In 1978, I was admitted to Harbin Institute of Technology

Chapter 266 A Sci-Fi Combat System? Xie Wei Terrified the Military Commanders!

"It's just an idea right now. We need to discuss the specifics with the school. Please think about it first."

Mo Lingyu's lips moved, but in the end she sighed inwardly and remained silent.

"Dingling bell~"

Just as Xie Wei was about to continue explaining the importance of active phased array radar technology to Mo Lingyu, the phone rang.

Liu Debao called, asking Xie Wei to come to his office.

As soon as I arrived at Liu Debao’s office, I saw several figures in military uniforms inside. Apart from Wei Changcheng, the head of the military representative office who had been staying at the school, and You Lihua, who had come not long ago, I didn’t recognize any of the others.

Just as Xie Wei thought Liu Debao was meeting with guests and was preparing to wait for him to finish, Liu Debao called him back.

"Xie Wei, come in quickly, the leaders of the army have come for you."

Did you come for yourself?

Could it be the 99 major renovation project that you used to fool Yulihua before?

They haven't even developed a basic version of the Type 99 yet, and they're already pushing for a major overhaul of the Type 99?

Xie Wei felt like he had shot himself in the foot.

"Commander, this is Comrade Xie Wei. He was the one who spearheaded the export of the rocket launchers, long-range rocket artillery, and tanks this time."

Yu Lihua smiled and introduced Xie Wei to a square-faced leader around 60 years old next to him.

"Excellent! Excellent! Heroes have always emerged from among the young! Xie Wei, I've heard your name quite a bit before coming here, and today I'm finally meeting you in person."

The leader greeted Xie Wei with a smile.

Xie Wei, however, looked completely bewildered.

"This is Minister Tan from the Operations Department!"

Chief of Operations?
Xie Wei was startled. The 99 major upgrade was just a concept; it shouldn't have attracted the bigwigs from the General Staff, right?
"We are here for the new combat system you proposed."

Just as Xie Wei was pondering the purpose of Minister Tan and his entourage's visit, Minister Tan took the initiative to speak.

Combat system?

Xie Wei looked at You Lihua. Could it be that this guy had reported the information he used to fool him to his superiors?

Not knowing the situation, Xie Wei didn't know how to start the conversation.

She glanced at Yuli Hua with a hint of reproach, thinking that he should at least have given her a heads-up so she could be prepared.

"Let's find somewhere we can chat."

Minister Tan spoke to Liu Debao.

Next to Secretary Liu's office are other offices, where people often come to see the leaders for business. It's not a suitable place to discuss matters that need to be kept confidential.

"Then let's go to the small conference room."

Liu Debao began to speak.

The small conference room is where school leaders and administrators hold meetings to discuss important matters, and it offers excellent confidentiality.

On the way to the small conference room, Xie Wei deliberately pulled You Lihua behind, saying, "Director You, what exactly happened? It was just a casual mention of the new combat system concept during our conversation..."

"The equipment of the troops is already outdated, and funding is constantly being cut. Under such circumstances, we still need to enhance the combat effectiveness of the troops to improve national defense capabilities... The troops are under great pressure. The more I think about the new combat system you proposed, the more interesting it seems. When I was discussing it with other comrades, our superiors overheard us..."

Got~
So that's how it is.

After learning the details from Yu Lihua, Xie Wei felt much more at ease.

If the military leaders had truly heeded my advice and changed their thinking on artillery earlier, starting research into a new combat system in the early 80s to guide the development of various new equipment, there would have been no need to wait until the Gulf War in 90.

The Gulf War in 90 taught the world a lesson: armored forces are no longer the mainstream of warfare; advanced high-tech weaponry is the future. Stealth fighters first render the enemy blind and deaf, paralyzing their combat command systems; long-range cruise missiles further clear enemy radar stations, air defense positions, and command centers; then fighter jets bomb important military targets; and finally, the army is sent in to clean up the battlefield.

The Gulf War stunned the world.

Even the veteran generals who came from the war years in China were deeply shocked by the changes that high technology brought to the war.

Then came the Kosovo War in 99, in which NATO won the war solely through cruise missiles and airstrikes, further stimulating the world, which was still reeling from the Gulf War.

As a result, a new Chinese-style combat system, which has Chinese characteristics and integrates Soviet and American combat models, began to be gradually improved.

While Russia and Russia, two recognized traditional military powers, were cosplaying World War II trench warfare on the battlefield, a modern beyond-visual-range air battle broke out 150 kilometers away over Kashmir; the true owners of beyond-visual-range combat systems were guarding their own country with cold weapons on the border...

The world is magical.

That's also a reality.

