Cutting-edge technology: Starting with individual stealth equipment

Chapter 115: The level of importance has risen to the strategic level.

Now that the key technology chain has been verified and approved, subsequent progress has been much smoother.

In the following days, the project team improved the prototype's energy storage time to the minute level in just half a month.

That morning, Luo Xiangdong came out of the laboratory building with a lab report in his hand, walked through the connecting corridor toward the main headquarters building, and knocked on the door of Lin Chuan's office.

"Come in."

Luo Xiangdong pushed open the door, placed the report on the desk, and immediately said, "Boss, the latest progress in the second phase: the energy storage time has broken through eight minutes."

Upon hearing this, Lin Chuan picked up the report and flipped through it.

Standing beside him, Luo Xiangdong gave a concise report on some key data.

"Through further optimization of the QB-102 molecular doping ratio and the number of microcavity layers, the energy storage time of the quantum battery prototype has been increased from 20..."

The time has been increased from just over 20 seconds to over 8 minutes.

"At the same time, the charging and discharging efficiency is also improved."

"After three rounds of optimization of the impedance matching of the discharge circuit, the energy extraction efficiency has been improved from the initial 58% to about 71%."

Lin Chuan flipped through the report page by page, then closed it and nodded in satisfaction.

"Well done. Although we are still far from the target of half an hour, the path has been found, and it is only a matter of time. Moreover, eight minutes of energy storage time is enough to support the initial verification of many practical application scenarios."

At this point, he looked at Luo Xiangdong and said, "You continue to proceed according to plan. I'll communicate with the military first."

Luo Xiangdong nodded; he knew how great the military application potential of quantum batteries was.

Without asking any further questions, he simply said, "Then I'll go back to the lab first," and turned to leave.

Lin Chuan leaned back in his chair and remained silent for a while. After thinking it over, he began to write a report himself.

The following day, an encrypted letter was sent to Wang Chengjun through the military's dedicated channel.

The letter was titled "On the Phase-by-Phase Progress and Military Application Prospects of Quantum Energy Storage Technology" and was signed by Lin Chuan.

The attached briefing includes an overview of the principles of quantum batteries, key data from the experimental verification phase, measured performance parameters of the prototype, and Lin Chuan's systematic analysis of the application prospects of this technology in military and civilian fields.

This includes data, parameters, tactical scenarios, feasibility assessments, and so on.

In this report, Lin Chuan did not make any exaggerated claims, because the actual performance is already incredibly impressive by today's standards, and he did not make grand promises like in a commercial launch event.

Lin Chuan's report contained only three core arguments:

First, quantum battery technology has completed the key principle verification in the laboratory stage and the preparation of the first working prototype. The energy storage time has exceeded 8 minutes and is still improving. It has now initially reached the maturity level to enter the engineering development stage.

Second, the technology has extremely broad potential for military applications, ranging from individual soldier equipment to long-endurance unmanned platforms and directed energy weapons, covering multiple key combat domains.

However, before a global space network is achieved, ground applications will be limited by the curvature of the Earth and the coverage of base stations, and large-scale strategic-level military applications will take time.

The most feasible military applications in the short term are to achieve local theater coverage by relying on fixed ground locations or regional rail networks, and to advance the development of powered armor for individual soldiers.

Third, given the strategic sensitivity of this technology, DeepBlue Technology has not disclosed any relevant information to the public or launched any commercial promotion for civilian use before reaching a consensus with the military.

After sending the encrypted email, Lin Chuan did not wait for a reply.

He continued to work on the next phase of the quantum energy storage project, while also having Shen Yuxin compile the initial draft of the European and American delivery plan for the phagocytic bacteria, in preparation for use at the delivery launch meeting in September.

Three days after the letter was sent, Wang Chengjun called.

"Comrade Lin Chuan, we have already reviewed the materials and reports you sent. The higher-ups want you to come to Beijing as soon as possible to give a detailed report in person."

Upon hearing this, Lin Chuan called back: "No problem."

Two days later, in a conference room of a military unit in Beijing.

Seven people were seated at the conference table. The lowest-ranking officer was a senior colonel. Wang Chengjun was also there, sitting on the side. At this level of meeting, he was mainly responsible for introducing the situation.

Lin Chuan was among them, with an encrypted laptop in front of him. The projection screen displayed a schematic diagram of the quantum battery principle and experimental data.

