In 1978, I was admitted to Harbin Institute of Technology

Chapter 112: Infrared technology leaps forward from one generation to the next, using air-to-air missiles and drones to set off fireworks during the Chinese New Year
No one answered Xie Wei's doubts. Yu Guofeng quietly stood up and took a cup to make tea.

Li Rui was holding an empty enamel teacup, wondering what he was thinking.

Xie Wei's mind raced as he tried hard to recall the technology related to air-to-air missiles.

I don't know the specific technology.

As long as you know the materials and the names, you will naturally have a direction, which allows professionals to avoid many detours.

His eyes kept moving back and forth between Li Rui and Yu Guofeng, hoping to get some information from their expressions and reactions, but the two were very smart. Not only did they not talk, they didn't even make eye contact.

Yu Guofeng doesn’t understand the air-to-air missile project?
impossible.

Yuan Zhenyue went to see the project team leader and will talk about air-to-air missiles later.

This is absolutely confidential information. If Yu Guofeng had not been involved, he would not be staying here.

"Principal, are you looking for us?"

I don’t know how long it took, but footsteps were heard in the corridor outside the door.

A square-faced man in his early 50s wearing black-framed glasses and a middle-aged man in his early 40s appeared in the office.

Both of them looked tired, with bloodshot eyes.

Typical symptoms of not getting enough rest.

"Xie Wei, this is Professor Lai Guichang, the person in charge of the school's air-to-air missile project, and the other one is Associate Professor Shi Hongwei..."

Li Rui introduced both parties.

"You must be Xie Wei! I've heard of you a long time ago, but I never had the chance to meet you. The young are really formidable!"

Lai Guichang looked at Xie Wei for a long time before he smiled and extended his hand to Xie Wei.

Xie Wei smiled awkwardly, "Hello, Professor Lai."

“Have you figured out the chip?”

Shi Hongwei asked after greeting Xie Wei.

This made Xie Wei understand instantly that, thanks to Li Rui, any project team in the school related to chips should know his name.

"A batch of chips has been produced and is in the director's office."

Xie Wei looked at Shi Hongwei and the other man, thinking that he couldn't take the initiative to ask about the progress of the air-to-air missile project.

Li Rui definitely has no good intentions.

God knows what kind of hole he has dug for himself.

"This guy said that this batch of chips can solve the off-target problem that currently plagues all projects..."

Li Rui did not give Xie Wei a chance to change the subject and went straight to the point. "The school has been responsible for this part of the work for a long time, and there has been no progress. You know the attitude of the military. If there is no more results, there will be no funding, and the project will have nothing to do with us... As professionals, you should listen to whether Xie Wei's ideas have the possibility of being realized."

After saying that, Li Rui looked at Xie Wei.

It looks like "please start your performance".

Lai Guichang, who was originally smiling, suddenly frowned and looked at Xie Wei.

The air-to-air missiles they took over were state secrets.

The principal lets a newcomer get directly involved?
It’s not that Professor Lai looks down on newcomers, but the current project has reached a bottleneck.

"Student Xie Wei, it's not just the data processing system that determines whether an air-to-air missile hits its target."

Shi Hongwei reminded Xie Wei.

Xie Wei nodded and looked at the old man Li Rui with resentment. How could he not know?
The key point is that the old man didn’t even give himself a chance to explain himself.

You have to force the mule to do something.

"Professor Lai, Professor Shi, can you tell us about the current status of our project?"

Xie Wei did not answer immediately, hoping to understand the project situation first and determine exactly which Pili it was before he could make targeted suggestions.

PL-1 is the first domestic air-to-air missile, modeled after the Soviet K-5. It is a radar-based all-weather air-to-air missile with the ability to "fire and forget". Limited by the technical level, this missile uses electronic tube technology. Limited to the J-6's airborne radar range of less than 10 kilometers, the search-to-automatic tracking distance is only 3.2 kilometers, the missile can be launched at a distance of 2.5 kilometers, and the missile range does not exceed 4.5 kilometers.

It was eliminated in 74.

The PL-9, derived from the AIM-2, is currently the main air combat missile of the Air Force.

PL-3 is an air-to-air missile developed in response to the insufficient performance of PL-2. In order to match the J-8, it is specially designed to improve the performance of the seeker, increase the effective range of the seeker, improve the target interception/tracking capability, and increase the lift area, so as to enhance the guidance accuracy, attack capability, etc.