Since the 1960s, China's strategic scientists have been constantly proposing strategies that would require the entire country to spend decades or even centuries to achieve...

However, a systematic approach has not yet been developed.

"Tell me about it."

Upon arriving at the small conference room, the group had barely settled in when Minister Tan got straight to the point.

"Actually, these are just some immature thoughts I had after learning about the industrial base, technological level, and economic strength..."

Xie Wei was very cautious.

Which of the bigwigs in the General Staff is easy to fool?
"Stop with the pleasantries, they're a waste of time!"

Minister Tan gave Xie Wei a disapproving look, waved his hand to interrupt him, and told him to get straight to the point.

"First, we need a global satellite positioning and navigation system..."

Since he was asked to speak, Xie Wei decided not to hold back.

Anyway, the commander told me to say it.

Xie Wei was also aware that the country had always attached great importance to satellite positioning and navigation systems since the 1980s. However, in the 1980s, the country was poor and had good relations with the West. Even though the first step of the Beidou navigation system was launched in 1994, the investment was not much and it could only be considered experimental.

It wasn't until the Galaxy, which used the GPS global satellite positioning and navigation system, had its GPS navigation shut down that the country realized it could not rely on foreign navigation systems that could be blocked at any time.

"Satellite navigation systems? We need to discuss advanced weapon systems..."

A leader frowned and interrupted Xie Wei, "The budget is already tight, why are you going to work on the satellite system first?"

"Yes! We must develop a satellite navigation system first."

Xie Wei stated unequivocally, "Without a high-precision satellite positioning and navigation system that can cover the entire globe, how can our fighter jets, missiles, and warships accurately locate their targets? Are we supposed to use foreign satellite systems for positioning and navigation? Once they shut down their systems, how can our missiles accurately land on their targets?"

"Xie Wei, is this a request from your department leaders?"

One of the leaders frowned and asked Xie Wei.

Only then did everyone realize that Harbin Institute of Technology was a subordinate unit of the Seventh Ministry of Machine Building, and Xie Wei was also a member of the Seventh Ministry of Machine Building.

Is this kid using the funds to try and get more funding for the department?
The main business of the Seventh Ministry of Machinery Industry was the aerospace system, including rockets, missiles, and satellites.

"Boss, that's really unfair to me. Apart from the school leaders, I don't even know which higher-level department is in charge of the school..."

Xie Weiyan said this insincerely.

His resolute expression made it impossible for anyone to doubt that he was lying.

"That will cost a lot of money!"

Minister Tan gave Xie Wei a serious reminder.

"Sir, this is not just a matter of funding, but also involves a series of issues such as industrial base and supporting facilities... Putting aside everything else, Qian Xuesen proposed the 'Qian Xuesen' trajectory in the 40s, but who has actually developed it to date?"

Xie Wei answered calmly.

Silence fell over everyone. "This isn't something that can be built in a short time. The global satellite navigation system is just a foundation… If we want to move in that direction, we must research the supporting technologies such as rockets, satellites, and communications… This is something that will take twenty, even fifty years to complete…"

Xie Wei knew very well that, given the current situation, no matter what he said, the military and the national leadership would not initiate systematic research on these projects.

However, he also knew that, given the strategic vision of the higher-ups, things would develop in this direction going forward.

When the time is right, we will integrate them.

"What about outside of satellite systems?"

Minister Tan did not raise any questions, but instead asked Xie Wei other questions.

"Missiles! More technologically advanced missiles, from land-based tactical missiles with a range of hundreds of kilometers to cruise missiles, strategic intercontinental ballistic missiles... air-launched air-to-air, air-to-ground, and anti-ship missiles... sea-launched air defense, anti-ship, and land-attack missiles..."

With positioning satellites available, missiles are naturally indispensable.

"You still say you weren't trying to secure projects and funding for the Seventh Ministry of Machinery Industry?"

The leaders who had previously questioned Xie Wei were now laughing in anger.

Xie Wei first talked about satellites, then about missiles.

Nothing is outside the scope of aerospace business.

"reason?"

"Using missiles for precision strikes, we first destroy the enemy's command systems, radar stations, air defense positions, missile silos, and other strategic targets, rendering the enemy deaf and blind..."

This tactic is not the first time it has been proposed.

This is the target of intercontinental strategic missiles.

With satellite positioning and navigation systems, we can hit targets more accurately.

"At the same time, we also need more powerful and advanced supporting radar systems, early warning aircraft, and supporting missiles, so that we can identify and intercept enemy aircraft during takeoff and missile launch phases..."

Project 640 has achieved considerable results to date.

However, due to a lack of funds, these projects will only be partially restarted once the 863 Program begins.

