Chapter 1076 Critical Design Review of F136
In fact, even in the eyes of Watson and Elinor, Hartman’s introduction of Chinese technology into the core subsystem of the F136 project should be quite A tightrope walk.
Therefore, it should be done in a very cautious manner.
But the actual situation completely exceeded their expectations...
Just three days later.
The other side of the Atlantic.
Montgomery County, Bethesda, Maryland.
In a conference room at the Lockheed Martin headquarters, a small-scale meeting with a slightly tense atmosphere was taking place.
Sitting gloomily at the head of the conference table is John Schwartz, the technical director of the Joint Strike Fighter project.
“A few days ago, Pratt & Whitney’s F135-PW-100 engine has passed the critical design review and is expected to complete the assembly of the first production engine in September this year and start before the end of the year Test work.”
Schwartz finished reading the report in front of him leisurely, then raised his head and looked at several executive-level R&D personnel from General Electric and Rolls-Royce in front of him:
"Everyone , As far as the entire project is concerned, JSF is progressing very smoothly, but the F136, which is a backup power option, has been unable to pass the third stage of critical design review..."
He did not continue.
But the meaning is very clear.
I am very dissatisfied with the current progress of F136.
"But...Mr. Schwartz, wasn't the F136 system development and demonstration phase (SDD, the fourth phase in the American development process) contract originally expected to be signed before the end of 2005?"
GM Daniel McCormick, who is responsible for the JSF power project on the electrical side, only feels a little numb.
This is completely different from what we said before.
F136 originally had a series of black technologies including variable circulation, pre-deformation design, permanent magnet power generation system and so on.
If you can complete the project according to the original plan, you can already burn high incense.
Now he suddenly wants to advance the time node by two years, which is simply killing him.
Moreover, it does not comply with the content of the previous contract.
But Schwartz shook his head:
“I also hope to continue such a promising project as the F136, but the Department of Defense and the Congressional Accountability Office want it. ”
“They believe that the F136 project is too cost-effective and therefore require that further funding for replacement engines be stopped. ”
"Unless we can clearly achieve the new project node before October this year, it may be difficult to obtain project funding for the next 2005-2007 years."
After hearing the name of the Congressional Accountability Office, McCann Mick suddenly frowned.
On the one hand, this department is indeed very powerful.
And it has the power base to cut off their source of funding.
On the other hand...
We also saw the contradiction in Schwarz’s words.
The Accountability Bureau is not a department that has nothing to do every day. It does not have that much energy to pay attention to secondary projects.
Their audit object will only be JSF itself, and will not single out the F136 or F135 engines alone.
In other words, if the JSF project is "progressing very smoothly" as Schwartz said, then the Accountability Office will not pay attention to it at all.
In comparison, it is more likely that JSF itself has already had big problems at the audit level.
The kind that can't even wipe out Loma's face.
Of course, it is impossible for anyone to be responsible.
But I have to do something, at least to make it fair.
The F136, which was originally used as a backup and had a high probability of becoming a gold-eating beast, became an "acceptable" victim for both parties.
Anyway, everything seems to be going well with F135 now, so it doesn’t hurt to not need F136 as a backup.
It can also save a lot of money on paper, so that the JSF project will no longer be in danger of overspending in a short period of time.
As for reaching a clear project node before October...
It's just to put it nicely -
It's already May now.
In terms of the efficiency of the JSF project, the review itself will take two to three months.
In other words, they must complete all preparations for the third phase of critical design review by August at the latest...
Why don't you go to heaven?
But the problem is that the YF120 produced by General Electric in the ATF project has failed.
You must know that civil aviation power does not require variable cycle technology that takes into account both supersonic and subsonic operating conditions.
And Europe has no plans to develop a new generation of fighter jets in the foreseeable future.
Therefore, if the F136 collapses again, all the research and development efforts they have invested in the field of natural variable circulation will basically be in vain.
Perhaps General Electric, a big company with a big business, can bear this loss.
But as the project director, McCann Mick absolutely cannot.
With F136 gone, even if he is not unemployed, there is a high probability that he will no longer have any future. For a moment, the air in the entire conference room almost solidified.
However, just as McCormick was preparing to argue in accordance with the agreement, Neil Brown, the JSF project manager from partner Rolls-Royce, signaled to him to calm down for the time being.
This made the former hesitate for a while——
Brown is the project manager of JSF.
Not the project manager for the F136 engine.
There is not much difference between these two positions at GE.
But it's completely different in Luoluo.
Because the lift fan of the F135 is also designed by Rolls-Royce.
In other words, for Brown himself, no matter what the result of JSF's power selection is, he can be on the winning side in the end.
It’s just a big win or a small win.
So the interests of the two people are not exactly the same.
But in the end, considering that it was not a good idea to confront Party A head-on, McCormick chose to temporarily accept Brown's suggestion, saying that he would suggest to the company to speed up the development process of the F136 and strive to complete the key design review before October.
......
After leaving Lockheed Martin and boarding the business jet back to Evendale, McCormick still couldn't hold back and attacked Schwartz from a distance. Strong words of praise.
But an explosion is an explosion, and in the end we can only vent our anger.
Doesn't really help solve the problem.
At this time, Neil Brown took the initiative to come across from him:
"Dan, we have to do something before October."
He said straight to the point.
At this time, McCann's mentality was about to collapse, and he was no longer secretive:
"Don't think I don't know, Neil, even if the F136 project is suspended, you will be the same. You can make a lot of money in JSF, right? ”
The other party did not deny it:
“It is true.”
Brown replied:
“But we also invested 40% of our research and development resources on the F136. It is impossible. Watching this model die suddenly.”
“But...”
McCormick's words came to an abrupt halt as soon as they left his mouth.
He suddenly realized that the reason why the other party showed such a calm look may not be, at least not just because he was stepping on two boats at the same time:
"You have a way? "
" Schwarz made it very clear. "
Brown turned his head and looked through the porthole at the increasingly smaller airport building below:
"As long as we can pass the critical design review before October, it is impossible to lose financial support before 2007."
"A few days ago, Tom Hartman, the director responsible for the F136 design, told me The report said that he had found a way to use permanent magnet power generation technology on the F136. "
McMcMick was delighted at first, and then felt something was wrong.
If the problem could be solved so quickly, there would be no need for Luo Luo to delay it for so long before.
So, he almost subconsciously asked:
"What can I do?"
"Don't worry about it."
Brown's tone was very tight, of course, it is more likely because he is not completely clear:
"In short, It is expected that a specific design plan will be available soon... As for the natural variable cycle and pre-deformed blades, it is not difficult to implement at least on paper. "
The so-called critical design review is somewhat similar. Demonstration of design plan.
There is no need to build a real thing.
The first principle prototype will not be produced until the system development and demonstration stage.
The prototype will be even later.
McMcMick, who is also a veteran, feels that something must be wrong, but in this situation, he can't pay attention to too many details, so he can only focus on the main contradiction first:
"But didn't you hear what Schwartz meant just now?"
He asked eagerly:
"The time point is obviously just an excuse. The point is probably that the Ministry of Defense does not want the backup model F136 at all. Even if we survive this time, sooner or later others will be found. Kill him for the reason!"
"Of course I heard it..."
Brown shrugged indifferently:
"So, our next purpose is not to F136 is really designed.”
"Ah?"
The McCanns were stunned.
Brown gently patted the old man on the shoulder:
"Delay time, get as many rounds of funding as possible, and then find a way to stop the loss..."
(End of Chapter)