The face-to-face presentation lasted for nearly two hours, during which he naturally connected each technical aspect to specific military application scenarios.

When discussing energy density and charging speed, a high-ranking military official interrupted him: "Comrade Lin Chuan, you said the charging time is in the femtosecond range?"

Upon hearing this, Lin Chuan nodded: "Yes, it's femtosecond level, around 150 femtoseconds. In the human sense of time, it can basically be said that the charging is completed instantaneously."

"What about the energy storage time?"

"It has already broken through 8 minutes and is still increasing. The theoretical value can reach about half an hour."

"Assuming the charging time remains the same?"

The military leader present was silent for a few seconds, then slowly nodded.

He wasn't a physicist and didn't fully understand the specific mechanisms of quantum coherent states, but he completely grasped the military implications of these data.

This means that an unmanned platform can recharge its energy instantly. Although the flight time is less than ten minutes, the recharge process is fast enough. Once it starts up successfully, the flight time will theoretically not be interrupted.

Lin Chuan then shifted the topic to the strategic path of military applications.

He expressed his carefully considered ideas in a more systematic and concise way.

"Before global space networking is achieved, ground base stations plus regional orbital networking is the optimal path."

"Ground base stations can cover fixed areas such as military bases, border outposts, and pre-designated battlefields; regional orbital networking can deploy several satellites carrying quantum battery charging devices in low Earth orbit."

"In addition, with DeepBlue Technology's single-line fission solar cells, energy can be extracted from the sun with an ultra-high photoelectric conversion efficiency of over 80%, and then transmitted to ground equipment or devices via wireless lasers."

As he spoke, he switched to a more intuitive diagram.

The image shows several large satellites orbiting in low Earth orbit, each equipped with solar panels and laser emission modules.

Armored vehicles, drones, and individual soldier equipment on the ground can quickly recharge via receiving equipment during the window when the satellite is overhead.

Lin Chuan said, "Regional orbital networking does not need to wait for global coverage to be effective. As long as a preliminary satellite constellation is deployed in orbit in a specific region, it can ensure that military operations in that region receive continuous energy support."

A satellite orbiting 400 kilometers above Earth takes about an hour and a half to complete one orbit. If a quantum battery could store energy for half an hour...

In theory, only 3 satellites are needed to continuously replenish power to a fixed ground coordinate 24 hours a day.

The first satellite arrived over the target and recharged. The satellite continued its orbit, giving the target an extra half hour of power. Exactly half an hour later, the second satellite arrived, giving the target another half hour of power.

Then a third satellite follows, and this cycle repeats, so that the equipment on the ground will always have power to continue operating.

Lin Chuan added, "Initially, we can build a small-scale regional networking verification system to accumulate data and experience for subsequent global networking."

After Lin Chuan finished speaking, the conference room was quiet for a while.

The military leader who chaired the meeting looked up at Lin Chuan and said, "Comrade Lin Chuan, we will organize a special seminar on the directions you mentioned. That's all for today. The subsequent research conclusions will be conveyed to you by Comrade Wang Chengjun."

Lin Chuan nodded, packed up his computer, and got up to leave.

Strategic decisions at this level cannot be finalized in a single report. It is sufficient to explain the technology and the path clearly, and then leave the rest to the higher-ups to judge and make the final decision.

He had barely returned to Xin'an when an internal seminar was launched at the military headquarters.

The seminar was of a higher standard than Lin Chuan had anticipated. In addition to technical representatives and equipment department heads from various branches of the armed forces, experts from the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation and the Chinese Academy of Sciences were also present.

The seminar had only one theme: quantum battery technology and its military applications.

Lin Chuan's report was copied several times and distributed to each participant.

The discussion lasted the entire afternoon because the technology opens up such vast possibilities for military applications, and the priorities for determining how to proceed were crucial.

It's difficult.

Ultimately, the seminar reached several consensuses.

First, the military application potential of quantum battery technology has been assessed as "strategic".

This rating is the highest level in the military's technology classification system, meaning that the technology is considered capable of changing the form of future warfare.

Second, while global space orbital networking is listed as a long-term strategic plan, regional orbital networking verification projects will be launched first in the short term.

The initial budget is 600 billion yuan, led by relevant military departments, with the aerospace sector also participating.

