In 1978, I was admitted to Harbin Institute of Technology

Chapter 136 Target Drone Standards: Air-to-air and air defense missiles cannot catch up or lock onto them
“Why do you want to change the exterior design?”

In the radio training room, Mo Lingyu asked Xie Wei in confusion, "As long as we can achieve the function and listen to more channels, that's enough. The appearance does not affect the function, nor can it make the function more powerful."

In her opinion, as long as the radio can receive radio stations and provide clear broadcasts, it is enough.

Looking at the big, black and crude radio made by Mo Lingyu and his classmates with the help of classmates from the Radio Department, my whole brain was in a state of confusion.

Especially the appearance, which is a typical style of Russian military products, which made Xie Wei speechless.

"If you have something that has the same function, would you choose something that looks beautiful or something that looks ugly?"

“I choose the one with the lowest price.”

Mo Lingyu's answer left Xie Wei speechless.

“What if the price is the same?”

"I choose the one with better performance and more durability..."

Got it!
The other party is a straight woman.

"Squad leader, I know what you mean. When I was in the army, everyone only cared about whether the radio had stable communication quality, whether it was drop-resistant, and whether it could be used in harsher environments and environments with strong electromagnetic interference. They didn't care about whether it looked good!"

Mo Lingyu's rebuttal made the people around him nod their heads.

"Ugh!"

Xie Wei sighed.

Looking at the few people, he asked with a bitter face: "It is true that the troops need it. Everyone, this is a radio. Can we develop it and equip each soldier in the army with one so that they can listen to nearby radio stations in their spare time?"

"Uh~"

Everyone was stunned.

Even Mo Lingyu realized the problem at this moment.

"Everyone knows what project we are going to do. Our students who are participating have no foundation except for hobbies. The radio is just to let everyone accumulate experience, familiarize themselves with the basic knowledge of radio, and give everyone practice. Of course, if the product is suitable, it can be launched on the market..."

Having said that, Xie Wei looked at the big, black and crude radio again.

I sighed silently in my heart.

If it really appears on the market, I'm afraid few people will buy it.

Why is it so big?
It's just the radio function.

Electron tube!
When Xie Wei asked everyone and took apart the radio himself, he found out that what he originally required was to design and organize various basic electronic components into integrated circuits, and directly use the integrated circuits to realize functions such as radio signal reception and amplification.

result……

"..."

Looking at everyone, Xie Wei felt a sense of powerlessness.

The army required improvements to the Changkong-1 unmanned target drone, which placed high demands on wireless communication technology. Xie Wei originally thought that after a few months, the students had a good foundation and could start considering researching digital signal communications.

From the beginning, he intended to skip analog signals and move directly to digital signal technology.

But reality dealt Xie Wei a heavy blow.

It was almost the 1980s, and his classmates were still playing with tube radios!

"Xie Wei, don't worry. We didn't ignore your suggestion to integrate the core functions into the circuit. As you said, many people don't have the basics. Electron tubes can help people understand the basic technology more intuitively... We make such products to verify whether our design is successful. Otherwise, once the integrated circuit design is completed and there is a problem, the cost of tape-out will be too high..."

Mo Lingyu saw Xie Wei's expression, knew what he was thinking, and hurriedly explained, "Director Liang also agrees with our approach."

At the end, fearing that Xie Wei might not believe it, he added that Liang Hongbin supported them in adopting this approach.

“Has the integrated circuit been designed?”

Xie Wei asked.

After the circuit design of the radio is completed, it can be taped out in the school laboratory.

Just because the radio does not have many electronic components, even if signal amplification circuits are added, the number of electronic components will not increase too much, and the integrated circuit can only be regarded as a small-scale integrated circuit.

After all, it's just for practice.

"It's already done, how about you check it out?"

Mo Lingyu looked at Xie Wei expectantly.

Xie Wei did not refuse.

After getting the circuit design drawing, I found that the entire circuit was very simple and had obviously undergone many modifications.

“We can tape out directly in the lab, and if there are no problems, the project team will proceed to the next step.”

Xie Wei breathed a sigh of relief.