The design has not yet been finalized, and is even in the embarrassing situation of being left behind once it is finalized.

PL-4 is an independently designed missile based on the AIM-7 Sparrow. Due to technical reasons, the prototype has not been completed yet. In any case, it is also a product that becomes obsolete as soon as it is successfully developed.

PL-5 is an improvement on PL-2, changing from the original passive infrared guidance to semi-active radar + passive infrared guidance. It will take several years to be finalized and will be the main combat missile for air force fighters for a long time in the future.

Xie Wei had just gone through all the early models in his mind.

He wasn't sure which one the school had.

Different missiles have different guidance systems and different focuses.

"The Pili-4 project was mainly designed and developed by the 612 Institute. The school's work is mainly to improve the control system and enhance the guidance capability..."

PL-4!

That model was outdated and was an air-to-air missile that was improved based on the AIM-7 Sparrow wreckage obtained on the Monkey Battlefield!

The Sparrow entered service more than a decade ago.

Uses semi-active radar guidance.

From its birth until the 90s, it has evolved into multiple models and has always been the main combat missile of the Western Air Force.

What we have developed domestically is not only semi-active radar guidance, but also passive infrared guidance.

Neither of the two guidance methods can demonstrate advanced performance under the backward level of electronic technology.

What's more, today's passive infrared seekers use uncooled lead sulfide, a material with low sensitivity, and signal processing still uses analog circuits...

Due to the low sensitivity of the lead sulfide detector, it can only detect the tail nozzle of the aircraft, and the maximum effective distance is only about 5 kilometers; in addition, the use of a powered gyro tracking stabilization platform has a tracking range of only ±12°...

Something from the tube era!

After listening to the introduction, Xie Wei had a clear idea in his mind.

"Professor Lai, Professor Shi, when the school project team found that it was impossible to increase the range of the seeker with the existing foundation, did they ever think of using other materials with higher sensitivity as a substitute?"

"Oh?"

Xie Wei's proposal instantly aroused Lai Guichang's interest.

Shi Hongwei narrowed his eyes and looked at Xie Wei, "What material should I replace it with?"

"Indium antimonide, the higher the purity, the more sensitive it is to infrared radiation."

Xie Wei spoke without even thinking.

High-purity indium antimonide is the key core material for the third-generation infrared guidance.

We have not yet started to pursue beyond-visual-range strikes, and the main method of air combat is still dogfighting.

The pursuit of beyond-visual-range strikes belongs to the information age and will soon arrive.

The technical foundation of radar, avionics, etc. is also poor, and the supporting facilities cannot keep up.

Even though the purity of indium antimonide is lower now, its sensitivity to infrared detection is much stronger than that of lead sulfide.

"The school's numerical control system requires a variety of highly sensitive photosensitive components. We have conducted detailed tests on all the materials currently available in China..."

In order to avoid arousing suspicion when he mentioned the word indium antimonide, Xie Wei produced the excuse he had prepared shortly after arriving at school.

The control of CNC systems requires the participation of a large number of highly sensitive photosensitive elements.

The system research team naturally has to deal with photosensitive materials.

Xie Wei had thought about it at that time, but he never thought that he would be able to use it so soon.

Indium antimonide is a semiconductor material.

As for the relationship between infrared detection and photosensitive elements for automatic control, I am too lazy to explain it.

Xie Wei explained the reason, but no one paid any attention.

"Indium antimonide? I've tried it before. The sensitivity is too high, and the detected data is too much. The control system cannot process it quickly. It may even cause the system to crash due to too much data, and it may fall off during the tracking process..."

Lai Guichang looked at Xie Wei and explained with a bitter face.

Research on indium antimonide has been carried out for a long time.

"So, this requires a high-performance chip with stronger computing power. Once the guidance head is replaced and the internal data processing level is improved, I think there will be no big problem..."

The more Xie Wei spoke, the more relaxed he became.

"..."

Seeing Xie Wei, Lai Guichang and Shi Hongwei talking to each other in a clear and logical manner, Yu Guofeng, who could understand them at the beginning, felt confused in the end.

It seems that the following is not about missiles, right?
Li Rui had given up long ago. From the moment he heard Xie Wei talking about various materials and principles, he felt like Zhou Gong was beckoning him to go on a date.

