In 1978, I was admitted to Harbin Institute of Technology

Chapter 275: Deceiving Iraq into developing a variant combined arms brigade in order to sell anti-aircraft missiles and bombers.
"Xie Wei, do you have a plan for the new combat system?"

When Yitzhak saw Shevchenko, he was very excited.

When Yitzhak talked to Xie Wei about tank technology, Xie Wei had views on tank warfare that shocked him. He even felt that Xie Wei had a higher command level in armored forces than he, an armored commander who came from a military academy.

In particular, Shewe’s proposal that armored forces should operate as a system of operations opened Yitzhak’s eyes to new possibilities.

When ordering tanks from Harbin Institute of Technology, which were still under development, Yitzhak had been thinking about how to make use of long-range rocket artillery and effectively integrate these two powerful weapons: using armored formations to assault enemy positions, and when the enemy assembled armored formations to deal with his own armored forces, he could directly use long-range rocket artillery from the rear to concentrate fire on the enemy armored formations...

Then use armored units to assault the enemy infantry.

In fact, he came up with the idea after watching the ancient Chinese story of Tian Ji's horse race.

Xie Wei, however, told him that they could use a high-low mix approach, with advanced tanks with stronger defensive capabilities in front and outdated tanks with weaker defenses accompanying them in the rear, thereby enhancing the firepower of the attacking force.

Yitzhak felt that this was a troop deployment plan perfectly tailored for Iraq.

But Xie Wei said that this alone was not enough.

Xie Wei said he hadn't figured out exactly what was lacking.

Now that Xie Wei has taken the initiative to talk to him about troop combinations and combat, how could Yitzhak not be excited?
Looking at the excited Yitzhak, Xie Wei sighed silently. Originally, he wanted to sell anti-aircraft missiles, but the progress of the anti-aircraft missile system based on PL-4 was not satisfactory. Meanwhile, Factory 122 asked to help sell H-5 bombers. Xie Wei could only present this plan that was just keeping the other party in suspense.

"Lieutenant Colonel, I am not a military command specialist, but I have some immature ideas!"

"..."

Seeing Xie Wei's humble expression, Yitzhak rolled his eyes: You're not from a military command background, and my professional level is so much worse than yours, how can I bear it?

Seeing Yitzhak's eye roll, Xie Wei knew he couldn't keep him in suspense any longer: "The biggest threat to armored forces comes from long-range and air power... Don't you have armed helicopters? Organized by brigade, with battalions as the main combat force, each brigade is equipped with two armed helicopter battalions, three tank battalions, one advanced tank battalion and two of your existing tank battalions... three mechanized infantry battalions... and one long-range rocket artillery battalion..."

Xie Wei spoke as he pondered the matter.

He originally wanted to provide the other party with the PLA's heavy combined arms battalion construction plan for decades to come. After careful consideration, he worried that Saddam Hussein, who had little military command ability but kept interfering with the troops, would not be able to manage a combined arms brigade well.

Then just increase the firepower!
Fierce firepower is the key.

"This is all to strengthen our offensive capabilities against ground armored formations. What if the enemy attacks our armored forces with fighter jets or long-range missiles?"

Yitzhak wasn't someone to be trifled with.

After all, he graduated with a degree in armored forces command.

With the continuous introduction of new technologies, the air force poses an increasingly serious threat to ground forces.

This was also the problem that Xie Wei had come up with under Xie Wei's patient guidance—Homeni had the F-14 Tomcat fighter jets that King Pahlavi had imported from the United States, and Iraq simply did not have any fighter jets of the same level to deal with them.

Regarding missiles, Khomeini also obtained Scud missiles from Libya through "smuggling"...

"On the one hand, it's about maintaining contact with the air force so that we can receive air support at any time; on the other hand, it's naturally about increasing the air defense capabilities of the armored forces..."

Xie Wei calmly stated his purpose.

The reason we didn't promote air defense missiles to them before was partly because the air defense missile technology that the school was developing based on, such as the PL-4 and the existing HQ-2 air defense missile, had not made any breakthroughs.

High-purity indium antimonide conductors differ from previous lead sulfide conductors and require higher manufacturing precision.

Moreover, the requirements for integrated circuits inside this type of guidance head are also high.

When there was no money, the school-enterprise cooperation office did not provide much financial support to the team that was originally working on the PL-4 air-to-air missile.

On another front, Iraq purchased SAM-3 air defense missiles from the Soviet Union, and even more low-altitude defense missiles from the Soviet Union. Although the SAM-3 was developed by the Soviet Union in the 1950s and 60s, it was still considered an advanced medium-to-high altitude air defense missile for China.

In 78, the Air Force wanted to introduce the SAM-3 air defense missile. The country sent experts to Yugoslavia, but due to the interference of the Soviets, they didn't even get to see it.

