrades from the Southwest Institute were somewhat puzzled.

Gao Zhendong laughed: "The point is to break the invisibility, to make it retractable, do you understand what I mean?"

The comrades from the Air Force Equipment Bureau were the first to react: "You mean, we should deploy the Luneburg lens during routine training and duty to prevent the leakage of stealth data?"

Gao Zhendong nodded: "Yes!"

The other comrades then realized that this idea was once again ahead of the curve.

"Hmm, Zhendong, your habit of being prepared for anything is truly admirable." The leader couldn't help but praise Gao Zhendong, even though he already knew about it and often mentioned it.

A meeting should still be held; a sense of ritual is still very useful on the path of scientific research.

However, this meeting was simple. There were no problems to solve or anything to discuss; it was just about having fun.

Gao Zhendong didn't say anything else; things were already good enough.

However, his silence does not mean that his comrades will not ask.

Just as this brief, enthusiastic, and joyful maiden flight debriefing meeting was coming to an end, colleagues from the Southwest Institute came over.

This is a rare opportunity, as Chief Engineer Gao doesn't have much free time. Face-to-face communication is naturally better than making phone calls or sending emails.

"You all say so, I'm going to take a break." The committee leader was getting on in years, and after the initial excitement, he was feeling slightly tired. Besides, these technical details weren't part of his main job, so it was a good opportunity to rest.

After seeing the leaders off, Gao Zhendong and two colleagues from the Southwest Institute found an empty office to sit down, and the office door was quickly surrounded by people.

"What's the problem?" Gao Zhendong asked with a smile.

It wasn't that he looked down on his comrades or thought they only came to him to ask questions; rather, given the scale of the gathering, it was impossible for them to be idle.

"Well, actually, there aren't any major issues with the overall direction of the aircraft; now it's just a matter of adjusting the details. However, there's a next step we need to discuss with you, something we hadn't really considered before."

"What aspect?"

"Machine gun! We've taken a liking to the Army's 625mm machine gun and want to improve it for use on aircraft. We've heard you're quite accomplished in this area, and we'd like to hear your opinion."

Goodness, it's Citibank's 620 local version, right?

Speaking of this, the air force comrade next to him had his eyes light up. A six-barreled 25mm cannon, that firepower, just thinking about it is exciting.

Judging from their expressions, Gao Zhendong guessed that the idea of ​​putting the 625 on board was most likely their own.

"The problem you're facing is being overweight, right?" Gao Zhendong laughed.

This is not hard to guess at all. After all, neither the Army nor the Navy has many restrictions on weight when using the Type 625. On the contrary, they will deliberately retain some weight for the sake of accuracy, stability and other indicators.

However, once it's on the plane, this thing becomes quite heavy, especially considering that new air superiority fighters have made many targeted designs and compromises for avionics, stealth, range, and internal weapons bays. This Gatling gun, which doesn't even include the cannon shells and has undergone various weight reduction measures, is still a bit heavy for this medium-sized fighter with twin medium thrust, and it also occupies a lot of space. With hundreds of cannon shells, it becomes even more of a burden.

"How heavy are your cannons now?"

"The current prototype is equipped with counterweights, making it lighter than the current cannon. We've tried everything we can, but the current cannon still weighs over 180 kilograms, and the shells are even heavier."

180? !
No wonder they were scratching their heads at this thing.

The Citizen M61 6-barrel 20mm autocannon weighed 120 kg. In comparison, the 625's 180 kg seemed relatively light. It can be said that the designers of the cannon had tried every possible method.

“625 is too big.” Gao Zhendong thought for a moment and said decisively.

“However, the weight of the twin-barreled Gatling gun is also around 150 kilograms, not much lighter. We considered that you are very familiar with Gatling guns, and you played a significant role in the gun in the combined missile and gun system on the land and sea sides, so we wanted to see if there was a way to optimize the weight,” said the comrade from the Southwest Institute.

Gao Zhendong scratched his head, suddenly remembering an incredible item. He had a deep impression of it, without even needing to consult the system. The main reason was that this thing was truly exceptional, so exceptional that Gao Zhendong remembered it perfectly after just one look, unable to forget it.