"Well, Xie Wei, the school laboratory has the materials. Please take some time to work with us to verify whether they are reliable."

Although it was a discussion, the tone left no room for doubt.

Lai Guichang didn't give Xie Wei any chance to refuse.

"It's still several days before the Chinese New Year. Without a sword in hand, the air force fighter planes are already short-sighted. If they encounter foreign invasion, can they use machine guns to fight against sticks that can be swung dozens of kilometers away? Only when the blue sky of our motherland is protected by our own fighter planes can we celebrate the Chinese New Year well! Enjoy the reunion!"

As if he could see what Xie Wei was thinking, Li Rui scolded him unhappily.

MMP!

Xie Wei almost cursed out loud.

Is this something that should be celebrated during the Chinese New Year?
Judging from the attitudes of Professor Lai and Associate Professor Shi, I am afraid that I will disappear until the effect is confirmed.

"Well, Director Yu, Xie Rou has to go back to take the college entrance examination next year. If I..."

"Come on, it won't take that long! Ten days at most!"

Yu Guofeng interrupted Xie Wei before he finished speaking.

Ten days?
Just kidding.

But when Xie Wei arrived at a small building next to the school building, he knew that what Yu Guofeng said was true!

In the laboratory on the first floor, placed on the middle workbench are two sample bombs that are more than three meters long and have not yet been fully assembled!
Isn't it said that the PL-4 prototype has not yet started ground finalization testing?
"There are no problems with the aerodynamic layout, engine, propellant, or even the warhead. As long as the problems with the seeker and internal data system can be solved, the sample missile can be directly put on the fighter plane for target shooting tests. We will solve the problem of missing the target first..."

Lai Guichang saw Xie Wei looking at the sample with a look of shock on his face and explained beside him.

"The project started in 66, and it has been almost 13 years... The 612th Institute has made a lot of efforts..."

Shi Hongwei was also there to introduce Xie Wei.

The PL-4 adopts a layout similar to that of the AIM-7 Sparrow, with two pairs of fully movable trapezoidal wings placed in the middle of the missile body, serving the dual functions of control rudder and aileron.

Four fixed triangular stabilizers are installed at the tail of the missile body to provide longitudinal stability.

The school has a wind tunnel laboratory, and the aerodynamic shape must have been modified according to the engine and the overall center of gravity of the missile.

"But I don't understand missiles..."

Before Xie Wei could finish speaking, a complete set of design drawings of PL-4 were handed to him.

"You don't need to worry about other things. The main thing to consider is how to improve the performance of the guidance head and data processing. Director Yu will give you a detailed introduction. You have to work hard these few days. I will ask someone to bring your quilt and toiletries here..."

Lai Guichang still did not give Xie Wei any chance to refute.

Am I under house arrest?
The kind that you can't leave until it's done?
Soon, Yu Guofeng arrived.

Seeing that Xie Wei was in a bad mood, he counseled him: "Our air force fighters are far behind the international ones. The most advanced J-7 and J-8 can't even intercept the enemy's bombers..."

You mean backfire?

The Tu-2M22 Backfire bomber can penetrate at a speed of Mach 3!
"From the beginning, all the project teams involved knew that it would be difficult to produce the PL-4. Even though this missile was put into service by the United States more than ten years ago, the precision radar technology and advanced control circuits used in it were all beyond the reach of domestic infrastructure. The chip you developed gave us a chance to achieve it, otherwise the principal wouldn't be so excited..."

"The principal used to be in the Air Force?"

Xie Weiming knew that there were no missiles when he challenged Hall 17, but he still asked.

Li Rui's reaction was very abnormal.

"The Army has been bombed several times by the enemy's Air Force. It's not glorious! The Air Force has fewer fighter planes, and its performance is not as good as the enemy's. Its weapons are also not as good as the enemy's..."

"..."

Xie Wei understood.

He could understand the urgency in the hearts of Li Rui, Lai Guichang and others.

Although the PL-4 semi-active radar-guided air-to-air missile is a project to match the J-9, at the beginning of its design, the troops and the R&D team did not consider using it only on the J-9.

In line with the tradition of thrift and diligence, as for air-to-air missiles, it is best if every fighter jet can use them.

What's more, semi-active radar guidance requires the fighter's onboard radar, and the current performance of the 204 radar cannot meet the usage requirements.

