In 1978, I was admitted to Harbin Institute of Technology

Chapter 386 The troops finally showed generosity: the Hongqi air defense missile was modified into the 8610 tactical missile.
"Another assassination attempt? What on earth did this kid do? It hasn't even been two months since the last one, has it?"

Xie Wei looked worried when he heard that Feng Ke had been assassinated again.

He didn't expect that Li Rui had come specifically for this.

"If that doesn't work, make him give up everything and come back. I heard that the combined arms unit over there has been completed and is combat-ready, but it has been kept under high secrecy... Feng Ke is one of the people who know the details..."

Li Rui reminded Xie Wei.

People are more important than data.

"Chu Yunlong and Wei Yong have already gone there through personal connections... Accompanying them is a group of mercenaries from Hong Kong. This group of mercenaries consists of retired veterans with real combat experience..."

Li Rui actually knew everything Xie Wei had done.

It was all done through Chu Yunlong and Wei Yong.

"Will this bring him back safely?"

Li Rui looked nervous.

Feng Ke's work there wasn't just about missile design and improvement; it also involved Xie Wei's earlier proposals for integrated forces construction and system-of-systems warfare.

People are back, and we can have a direct impression of many things.

"Probably so."

Xie Wei was somewhat uncertain. He didn't know what Feng Ke had done over there to warrant such a series of assassination attempts.

At the current rate, assassinations will become increasingly frequent.

"The 300mm long-range artillery is complete? How's your air defense system coming along?"

Li Rui changed the subject.

"I don't know the specifics very well either. I've been focusing on mobile communication technology and data links... and also integrated circuits. If we can't make a breakthrough in manufacturing processes, our microcomputers could very well be killed off by international brands..."

Xie Wei sighed, got up, and led Li Rui toward Fang Pengju.

As we walked, I explained the situation along the way.

Upon arriving at the workshop, we saw several long-range rocket launchers painted in military green. Unlike the previous 150mm long-range rocket launchers with round launch tubes, the 300mm long-range rocket launchers used square launch boxes.

"Director Li, when did you get back?"

Upon seeing Li Rui arrive with Xie Wei, Fang Pengju, who was discussing something with technicians around a launch vehicle, greeted Li Rui.

"Grandpa Li, what brings you here?"

Xie Rou asked in surprise.

When she was in school, Li Rui treated her very well.

"Xie Rou is back?"

Li Rui first looked Xie Rou up and down, then greeted her with a smile, "It's been years, I almost didn't recognize you. You've grown into a young lady."

After Xie Rou joined the Institute of Computing Technology, Li Rui met her a few more times. Later, Xie Rou joined the Aerospace Research Institute. Due to the involvement of some classified projects, Li Rui did not inquire too much, which resulted in Li Rui not meeting Xie Rou again after she joined the Aerospace Research Institute.

"How's the rocket launcher doing?"

Li Rui did not continue the pleasantries.

After I finish work, I'll go to Xie Wei's house for a meal anyway.

Xie Wei is married after all.

"After Xie Rou returned, she found a lot of problems. After making modifications in the next few days, we will conduct extreme environment tests... The 300mm long-range artillery also adopts a modular design. Due to the increased caliber and length of the projectile, it can only be made into two 2×2 launch modules..."

Fang Pengju pointed to the launch vehicle next to him and explained.

"What about range and accuracy?"

Li Rui asked the question.

"With a range of 300 kilometers, if the warhead's explosive charge is reduced from 420 kilograms to 180 kilograms, the range can be increased to about 480 kilometers... Due to the use of simplified inertial guidance, the circular error probable (CEP) at 300 kilometers is approximately 300 meters, and at a range of 500 kilometers, it will reach about 600 meters..."

"Such high precision? Are you sure you're making rocket artillery and not missiles?"

Li Rui was stunned.

Because the project was initiated and funded independently by the school, no application was submitted to higher authorities, and the team also worked on various technical specifications on their own.

Wei Changcheng, the head of the military representative office, was also unaware of the specific performance characteristics.

"Director Li, did you know we were planning to sell this?"

Xie Wei frowned.

If Li Rui came to the school for this reason, it is very likely that the higher authorities will not allow its export because of the advanced performance of the 300-class rocket.

The troops themselves didn't have the money to equip themselves.

"I understand. Let's find out the situation first. It's unacceptable for you to conduct weapons research and then not report it if it's unsuccessful."

Li Rui spoke first.

He knew what Xie Wei was worried about, so he didn't explain further, but continued to press, "Why is the accuracy so high? Is it just because a simple inertial guidance system has been added?"

"correct."

Fang Pengju said in confusion, "Director Li, this is a rocket launcher, not a missile. Although the cost of one of these rockets is around 400,000 yuan, it is much cheaper than missiles of the same range internationally."

