In 1978, I was admitted to Harbin Institute of Technology

Chapter 294 Air-to-air missile engine thrust greater than fighter jet engine thrust? Are you kidding me!
"I have no intention of selling the PL-4 to the Air Force. The main fighter jets of the Iraqi Air Force are MiG-21s, which are no different from J-7s."

Xie Wei spoke while observing Li Rui's reaction.

Sure enough, Li Rui frowned and looked sternly at Xie Wei: "Are you getting bolder and bolder? You dare to sell out any advanced technology?"

"If it were advanced, the Air Force wouldn't have been without orders for so long."

Liu Debao retorted with dissatisfaction.

"Fuck me..."

Principal Li almost lost his temper.

I just explained the inside story in detail. Wasn't I just telling them that the reason the Air Force didn't give them the order wasn't because they thought the PL-4's performance was outdated, but because the missile itself might have problems?
"Principal, don't be angry. It's not that I'm reckless, but rather that I'm considering the future of the project. PL-4 isn't something our school is the only one researching. Now, our school's PL-4 is not much different from those of other units. The seeker uses indium antimonide, increasing the range from a maximum of 18 kilometers to 28 kilometers, and the maximum speed from Mach 2.2 to Mach 3.2..."

Xie Wei was completely unconcerned about Li Rui's anger.

He explained calmly.

"The Air Force didn't provide a single penny of funding, and neither did the Ministry... The J-9 fighter jets配套 with the PL-4 have been officially cancelled, while advanced air-to-air missiles are essential for the Air Force. To date, the Air Force hasn't acquired any new air-to-air missiles for over twenty years... The problems that arose during the later testing of the PL-4 are very likely related to Professor Lai and his team's modifications to the internal solid fuel and rocket engine..."

Xie Wei had a vague idea about the problems that occurred during the J-7's test firing of the PL-4.

However, there is currently no information to support his speculation. He can only make a judgment after returning to Lai Guichang and others, as well as the technicians who participated in the comprehensive inspection of the J-7II.

"Then it's even more impossible to export them!"

The advanced ones should be reserved for our own troops.

"Xie Wei, the integration of the most advanced air-to-air missile technology in the country, sold to hostile forces, can be used to assess our country's defense capabilities..."

"Even if we don't sell them, won't foreign countries know about our situation? Will our air force have better missiles to use?"

Xie Wei laughed in exasperation, "Our relations with the West are getting better and better. Precisely because of this improved relationship, many domestic military projects are starting to engage with and cooperate with the international community. We don't give up on their outdated technologies. Do you think foreign countries don't understand our true technological level?"

There's nothing to keep secret right now.

After all, with the Soviet Union as the West's biggest enemy, the West even hoped that China's technological level would improve.

Otherwise, how could the West gradually loosen its military technology cooperation with China when the Coordinating Committee for Multilateral Export Controls (COCOM) still exists?
The "Peaceful Paradigm" project, which will not begin for several more years, can be said to be the peak of the honeymoon period between China and the West: the United States is going to provide the most advanced pulse-Doppler radar and supporting avionics system to upgrade the J-8II fighter jet.

With those modifications, the J-8II, except for its power, can reach the level of third-generation fighter jets by international Western standards in all other aspects.

"What does this have to do with selling J-7 fighter jets?"

Li Rui did not continue to object and changed the subject to selling the modified J-7s that the Air Force did not want.

"Since the J-7 has problems launching this missile, the Iraqi Air Force's MiG-21s will definitely have problems launching it as well. As long as the upgraded PL-4 has advanced performance and stronger combat capabilities than their current air-to-air missiles, and the MiG-21s have problems launching these missiles..."

Li Rui frowned more and more as he listened.

It wasn't that he thought Xie Wei was too presumptuous.

Xie Weiming knew the missiles were advanced, yet he still wanted to sell them, which Principal Li found very difficult to accept.

"Xie Wei, according to sources, Wang Zheng has invested all of the $1000 million he previously invested in Hong Kong into the international oil futures market... Based on current international oil prices, the profits from the oil contracts Wang Zheng holds have already exceeded $4000 million..."

"so what?"

Xie Wei's eyelids twitched several times in succession.

He never expected that Li Rui would bring this up.

"No matter what. I transferred the money to you over there without considering my personal future. Even if Wang Zheng transfers all the funds back, I will still be held responsible if the higher-ups investigate."

Li Rui looked at Xie Wei calmly.

Do I need to elaborate on my purpose?

Not required.

With $1000 million at stake, Li Rui was practically gambling his future. He was now reminding Xie Wei that if he were to help Xie Wei illegally supply Iraq with the country's most advanced missiles, there would be no turning back.

"The Air Force isn't placing any orders!"

