In 1978, I was admitted to Harbin Institute of Technology

Chapter 366 Project Ten is progressing so quickly? Even Long Yaohua has compromised.

"..."

Seeing Xie Wei's serious expression, Long Yaohua fell silent.

Even now, he is still unsure how much of what Xie Wei said is true.

"Sir, the importance of the Y-10 is undeniable. However, insufficient funding is also a fact; otherwise, the country wouldn't have cancelled the project just because the Civil Aviation Administration wouldn't buy it. Compared to national defense security, the Y-10 is far less important than fighter jets, whether as an early warning aircraft platform or a military transport aircraft..."

Xie Wei was helpless.

He devoted too much energy to the Y-10 project.

Even if he didn't want to, the higher-ups kept contacting him, forcing him to expend his energy on it; even Long Yaohua came looking for him.

He hopes this matter can be resolved; no one can stand it if it continues like this.

"Can we really make it work by combining the technology of the Y-10 with that of the H-6 and Y-8?"

Long Yaohua scrutinized Xie Wei for a while, but Xie Wei's expression didn't change at all. He met Long Yaohua's gaze before speaking.

"Whether it will work or not, we'll only know after we try. The Y-8 only has an airtight design in its escort compartment. The Y-10 team has experience in creating an airtight compartment structure for the entire aircraft. The H-6 needs to be lengthened and widened to be developed into a passenger plane or a jet transport aircraft. No matter how it is modified, it is unlikely that the model will exceed that of the Y-10, whether in terms of supporting facilities or logistics..."

Xie Wei did not continue speaking.

He got tired of saying it so many times.

国内航空工业无论是基础还是技术储备都是不足的，哪怕几十年后国内重新搞国产大飞机C919，也都是先搞ARJ-21这款最大起飞重量40吨、78~97座、航程2225~3700公里的支线客机。

Despite decades of development in domestic aviation technology and supporting systems, the maximum takeoff weight of the C919 has not exceeded 80 tons, with the largest extended-range version weighing only 78.9 tons and the basic version weighing only 77.3 tons.

What this means, Long Yaohua and the others did not know.

Xie Wei was aware of this.

This is why he is unwilling to let the Y-10 consume too much of the school's funds.

"Ok."

Long Yaohua sighed, took out a cigarette from his pocket, and tossed one to Xie Wei. Xie Wei, with great insight, pulled out the Zippo lighter he had stolen from Long Yaohua.

Upon seeing the lighter, Long Yaohua's face twitched twice.

Seeing his reaction, Xie Wei thought the matter was finally over and was about to breathe a sigh of relief.

"Your school should still be in charge of the project. You can control how it develops... As for funding, the military will try to raise 5000 million yuan for you every year."

Ah!
Wow, the military is really going all out to support the Y-10.

"Dedicated funds?"

Xie Wei asked tentatively.

"Once the money is in your hands, how you use it is your business. If things don't turn out well afterward, someone will naturally come looking for trouble."

Long Yaohua said nonchalantly, "Arrange the work and take me to visit your various laboratories. Wei Changcheng told me that you haven't added any new projects recently, whether civilian or military, and many of your existing projects have also reduced their investment..."

"I'm poor..."

Xie Wei was about to complain when Long Yaohua interrupted him, "Stop it!"

"We're really poor."

As Xie Wei walked forward, he explained to Long Yaohua, "The school's previous research expansion was too rapid, consuming too much funding. We can't quickly recoup the invested research funds in the short term. Even if the higher-ups don't order a halt, we will make adjustments. Right now, the most important thing is to strengthen our internal capabilities, improve all the necessary infrastructure, and strive to spend every penny wisely..."

Xie Wei did not hide anything about the school's strategic development adjustment.

"It would be good to adjust and shrink it a bit."

Long Yaohua nodded. "Disorganized management and the inability to translate a large amount of research results into marketable products is not a good thing."

I have seen and witnessed the situation at the school.

As Long Yaohua and Xie Wei chatted, they walked toward the officially named aviation building. The entire building was filled with aviation-related research work, but it was simply not enough to accommodate all of the school's aviation teams. Core aircraft and other projects were located in other buildings.

"Since 79, the school has been continuously carrying out construction, but it is still not enough..."

Xie Wei pointed to a large area of ​​newly added buildings in the surrounding area and began to introduce them.

The school's expansion continues, but it still can't keep up with the pace of enrollment and program expansion.

"Leader Long, what brings you here?"

Even when facing Long Yaohua, President Song, who was disturbed, showed his dissatisfaction.

From the moment he began researching Project No. 10 at Harbin Institute of Technology, he and the entire team practically lived and ate entirely in the design studio.

take a vacation?

nonexistent.

"I heard that Project No. 10 has completed its design and is about to enter the prototype production stage, so I came to take a look."

Long Yaohua didn't take it seriously.

"Is Mr. Song heading to the workshop?"

