Republic of China: Ace Pilot

Chapter 526 Rocket Blueprint Guided Weapon Concept, Double-Headed Eagle Badge
The smoke from the rocket explosion below had not yet dissipated, but Fang Wen was using mechanical sensing to deconstruct the device.

He pretended to check the shooting effect, still operating the prototype equipment. His fingers seemingly casually brushed the launch device rails, and beneath the cool touch of the metal surface was a deeper understanding of the equipment's internal workings in a human-machine integrated state.

Although the time was short, it was enough to understand and memorize the internal structure of the RO-82 rail launcher.

"The accuracy is higher than we expected." Korolev climbed onto the test platform with the rangefinder, the snow on his boots crunching. "It seems Mr. Fang has the potential to be a flying gunner."

Alyosha, who came up with him, translated his words and handed Fang Wen a cup of hot cocoa coffee to ward off the cold.

Fang Wen took a sip, the steaming coffee wafting in front of him: "Your targeting system is ingeniously designed; it's a pity we can't purchase it together."

"I can only apologize, but the application of this device in future fighter jets will be a revolution in air combat. You should understand why it cannot be sold," Korolev replied.

"But it's still very primitive and not suitable for installation on aircraft. You need a lot of experimental data to make improvements. Perhaps, there will be better technology to replace it in the future." Fang Wen pretended to reveal that he still wanted to get his hands on the RO-82 rail launcher.

"Sorry, this is not negotiable." Korolev refused Fang Wen without hesitation, and then he and Fang Wen came down from the test platform to check the impact point of the rocket.

There, the flames from the rocket explosion had been extinguished, and a large hole could be seen blasted into an old car.

Several technicians are recording the impact point data.

After observing for a while, Fang Wen spoke up: "Regarding subsequent production..."

"According to the contract, the first batch of 50 modified rockets will be delivered in three months." Korolev took out a handkerchief to wipe his glasses. "However," he suddenly switched to Russian and spoke quickly, a sentence that Alyosha clearly hesitated when translating, "He said... a military observer will come with you. He needs to be present to record every time this rocket is used in combat, exercises, or tests."

This requirement is somewhat demanding. Once the rockets are transported to the base in northern Myanmar, Fang Wen will definitely disassemble and modify them. This process cannot be seen by outsiders.

Fang Wen stated that military observers can only participate in actual combat and exercises.

The other party did not make a fuss about it; after only a token argument, they agreed.

This concludes our trip to the Aerodynamics Research Institute.

But Fang Wen still wanted to try and see if he could visit their factory.

“Tell Mr. Korolev,” he said, taking a bond from his coat pocket, “that I have another $20,000 budget and would like to tour the rocket production line.” Seeing the old expert’s jaw tighten suddenly, he quickly added, “Of course, only the final assembly stage.”

"No," the other party refused.

The level of vigilance here is extremely high, so it seems there's no chance to gain a further understanding of the rocket manufacturing process.

Fang Wen then abandoned this plan.

That night, inside the guesthouse, Fang Wen locked the door and drew the curtains. A pencil scratched across the blueprints, the mechanically replicated details transforming into precise engineering drawings.

Gong Xiuneng squatted beside the radiator, keeping watch, and couldn't help but ask in a low voice, "Commander, are we really going to buy Soviet rockets? These things are ridiculously expensive."

"Of course we'll buy it. Even if it costs double, we'll get it before we have the production capacity. Once we get the launching device sorted out, its power and tactical strike effect will far surpass previous bombing methods." Fang Wen spoke, but his pen kept moving. He was currently drawing a draft full of gears, which was the rail locking mechanism he had sensed during the day. Looking at his drawing, he couldn't help but think that the industrial machine tools and processing equipment at the northern Myanmar base should be able to manufacture these parts. As long as the RO-82 rail launcher could be replicated, future research and development would be much faster.

Suddenly, the sound of snow breaking tree branches came from outside the window. Gong Xiuneng immediately went to the window and looked outside through the gap in the curtains.

He whispered, "They're on patrol."

Fang Wen nodded and continued drawing the blueprints.

He was still busy until the patrolling soldiers had gone far away.

Finally, the blueprints for the RO-82 rail launcher were completed. He rolled them into a small paper tube and tucked them into the lining of his clothes, so that it was impossible to tell from the outside that something was hidden inside.

And in the hidden compartment, there was another item: a secret treasure taken from Napoleon's treasure.

To this day, Fang Wen has not studied it, nor has he even seen what it looks like. He only knows that it is roughly a flat, round object.