After thinking about it, I feel that the product needs to improve its functions.

Considering the huge market potential of the Walkman that became popular in the 1980s, we can definitely take advantage of the opportunity to create another hit product.

"If we change the electron tube to transistor, the size of the radio will be reduced to one-third of what it is now. And we need to add the function of playing tapes to the radio. After the resumption of the college entrance examination, the role of English in the college entrance examination is becoming more and more important. We can make this a tool for everyone to learn English, and at the same time, it can also play recorded songs..."

There are semiconductor radios on the market that can only listen to the radio and do not have the playback function. The cheapest one costs more than 70 yuan and also requires industrial coupons to purchase.

Insufficient production capacity!

Mo Lingyu agreed readily.

"How about it?"

As soon as they met, Li Rui couldn't wait to ask Xie Wei.

"The problem of the Hongguang Factory has been solved, and the school has one more machinery production plant for the transformation of technological achievements."

"This is a good thing! Mechanical design is an advantageous subject in our school, and many of the results can be converted. Which factory? Contact their person in charge immediately and ask them to bring money to the school to select technology..."

After hearing Xie Wei say that there was a new factory that could convert the results of mechanical technology, Principal Li, who had tasted the sweetness of profit and felt that there were more and more places to spend money, naturally did not miss it.

We immediately hoped that the person in charge of that factory would come to the school with money to select the technology that could be converted into products.

Before he could finish, Xie Wei rolled his eyes and interrupted him: "Principal, many of the mechanical technologies in our school are partial technologies, not mechanical equipment that can be directly produced!"

"Uh~"

Li Rui was embarrassed.

But thinking about the many basic technical materials lying in the school archives, he still felt unwilling, "Is it impossible to combine those technologies together? Even if not, it can improve the performance of some related equipment..."

Principal Li was really anxious.

The school currently has sufficient funding, but Principal Li still wants to do a lot more, and the money he has is definitely not enough.

Since the School-Enterprise Office has fully proved that it can raise funds without asking for funds from its superiors, why should it lose face and shamelessly run to the leaders to throw a tantrum and beg for funds?

When the business of the school-enterprise expands and the funds are sufficient, the superiors will be able to choose whether to give money or not!

"Yes, but the units that need technology will not only accept partial performance improvements of the product. The units that can accept partial performance improvements of the product have the ability to develop their own..."

"Are the technologies in our school just going to be shelved like this?"

At this moment, Principal Li wished he could sell all the school's technology.

If the price is right, military technology is not off the table.

"The previous ones were not advanced at all. What we need to do now is to enable the enterprises cooperating with the school-enterprise office to develop rapidly, create benchmarks, and form an advertising effect!"

Xie Wei looked at Li Rui's impatience and said calmly.

Doesn’t he want to?
The gap in our hearts can be imagined from an era with advanced military equipment such as seventh-generation fighter jets that can shuttle back and forth between outer space and the atmosphere, eight aircraft carrier battle groups, and eight amphibious assault ships, the only ships in the world that can be put together like building blocks to form a super aircraft carrier, to returning to an era with only second-generation fighter jets.

However, Xie Wei also knew that all advanced technologies required the development and breakthroughs of the entire industrial system.

The school’s original mechanical technology achievements are no longer competitive.

"But……"

"The CNC system and PLC system in the Department of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering can be developed and converted into products..."

"Aren't you afraid that the leaders of Harbin Institute of Technology will come and beat you up? This is a project that the school is cooperating with them."

Li Rui looked at Xie Wei in disbelief, and then warned him, "Xie Wei, we are in the Northeast, far away from Chengdu. Although it is the rear area, it is not the main market area for machine tool products."

A large part of the Third Front construction took place in the Bashu region.

Even in the Bashu region, most of the core backups of the complete industrial system are available.

However, with the cessation of the Third Line Project and the reform and opening up, many factories had to start preparing for transformation as soon as they were built and put into production because they had no planned orders.

"This does not conflict with the cooperation with Harbin First Machinery. In the cooperation between the school and Harbin First Machinery, they are responsible for the mechanical part and the school is responsible for the control system. If the research and development is successful, the school also needs to find a manufacturer, right?"