Of the entire project, apart from the 640-2 anti-missile cannon project whose technology will not be of much use in the future, every other project is of great importance.

"Then, air strikes can be launched against the remaining key enemy targets. To mitigate air force losses, fighter jets can be used to carry drones in formation for combat... Finally, long-range firepower from the ground forces can be used for further saturation strikes. Ground forces cannot rely solely on ground reconnaissance; they can use small drones for reconnaissance to improve battlefield situational awareness..."

In the entire small conference room, only Xie Wei was talking animatedly.

Everyone else listened intently, and many even forgot to take notes.

"And all advanced weaponry and equipment need to be integrated into a complete system through data links and satellite networks in the air. This not only allows the command center to obtain intelligence immediately, but also to issue orders to every combat unit immediately..."

"..."

silence.

After Xie Wei finished speaking, the entire conference room was so quiet you could hear a pin drop, except for the sound of breathing.

"Whoo~"

Liu Debao was completely stunned by the massive combat system Xie Wei proposed. "Xie Wei, are you preparing to write a science fiction novel?"

His words brought everyone back to their senses.

Immediately, the expressions on everyone's faces became complicated.

Science fiction!

It's so sci-fi!

"Science fiction? With our current technology, it's difficult to reach that level. After all, our industrial capacity is weak and our technology is backward, which is an undeniable fact. We can't do it, but what about the United States and the Soviet Union? Their technology is advanced, and they have launched countless satellites to cover outer space... In 61, the Soviet Union was able to send astronauts into outer space; in 69, American astronauts landed on the moon..."

Everyone was silent.

The technology was ultimately too outdated.

Although it was many years after Xie Wei left the original world and the Guanghan Palace lunar base was built, they still couldn't find the Stars and Stripes left by Armstrong, nor could they find any footprints.

But that doesn't stop Xie Wei from using the advanced technology of the US and the Soviet Union to impress the bigwigs in China!

The next 50 years will be an era in which the whole nation strives to catch up with the world's advanced levels!

"Xie Wei, many of our current projects are not only technically challenging, but also require funding that we cannot afford..."

Minister Tan, his face heavy with worry, took a few deep breaths to calm himself.

What Xie Wei said is not impossible.

China's technological level is far behind that of the United States and the Soviet Union, and the economic gap is even greater.

"So all we need to do at the beginning is get this system architecture out. In the absence of funding, we can start by developing the key supporting technologies... For projects that are too difficult, we can start with exploration and preliminary research..."

Xie Wei knew very well that the country's policies could not be changed.

The shortage of money cannot be effectively resolved in the short term.

Most of the projects in the 863 Program are projects that have been adjusted from those that were stopped or canceled in recent years.

Five years in advance, some projects at Harbin Institute of Technology can have supporting facilities ahead of schedule.

The discussion continued until the next morning. Except for going to the toilet, meals were delivered to the conference room by the cafeteria staff.

Xie Wei didn't know what the final outcome would be.

Anyway, something can always be changed.

"Xie Wei, do you think it's really possible for us to achieve what you're talking about?"

Early in the morning, Minister Tan, who hadn't slept all night, left.

Yuli Hua, however, stayed.

After seeing Minister Tan off, You Lihua asked Xie Wei.

"It definitely will! It just will take a long time..."

Xie Wei said firmly.

Because he witnessed it with his own eyes, he naturally knew.

Even without him, the butterfly that flapped its wings in the early 80s, it would have been achieved in just over forty years, following the original historical trajectory.

"Yes, we definitely will! If our generation can't do it, there are you; if you can't do it, there are your children..."

Yulihua took a deep breath.

Before asking this question, he was actually filled with despair: Xie Wei's intelligence and information were nowhere near as good as his, especially since You Lihua had gone abroad with his superiors in May to inspect the level of advanced weapons and equipment abroad.

Not only him, but Minister Tan also knew that what Xie Wei considered "possible" was definitely true abroad!
The Cold War between the United States and the Soviet Union never ended, and the high-tech arms race even showed signs of intensifying, so they naturally wouldn't display their most advanced technologies.

Even just what has been shown is decades ahead of China!

"Actually, it won't take that long."

Xie Wei felt he had gone a bit too far.

Seeing the somber look on Yu Lihua's face, he wanted to tell him that China's current gap with the world's most advanced levels wasn't actually that large, because the Soviet Union had another 10 years to live, and after that, their technological development almost stagnated; while many of the US's future advanced weapons and equipment only existed in PowerPoint presentations, with data fabricated...

While the Chinese lamented not catching up with America's advanced technology, they had actually already surpassed them without even realizing it...

(End of this chapter)