In 1978, I was admitted to Harbin Institute of Technology

Chapter 297 Oh my god! The stingy Air Force wants to buy out PL4 technology for 8000 million!

at dusk.

Air Force firing range.

The J-7, piloted by Lei Qiang and carrying the only four PL-4 air-to-air missile prototypes currently available, is undergoing final checks before takeoff in a tense but orderly manner.

On the runway not far away, two red Changkong-1 drones were also preparing for takeoff.

In the control tower, a group of military leaders with an average age of over 50 were listening attentively to Li Rui's introduction.

"...Performance parameters have been greatly improved. Not only is its range greater than that of similar missiles internationally, but it also has a significant speed advantage... However, four missiles and two target drones are still insufficient to truly demonstrate the real performance of the improved PL-4..."

As Principal Li finished explaining the situation, he abruptly changed the subject and began talking about the shortage of target drones.

"Comrade Li Rui, our Air Force is now so weak that even maintaining a semblance of prosperity is impossible! The protective capabilities needed for our own airspace security cannot be completed in a short time! Please don't take this opportunity to ask us to spend more money."

An air force commander in his sixties looked at Li Rui with a bitter expression, then pointed to the two Chang Kong No. 1 aircraft that were about to take off not far away, and continued, "This 3 million yuan in funding is all squeezed out by tightening our belts."

"Yes, Comrade Li Rui, everyone is having a hard time these days."

"Military spending will be further reduced after the New Year, making funding even tighter. We can't even raise the necessary funds for the J-7 upgrade project, so we have to abandon it..."

Many leaders spoke up.

Everyone knows they don't have money.

Li Rui's various methods of seeking funding for Harbin Institute of Technology's military projects are very displeasing, but there's no way to overturn the table.

Seeing the attitudes of the many leaders, Li Rui said nothing more on this matter: "Let's see how the improved PL-4 performs in live-fire exercises first."

Performance data doesn't mean anything.

"Commanders, we are ready."

Seeing the awkward situation, Li Rui gave Liu Debao a look, and the latter spoke up.

"Let's get started when you're ready."

After the commander finished speaking, he looked at Li Rui and the others and said, "We'll discuss the specifics after the test launch is completed and we see the actual performance."

He was also telling the group from Harbin Institute of Technology that if the performance was good enough, the military would definitely support them, procure the modified version, and provide subsequent research and development funding.

"Boom~"

One of the Chang Kong No. 1 engines started, and it quickly rushed forward along the runway with the booster car, soon separating from the booster car and entering the air.

Immediately following, the J-7 fighter jet, which was ready for takeoff, also took off under Lei Qiang's piloting.

"Fly it a little further away, let the fighter jets test the missile's maximum range and speed, and use remote control to maneuver the drone."

The leader in charge issued the order.

They changed the original testing plan in order to further understand the performance parameters of the PL-4 after the improvement.

Ground-based radar will faithfully reflect the trajectory and parameters of missiles in the air.

Next to the remote operator of the Changkong-1 UAV, there will be a dedicated radar operator who will provide him with various data on the approaching Changkong-1 missile, instead of the UAV flying automatically through the internal control program as before.

"Keep your distance, maintain a 30-kilometer distance from the drone!"

Lai Guichang picked up the radio and gave orders to Lei Qiang, who was piloting the plane with the last four PL-4 air-to-air missiles.

Lei Qiang is currently the only pilot who successfully launched a PL-4 missile without the J-7 engine stalling.

Even though Xie Wei explained the principles to the other test pilots, they were more experienced than Lei Qiang and were worried that muscle memory would form during long flights, causing them to immediately adjust the aircraft after the missile was launched and deflected. Therefore, Professor Lai Guichang suggested that Lei Qiang still fly the aircraft for target practice.

To be on the safe side.

"Maintain a distance of 30 kilometers?"

"The J-7's radar detection range is only 20 kilometers. What problems can it solve at such a long distance?"

Many of the Air Force's leaders frowned.

"Sir, after the PL-4 was modified with a high-purity indium antimonide seeker, its infrared detection range is greater than 28 kilometers. Its maximum range has also been increased to 28 kilometers. Currently, the J-7's detection range is too short, preventing it from fully utilizing the missile's true performance... In the event of war, our air force will definitely need ground radar stations to provide target parameters to intercept the enemy..."

Lai Guichang glanced at Xie Wei and saw that he was discreetly shaking his head, not intending to step forward and explain, so he had no choice but to explain himself.

"Does this mean our air force can now possess beyond-visual-range attack capabilities?"

An air force commander asked excitedly.

Beyond-visual-range attack capability!
This is something the Air Force has long dreamed of, but due to poor technological foundation and weak industrial base, they haven't even been able to develop a PL-4.

The original design specifications for the PL-4 indicated a maximum range of only 18 kilometers.