Only when Saddam Hussein's nuclear facilities are blown up by the Soviet Union next year will he realize that the air defense system he spent a fortune importing from the Soviet Union is not so reliable.

It would have been more appropriate to promote more advanced anti-aircraft missiles at that time.

"Air defense capabilities?"

"Armored infantry accompanying tanks are equipped with man-portable air defense systems... Each tank battalion is equipped with some air defense capabilities..."

Xie Wei, taking into account the times, revised and expanded the organizational structure of the combined arms battalion, and gave Yitzhak a detailed explanation.

"Man-portable air defense missile..."

Yitzhak frowned, as if the range of the man-portable air defense system was insufficient.

“You have a large number of SAM air defense missiles, ranging from short-range to medium- and long-range. As long as you integrate them, there will be no problem.”

Xie Wei did not take the opportunity to promote anti-aircraft missiles.

Yitzhak could influence Abdullah, but he couldn't decide to "cooperate" with Harbin Institute of Technology on technological research and development without even having samples.

"In fact, the best defense is offense. The greatest threat to armored formations comes from the air, and the best way is to prevent enemy aircraft from taking off..."

"But……"

Yitzhak was puzzled.

"You're saying your fighter jets have too small a payload, right? What if you had a dedicated bomber unit?"

Xie Wei patiently guided Yitzhak, reminding him that the Iraqi Air Force currently does not have a bomber force.

"Bomber force?"

Yitzhak murmured to himself, wanting to ask Xie Wei, but Xie Wei didn't give him the detailed explanation he had given earlier about the troop organization, and instead left under the pretext of having something to do.

"Xie Wei, how are you?"

To Xie Wei's surprise, as soon as he came out of the Northern Building, he saw Huo Guoqiang and Lin Tao waiting outside.

The two men quickly approached Xie Wei, their faces full of anticipation.

"How could it be so fast?"

Xie Wei was speechless. "Yzak is just a lieutenant colonel and cannot make decisions."

"Hey Xie Wei, could you perhaps allocate some of your processing business to us?"

A look of disappointment instantly crossed Huo Guoqiang's face.

Lin Tao nervously asked Xie Wei if they could share some of the processing business.

Factory 122 has a fairly good machining capability.

"Secretary Lin, production coordination is handled by Secretary Liu. You can communicate with Secretary Liu directly about this matter."

Xie Wei looked at the two of them, thinking that Factory 122 shouldn't be struggling to survive!

Although the Z-5 helicopter has ceased production this year, the H-5 bomber is still undergoing modifications. In two more years, all 300 old H-5 bombers in service will be equipped with domestically produced bombing targeting equipment.

There is funding.

The H-5 bomber will not be discontinued until 84.

Is the other party trying to lower their demands for cooperation in automobile production by feigning poverty?
“Secretary Liu is not here right now… Although there are still some projects in the factory, there are just too few production orders to support so many cadres and employees… We can’t even pay all the wages.”

Huo Guoqiang sighed.

Xie Wei didn't respond at all.

"Xie Wei, why don't you come to our factory for a visit?" Lin Tao changed the subject when Xie Wei didn't respond.

"Let's do it another day, I'm busy these days."

Xie Wei decisively refused. Seeing the disappointment in their eyes, he felt he should remind them, "If the H-5 is to be exported, it must be modified. Although the H-5A has a 12% longer range than the original, it's still not enough. It's essentially a frontline bomber, and its maneuverability is insufficient..."

"What do you suggest?"

Huo Guoqiang immediately regretted not bringing Chief Engineer Liu Jianyun with him.

It's better to leave professional matters to professionals.

"Replacing it with turbofan engines will increase range and air maneuverability..."

"Replacing it with a turbofan engine? This project has been stopped for many years. The WS-5 engine, which was originally designed to power the H-5 bomber, was discontinued in 73... At that time, only ground taxiing tests were conducted. If it is to be developed again, it will definitely not be possible in a short period of time."

Huo Guoqiang began to speak.

Was the H-5 originally slated to be equipped with turbofan engines?

Xie Wei really didn't know about this.

If Iraq wants to sell the H-5, a frontline bomber with a combat radius of only 560 kilometers, its current performance is definitely not good enough, especially since Iraq has the Su-20 attack aircraft, which is more advanced than the H-5.

It was from Huo Guoqiang that he learned that as early as 63, the 606 Institute, at the request of the Air Force, developed the WS-5 engine based on the WP-6 turbojet engine in order to improve the range and air combat performance of the H-5 bomber.

It reached its design specifications in 66, completed long-term test runs in 70, and underwent multiple ground taxiing tests on the H-5 bomber in 71.

