Chapter 255 "9910" Project
Wang Xiaomo lowered his head and looked at the new plan drawn by Chang Haonan on the paper for a long time:
"It is indeed much better than the original balance beam structure."
In fact, for electronic engineers like them, the main antenna shape is a back-to-back rectangular double-sided array. There is no difference whether the antenna is set up or directly connected to the body. These two configurations The difference is mainly in the aerodynamic design of the aircraft.
But this novel structure still interests Wang Xiaomo:
"It seems that Comrade Liang Shaoxiu is right. You have already prepared for the overall design of the early warning aircraft."
"Preparation can't be mentioned, it can only be regarded as some habitual attention."
Chang Haonan put the pen aside, picked up the cup and took a sip of the slightly cold tea:
"What I just said are still qualitative conclusions. If you really want to start doing it, Project feasibility analysis will definitely require more rigorous quantitative calculations.”
This is really not being modest. Before his rebirth, he had not actually participated in the research and development of traditional concept early warning aircraft, but there was a period of time. Time to cooperate with the 601 Research Institute on long-endurance unmanned early warning aircraft.
Because drones do not need to consider the cabin to accommodate personnel, the design logic from the beginning is almost completely different. For example, conformal arrays can be arranged more conveniently.
As for the manned-machine platform, Chang Haonan only did some research on it at that time.
We even made a prediction on the flight performance of the E737 early warning aircraft.
Now that I think about it, I feel a little regretful - if I had known earlier, I would have gone directly to the Yun 8 platform, which would have saved me a lot of things.
“A feasibility study must be done. We can prepare now and submit the project when we find a suitable opportunity.”
After confirming the modification potential of the Y8 platform from Chang Haonan, Wang Xiaomo was also in a good mood. As he spoke, he quickly organized his manuscripts on the table and put them back into his briefcase:
"In addition, "Comrade Xiao Chang, you are not from the Electronic Technology Group. We have a clear distinction between public and private affairs. This early warning machine has not been cleared yet, and I have no position to ask you to do voluntary labor for us, so Xiao Luo."
Just now. Luo Qun, who was invisible next to him, was suddenly called by his name and quickly stood up:
“Here!”
“Your 14th Institute will build an aircraft platform as soon as possible in the name of Guorui Technology. For the bidding for aerodynamic and structural performance analysis, just let Comrade Xiao Chang bid in the name of the research team after he returns, and we cannot let the comrades in the aviation system suffer.”
Luo Qun's eyes were full of meaning, and he glanced at Chang Haonan opposite him with envy.
If this kind of early-stage demonstration work was left to them, and they would directly assign people to do it, and at most give some bonuses, how could there be such a big battle?
But now that Wang Xiaomo has spoken, it is impossible for him to have any opinions on this matter.
After all, if you think about it from another perspective, if the Electronic Technology Group in turn works for other brother units, it will not be a waste of work:
“Yes!”
Chang Haonan had no reason to refuse.
The cost of preliminary demonstration may not even reach one thousandth of the total project cost, but it is a large amount of money for the research team and himself.
You can talk about dedication, but you can’t just talk about dedication.
"By the way, Academician Wang, is that a direct negotiation?"
Luo Qun, who had just sat down, confirmed with Wang Xiaomo.
The latter nodded:
“Yes, the bid invitation process is too long, we have to hurry up.”
The so-called bid negotiation is a non-public bidding, between the purchaser and the purchased party. It is completed through one-to-one negotiation, which is essentially price comparison procurement, while the invitation to bid is a competitive bidding in the general sense.
In the 1990s, the Bidding and Bidding Law had not excluded this form from bidding.
Although it is expected to be a "low-cost" model, it is still compared with the ring project with a unit price of US$250 million. Early warning aircraft, or early warning aircraft using active phased array radars, are fundamentally not cheap. An upfront R&D investment of several hundred million yuan is required.
Even for Wang Xiaomo, the executive vice president and academician of the Institute of Electronic Science and Technology, a project involving this level of funding is definitely not something that can be initiated just by writing a report.
It's better to have a name or catch up with something.
For example, the success of the Ring Project was due to the Gulf War. Chang Haonan, who has been immersed in the military industry system for many years, naturally understands this.
But actually he had a suitable name in mind, but time was a little tight:
"Academician Wang, I wonder how efficient we are in producing this kind of phased array radar antenna now?"
"Not very fast."
Wang Xiaomo gave the answer very simply. He has now He truly regards Chang Haonan as an equal partner:
“The production of semiconductor components itself is actually not bad, because it can be used with other radars, so there is some reserve, but the packaging of T/R components requires High-silicon aluminum alloy is used. Now we can only process it through manual milling. The output and yield rate are average. Like the antenna structure you just mentioned, two large and two small 4-area arrays, which requires at least 5,000 components. It will take half a year to produce, including final assembly and debugging...8-10 months should be relatively safe."
"His..."
This answer was indeed somewhat beyond Chang Haonan's expectations.
But having said that, it is quite remarkable that the Electronic Technology Group in 1997 was able to build this thing on its own.
And this production capacity problem can also explain why in the original timeline, China had the first early warning aircraft using active phased array radar, the Air Police 200, in 2006, but it was not mass-produced until 2016 The J-16 is equipped with the first fighter jet to use active phased array radar.
Although Wang Xiaomo next to him was eager to get the project started right away, as an elder, he comforted himself and said:
“The early warning aircraft is a strategic project after all, Comrade Xiao Chang, don’t be too anxious. .”
"Actually... I was wondering whether this early warning system could free ride on the 9910 project..."
Chang Haonan also expressed his thoughts directly.
Project 9910, as the name suggests, is a huge project prepared for the military parade in October 1999.
Although for a long time, this name was mostly used to specifically refer to the prototype of the Type 99 tank, in fact, all the equipment participating in that military parade, from aircraft and tanks to clothing, shoes and hats, All are part of the 9910 project.
For mature equipment, the focus of this project is to ensure supply, but for some models that are under development, being included in this project means that they are on the fast track of development.
Many key models have benefited from it in previous lives.
Even Wang Xiaomo, who has seen many storms, was also shocked by this idea:
"It is already March 1997, and there are only 30 months left before the acceptance of the 9910 project. This plane..."
He did not continue, but just glanced down at the briefcase in his hand.
The meaning is obvious. This aircraft is still in the state of a sketch without even a project. According to his past understanding of the aviation industry system, let alone finalizing it in 30 months, I am afraid it will be difficult to even make its first flight.
Not to mention the process of project approval.
Even if we go by the speed of handling special cases, it will always take four to five months, which leaves only about two years for research and development.
“In fact, if the progress of the radar system can keep up in time, there should be no problem with the design and modification of the aircraft platform.”
Chang Haonan is still a little unwilling to miss this opportunity. .
The military parade is definitely the most exciting celebration, especially for those who pay attention to the military.
Due to limited conditions in the previous life, the most important achievement of the Chinese Air Force in Project 9910 was to establish a decent support system for the Su-27 aircraft, finally allowing these aircraft to transfer from Suixi Airport to other stations for operation.
He was ready to make up for this little regret.
Not only the Air Police 200, if possible, he even wants to stuff the J-10 and J-11 into it!
(End of this chapter)