Seeing Xie Wei's troubled expression, Liu Debao said unhappily, "Although two other units were the main research units for this air-to-air missile, they had funding allocated by their superiors, while we didn't. We had to raise all the funds ourselves, which cost more than 1200 million yuan in total..."

The more he spoke, the softer his voice became.

She didn't even dare to look Li Rui in the eye.

It was only because the murderous intent in Li Rui's eyes was growing stronger.

"How could I not know what projects the school has undertaken and how much funding they've consumed? The school hasn't continued researching PL-4, has it?"

Li Rui looked at Liu Debao with an unfriendly expression and directly warned him.

Seeing that Xie Wei was about to speak, he glared at Xie Wei and said coldly, "If you use it to deal with other superiors and leaders, you don't need to use it to deal with me."

At this point, he paused.

After the two stopped arguing, he spoke up, "Before you came, I went to see Minister Zheng. He said that the J-7 technology import project should not affect the school's scientific research and development... Once the problem of the fighter jet's engine stalling in mid-air during PL-4 launch is solved, as long as the test firing performance meets the Air Force's requirements, there will be no shortage of orders. At the same time, it can also save the country a lot of foreign exchange."

Li Rui has made his position clear: the PL-4 cannot be exported.

Not only can exports not be made, but the current problems must be resolved as soon as possible.

This is to prevent the Air Force from importing advanced weapons from abroad.

Liu Debao wanted to say something more, but Xie Wei stopped him.

"Don't worry, boss, we'll get back and start working on this problem!"

Xie Wei patted his chest and guaranteed it.

Even after the two of them came out, Liu Debao was still in a daze and asked Xie Wei in confusion, "We haven't achieved our goal yet, and you're leaving already? This isn't like you at all!"

Liu Debao couldn't help but be surprised.

It was Xie Wei who came to find Li Rui, and it was Xie Wei who was stopped by Li Rui's few words.

"Also, they want us to help sell J-7 fighter jets. How can we sell them if we don't export missiles? We're already lucky that we were able to sell tanks, which haven't even been developed yet, to Iraq at a high price..."

Liu Debao had many questions.

Xie Wei and Li Rui haven't reached an agreement on any important matters.

"The Third Ministry of Machine Building established a dedicated import and export company. Selling fighter jets is their business, it has nothing to do with us!"

Xie Wei said irritably.

Li Rui's attitude has been made clear. The Third Ministry of Machine Building and the Air Force approached Li Rui, and as someone who was preparing to establish the Commission of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense, he couldn't refuse.

Ultimately, he still favored Harbin Institute of Technology.

Otherwise, the outcome wouldn't be what it is now.

He brought up the $1000 million in unrecorded funds for Iraqi equipment purchases to tell Xie Wei that some people were already dissatisfied with the matter, and that if Xie Wei sold the PL-4 air-to-air missile, which was still under development, the consequences would be beyond what Li Rui could bear at the moment.

"But……"

Liu Debao didn't understand the intricacies of the situation. Ultimately, although he was the school's Party Secretary, he lacked Xie Wei's political acumen.

"Secretary Liu, we've achieved our goal. The Air Force and the Third Ministry of Machinery Industry won't ask us for money anymore. The Seventh Ministry of Machinery Industry is blocking us from doing this!"

"What if they take out a loan?"

Liu Debao reacted quickly this time.

The school's funds were there, and they couldn't spend them all in a short time. At Xie Wei's suggestion, an investment company was set up to provide loans and investments to organizations that cooperated with the school.

"As long as they are willing to pay interest, the loan will be issued to them, but the Ministry of Machinery Industry must provide a guarantee."

Xie Wei didn't even think about it.

"What? Xie Wei left with Secretary Liu?"

The next day, Situ Ming and Liang Qingsong went to Li Rui again, hoping to talk to Xie Wei and Liu Debao through him. However, Li Rui told them that the person had left overnight the previous night!

"Principal Li, we haven't discussed anything yet."

Situ Ming was getting anxious.

Harbin Institute of Technology currently has hundreds of millions of yuan in funds lying idle.

"Didn't they already talk about it? There's no use going to them about this; we need to talk to the leaders of the Seventh Ministry of Machinery Industry."

Li Rui sighed, "However, I heard that they are issuing loans to the companies they are cooperating with... The core backbone of the 611 Institute under the Third Ministry of Machinery Industry is all at Harbin Institute of Technology, and there are also many technical backbones from the 601 Institute and Liming Engine Factory, which have a very good foundation for cooperation."

Upon hearing this, Situ Ming immediately felt embarrassed and didn't say anything more.

Li Rui was clearly reminding him that Harbin Institute of Technology had already provided considerable support to the Third Ministry of Machine Building, and that they shouldn't keep exploiting one source of profit, lest they end up squeezing it dry.