Seeing that President Song was somewhat dissatisfied with Long Yaohua for delaying him, and noticing his hurried manner, Xie Wei asked.

"That's right. The workshop found that the parts couldn't be assembled during the assembly process."

General Manager Song nodded, "If there's nothing else, I'll head to the workshop first..."

Xie Wei, standing to the side, was speechless. It seemed that after entering Harbin Institute of Technology, everyone, whether they were management cadres or technical leaders, had become irritable and didn't treat their superiors like cadres.

"Let's go take a look too."

Long Yaohua was taken aback, then asked Xie Wei, "Has the prototype already entered the production stage?"

"After the initial feasibility study was completed, we began developing the components." General Manager Song corrected Long Yaohua's statement. "The formal production of the prototype is just the initial static test before the overall assembly."

"The progress is so fast?"

Long Yaohua exclaimed in surprise.

When he arrived at the original metalworking experimental workshop of Harbin Institute of Technology, he was even more surprised to see that the fighter jet had already taken shape and the main frame beam of the aircraft had been assembled. "Didn't the formal development only start last year?"

The surrounding technical teams were all busy with their own tasks.

The fighter jet is having its internal connection cables installed.

This caused an incredulous look to appear on Long Yaohua's face.

Damn it, the Great Wall Guards! They didn't even report something this important.

"Schools have autonomy over their projects."

Xie Wei explained, "Project 10 itself utilized a large number of J-9's technological achievements, and the aerodynamic layout experiments avoided many detours. In addition, the avionics system and other systems were all developed with a focus on stability..."

Does this mean the maiden flight could take place within two years?

Long Yaohua became excited.

The Air Force has never had advanced fighter jets available. Project 10 is the first third-generation fighter jet in China, and its successful development is of great significance.

"Not so fast. This prototype is also for demonstrating the technical solutions... The avionics system, radar, engine, etc., are not yet successful."

"It is Mr. Song who is standing to the side who spoke up."

"Hasn't the school already started developing the core engine? In addition, the supporting active phased array radar and quadruple redundancy fly-by-wire system have been under development for a long time..."

Long Yaohua looked disappointed.

"Sir, what's our foundation? The problem now is that we can design it, but we can't manufacture it. Putting everything else aside, just the onboard computer needed for the fighter jet's fire control system—to allow the jet to simultaneously track at least eight targets and attack two of them—the computer's performance isn't even up to par..."

Xie Wei looked at the prototype with the frame beams assembled and explained the situation.

The progress is relatively fast.

However, there is still a long way to go before the maiden flight, and the situation is not optimistic.

"Wasn't the original plan to track 12 targets and attack 4 at the same time?"

Long Yaohua was stunned for a moment.

In previous project development processes, this situation never occurred: once the technical specifications were set, we had to work hard to achieve them.

"Without adequate supporting facilities, we have to compromise on the design."

General Manager Song began, "Xie Wei suggested resolving the issues first, and then gradually improving performance... otherwise, the progress wouldn't be so fast." After saying that, he walked towards the installation site that was in progress.

There were several technicians there discussing problems while looking at the blueprints.

"We've always emphasized that production must strictly adhere to design requirements, and after completion, it must be inspected against the drawings; anything exceeding tolerances must be scrapped."

Soon, General Manager Song understood the problem and became angry with several technicians.

"Mr. Song, the inner diameter is only 2 microns too small and the outer diameter is 2 microns too large. Although they are both within the limit dimensions, they are all within the tolerance range. Just tap it and it will fit..."

A technician in his thirties explained awkwardly.

"Knock it in? Nonsense!"

General Manager Song became even angrier. "How could there be an installation problem within the tolerance range? Wasn't this considered during the design phase? Who designed it? Who checked it? Who approved it? Find them and handle it according to regulations!"

With a dark expression, General Manager Song said, "This kind of problem keeps happening! Do you guys not take standardization seriously at all?"

"What about this?"

Another person asked.

"Check the drawings first. If there are any problems with the design, then revise the design!"

"Let's go."

Xie Wei sighed. This situation was not uncommon in the experimental workshop.

Previously, without standardization, most of the design drawings were correct. However, in order to save costs, it was discovered that the dimensions of the manufactured parts were out of tolerance. Instead of scrapping them, another part was produced to match the out-of-tolerance parts.

Interchangeability?
As long as it can be manufactured and installed, that's fine.

Since it doesn't affect the performance or use of the equipment, why be so demanding?
"Didn't you already start implementing standardization a long time ago?"

Long Yaohua vaguely understood why Xie Wei had been so determined to promote standardization.

"In schools where there have always been requirements, this is the situation. What about other organizations? The Y-10 has more than 100,000 parts..."

Xie Wei then used this opportunity to criticize the Y-10, and Long Yaohua, unable to refute him, could only pretend not to hear.

The core machine is currently in the design stage. Although the designers are experienced and have been drawn from all over the country, none of them have worked on a core machine before, so progress is slow.