To ensure that no outsiders would find out, he planned to wait until after leaving the Soviet Union to see how things went.

After putting away the blueprints, Fang Wen suddenly remembered something: should the postcards he prepared for his wife at least have a Leningrad postmark as proof?

He then took out his camera bag from his luggage. Inside, besides the camera, there were developing chemicals and photo paper. He was leaving tomorrow, so he might as well develop the photos tonight.

The night passed, and Korolev came to the guesthouse to see them off. The two officers who had picked up Fang Wen and his two companions also came.

Afterwards, Fang Wen and the other two got into the car and left.

As the car drove out of the research institute, Fang Wen said, "Stop at the Leningrad post office. I'd like to have your postmark stamped on the postcards."

In this era, using a post office stamp as a way to mark one's visit was a popular practice worldwide, and the two officers did not refuse.

After a while, the car stopped, the curtains were drawn back, and the officer in the passenger seat said, "This is the post office. I'll go with you there."

Immediately, Gong Xiuneng got out of the car, took the postcard Fang Wen had made the day before, and followed the officer into the post office.

Not long after, he came out with an officer, and the postcard in his hand was stamped with the seal of the Leningrad Post Office.

The car started moving again, but this time the curtains weren't drawn so Fang Wen and the others could enjoy the city scenery.

Half an hour later, the car returned to the dock. Fang Wen and his two companions got out of the car, contacted the dock management personnel through the military officer, and then returned to the plane.

The aircraft started its engines at the berth, the propellers spun rapidly, and the fuselage turned to face the open sea.

Gong Xiuneng's voice came from behind: "The mooring line has been released, the anchor has been retrieved, and the hatch has been closed."

Immediately, Fang Wen maneuvered the aircraft to accelerate across the water and into the sky.

After a 3-hour flight, the plane arrived in Smolensk Oblast and landed on a river outside the city.

Pierre then arrived, bringing with him a fuel truck.

As soon as he got out of the car, his first words were a complaint: "It's so cold here, no wonder the French army retreated."

"Let's fill up the tank first." Fang Wen walked over to the fuel truck, inserted the hose into the fuel inlet, and let Gong Xiuneng use a manual pump to draw fuel into the tank.

While refueling, Fang Wen learned about the treasure excavation from Pierre.

Because of the major accident that injured many people, another batch of troops were transferred to relieve the guard, while Sergei left with the treasure that had already been retrieved, and it was impossible to start work there again in the short term.

Meanwhile, the fuel was refilled, and the group returned to the plane, preparing to leave Soviet territory.

The plane took off and flew directly from Smolensk Oblast to Riga, Latvia. It did not stop at the port of Riga but flew directly out of the Gulf of Riga and returned via the same route.

The entire flight took place over the sea, but this time they did not encounter the German aircraft carrier trial fleet and returned to Paris safely.

Upon arriving in Paris, Fang Wen and Pierre said their goodbyes.

"I've been away from home for too long, and there are many things at home that I need to take care of. I can't stay in Europe any longer. I'm going back today. See you again someday."

“Maybe I’ll go to Asia, study flying at your aviation school, and then buy a private jet from your company. Goodbye, friend, and I hope we’ll have the chance to go treasure hunting together again someday.” “There will be a chance.”

Fang Wen shook hands with him to say goodbye, and then took Gong Xiuneng directly onto the company's flight.

This time, he did not pilot the plane, but stayed quietly in the cabin as a passenger. After a 10,000-kilometer flight with multiple transfers, it took 40 hours to finally return to Yangon.

Taishan International Flight made a stopover in Yangon. After Fang Wen and Gong Xiuneng disembarked, the plane took off for Kunming.

Fang Wenzhe couldn't wait to drive the airport car back to the company headquarters. In his home on the top floor, he cut open the lining of his clothes and took out the contents.

Fang Wen carefully placed a few sheets of paper and drawings aside, his attention drawn to the secret treasure.

This is a badge inlaid with various jewels, with a crown at the top and a double-headed eagle symbol in the center.

What does this represent?

Over the years, through numerous treasure hunts, he has collected many books and readings about the history of various countries around the world, and then searched through the bookshelves.

Got it!

It is the symbol of Byzantium.

The emblem of Byzantium, also known as the Eastern Roman Kingdom, is a double-headed eagle, and even the way the eagle's left and right claws grasp a scepter and a jewel is the same.

But how did this thing end up in the Winter Palace? Does it have anything to do with Tsarist Russia?

With these questions in mind, Fang Wen opened the history books of Tsarist Russia and found the answer there.