"Not bad!"

After listening to Xie Wei's explanation, Li Rui gave him a thumbs up.

"Okay, I have to go find Professor Feng."

Xie Wei hadn't wanted to come to see the principal in the first place. Every time they met, he either gave him tasks or put him under pressure.

Anyway, Xie Wei didn't hear much good news from him.

"Wu Tao and Wang Zheng have already returned. Why don't you go and ask your school enterprise office whether it has won any big business at the Canton Fair?"

"What's there to ask? Shouldn't you have received export orders for sanitary napkins? Maybe you've found a production factory that's willing to pay?"

Wu Tao and Wang Zheng also went to the Canton Fair with sanitary napkins.

Knowing the market potential of sanitary napkins, Xie Wei would not worry at all even if there are no orders now.

"Go ask them when you have time."

Seeing Xie Wei's lack of interest, Li Rui felt that he had made a wrong decision after all.

How could he know that Xie Wei was currently more concerned about the improvement of the Changkong No. 1 UAV?
As long as Changkong-1 is modified to the point where it cannot be hit by air-to-air missiles and the weapons of the air defense forces, the construction of both air-to-air missiles and air defense forces will be accelerated.

Xie Wei, who is familiar with the times, is very clear about the thoughts of the military leaders: Our country is so backward, but we can produce drones that cannot be hit by air-to-air missiles and air defense missiles equipped by the Air Force. Must foreign countries be more advanced?

The country will never ignore the advancement and strength of foreign countries.

They will only think that the country is backward.

"Okay, I'll go find them when I'm free." After Xie Wei said this, he disappeared out the door.

Looking at his back, Principal Li smiled bitterly and shook his head, "This brat!"

"Have you finished your business?"

Seeing Xie Wei appear, Professor Feng Bingyi, who was busy, asked him.

"Ah."

Xie Wei nodded in response.

"Now that I'm done with my work, I'll help with the drone improvement project for the next period of time before doing anything else."

Professor Feng's voice was very soft, but it made Xie Wei stunned for a moment.

"These are the technical data of Changkong No. 1. Take a look at them first and tell me what you think when the time comes."

Tell us what you think!

Xie Wei wanted to make some excuses, but Feng Bingyi didn't give him the chance. After handing Xie Wei a thick stack of information, he went on to do other things.

With no other options, he could only stay in the office allocated to the UAV project team at school to read the technical data of Changkong No. 1.

Xie Wei was not very familiar with the control technology and communication technology of early UAVs, but the information provided by Professor Feng gave him a certain understanding of the communication technology and control technology of early UAVs.

While watching, I was thinking about how the technology I am familiar with can be combined with the current technology, or what basic support is needed to upgrade the existing technology to the technology I am familiar with.

It was not until my stomach started to growl and I felt very hungry that I realized it had already dark outside.

Meanwhile, Feng Bingyi and other teachers from NPU were still working diligently on their jobs.

"Professor Feng."

Xie Wei walked up to Feng Bingyi, called him softly, and was about to say hello and leave.

However, Feng Bingyi had no intention of letting him go. "Have you finished reading it? Tell me what you think."

"..."

Xie Wei looked at the other person speechlessly. Aren’t you hungry?
If I had known this, I wouldn’t have come to the drone project team today.

"Professor, how about we go eat first and discuss this later?"

Although Xie Wei was helpless, he couldn't vent his anger.

Feng Bingyi raised his wrist and looked at the time. "Oh, it's already half past eight."

Then he said to Xie Wei, "The canteen has stopped serving food. You have to wait until 10 pm before it will be served again. I have some soy milk powder and biscuits here. You can make some soy milk powder and use the biscuits to fill your stomach first."

"..."

The other party's attitude shows that he doesn't want to let me go at all!
Xie Wei wanted to say that he went to Du Guowang's house, but looking at Feng Bingyi's expression, it didn't seem like he was deliberately trying to make fun of him, so he could only shake his head helplessly, "Professor Feng, I'm not too hungry right now."

Whether it is soy milk powder or biscuits, they are all in limited supply.