Currently, domestic air-to-air missile research units, apart from conducting a series of explorations and preliminary research, have not even initiated projects for medium-range air-to-air missiles.

Want to import it?
There's no way out.

This is why the Air Force has always wanted to import Python-3 air-to-air missile production technology from abroad: to use the imported technology to quickly improve the domestic technological foundation in guidance and other aspects.

The other leaders also got excited, but soon their excitement disappeared: the fighter jets' detection range was too small!
"That's right! Currently, we can only guide fighter jets from the ground. As long as the direction is correct, once the missile enters within 28 kilometers and can detect the infrared signal, it will actively and rapidly rush towards the target area under the control of the internal computer..."

Lai Guichang explained.

The hearts of the leaders sank to the bottom.

"Report: Fighter jets are in position, 30 kilometers from the target drone!"

The radar operator's report broke the silence once again.

Many leaders walked behind the radar operator, craning their necks to look at the situation on the radar display, which was not much bigger than the palm of their hand.

"Launch the missiles."

Upon receiving the order, Lei Qiang did not close the distance. Instead, based on the data provided by the command tower, he successfully launched a PL-4 air-to-air missile at the Changkong-1 unmanned target drone.

"Order the drone to fly to one side!"

So, under the control of the remote operator, Changkong-1, which was originally hovering in the air, began to fly to one side.

"It's moving! PL-4 has adjusted its direction to one side!"

One of the leaders, who was already looking forward to it, saw the movement of the two red dots on the display screen and the changes in parameters such as altitude, direction, and speed displayed on the radar screen, and shouted excitedly.

"Raise! To 10000 meters!"

Under the control of the remote operator, Changkong-1, which was originally hovering at an altitude of 4000 meters, began to climb to higher altitudes at its maximum angle of elevation.

The parameters on the radar display screen once again showed the status of Chang Kong-1 and PL-4 in the air.

Chang Kong-1 is a subsonic jet drone with a very slow climb rate.

还没爬升到6500米的高度，从30公里外发射的PL-4就已经在距离长空1号还有六七公里的6500高度的空域中爆炸。

"Report: PL-4 has traveled 28.4 kilometers, with a maximum terminal speed of Mach 3.12... Fuel exhausted, self-destruct mechanism activated..."

The radar operators were already familiar with the PL-4's behavior.

It is specially designed with a self-destruct mechanism. Once the fuel is depleted, the safety device connected to the fuel tank will automatically activate and detonate the warhead.

"CK-1 is too slow, and PL-4's top speed is affected as it climbs from low to high altitude." "Close the distance to 20 kilometers, then launch the missile!"

The leaders did not give up.

Seeing that Chang Kong-1 was still circling in the air, he immediately ordered the J-7 to get close enough to be detected by radar before launching the missile.

"The J-7 climbed to an altitude of 12000 meters, while Changkong-1 descended to an altitude of 1000 meters..."

"Sir, isn't the distance a bit too far?"

Someone immediately asked.

The J-7 lacks look-down capability, and in the current arrangement, the distance between the J-7 and Changkong-1 in the air is 20 kilometers, but the altitude difference is 11 kilometers. The PL-4 launched from the J-7 does indeed need to travel along the hypotenuse of a triangle with these two distances as the sides of the right angle.

With a maximum range of 28 kilometers, it can attack targets at approximately 23 kilometers away.
The key target drone also needs to maneuver, which will further consume the missile's fuel as the missile approaches.

"It's alright, there's still a redundant range of over 5 kilometers!"

Seeing the troubled expressions on Liu Debao's and Lai Guichang's faces, Xie Wei smiled.
He knew why the Air Force commanders required fighter jets to detect targets that radar could not see: the TU-22 Backfire bomber was something that could not be ignored in terms of national defense, and even the later J-8II project was designed to defend against a surprise attack on the capital by this thing.

If it is proven that the PL-4 can detect enemy aircraft simply by being launched towards them, thanks to its own infrared guidance system, then national defense can truly be improved significantly.

"Reach the preset distance, launch!"

Another PL-4 missile was launched from a J-7 fighter jet.

"Dive, reduce altitude, and conduct a low-altitude penetration!"

Sure enough, the commander gave another order the moment the missile was launched.

Under the control of the drone remote operator, Changkong-1, which was originally at an altitude of 1200 meters, lowered its nose and began to dive rapidly.

To avoid being locked on by the PL-5, which was still more than ten kilometers away, the remote operator began to control the drone to quickly perform various maneuvers during the dive, occasionally pulling up and then diving for hundreds of meters, and then performing basic fighter jet maneuvers such as turns and rolls.

"coming!"

Not only on the radar display, but at this moment the drone is less than 600 meters above the ground, and it can be seen with the naked eye.

However, in the air, a bright spot trailed a long white smoke trail, heading straight for the target drone no matter how Changkong-1 tried to evade it.