In that era, the Ottomans conquered Constantinople, occupied the Balkan Peninsula, and thus destroyed the local Byzantine Kingdom.

The kingdom's royal family fled to various parts of Europe, and one of the princesses was adopted by the Pope.

The last princess of the Eastern Roman Empire was named Sophia Paleolog.

Later, in order to counter the Islamized Ottoman Empire, the Church married Sophia to Ivan III, the Grand Duke of Moscow, hoping that they could restrain the Ottoman Empire from the north.

The Grand Duke of Moscow married Princess Sofia in order to preserve the Byzantine dynasty, thereby acquiring Byzantine royal ceremonies and etiquette, and inheriting the double-headed eagle emblem as the national coat of arms.

This laid the foundation for Tsarist Russia.

Fang Wen examined the badge closely.

Could this badge belong to Princess Sofia?
What secret does it hold?
Fang Wen gripped the badge, closed his eyes, and sensed it with his special ability.

He sensed it; the badge contained a great deal of faith energy.

This thing is definitely not simple.

Moreover, it is ancient, and may have even existed during the Byzantine period.

By the way, Byzantium was the most prosperous place for Eastern Orthodoxy at that time, so this emblem may have had special significance at that time, and was even worn in many ceremonies.

What are its capabilities?
Fang Wen tried to inject his own energy.

As the alien faith energy was injected into his body, the badge suddenly heated up.

Then a burst of dazzling light shot out from the badge.

In an instant, Fang Wen was enveloped in light, and his entire outline was bathed in light.

After a short while, the light source disappeared, and Fang Wen looked at the badge in his hand in confusion.

Is this thing just a flashlight?!

It feels pretty useless.

He looked into the mirror, channeled energy into it again, and seeing the reflection, he understood the function of this treasure.

It is estimated that it was used to perform miracles.

After activation, the person is enveloped in a large amount of light pollution, looking like an angel wrapped in holy light.

Imagine, a thousand years ago, religious figures, radiating holy light, approached believers; that sense of sacredness would surely have won them unwavering devotion.

But now, a flashlight or carbide lamp can achieve a similar effect.

Therefore, as times change, the convenience brought by technology will ultimately lead to the continuous progress of human society.

While the badge's ability to glow is rather useless, the large amount of energy it contains allows Fang Wen to continuously absorb it, making it quite a valuable item.

Setting down the double-headed eagle badge, Fang Wen examined the blueprints he had drawn in the Soviet Union.

The RO-82 rail transmitter is divided into 4 parts.

Guide rail body: As a guiding device for rocket launch, it provides the initial motion path for the rocket and ensures the stability of the launch direction. It is made of high-strength metal and can withstand the impact and high temperature during rocket launch.

Aiming and adjustment device: Similar to "traditional artillery sights and simple elevation adjustment devices", used to aim at targets and adjust the launch angle to ensure accurate rocket strikes. It may be integrated into the rail system and installed on the corresponding combat platform (such as the vehicle body when mounted on a vehicle, or the under-mount device of an aircraft).

Launch control components: including launch switches, circuits, fuses and other sub-components, to ensure launch safety and controllability.

Platform interface compatibility: For different combat platforms (trucks, modified tanks, aircraft), there will be a structure that connects to the carrier platform to ensure overall stability during launch and to transmit and distribute the launch force.

The function of the RO-82 rail transmitter is...

Launch: With the guidance and initial power provided by the rails, the RO-82-compatible rocket is launched to strike the target at a certain distance.

Firepower strike: In salvo mode, a large number of rockets are launched at the target at once through a multi-rail parallel launch method, thereby causing a saturation attack on cluster targets and fortifications.

Tactical adaptation:

If it is vehicle-mounted, it can be quickly deployed and transferred based on the vehicle's mobility, and can flexibly carry out fire strike missions in different battlefield environments, such as plains and simple roads. It can also be adapted to different munitions (fragmentation, incendiary, armor-piercing, etc. warheads) to meet diverse tactical needs.

If mounted on an aircraft, it can be mounted on the belly of the aircraft or on both sides of the wings, using an external launch rail device to continuously fire rockets at the target.

At that moment, Fang Wen's mind conjured up an image of fighter jets equipped with rockets in combat.

If the first-generation aircraft had two rocket rail launchers mounted on each wing, it would have had a long-range precision strike capability.

Of course, all of this requires waiting for the rockets to arrive, and then modifying and testing them as needed before we can figure out a primitive guided weapon that combines television fire control and rail launch.

(End of this chapter)