He was referring to the Scud short-range ballistic missiles that the Soviet Union sold almost all over the world.

That thing has a range of 300 kilometers, and its error is roughly a circular error probability of 300 meters.

However, the price rose to $60 as both sides in the Iran-Iraq War used the Scud-B missile, with a range of 300 kilometers, to attack important targets with relatively good results.

"It's not about the price. Even if each one costs around 400,000, and your launcher carries eight, firing them all at once would cost over 3 million... Imagine a whole battalion firing them all at once..."

Li Rui said with a bitter face, "Even though the military started a massive reduction of one million troops last year, military spending is still being cut."

The military can't afford it.

Xie Wei didn't bring it up again at this moment, but just listened quietly as Fang Pengju introduced the specific details of the Yuan Huo 300.

Li Rui kept asking technical questions, making Xie Wei constantly ponder his specific purpose for coming to the school.

Could it be that the higher-ups are really planning to ban the export of this long-range rocket launcher?
Even after leaving the workshop, Li Rui did not reveal his true intentions.

Xie Wei originally planned to accompany Li Rui to visit other projects, learn about their progress, and take the opportunity to plead poverty and see if he could ask his superiors for more funding.

To everyone's surprise, Li Rui wasn't fooled at all.

"Come on, let's talk in your office."

"Just the two of us?"

Xie Wei was even more puzzled. "Just tell me what's wrong. The aftereffects of that punch I gave you are still there!"

What do you think about converting the HQ-2 air defense missile into a tactical missile?

Li Rui looked around and, seeing that no one was around, quietly asked Xie Wei.

What the hell?

Can the HQ-2 air defense missile be modified into a tactical missile?
Isn't this Project 8610?
This refers to the M7 tactical missile, which is the starting model for future PLA tactical missiles and was also modified for export.

This is a project of the Second Academy of China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation.

Why did Li Rui end up at school?

"Let's go, let's talk in the office."

Xie Wei also knew that it was not appropriate to discuss such important matters outside. Li Rui first came to learn about the school's 300-meter long-range artillery, and then brought up this matter. It was clear that the higher-ups already had the idea of ​​developing tactical missiles.

这是好事！    M7以红旗-2防空导弹改造而来，射程200公里，弹头重量500公斤。而后续的M9、M11、M18战术导弹，射程分别是600公里、300公里、1000公里。

Except for the M18 tactical missile, whose warhead weighs 800 kg, all other models weigh 500 kg.

M-family missiles, that's the export designation.

Only the M9 and M11 units themselves were equipped with a small number of these for combat testing.

However, the M9 exported to the military is called Dongfeng-15 for its own use, while the M11 is called Dongfeng-11.

The relevant information immediately came to Xie Wei's mind.

"The First Academy is developing the Dongfeng-15, and the Sanjiang Space Group of China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation is working on the Dongfeng-11..."

Once inside the office, Xie Wei made tea for Li Rui and then eagerly asked, "Does the army have money?"

Li Rui, who was about to drink tea, trembled as he held the teacup. He looked at Xie Wei with annoyance and said, "Do you have to look like a rich landlord?"

"poverty."

Xie Wei didn't mince words with Li Rui, saying, "The profits of the university-enterprise office are increasing rapidly every year, but they can't support the ever-growing research funding. We don't have much money internally in the aerospace industry either."

"This time there is funding. It's all funded by the military."

Li Rui's generosity made Xie Wei wary. "You have an order?"

The first customer for the M7 missile was the Persians, who purchased 90 missiles along with the technology for a total of $2 million.

The Persians originally ordered 200 missiles, but they later copied the M7 ballistic missile and named it the Tondall-69.

However, due to problems with the Persians' supporting industries and technology, the Tondar-69 had a range of only 150 kilometers and a warhead of only 150 kilograms, which was no match for the performance of the M7.

"Can you stop being so sensitive? There's nothing there! There's not even anything..."

Xie Wei didn't believe it at all.

Seeing Li Rui lie without even blinking, they were even less convinced.

The Persians must have come!
It should be noted that the Persians are currently buying second-hand Scud-B missiles all over the world in order to end the war with Iraq as soon as possible.

"We'll take the project if we split the profits."

Xie Wei reminded Li Rui that it was definitely not acceptable not to share the money with the school.

He knew very well that each M7 missile cost over $100 million, and 90 missiles plus the technology would only cost $2 million, which was far too little.

"80/20 split."

Li Rui looked at Xie Wei, knowing he couldn't hide it from the kid. "You guys have experience with the 300-kilometer long-range rocket project, so modifying it should be easy. The range doesn't need to be 300 kilometers; 200 kilometers is enough. With current rocket guidance technology, we can achieve a circular error probable (CEP) of 300 meters..."

