In 1978, I was admitted to Harbin Institute of Technology

Chapter 304 Vice President Liu, does the Navy need Aegis-equipped ships? Like the Chinese Aegis-equipped ships.
"My esteemed leaders, although I am not an aviation major, given the cooperation between our school and many other units such as 601, 611, and 607, I have a certain understanding of the current state of China's aviation manufacturing foundation and technology."

After sighing, Xie Wei slowly spoke under the watchful eyes of many powerful figures.

"I know that developing a multi-role fighter jet with higher overall performance is far more difficult than developing a single air superiority fighter jet. It is also much more expensive."

It is difficult and costly.

fact.

No one interrupted Xie Wei; they waited for him to continue explaining.

Initially, the Air Force leadership was somewhat dismissive of Xie Wei because of his youth. However, Xie Wei's casual suggestion to improve the materials and design of the guidance system directly increased the pressure on the Air Force, requiring the J-8II to improve its technical specifications.

"Wars since World War II have proven that air superiority is indispensable. Once air superiority is lost, one can only endure enemy bombing... Currently, the international landscape has shifted from high-altitude, high-speed warfare to comprehensive performance. However, with technological advancements, especially in missile technology, the mode of warfare has quietly changed..."

Many bigwigs frowned.

How did talking about warplanes lead us to the state of war?

"From attack aircraft to interceptors, and then to air superiority fighters and multi-role fighters... the performance of all fighter jets is inseparable from technological development... and the radar detection range of fighter jets is getting longer and longer, and the range of missiles is also gradually increasing. Isn't it said that the American AIM-54 Phoenix ultra-long-range air-to-air missile has a maximum range of over 203 kilometers...?"

Seeing the expressions on the faces of the big shots, Xie Wei knew that they didn't care about what he had said.

Many of the bigwigs in front of us are probably people who participated in the war against the 17 gangs on the Korean Peninsula and know all too well the brutality and wickedness of the US and coalition warplanes.

Therefore, air superiority fighters are necessary to intercept enemy aircraft.

"Suck~"

Sure enough, Xie Wei's words were met with a collective gasp of surprise in the conference room.

Li Rui glared at Xie Wei: Why bring up something you shouldn't say!
The United States' military strength far surpasses that of its domestic counterpart.

"Commanders, even if we develop air superiority fighters, the enemy may not be visible on radar, yet they have already launched missiles from hundreds of kilometers away. How should we respond?"

Quiet.

Deathly silence.

All that could be heard were heavy breathing sounds, and many of the bigwigs looked grim.

how to respond?

They simply don't have any countermeasures!

"Does developing multi-role fighters really solve the problem? Against enemy air superiority fighters, multi-role fighters simply can't compete in terms of speed or maneuverability..."

An air force commander realized what was happening.

If air superiority fighters cannot deal with attacks beyond visual range, can multi-role fighters do the same?
"The further along the development process, the more reliant fighter jets become on technology. This includes longer detection ranges, longer attack ranges, stronger battlefield situational awareness and intelligence capabilities, and even the ability for enemy aircraft to gain air superiority to become stealthy, visible to the naked eye but not detected by radar..."

"This is impossible!"

When Xie Wei said that the fighter jets could be seen with the naked eye but not on the radar, an air force leader was completely disarmed.

The pressure from the Americans and the Soviets was already immense. If the other side's technology had truly reached that level, what would be the point of fighting if war broke out?
"Sir, what Comrade Xie Wei said is entirely possible. In our collaborative research project with Harbin Institute of Technology, there are methods to reduce the radar cross-section of fighter jets and to use radar-absorbing materials to reduce the radar visibility of fighter jets. Theoretically speaking, an airframe larger than the J-8 could be made to show the radar cross-section of a bird on radar..."

President Song stepped forward.

"!!!"

All the bigwigs felt their worldviews had been turned upside down.

It's not visible on radar; a missile is launched from hundreds of kilometers away...

Currently, China hasn't even developed a 30-kilometer detection radar.

Is it still possible to catch up?

China has already explored this area, and its technology is far ahead of that of the Soviet Union and the United States. It's unclear how far it has progressed.

"Furthermore, by utilizing the powerful electronic jamming capabilities of fighter jets, we can also prevent enemy radar from detecting our targets..."

When President Song said this, he looked at Xie Wei to the side with a complicated expression.

He really wanted to cut open the young man's head to see how it was structured and how it could integrate all of this.

