Chapter 165 The future development of Thunderbolt 11
The target test naturally cannot end with just one shot.
So a second target drone took off immediately afterwards.
Even at the request of Yang Fenghata and Guo Liqiang, the trial training base further lowered the target's flight altitude.
But it was still hit accurately using almost the same process.
"The target drone is confirmed to have been shot down!"
As the commander's voice sounded, thunderous applause erupted in the tower command center.
Medium-range interception capability up to 25 kilometers away.
If we talk about the range alone, it is only at the level of the United States and the Soviet Union in the 1960s and 1970s.
But it means that China's aviation industry has truly broken through the threshold of "beyond visual range air combat".
Although more advanced active radar-guided air-to-air missiles that can fire and forget to a certain extent have emerged, the AIM120 and R77 were in service in 1991 and 1994 respectively. It is only a few years ago that fighter aircraft from various countries have The main weapon is still the same semi-active radar guidance model as the Thunderbolt 11.
What’s more, these 25 kilometers were shot while looking down.
So in general it is not backward.
“Thank you so much.”
Guo Liqiang, who finally relaxed, turned around and shook hands with the test personnel from the 601 Institute one by one.
He stayed here in Chang Haonan for a particularly long time.
The trial training base is a place where the media does not often appear, so many of the innermost thoughts can be said without any scruples.
“Comrade Xiao Chang, although you have not directly participated in the research and development of Thunderbolt 11, you can definitely be regarded as our great hero and savior!”
Halfway through, Guo Liqiang’s tone even Somewhat choked up.
This is definitely not a fake mood swing.
Like almost all units in the military industry, the Second Bureau of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering has not had an easy time in recent years.
The only way they can change their fate right now is to develop the Thunderbolt 11 and then export it with Chinese fighter jets.
In the arms trade, although ammunition is not as conspicuous as equipment, in terms of profit margin and transaction volume, the former is often the largest.
After all, the contract price of an aircraft includes maintenance for the next few years or even more than ten years. If the customer is not willing to upgrade the model, it is often a one-time deal.
But the ammunition is different.
That's a consumable item.
Even if there is no war, maintaining basic training consumes a lot every year.
For most countries that do not have decent military industrial capabilities, if they want to supplement, they can only buy from the original seller.
So Thunderbolt 11 can become a cash cow for the Second Bureau of Electrical and Mechanical Engineering.
Of course, the premise is that there must be relatively advanced fighter jets that can be sold.
Otherwise, if someone buys a bunch of Q-5s or J-6s, they won’t consider mid-range ammunition at all.
Correspondingly, the aviation industry system will also benefit from the finalization of Thunderbolt 11.
After all, it is already the mid-to-late 1990s, and fighter jets without beyond visual range air combat capabilities can no longer find much market. All in all, everyone is happy.
……
That evening, everyone who participated in the test held a small celebration banquet in the guest house of Dingxin Base.
After three rounds of drinking, Chang Haonan himself felt fine, but looking at Guo Liqiang next to him, he seemed to be a little unable to stand.
If the drinker is in the mood, it will definitely be useless if you just tell him not to continue drinking.
So while the latter was still awake, Chang Haonan pulled him directly to the door of the guest house and chatted about missile-related topics.
"Mr. Guo, there must be no problem with the Pili 11 target test this time. I wonder which direction you are going to go next?"
After hearing the serious matter, Guo Liqiang actually put down his wine glass, and he seemed to have sobered up for the most part:
“Well... the semi-active radar guidance should have reached its end, so my initial idea is to replace the guidance. Take the lead and further develop two models, B and C. Type B is infrared guidance and type C is active radar guidance. "
"In addition, the current range of 40 kilometers is too short and can be replaced with new propulsion. If the dosage is sufficient, extending it by 50% on this basis should not be a problem."
"Hmm..."
Chang Haonan pondered for a moment after hearing this.
In fact, Guo Liqiang's judgment on the general direction has no problem.
Increasing the range and upgrading the guidance method are exactly what Ermao has adopted to improve the R27 series missiles after the disintegration of the alliance.
The final products of the latter, the R27AE and R27EM, have actually undergone earth-shaking changes compared with the earlier models.
But God is not as good as man. Just like the R27 cannot compete with the R77 with a higher starting point no matter how much it is modified, on the Chinese side, the 612 Institute of Air-to-Air Missile Research Institute in Luoyang has also started Conducted preliminary research on active radar guidance related technologies.
According to the historical process, Dong Bingyin, the chief designer there, should be collecting R77 technical information from the Signal Flag Design Bureau at this time, and after eliminating the unnecessary and cunjing, applied it to the model he was responsible for, and finally in 2006 Around the year, the Pili 12 active radar-guided air-to-air missile was launched.
But now with the presence of Chang Haonan, this process will only become faster.
The PL-11 is essentially equivalent to the AIM7. If you want to compete head-on with the PL-12, there is basically no hope, even if the active radar seeker is replaced.
The only way out is to change the track.
Thinking of this, Chang Haonan organized his words a little:
“I wonder if you have ever considered expanding the application scenarios of Thunderbolt 11?”
"How do you say it?"
Although Guo Liqiang is considered a person from the aerospace system, Chang Haonan has indirectly helped a lot, so he is also willing to listen to the latter's opinion.
"The troops are now in short supply of more than just air-to-air missiles."
Chang Haonan picked up the cup, took a sip of the white grape juice that Yao Mengna had just secretly replaced, and then stretched out another He took inventory one by one with one hand:
"The Air Force's airport air defense force only has twin 37 anti-aircraft guns and pitifully few red flag 61 air defense missiles with outdated performance. , to develop a short-range air defense missile similar to the Red Flag 7 but with a lower cost, and provide it to the Air Force air defense missile troops. ”
"In addition, the PL-11 is relatively large among air-to-air missiles, which is a disadvantage. But if we change the idea and replace the missile with a passive radar seeker, it can become a missile with a larger range by virtue of its larger warhead. An anti-radiation missile of about 40 kilometers, and it is very fast. Even if it is not as good as Hamm, it is definitely better than Moxa."
"And..."
One. At first, Guo Liqiang just regarded it as a casual chat between colleagues. However, as Chang Haonan talked more and more, his expression gradually became serious. In the end, he put down his wine glass, took out a notebook and took notes seriously.
(End of this chapter)