"Are we going to continue to waste time on the transformation of the 59 tank? Hasn't the transformation plan of the 617 factory been approved?" In the conference room of the headquarters of the 404 base, more than a dozen technicians of different ages sat around the conference table and discussed.

A small, middle-aged man in his forties, wearing black-rimmed glasses that covered half of his face, frowned and guessed.

After the approval of the renovation plan of the 617 factory, due to the funding of the base, the design of their transformation plan was completely suspended.

Unexpectedly, a few months later, Zheng Yucheng gathered the main technical personnel together again.

"We can't compare with 617 at all, they have experience, funds, and imported technology, and it is estimated that they are discussing the question of where we should stay......" Another older technician said, "I will retire in a few years, and I don't plan to leave this base......

Everyone fell silent.

Most of this base was involved in the construction.

No one wants to leave like that.

What if you don't leave? The base is not engaged in tank research in the first place, and even the backup is some backward technology. It can't be compared with the 541, which was originally claimed to be the first tank manufacturing base in Asia.

The construction of 541 has not been completely completed, and a large number of production workshops have begun to be converted from military to civilian, and now life is so prosperous that everyone is jealous.

404 is limited by factors such as location and secrecy, and nowadays, it is simply not possible to convert from military to civilian like other units.

The future of everyone, the future of the base, is a stone with great pressure in everyone's hearts.

Zheng Yucheng took a few drawings and took Xie Kai into the conference room.

Seeing that everyone was staring at Xie Kai, he didn't introduce it, he sat directly on the main seat, let Xie Kai sit next to him, and said in the puzzled eyes of everyone, "Don't talk nonsense, I called everyone here today, mainly to discuss the transformation plan to further improve the performance of the 59 tank." ”

"Director Zheng, the transformation plan of Factory 617 has been approved, and now it is being revised in the future, if we don't come up with a transformation plan that far exceeds theirs, it is impossible to get the project approved!" said the middle-aged man who spoke at the beginning.

"Yes, our technical conditions can't be compared to 617......"

"The base doesn't have the money to invest in this area now, and the salary hasn't been paid for months. ”

"You might as well shunt us into 617 or 541. ”

As soon as Zheng Yucheng's words came out, it was like a fried pot.

Xie Kai glanced at the person who said he wanted to go to 617 or 541, he probably didn't know that it would not be long before the 541 base would be completely transformed into a civilian production enterprise, and 617 itself was now overcrowded, and the scale of tank manufacturing would gradually shrink.

"Bang, bang!" Zheng Yucheng's slap slammed on the table, "Quiet!"

Under Zheng Yucheng's interference, the conference room fell silent, and everyone looked at Zheng Yucheng with different expressions.

"I know everyone is confused, in terms of technical experience, we must not be able to compare with 617, after all, they are the most professional! Even 541 we can't compare. However, since this matter is discussed, there will definitely be a possibility of success before everyone is called to discuss it...... Xie Kai, please introduce this assembly plan. Zheng Yucheng directly asked Xie Kai to introduce his plan.

Xie Kai looked at everyone's surprised expressions and looked at Zheng Yucheng helplessly.

Under Zheng Yucheng's affirmation, he didn't want to waste time, so he directly spread out the drawings and spread them on the blackboard behind Zheng Yucheng.

When his assembly design sketch was spread out, the people in the conference room looked even more surprised.

"This is a rebuild of the 59 tank, the turret has all changed!" "It's still the middle-aged man with glasses.

"Zhang Deming, you are just too eager! It's not a good thing that people who are engaged in research are too eager, can't you listen to the introduction first and then express your opinions?" Zheng Yucheng saw that Zhang Deming made Xie Kai nervous, frowned to stop him, and motioned for Xie Kai to continue.

Xie Kai took a deep breath, suppressed his nervousness, and began to introduce.

Originally, he didn't want to participate, so he just gave the plan to Zheng Yucheng and asked him to organize someone to get it. However, Zheng Yucheng disagreed.

"This design is really some of my thoughts on the 59 tank rebuild. First of all, in terms of firepower, the current international standard for third-generation tanks is to have large-caliber guns of more than 120 mm...... turret, abandoning the previous cast spherical turret design in favor of a wedge-shaped turret welded at an angle...... In terms of materials, it is armor made of a variety of composite materials, and there is room for reactive armor to be installed outside...... "Xie Kai first introduced the changes to the turret.

Advanced tanks can never be spherical in shape, and the wedge-shaped turret with an angled angle will provide much more protection, while also allowing for more space inside the tank.

It will also reduce the height of the tank, effectively reducing the area of the hit bullet.

Zhang Deming originally wanted to question, but was glared at by Zheng Yucheng, so he could only stop stupidly.