Long Yaohua, accompanied by Xie Wei, spent a day learning in detail about the research progress of projects in both the military and civilian product sectors.

"There are indeed too many projects. There is a big difference between hearing reports and seeing them in person."

After learning about it, Long Yaohua said with a sigh.

“The school can accept the Y-10, but they must agree to my request; the higher-ups cannot interfere.”

Xie Wei brought it up again.

"Didn't I already agree to everything?"

Long Yaohua frowned, squinting at Xie Wei, his face full of confusion as he looked at him again.

"Control over the project!"

Xie Wei didn't believe that the higher-ups would issue orders when they saw that the school wasn't investing enough in this area.

"I need to go back and report on this matter."

Long Yaohua didn't answer directly, but instead asked Xie Wei, "If the higher-ups agree to your suggestion, where do you plan to place the team? Will you stay in Shanghai?"

Test!

A blatant test.

Xie Wei gave Long Yaohua a disdainful look. "Put it next to Xi'an Aircraft Industry Group. Although Factory 122 has the foundation to produce H-5 bombers, it would require too much investment to develop to the point of producing large military transport aircraft and civilian airliners."

The key is to focus on consolidating resources and using money wisely.

Upon hearing Xie Wei's words, Long Yaohua looked astonished. "You said before that you would let Northwestern Polytechnical University take over and be in charge. Was that really for the sake of the project?"

"Why not?"

Xie Wei was clearly telling the truth, but no one wanted to listen.

This is very helpless.

"Take over? Should the school or the school-enterprise cooperation office take over?"

Zhang Mingqiu looked at Xie Wei and asked anxiously.

As soon as he asked the question, Liu Debao looked down on him: "The school-enterprise office is not even at the current level of 710. That's a unit at the same level as us!"

"Neither the school nor the school-enterprise cooperation office cares. We just need to keep an eye on whether they are doing things according to the requirements, and we just need to pay them."

"what?"

Xie Wei's words were difficult for the school leaders to understand.

It may be hard to understand, but no one objected.

"Contact Xi'an Aircraft Industry Group."

Xie Wei spoke up.

"What if Xi'an Aircraft Industry Group (XAC) absorbs Institute 710? We've invested our money!"

Zhang Mingqiu looked at Xie Wei with a pained expression.

The school is funding the development of Xi'an Aircraft Industry Group?
"Let them take it over. We're all working on large aircraft anyway... If our university takes over Institute 710, what do you think the leaders in the ministry will think? They might even take back the autonomy of the projects..."

Xie Wei glanced at Zhang Mingqiu.

"That's right! We're from the Seventh Ministry of Machinery Industry..."

After Liu Debao spoke, a worried expression appeared on his face, "The annual budget of 5000 million, the ministry..."

The school was a subordinate unit of the Seventh Ministry of Machinery Industry.

Although the funding support from higher authorities to the school each year is not much, the school has not been shortchanged at all.

With money in hand, the school launched Project No. 10, a massive money-devouring project, and then allocated 50 million yuan annually for the large aircraft project, as well as the core aircraft project, all of which fell within the purview of the Third Ministry of Machinery Industry.

It would be strange if the leaders at the top didn't have any ideas.

"Let's talk about it when the ministry comes looking for us."

Xie Wei was preparing to give Li Rui a headache.

"By the way, has Qu Hongtao's letter of introduction been issued yet?"

Qu Hongtao was beaten, and Xie Wei hasn't visited him in the hospital for the past two days. Zhang Mingqiu, that old guy, isn't a good person either; he hasn't been able to provide a letter of introduction.

"Can you..."

"cannot!"

Before Zhang Mingqiu could even speak, Xie Wei cut him off, saying, "Let's not transfer the organizational affiliation yet, but the grain and oil rations need to be transferred. Hurry up, I'll go see him in a bit and deliver them to him."

Zhang Mingqiu had no choice but to handle it himself.

Liu Debao looked at Xie Wei, his lips moved several times, but he ultimately didn't ask the question that was on his mind.

Meanwhile, at the guesthouse, Long Yaohua's gaze was sweeping over Wu Quan and the others.

"...Either accept Xie Wei's demands, or wait until the Y-10 project runs out of its current funding and is cancelled. It's up to you to choose."

"Sir, is there really no room for negotiation?"

Mr. Ma was somewhat unwilling.

This means that we must temporarily abandon the Y-10, retain the complete research team and core components, and abandon all other components.

Xi'an Aircraft Industry Group (XAC) has a complete supporting system.

"It's gone. Xie Wei won't even give me face. The higher-ups can't come up with the money, Harbin Institute of Technology..."

Long Yaohua originally intended to say that Harbin Institute of Technology was also having a tough time.

However, this would put psychological pressure on everyone, so Long Yaohua swallowed his words before they could be spoken.

(End of this chapter)