According to our current understanding, the members of the entire drone project team may miss meals many times while they are busy working. When the cafeteria does not provide any food, they can only rely on these things to fill their stomachs.

The feeling of hunger in his stomach was not as obvious as before. In addition, he was not as familiar with Feng Bingyi and others as he was with Du Guowang and others. After all, he still felt a little embarrassed.

"Both the military commander and the school leaders said that you have a lot of ideas on this. You already have a general understanding of the technology. Tell us how you would like to improve it."

Feng Bingyi was not polite to Xie Wei either.

Xie Wei understood why China Southern Airlines transferred him back: no matter how tired or willing he was, why did they have to talk about it at this time!
"Professor Feng, the Changkong-50 unmanned target drone is an improvement on the Soviet La-17 from the 17s. Although the thrust of the turbojet-6 engine installed is 900 times that of the original RD-7 ramjet engine compared to the La-, the overall structure has not been improved much, so the fuel carried by the target drone can only support a short flight time. In terms of control technology, the automatic control technology is limited to electronic components and control programs, and it is impossible to control the target drone to make more maneuvers..."

Xie Wei knew that if he didn't tell anyone, Feng Bingyi would not let him go easily.

The team led by Zhao Xi is currently working on adding auxiliary fuel tanks under the wings, adding "low-altitude cruise" and "high-rated" engine modes, and lowering the minimum flight altitude to 500 meters to the Changkong-B UAV, in order to meet the Air Force's low-altitude air defense weapon testing and identification needs.

What the Air Force urgently needs is an unmanned target drone that can meet the needs of air-to-air missile testing and has high-speed, horizontal, and highly maneuverable flight capabilities!
Based on what he knew and the technology used by the Changkong No. 1C UAV, Xie Wei began to put forward his own ideas.

When he talked about the drone's power problem, no one in the office paid attention.

As he went into deeper analysis, everyone in the technical room was attracted by him. They put down their work, quietly moved their stools next to Xie Wei, and listened to his ideas.

"The autopilot must be improved so that the drone can use radio communication technology to fly remotely from the ground. At the same time, the power system also needs to be further improved. Communication technology is the guarantee of ground remote control, and the ability to resist interference needs to be strengthened. At present, the best is to use digital communication technology. The anti-interference ability of analog signals is still not strong, and the prospect of the use of this communication technology is not broad..."

"Wait~"

Finally, when Xie Wei was getting more and more excited, Feng Bingyi, who was somewhat stunned, hurriedly stopped him.

"Ok?"

Xie Wei was puzzled.

Isn't it just to let yourself speak out your thoughts?

Not to mention, he even didn’t allow me to eat.

At this moment, I have basically said it without too much reservation, but he just stopped it directly. What does that mean?
"Xie Wei, our project team's current mission is only to make some improvements to the Changkong No. 1 target drone, not a completely new design."

Feng Bingyi deliberately emphasized this to Xie Wei.

"Yes, this is an improvement, not a completely new design. Logically, the power system should be replaced, and the aerodynamic layout should also be modified to make the drone more maneuverable in the air..."

Xie Wei explained.

Really just improvements.

If the appearance and aerodynamic layout do not change, then it is not considered brand new.

After all, even if the J-10 is modified with a vector engine and its performance is improved by who knows how many times, it is still the J-10.

"This is different. We only have 100 million in funding..."

What?
Xie Wei looked at Feng Bingyi without comment.

What's the point of spending 100 million yuan to modify the Changkong- UAV?

Didn't Li Rui say before that the Air Force gave 200 million? Could it be that this old guy Li Rui took advantage of the situation and withheld 100 million?
But he couldn't say it in front of Feng Bingyi and others.

"Xie Wei, the country is poor, and the army is even poorer. Currently, the country's work focus has shifted to economic construction, military spending has been severely cut, and the army does not have much money to support these projects... The limited funds need to be spent wisely."

Liao Qingsong on the side spoke to Xie Wei earnestly.

He is the head of the project team.