"Dive!"

Before the commander could give the order, the drone operator had already remotely controlled Changkong-1 to dive downwards, almost like a hammer heading towards the ground. When it was still tens of meters above the ground, and it looked like it was about to crash into the ground, Changkong-1 was remotely controlled to level itself.

The nose of the aircraft has just risen, preparing to continue its ascent.

"Boom~"

The PL-4 air-to-air missile crashed heavily into the Changkong-1 aircraft from mid-air.

A dazzling firework burst forth at dusk, so vibrant and beautiful.

The debris and parts of Chang Kong-1 were scattered into the air by the explosion.

Even though they knew the distance was far enough that it wouldn't affect them, many onlookers still quickly fell to the ground.

But no one laughed at them.

"Shot down! Altitude 86 meters, speed Mach 3.2, missile range 26.6 kilometers..."

The radar operator reported the data.

"it is good!"

"Such air-to-air missiles are the sharpest sword of our air force. Now that we have them domestically, why should we suffer the indignity of paying exorbitant prices for technology imports? Equip them! They must be equipped!"

"Not only should they be deployed, but they should be deployed on a large scale! Not only should the J-7 be equipped, but the J-8 should also be equipped."

The big shots, scrambling to their feet, disregarded their embarrassment, dusted themselves off, and roared with excitement.

At a distance of about 23 kilometers, when the fighter jet's detection radar could not detect the target, the missile was launched. The missile searched for the target on its own and recorded the target at a height of only 86 meters above the ground.

Compared to the Chang Kong-1, would the TU-22 anti-bomber's infrared signature, which is like a beacon in the night, not be locked onto?
What a fuss!

"We'll continue testing the remaining two shots tonight!"

Even though the leader of the team was excited, he suppressed his excitement and spoke.

"Old Li, when did your school become so advanced in the field of air-to-air missiles?"

"I remember Harbin Institute of Technology is really good at rockets and launch vehicles~"

The crowd surrounded Li Rui and Lai Guichang, excitedly speaking.

Seeing this, Xie Wei hurriedly headed towards the canteen, which was several hundred meters away from the control tower.

Instead of receiving praise from superiors here, let's go see what delicious food the temporary canteen has prepared for the many leaders tonight.

To Xie Wei's surprise, the canteen only served a decent amount of sauerkraut and pork stew with vermicelli, and nothing else.

"So many leaders came to inspect our work, and we're eating this!"

That evening, Xie Wei, holding an enamel bowl in one hand and a white steamed bun in the other, said angrily.

"Kid, this is good enough. Back when conditions were tough, we only had cornbread and pickled vegetables; we didn't even have white flour buns to eat."

Li Rui, who was next to him, took a bite of his steamed bun and said with a smile, "If it weren't for taking care of the research team, we might just be eating some potato shreds and a few cornbread buns. The Air Force is having a tough time right now."

Xie Wei turned his head and saw that many leaders were squatting on the ground, holding enamel bowls and eating heartily.

The leaders before me are all people who lived through the war years.

"What do you mean by this, sir?"

Xie Wei sensed something was amiss in Li Rui's words and asked warily.

Surely we can't expect the school to hand over its technology for free, can we?
"The university is a research institution, not a production institution. The logistics department and the Air Force's idea is to transfer the technology to research institutes like the 612 Institute, so that they can digest your technology and use it as a foundation to develop air-to-air missiles with longer range and better guidance capabilities..."

The leader, who was in charge, had somehow appeared beside Xie Wei.

Seeing Xie Wei's expression, the leader smiled and said, "Don't worry, the Air Force and the Third Ministry of Machinery Industry won't take this for nothing. They will not only supplement the 2400 million you invested in the PL-4 improvement technology, but also allocate no less than 4000 million to your air-to-air missile team for the development of medium-range air-to-air missiles. In addition, aren't you planning to develop a medium- and short-range air defense missile system based on the PL-4? We can also give you 1600 million in research funding first."

!!!

Hearing this, Xie Wei was completely stunned.

The commander's current intention is that the military is prepared to allocate 8000 million yuan to purchase PL-4 detection technology, solid fuel, rocket engine and other technologies from Harbin Institute of Technology.
Good luck!
The Air Force, which is notoriously stingy, didn't even ask them to provide the supplies directly to other units, but instead paid them to purchase them.

Xie Wei always felt that there was something wrong with the situation.

He was thinking about it quickly.

"Although this amount of money is not much compared to export profits, it is the greatest sincerity the military can offer. Think about it, this thing is so advanced, so don't even think about exporting it."

"Kid, if you insist on keeping production under your control and getting the Air Force to sign the procurement contract with you, then you can find supporting manufacturers. The military can provide more, but the orders might only be one or two hundred missiles a year..."

Li Rui, who was standing to the side, also spoke up.

(End of this chapter)