"Three-seven."

Xie Wei spoke without even thinking.

Seeing that Li Rui was about to object, Xie Wei didn't give him a chance to speak and said directly, "If you accept these conditions, we will complete the design modification within 3 months, with a range of 300 kilometers, a warhead weight of 480 kilograms, and an accuracy of 200 meters."

"It can be completed so quickly?"

Li Rui stared wide-eyed at Xie Wei.

"As long as there is money, our project team can work day and night without sleeping."

Xie Wei said earnestly, "We're short on funds right now. Starting this month, the school won't be paying salaries or subsidies for six months... Being poor means we have to be motivated..."

"..."

Li Rui stared speechlessly at Xie Wei. Seeing that Xie Wei's expression remained unchanged, he asked after a long while, "Is the school's funding really that tight? Last year, the school-enterprise cooperation office provided several hundred million in profits, and Xingkong Investment also brought back more than 8000 million US dollars from the international foreign exchange market..."

"Don't you think about how many projects you left behind when you left? Pakistan didn't invest a single penny in the Super-7 project, and Iraq didn't place any additional orders for tanks..."

Xie Wei began to complain.

The school has too many military projects, and sometimes he even wants to cut some of them.

"Okay, let's do it your way."

Li Rui breathed a sigh of relief. Before coming, he was prepared for Xie Wei to ask for an exorbitant amount. In fact, in order to subsidize the school, the army was prepared to split the contract amount with the school at 40/60. However, Xie Wei only asked for 30%.

As soon as he finished speaking, Li Rui regretted it. "You don't have any other conditions, do you?"

"The money from selling missiles is split like this, but for us selling technology, it's 20/80, so we get 80%!"

Li Rui looked at Xie Wei with a twitching mouth.

He knew that Xie Wei, being so shrewd, wouldn't agree so easily, especially given the school's financial difficulties.

"Sanqi?"

"Take 28. If it works, great. If not, you can contact other units in the aerospace industry."

Xie Wei's attitude was very firm this time.

The M7 ballistic missile, being an improved version of the outdated HQ-2 air defense missile, uses an inclined launch method, so the technology is not particularly difficult. Xie Wei did not want the military to sell the technology at a low price.

If handled well, there are still quite a few customers.

The HQ-2 air defense missile is an improved version of the HQ-1; and the HQ-1 is a copy of the SA-2.

The SA-2, an air defense missile designed in the 50s, was so widely sold by the Soviets that anyone who acquired the technology could mass-produce it by collecting more second-hand SA-2 air defense missiles from around the world.

"We need to report this to our superiors. Is it alright to allocate 1000 million yuan for initial R&D funding?"

Li Rui asked Xie Wei.

Xie Wei was even more surprised.

When did the military become so rich?

They actually provided tens of millions in start-up funding for a missile modification project!
"no problem."

Ultimately, Xie Wei did not ask Li Rui about any other details.

The more secrets Xie Wei learned, the less he wanted to know. Keeping secrets was too difficult, especially before he got married when he slept alone with Chu Yunlong and Wei Yong guarding him outside, so he wasn't afraid of talking in his sleep.

Now married.

Mo Lingyu, who slept with Xie Wei, had returned from abroad. Although he was now basically certain that Mo Lingyu was not a spy for the United States, the rules of secrecy could not be violated.

Moreover, letting Mo Lingyu know some secrets wouldn't be a good thing for her either.

"Modify the HQ-2 air defense missile into a tactical missile?"

After listening, Fang Pengju looked at Xie Wei in surprise, "Why are we modifying that thing? If we want to make missiles, wouldn't it be more advanced to just improve the rockets of the 300mm long-range artillery?"

He has no intention of modifying the HQ-2.

The HQ-2 is an air defense missile. Without extensive modifications to its shape and aerodynamic layout, its performance cannot be significantly improved. Too many modifications would be disastrous for wind tunnel testing and would also waste more resources.

"Yes. Our country has produced so many HQ-2s, and now they're all facing retirement. Finding a way to recoup some of the costs is a good thing. Three months! We only have three months!"

Xie Wei emphasized this.

Fang Pengju and others did not raise any questions about the three-month renovation period.

To convert an air defense missile into a ballistic missile, you only need to remove the air defense missile's guidance radar, add a guidance system, and modify the warhead.

"To achieve the desired range, the current fuel capacity of the HQ-2 is insufficient, so a rocket booster will be added at the terminal stage... In addition, to increase the terminal velocity, the missile will separate into its constituent parts before entering the final flight phase..."

Xie Wei presented the proposal directly.

The 8610 tactical missile is the world's first tactical missile converted from an air defense missile. In Xie Wei's original era, the conversion plan could be easily found online. As for how to implement it, that was the technical team's job.

(End of this chapter)