Hearing this, Xie Wei felt deeply helpless. At this moment, he missed his old days when he would join in and play "Calabash Brothers" on the streets whenever the US and its allies conducted military exercises. In the earliest days, the street performers could only balance four balls, then they evolved to balance six balls, and later eight...

Although each addition only involves two more, it makes it impossible for the exercise fleet, whether it be warships or fighter jets, to refuse to listen to "Calabash Brothers".

Unfortunately, we can't even build a 5000-ton destroyer right now.

Seeing the despair on the faces of many bigwigs, Xie Wei felt a pang of pity, but ultimately did not elaborate.

It's inexplicable, isn't it?

Only by going all out can we promote the rapid development of domestic science and technology.

In his original world, during the honeymoon period between China and the United States, after some advanced technologies were opened to China, the experts and bigwigs in China were almost in despair after seeing the advanced technology of the Americans—they really didn't know how to catch up.

It is for this reason that people in China have a superstitious belief that American technology is always more advanced than that of China, and that the technology that China cannot develop is due to insufficient domestic technical level, and is absolutely not just American bragging. When they frantically conduct research and development, only to find out in the end that much of it was just American bragging, those old experts and professors who have spent decades and are still unwilling to catch up with the United States by retirement break down their defenses and become furious whenever the topic comes up.

With a weak industrial base, a thin foundation, and insufficient funds, it took at least fifty years for a country to become a world leader...

In such a desperate environment, China's defense science and technology workers have surpassed the United States and the entire West in just seventy years.

Can Xie Wei explain this to the big shots?
"Commanders, our research has uncovered this problem... The United States and the Soviet Union were engaged in a fierce struggle for supremacy, investing heavily in all aspects, and perhaps they have already achieved results... The reason I proposed developing multi-role fighter jets first is to give our fighter jets greater payload capacity, longer range, and greater maneuverability..."

Xie Wei explained his reasons.

"Once we develop a multi-role fighter jet, we can use that as a foundation to improve its aerodynamic layout and radar cross-section, and replace it with a more powerful engine. In this way, we will have a stealth fighter jet... With the current foundation and supporting facilities, it will take 20 to 25 years to reach that level."

According to estimates, if the J-10 project is formally initiated now, it will take at least 12 to 15 years for the engine to catch up.

The J-10 is estimated to have made its maiden flight not much earlier than previously thought.

However, the performance can be improved significantly.

During the development of the J-10, preliminary research on the J-20 was conducted, mainly focusing on stealth coatings and designs to reduce radar cross-section. Xie Wei was able to remember a general idea of ​​these things, which was enough to save the research team a lot of detours.

Moreover, the J-20 needs BeiDou to be effective.

The construction of BeiDou also began after the turn of the 21st century.

In this way, as long as the engine problem and the fly-by-wire control system are solved, the J-10 and J-20 will surpass their original historical combat performance after their debut.

Furthermore, Xie Wei would not prevent the Air Force from acquiring Su-27s and Su-30s.

No one responded to Xie Wei's words. There were no questions, no doubts—the bigwigs were genuinely frightened by him this time.

"Sir, I have a suggestion."

"What proposal?"

Long Yaohua was in an extremely bad mood at that moment.

Every time I come to Harbin Institute of Technology, my mood is worse than the last time.

"Refuse to purchase F-16/AN fighter jets, and wait for the Americans to help improve the J-8II design, and have the Americans provide advanced avionics systems, fire control radar, and fire control computers to enhance the performance of the J-8II..."

"what?"

All the bigwigs stared wide-eyed at Xie Wei in disbelief.

At that moment, their minds were completely blank.

"Xie Wei, what do you mean by this?"

President Song was also shocked by Xie Wei's sudden proposal, but he quickly recovered. "Once we start cooperating with the Americans, the Air Force's already limited budget will be further squeezed, and the funds will be more dispersed!"

Did Xie Wei not know?
However, President Song found it difficult to accept Xie Wei's suggestion.

Not to mention him, even General Gu's head was buzzing at this moment. After listening to the advanced technology project of Harbin Institute of Technology, he was thinking about how to improve the design of the J-8II to further enhance its combat capabilities.

Before he could figure it out, Xie Wei started arguing again about the Americans' technology, which was so advanced that no one could catch up.

Suddenly the topic shifted to getting the Americans to help improve the design of the J-8II?
Do you really think Institute 601 is incapable of completing the design work?

"reason!"

At this moment, Long Yaohua finally understood that Xie Wei's goal had been very clear from the beginning, and everything he had said before was just a smokescreen.