"In terms of power, the 530 horsepower engine of the original Type 59 tank is too poor, at least 730 horsepower or even 800 horsepower engine is needed, and we need to make the tank reach a maximum speed of 70 kilometers or more...... In terms of transmission, it is better to use an automatic transmission......"

"As for the fire control system, at present, our base has a plan, which not only has advanced artillery aiming devices, target acquisition functions, etc., but also has a greater degree of automated combat ......."

"It is necessary to add a reverse artillery stabilization system to give the tank the ability to shoot between the marches to improve battlefield survivability......"

Xie Kai introduced his entire plan.

Everyone was so shocked by this transformation plan that they couldn't say anything.

"It's time to ask questions. Seeing Zhang Deming, he always wanted to speak, and only after Xie Kai introduced him, he said to Zhang Deming.

Zhang Deming has too many doubts.

But the first thing to do was to ask Xie Kai, "Do you know how much the whole tank will weigh in this way?" Can five pairs of load wheels support it?"

Zhang Deming's question is sharp.

In the face of such doubts, Xie Kai also knew in his heart why they had such thoughts.

Once, in the face of the 125 tank carrying a 59-mm tank gun, the whole world was so shocked that it dropped its eyes.

The turret is scared to death from a distance, and the five pairs of load-bearing wheels are seen up close.

This is the most frustrating magic change of the 59 tank.

The turret and firepower are standard for the three generations of heavy tanks, while the load wheels limit the weight of the tank to the parameters of a medium tank.

"It's not going to be more than 40 tons! So you have to have a more powerful engine...... At the same time, in terms of armor, composite armor needs to be used...... "Xie Kai said.

"According to such a design scheme, whether it is a tank gun system, a power system, or even a fire control system, it needs to be completely developed to achieve ......" Some people questioned, "How much time do we have, how much money?"

"In terms of time and money, you don't have to think about it. The base will find a way to achieve everything! Our armored forces need such a tank with strong firepower, strong power, and high defensive power!" Zheng Yucheng said.

Tanks are the big project.

This is the foundation for the future development of the base.

"This plan is just a further improvement plan in the later stage. We have to get the project in our hands first. Therefore, there is another plan, which can be regarded as a practice for us......" Xie Kai rolled out another kind of design drawing.

"The tank gun is 105 mm caliber, and the turret is also spherical to wedge, and a new generation of composite armor is being studied. In this design, the tank armor is made of carbon fiber in the middle of each layer of armor, and in the very middle, ceramic armor is used......"

Xie Kai pointed to another plan and introduced the situation.

"The turret is reserved for the ability to install 125 caliber guns, the engine is reserved for 1,000 horsepower, and the hydraulic auxiliary system must be used, the automatic loading mechanism is used, and the new three-defense design reduces the crew from the original 4 to 3 people...... Xie Kai knows that the cost of the ultimate magic change to the third generation tank will be unacceptable to the military.

So he took a two-and-a-half-generation design scheme.

In this way, the cost will naturally be reduced.

"Strive to bring our renovation to the level of two and a half generations...... Whether it is firepower or protection capabilities, it must surpass the Soviet T72 tank!" Xie Kai said, licking his lips.

"Why T72, this is the technology of the Soviet Union more than ten years ago. Zhang Deming frowned and said.

He was also impressed by the plan of the child in front of him.

All kinds of technologies are not the top, although there is no one in China, if you work hard, many can break through.

And it leaves room for further modifications in the future, which is the quality of a good equipment designer.

"This tank first seeks foreign trade contracts. Only with foreign trade, the price will be higher, and we will get more funds...... Even if ours are approved by the military, the price is too high, and the performance is not particularly outstanding, we will not get large-scale orders, and we will only equip a small number for combat experiments...... "Xie Kai said. "Advanced tanks that are too expensive, and the current amount of funds from the military is impossible to purchase on a large scale. ”

This kind of transformation, from the very beginning, did not think that the military would equip too many of them.

Many tank models, the country is only equipped with a small amount for combat tests, until the 96A and 99 type come out, before the formation of high and low matching, a small number of equipment 99 type, with 96A as the main, with a large number of 59 modifications, 88 or even 85II and other tanks to form an armored cluster.

Foreign orders are what Xie Kai values.

"Who will buy us?" Zheng Yucheng, Zhang Deming and the others were all puzzled, "Your plan will bankrupt the military! Tens of thousands of tanks are modified like this, how much does it cost!"

"Yes, tens of thousands of tanks are not a small amount of money. If the military really changes like this, it will also go bankrupt. Zhang Deming also shook his head with a wry smile.

"It's true that no one will buy ...... abroad"