The core objective of the verification project is to use DeepBlue Technology’s singlet fission solar cell technology to manufacture and launch the first satellites equipped with quantum battery charging devices to form a regional constellation in low Earth orbit.

Verify the end-to-end technology for wireless laser power transmission from space to the ground.

Once verified, this regional constellation can provide orbital radio power transmission support for tactical operations in local theaters of war.

Third, the feasibility of developing individual powered armor.

The military acknowledged Lin Chuan's assessment in the report that in the future battlefield environment of large-scale swarm operations by inexpensive drones, the survivability of traditional infantry will face unprecedented challenges.

Powered armor for individual soldiers is not merely an upgrade to add value; it ensures the survivability and sustained combat capability of ground troops in new battlefield environments.

The military decided that DeepBlue Technology, in conjunction with relevant military research institutes, would take the lead in developing a usable prototype of a powered armor for individual soldiers.

Fourth, a "Special Working Group on Military Applications of Quantum Energy Storage" was formally established within the military, with Wang Chengjun serving as the general coordinator to coordinate and promote the engineering transformation of quantum battery technology from the laboratory to equipment.

The entire strategic plan spans 20 years, extending to 2034.

After the strategic plan was finalized, Wang Chengjun made a special trip to Xin'an City.

At this moment, Wang Chengjun is having a private meeting with Lin Chuan in a small conference room at DeepBlue Technology's headquarters.

"Comrade Lin Chuan, the decision from above has been made." Wang Chengjun got straight to the point, telling Lin Chuan the conclusions of the seminar one by one.

After listening, Lin Chuan said, "These are all huge projects."

"Otherwise, I wouldn't have come to you." Wang Chengjun said with a smile, picked up his water glass and took a sip, then added, "The Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation is already working on the technical solutions for the initial 600 billion yuan regional rail network project."

At this point, he looked at Lin Chuan: "But the two most crucial components of the satellite, high-efficiency solar cells and quantum battery charging modules, can only be made by you. The coordination of other departments is all for these two components."

Lin Chuan nodded.

Wang Chengjun continued, "The goal for individual power armor is very clear: don't go for anything fancy, just focus on the core functions, such as power assistance, full-body protection, and field endurance. Whether it looks good or not is secondary; nobody cares about appearance on the battlefield."

Hearing this, Lin Chuan smiled and said, "I understand."

It's definitely going to be useful, and it has to look good too; Lin Chuan doesn't want the equipment he makes to be too ugly.

"There's one more thing," Wang Chengjun said in a deep voice, "The higher-ups mean that the secrecy level of quantum battery technology needs to be raised by one level."

He then added, "All new personnel involved in the project must undergo a new political vetting process, and the storage and transmission of experimental data must be conducted in accordance with the highest military standards."

Clearly, this technology is too critical; if it were leaked, the consequences would be extremely serious.

Lin Chuan nodded: "No problem, there's something else."

Wang Chengjun: "Go ahead."

Lin Chuan said methodically, "The advancement of this technology in the civilian sector cannot be delayed for too long. The prospects of quantum batteries in the civilian field are self-evident, and they will greatly benefit the upgrading of my country's industrial manufacturing, such as new energy vehicles and emergency power supply."

"These applications do not conflict with military applications, and can even offset the cost of military technology."

"I suggest that at an appropriate time, a public disclosure plan for civilian use should be formulated to control the pace and scope of information disclosure."

Wang Chengjun thought for a moment, then nodded and said, "I'll report this issue when I get back. In principle, it shouldn't be a big problem, but the specific timeline and information boundaries need to be decided by higher-ups."

Military priority and secrecy are beyond question, but economic development cannot be neglected.

Once this technology is used by civilians, it will greatly boost economic development, industrial upgrading, and the national energy security strategy.

Forcibly covering things up too tightly is a waste of resources and a form of self-imposed constraint.

Under the premise of ensuring technological security, civilian use must be promoted.

The two talked for nearly an hour about the follow-up work arrangements. Before leaving, Wang Chengjun paused at the door.

"By the way, Comrade Lin Chuan, the government should send someone over in a few days to discuss other matters with you."

"Based on the combination of technologies that you and DeepBlue Technology currently possess, you have transformed from an outstanding private high-tech enterprise into a super innovation engine spanning four strategic fields: biotechnology, energy, materials, and military industry."

"At the national level, the positioning of you and DeepBlue Technology is being reassessed, and it has risen to the strategic level."