"Complex systems engineering management methods! We need advanced management methods... During the feasibility study of the J-8II fighter jet at Institute 601, we tried to introduce systems engineering management methods in the hope of achieving multi-departmental collaborative operations, but the results were not ideal... The technologies and topics involved in our school's fighter jet project are also a mess..."

Xie Wei did not come from a management background, and even when he started his own business, he relied mainly on professional managers.

In large enterprises, the management is not closely related to the owner or shareholders.

Xie Wei doesn't even understand corporate management very well, let alone complex systems engineering management.

He wanted the computer team to develop an engineering management system to use computers for management, but he didn't know where to start.

A model of peace, yet China appears to have suffered significant losses.

However, it was precisely because of this peaceful example that the US agreed to allow key Chinese technical personnel to fully participate in all aspects of the design, manufacturing, and testing of the J-8II, enabling these key technical personnel in China's aviation field to personally experience and learn the world's advanced fighter jet design concepts, manufacturing processes, and rigorous testing methods at the time. After these technical personnel returned to China, they combined the knowledge they learned from the US with the actual situation of the domestic aviation industry, thereby promoting the rapid progress of subsequent independent research and development projects in China...

In the current development of new weapons in China, the concept of systematic collaboration among research institutes is relatively weak, and there is a greater reliance on "one chief engineer carrying the flag".

This is why Xie Wei attached such importance to Harbin Institute of Technology, and even to the Seventh Ministry of Machinery Industry and the military.

"!!!"

Just for this?
Long Yaohua was somewhat uncertain.

"Negotiations with the Americans to involve our key technical personnel... just like our technology development cooperation with Pakistan..."

Xie Wei presented all his ideas.

According to him, China should also explore and improve management methods for complex systems. Once the technical backbone who went abroad to learn returns, these methods can be integrated. In this way, based on the actual situation, China can use the advanced management experience of Americans to come up with management methods with Chinese characteristics.

"The current approach is the most cost-effective! And a systematic management method for complex projects can effectively reduce costs and promote cooperation among various units..."

When Xie Wei's throat became dry from talking, Liu Debao personally carried a thermos to refill his empty teacup.

"Sir, we're at a restaurant outside..."

While Xie Wei paused to drink water, Zhang Mingqiu came in from outside and invited the leader to have dinner first.

"Have the cafeteria bring the food in..."

Therefore, Long Yaohua and his fellow military leaders had no intention of taking a break.

The meeting, which was mainly led by Xie Wei, lasted until late at night.

Instead of resting at the Northern Building, Long Yaohua and his colleagues had someone prepare train tickets for tomorrow and then held a meeting directly in the conference room of Harbin Institute of Technology.

"How about it?"

The next day, when Xie Wei arrived at Liu Debao's office, Long Yaohua and the others had already left. Liu Debao looked exhausted, and his eyes were bloodshot.

"Wait for further notice. You don't know, but a lot of projects will be affected now."

Liu Debao said with a wry smile.

"As long as it benefits the country, that's fine. Our school's project management is already a mess. Even if the school sends students abroad to learn engineering management, it's useless if they don't personally participate in complex, large-scale projects."

Xie Wei, however, did not think there was a problem.

Harbin Institute of Technology's engineering management program is only focused on architecture, and its level cannot compare with international standards.

"Chief Long means that we should make preparations first."

Liu Debao didn't waste any words with Xie Wei. "Regarding the fighter jet project, I'll go to the ministry in a couple of days to explain the situation to my superiors."

His subtext was to reassure Xie Wei that the higher-ups wouldn't be dissatisfied with the fighter jet project taking up too much funding.

"Secretary, I've come to see you so that when you go to the capital, you can talk to the Navy and ask them if they want Aegis-equipped ships, specifically the Chinese Aegis-equipped ships!"

what?
Aegis-equipped ships?

China's Aegis-equipped destroyer?
Liu, the deputy chief of staff in charge of equipment, military affairs and mobilization, stared dumbfounded at Liu Debao, who had come to find him with Li Rui.

"If you want to get naval equipment, you should ask the Naval Headquarters!"

Deputy Chief of the General Staff Liu remained silent for a moment before speaking.

"Sir, the navy definitely wants them. They want not only Aegis-equipped ships, but also aircraft carriers... We can't support aircraft carriers, but we can support Aegis-equipped ships..."

Liu Debao cursed Xie Wei to death in his heart.

This kid, letting me speak to the Deputy Chief of the General Staff like this, isn't he afraid that I'll anger the Deputy Chief of the General Staff and get him shot?

(End of this chapter)