"Boss Liao, the improvement of the automatic control system has already laid a foundation. We can directly use the HZ-80 chip. The school also has a special team to research and improve various photosensitive components. Even if the automatic control system has been greatly improved, if the power system is not improved, the target drone will not be able to make large maneuvers in the air, and it is not enough to test the true performance of air-to-air missiles and air defense missiles... In any case, the Changkong No. 17 unmanned target drone is, after all, an improvement on the La-..."

Xie Wei said helplessly.

In the previous test, the school's improved PL-4 hit two targets out of two, but it did not show the true performance level of the improved missile at all.

"If we cannot test the true performance of air-to-air missiles and air defense missiles, it will definitely not be good for the development of the Air Force."

Seeing that everyone was silent, Xie Wei added, "If you are just worried about the funding issue, I think the school will help solve it. If there are results, you can ask the superiors for funding. If there are no results, the school can raise funds on its own..."

"According to your idea, to what extent does the Changkong No. 1 target drone need to be modified?"

Liao Qingsong thought of the instructions given by the army chief before they came here, and told them that they came here to utilize their rich experience in technical research and development to realize some feasible ideas proposed by Xie Wei.

"Not only can it perform various large-scale maneuvers in the air, but it also needs to be more flexible and have a longer range..."

What Xie Wei proposed was much more than what the Air Force required.

Technically, it is even more difficult to achieve.

"The PL-4 air-to-air missile has a maximum speed of Mach 2.2 and a maximum flight altitude of 21000 meters. The Changkong-9 missile cannot test its true performance. What should we do when facing the high-altitude and high-speed J-?"

Xie Wei's words immediately made everyone's faces become heavy.

J-9, double 26 indicators: maximum flight speed 2.6 Mach, maximum flight altitude 26000 meters.

"Xie Wei, high-altitude, high-speed fighters are no longer suitable for the development of the Air Force."

Feng Bingyi felt that Xie Wei was trying to change the concept.

Air forces around the world have given up on the research and development of high-altitude, high-speed fighter technology and turned to developing in a more maneuverable and flexible direction.

"Let's not talk about the J-9, are there any missiles in China that can catch up with the Tu-22M Backfire bomber?"

Xie Wei looked at everyone and asked seriously.

"..."

The seriousness on everyone's faces became even more serious.

The Soviet Union's Tu-22M Backfire bomber was deployed in large numbers on the northern border.

That thing can reach a maximum flight speed of Mach 2.3. The maximum speed of the PL-4 is only Mach 2.2, so it can't catch up with it.

"Whether it is an air defense missile or an air-to-air missile, it must be faster than the fastest fighter to truly shoot down the invading force. The maximum speed of the Hongqi-2 air defense missile is Mach 3 and the maximum flight altitude is 27000 meters. Can the target aircraft test these performances?"

Without testing real performance, improvements cannot be made.

Otherwise, why would the Air Force be willing to waste its limited funds on target shooting?

Xie Weiming knew that the current foundation was weak, and it would be very difficult to develop an unmanned target aircraft that was faster, flew at a higher altitude, and was more maneuverable and flexible.

But he can't not develop in this direction just because his foundation is weak.

After the Gulf War in 91, the development of military technology around the world was influenced by the U.S. military. The third, fourth, and fifth generation aircraft were all developed according to the U.S. military's ideas.

China, on the other hand, has begun to take the lead in the world in sixth-generation aircraft.

The standard for the sixth-generation aircraft, which is high and low altitude + high and low speed + stealth and equipped with turbofan + pulse engines, was set by China and is being pursued by the whole world.

The seventh-generation fighter jets have begun to be able to shuttle from space to the atmosphere.

What Xie Wei regretted was that in his original era, he never saw aerospace carriers floating in the atmosphere, only space stations where fighter planes could be parked...

"So, the target drone we want to make is to make it so that air defense missiles and air-to-air missiles cannot catch up with it, and it should be so flexible that it is not easy for missiles to lock on it. Only in this way can it better meet the needs of the Air Force."

"..."

Hearing this, many people couldn't help but twitch their lips.

After the Air Force and the various air defense missile and air-to-air missile research teams found out, they would probably have to thank Xie Wei.

(End of this chapter)