At the beginning of the design, the Soviet Union adopted a common scheme in air-to-air missile design, namely the "one missile, two heads" scheme. Through the interchange of two different guidance heads, semi-active radar and passive infrared, two missile models, semi-active radar and passive infrared, were formed.

As the performance of airborne radar is improved, semi-active radar guidance will be used.

If you can't get up, use passive infrared guidance.

"The Air Force has also been eager to obtain more advanced air-to-air missiles and has tightened its belt to spend money on these projects. If we can solve this problem, the school will have more funding..."

"More than 400 million, right?"

Xie Wei reacted instantly.

No wonder the principal was so generous. As long as the problem could be solved, 400 million yuan would be given to Xie Wei.

"Okay, you think about it first. Mr. Lai and his team have already started working on the indium antimonide seeker. We need to improve the control system... You and I are familiar with the chip..."

"Just the two of us?"

Xie Weigang asked.

He saw several teachers who were originally involved in his chip design project also entered the room, so he could only shut up.

What else can I say?

I can only finish the work early and go home early.

Since entering the small building, Xie Wei has never left.

It's not that no one forbade him to go out. Everyone was madly working on the project, optimizing the circuits and programming the missile control system. Meals were delivered by special people. If he was really too sleepy, he would just spread a layer of newspaper on the ground and take a nap.

Influenced by others, Xie Wei became so busy that he even forgot the existence of time and just wanted to finish this thing quickly.

Fortunately, he was not asked to improve the performance of his semi-active radar guidance or something.

It doesn't matter as long as the off-target problem is solved.

The passive infrared guided PL-8B missile, which has a range of only 4 kilometers, missed the target even though it was facing a target drone that was not very agile in flight...

Xie Wei didn't dare to say it was shameful.

Times are different.

The experiment of air-to-air missile using indium antimonide as the detector of infrared seeker was successful. All domestic air-to-air missiles will directly jump from the first generation to the third generation in terms of infrared guidance technology.

We have developed highly sensitive infrared detectors. As long as computer technology keeps up and other aspects are not lagging behind, this technology will not be outdated in the next half century.

Life has never been so difficult.

Likewise, it has never been so fulfilling.

"It's been fixed so quickly?"

Li Rui looked at Lai Guichang in front of him, a little bit unbelieving, "How long has it been?"

"We only changed the passive infrared guidance. In terms of hardware, we only replaced the guidance head and some sensors. It's mainly a software upgrade. We need to test the effect first, and then..."

"I will contact the Air Force right away. If we don't produce some results, this project will fail."

Li Rui sighed.

After receiving 1200 million yuan in funding from the ministry some time ago, Principal Li thought that he could get some funding from the Air Force as he had several advanced fighter jet projects on hand.

As a result, I didn’t even meet the relevant person in charge.

The messenger said that the school has received a lot of funding from the Air Force over the years, but has not achieved any results...

"Why don't we wait until after the Chinese New Year? There are only three days until the Chinese New Year."

"What are you waiting for? The Air Force can wait, but we can't! How can we continue the research without follow-up funds? The Air Force has always wanted to give up on us..."

Li Rui said dissatisfiedly, "Okay, you go and arrange to pack the stuff. I'll call Director Xiong of the Military Representative Office right away. Since reform and opening up have begun and a new era has arrived, and the New Year is just around the corner, let's try to use the new missiles to set off fireworks on New Year's Eve!"

Harbin was originally a heavy industrial city with many military factories.

In addition to some factories that have military representative offices, there is a military representative office in Harbin that is specifically responsible for each military representative office.

"Ah? Target shooting? Lao Li, it's only a short time now, are you drunk?"

As the New Year is approaching, the military representative office has a lot of social engagements.

Xiong Yueshan picked up the phone reluctantly, thinking that it was another unit that invited him. However, there was no greeting or anything else on the phone. Instead, the caller directly asked for target practice.

Only then did he realize that the voice belonged to his old comrade Li Rui.

"Are you not drunk? Aerial target? Are you kidding me?"

"What? The off-target problem has been solved? You didn't lie to me, did you? Okay, okay, I'll report to my superiors immediately..."

Hearing the voice coming from the other end of the phone, Xiong Yueshan became very excited.

The Air Force’s fighter jets now have sharper knives!
After hanging up the phone with Li Rui, he immediately picked up another military dedicated line, "Please help me connect to the military region's air force logistics department..."

(End of this chapter)