"So the project to upgrade the J-7 is just shelved like that? We haven't even talked to Factory 132 yet."

Liang Qingsong said urgently.

The Air Force was no longer very interested in the J-7II, which had been upgraded with Marconi's electronic equipment. However, if they didn't resell it, they wouldn't be able to get back the money they had already paid.

Further cuts to military spending after the New Year will put even greater strain on the already underfunded Air Force.

"Xiao Liang, the Air Force is in contact with many Western companies to evaluate and assess the more advanced air-to-air missiles available internationally..."

"The Air Force hasn't equipped itself with new air-to-air missiles for over twenty years."

Liang Qingsong interrupted Li Rui.

"If the PL-4 modified by Harbin Institute of Technology can solve the problem of fighter jet engines shutting down after launch, it will not only save a lot of foreign exchange, but also allow the Air Force to find more advanced medium-range air-to-air missiles..."

Li Rui's words instantly sparked Liang Qingsong's interest.

Yes, if China had short-range air-to-air missiles that met the Air Force's requirements, the Air Force would save a lot of foreign exchange in this regard and use it to import more advanced medium-range air-to-air missiles.

"But Harbin Institute of Technology's PL-4..."

"You're talking about the current problem, right? If it can be solved in a very short time, is it still a problem?"

Liang Qingsong's eyes lit up instantly.

······
"Our missiles are fine; the problem lies with the J-7 fighter jet. We proposed mounting the PL-4 missile on the J-8 for test firing, but the J-8 was currently undergoing final type certification testing..."

Lai Guichang remained completely unmoved in the face of Xie Wei's questioning.

He has full confidence in the improved PL-4 air-to-air missile.

"Wasn't the J-8 already finalized at the beginning of the year? Wasn't it tested afterwards?"

Xie Wei looked at Lai Guichang, pondering the real reason.

Surely neither the missile team nor the fighter jet team thinks there's anything wrong with their design?

"We were originally planning to test it, but Factory 112 and Institute 601 demanded that we pay for the testing costs, not just the prototype missiles, but also the target drone costs, which added up to several million..."

Got it!
It's because they're short of money again.

In the first half of the year after the J-8 was finalized, Li Rui was working on a batch of military research projects for the school before he left, which almost caused the school's funding chain to break down.

If Xie Wei hadn't persuaded the Iraqis to buy 150 long-range rocket launchers, the school would have been in dire straits.

Do you know the specific reasons that caused this?

"According to the test pilot's description, after each missile launch, the fighter jet would deviate from its forward trajectory. The pilot would then adjust the aircraft's trim, and upon returning to its original flight path, the engine would instantly shut down. If trim wasn't performed, the aircraft would easily lose control..."

"Is it always like this?"

Xie Wei's heart skipped a beat; this was exactly the reason he had guessed before!

But he still wasn't sure.

"The J-7 test flight team at Factory 132 is still there."

So Xie Wei and Lai Guichang rushed to the test flight site.

Xie Wei didn't recognize any of the pilots at the test flight site, but accompanied by Professor Lai Guichang and Liu Zhimin, the director of Institute 601, the test pilots, though curious about the young man's identity, explained the situation to Xie Wei in detail.

"So? Any thoughts?"

After learning the situation, Liu Zhimin stared at Xie Wei expectantly.

The J-8 had just been finalized when the development of the J-8II began before the J-8 was finalized. Xie Wei put forward many improvement suggestions, which brought the current design work of the J-8II to near completion.

But they are still waiting for the radar, fire control system, and other systems that Harbin Institute of Technology will develop in cooperation with relevant units.

Of course, more importantly, the PL-3 air-to-air missile that accompanies the J-8 has a maximum range of only 11.5 kilometers, while the PL-4 air-to-air missile improved by Harbin Institute of Technology has a range of 28 kilometers.

The SL-4 single-pulse fire control radar used by the J-8 has a maximum detection range of only 20 kilometers against a target with an RCS of 5!

If the J-8 could be equipped with the PL-4 missile modified by Harbin Institute of Technology, its combat effectiveness could be doubled!
If the problem of the fighter jet stalling after launch cannot be solved, no matter how advanced its performance is, the J-8 will not dare to be equipped.

"This is due to the missile engine's thrust being greater than the fighter jet's engine thrust."

Xie Wei said with a bitter face.

"what?"

Everyone around him stared at him wide-eyed when they heard this.

The thrust of a small air-to-air missile is greater than that of a turbojet engine used in a fighter jet with a maximum takeoff weight of nearly 9 tons.

What a fuss!

"Xie Wei, you can't just say things like that."

Even Lai Guichang thought that Xie Wei's words would be laughed at if they got out.

"Professor Lai, I'm not making this up! I'm not just talking about comparing engine thrust!"

Xie Wei rolled his eyes and said.

(End of this chapter)