After being equipped with the WS-5 turbofan engine, the H-5's fuel consumption rate decreased by 30%, its range increased by 30%, and its payload and maximum speed were significantly improved.

However, during testing, the WS-5 engine was found to have uneven heating of the turbofan blades, low reliability of the fan operating at the hot end, and increased drag, among other issues.

The H-5 had too small a combat radius and low payload, leaving little room for improvement. In 69, the H-6, with a longer range and larger payload, entered mass production, and the Air Force directly cancelled the H-5 improvement plan in 73.

"Since the H-5 is no good, let's replace it with the WS-6 turbofan engine. The WS-6 has greater thrust, which will not only increase the payload but also further extend the range... Also, the H-5's bomb bay can be completely eliminated; all ammunition except for the cannon shells can be mounted externally. The two movable turrets at the rear can also be removed..."

Xie Wei thought for a moment and then offered his suggestion.

If the plan is feasible, the WS-6 turbofan engine project can continue.

The WS-6 turbofan engine has a thrust-to-weight ratio of 7 and a fuel consumption rate of about 0.7 without afterburner, with the civilian version reaching 0.6. However, it was canceled because the J-9 was discontinued and it lost its suitable target.

As long as there are orders, small-batch production can continue, allowing for ongoing research and the accumulation of experience in turbofan engines.

"The WS-6..."

Huo Guoqiang looked at Xie Wei with some difficulty.

He knew that Harbin Institute of Technology had a fighter jet project, and the supporting engine was a continuous improvement based on the WS-6 turbofan engine.

"Xie Wei, if we want to improve the H-5 bomber, the higher-ups won't allocate funds..."

"Then you'll have to figure it out yourselves. At least, there should be a theoretical solution. With the current performance, those who want to buy it don't have the money, and those who have the money don't want it..."

Xie Wei raised his wrist to check the time and then bid farewell to the two of them.

The jeep that brought him was waiting for him not far away.

"This……"

Watching Xie Wei's departing figure, Huo Guoqiang looked at Lin Tao.

"Whether the plan is feasible or not, let's go back and ask General Manager Liu and the others... That kid is too difficult to talk to."

Lin Tao said with distress.

Left with no other choice, I had to go back first.

"You're back? Principal Zhang just called and asked you to come to his office when you get back."

As Xie Weigang reached the office door, Mo Lingyu told him that Zhang Mingqiu was looking for him.

"Didn't you say anything?"

Xie Wei asked.

Mo Lingyu shook her head.

"You haven't been getting enough rest lately? Your dark circles are really bad."

Looking at Mo Lingyu's panda eyes, Xie Wei asked.

"No."

Mo Lingyu shook her head in denial.

Xie Wei didn't think much of it; lack of sleep was a problem faced by all members of the experimental class.

The curriculum is extensive, and the supervisors train students directly as graduate students. In addition to completing the basic courses for the experimental class, students must also supplement their studies with foundational courses for various aspects of the research project, while also undertaking research work...

Only by squeezing out sleep time.

"Take care and get some rest! Don't bother getting me lunch, I'm going to Principal Zhang's."

After Xie Wei finished speaking, he left the office.

Mo Lingyu watched Xie Wei leave, sighed, and turned back to her work.

"Xie Wei is here!"

As soon as Xie Wei arrived at Zhang Mingqiu's office, Ning Juntao, who was sitting on the long bench in the reception area, greeted him with a big smile.

Why is the other party coming to the school instead of supervising production at the factory?
Could it be that they're causing trouble because I sold the production technology for disposable rocket launchers?

"Director Ning, what brings you here?"

While greeting them, he pondered their intentions.

"Xie Wei, Jiangbei Machinery Factory wants to take on part of the production business for 150mm rocket launchers..."

Zhang Mingqiu directly told Xie Weiningjun and Tian Guirong the purpose of their visit.

A factory that manufactures rocket launchers wants to enter the business of producing long-range rockets?
"Director Ning, the rockets for the 150mm long-range artillery are different from those you're currently producing. If you want to produce them, the current production line will need major modifications, and a lot of new equipment will have to be added..."

Xie Wei glanced at Zhang Mingqiu.

This matter can be easily delegated to Liu Debao.

I had to find myself here!
“Like the previous cooperation model, we can pay an entry fee… no, a technology development fee. We only need to complete the production tasks…”

Ning Juntao did not deny that the factory did not have the capability to produce long-range rockets.

If you don't have production capacity, you can build it.

Xie Wei was surprised when the other party offered to pay an entry fee.

When they first started working together, Ning Juntao and his team were unwilling to invest a single penny in technology research and development. As a result, after the order was confirmed, they not only had to pay more for the use of the technology, but Xie Wei also cut most of their profits.

(End of this chapter)