"Why not use 620?" Gao Zhendong asked with a smile.

"The 20mm cannon's caliber is a bit too small; its power is insufficient," said the Air Force comrade.

In this respect, Citibank and White Bear represent two different schools of thought.

The water-splashing faction and the forceful faction.

The former focuses on small caliber and high rate of fire, aiming to hit the target.

The latter focuses on larger caliber and greater power, aiming to eliminate the opponent with a single shot.

For example, the MiG-15, with its small frame, is equipped with a 37mm cannon and two 23mm cannons. Although the 37mm cannon is known for its erratic trajectory, if it hits you, it can be fatal.

The Air Force's idea was somewhat of a double-edged sword: it wanted both the high rate of fire of the six-barreled machine gun and the powerful 25mm cannon, which gave the designers of the machine gun a lot of trouble.

Gao Zhendong said, "My suggestion is to use a 30mm cannon, single-barreled, with a maximum of 200 rounds of ammunition."

"This... the power is indeed greater, but isn't the rate of fire a bit low? If multiple guns are installed like the MiG-19, the weight will increase."

The Air Force has used 30mm cannons, and in considerable numbers. The MiG-19 uses the NR-30 30mm cannon. This cannon is very light, weighing less than 70 kg, and has a rate of fire of over 900 rounds per minute. If it is a single barrel, the firepower is indeed somewhat insufficient. If it is multi-barreled, the total weight increases. It is not as good as the twin-barreled 23mm Gast gun with a rate of fire of 3500 rounds per minute and a weight of about 150 kg.

Gao Zhendong laughed, and laughed with great pride, because he could imagine the expressions on his comrades' faces later: "What if this cannon weighed only 45 kilograms and had a rate of fire of up to 1800 rounds per minute?"

"How many????"

1800 rounds? 45 kilograms?

"A 30mm cannon?"

The combination of these data points left the comrades utterly astonished, their jaws practically dropping to the floor.

Gao Zhendong laughed and said, "Don't worry about whether it's possible or not, just tell me if this data is usable."

It was only then that the comrades remembered that the world's lightest 12.7mm heavy machine gun was made by this smiling comrade. Thinking about it, maybe it really could work? After all, this comrade was very skilled in the field of lightweight firearms.

The Air Force comrade pondered for a moment: "If we can achieve this rate of fire, a single 30mm cannon with 200 rounds of ammunition would indeed be sufficient, and it would last for about the same amount of time in an air battle."

这个射速是米格-19的30毫米炮的两倍！不少米格-19及其衍生型号，安装的30mm炮也就是2门，备弹不过80发左右。

Compared to the twin-barreled Gastly, in terms of destructive power, one 30mm shot is equivalent to two 23mm shots without any problem.

So if the theoretical rate of fire of this cannon is indeed 1800 rounds per minute, then there is no problem at all.

Gao Zhendong added: "Don't forget, this is a stealth aircraft equipped with long-range radar-guided air-to-air missiles. The core of this aircraft is to eliminate the enemy with air-to-air missiles before the enemy detects it. Machine guns are acceptable, but they are not the most important feature."

With the F-4's disastrous performance as a precedent, it's impossible to eliminate the autocannon now, but positioning it as a supplementary weapon isn't a big problem. Not to mention that Chief Engineer Gao proposed this cannon, which is truly equivalent to two cannons. Its firepower is no less than that of the Zhan-6, so it can't be called a supplementary weapon; it's the main force.

Especially after the comrades saw the new aircraft's positive RCS of 0.3 square meters, their confidence grew even stronger. Enemy aircraft that survived to reach the machine gun were few in number and had little energy left.

"Chief Engineer Gao, although... but 45 kilograms, and a firing rate of 1800 rounds per minute, that's very difficult, isn't it?" He was practically saying he couldn't do it.

With a higher rate of fire, the related heat dissipation, structure, and load-bearing capacity all need to be strengthened.

(End of this chapter)