However, the concept of a nuclear torpedo with a sailing distance of 10,000 kilometers is quite astonishing! After all, the range of nuclear torpedoes in the world is only about 15~30 nautical miles.

For example, the MK-45 nuclear torpedo developed by the United States, launched by a submarine, is 5.7 meters long, 482 mm in diameter, has a maximum speed of 40 knots, uses a W-34 nuclear warhead, has an explosive power of 11,000 tons of TNT equivalent, and a killing range of 11 kilometers.

When a torpedo has a nuclear explosion underwater, the explosion center can produce high temperatures of millions of degrees Celsius and high pressures of millions of atmospheres. Coupled with the incompressibility of water, the effect on destroying ships is greater than that of air explosions! Without a direct hit, as long as it is detonated within a certain distance, it can destroy any ship that the military wants to destroy.

This kind of terrifying lethality is most suitable for destroying the enemy's aircraft carrier formation, or escort convoys. One explosion is a piece, but it's a pity that the range is very short. It is necessary to fire close to the target in order to increase the hit rate. The key is that it is easy to injure yourself by mistake.

And this proposal of Ma Wei just makes up for the short range of nuclear torpedoes. He was not going to develop a torpedo, but an underwater vehicle. That is, the kind of horror thing that has its own power, can move underwater on its own like an intercontinental missile, and lock onto the target. Once launched, there is absolutely no need to worry about accidentally damaging the country's ship, after all, its range is long enough.

"Mr. Ma Wei, this research and development proposal of yours really surprises me! I know a few friends who have studied the nuclear submarine field very deeply. I think they'll be very, very interested when they hear your proposal!" Dr. Peter, whose main research is on ships.

For nuclear-powered underwater vehicles, it is not very proficient. But that didn't affect his admiration for Mavi's unbridled imagination. After all, in this regard, Russia or some other countries are not short of technology. What is missing is the genius who came up with the idea.

"That's great, Dr. Peter, why don't you give your friend a call now? I'd like to get the approximate R&D funding and the details so I can submit it." Ma Wei asked with a smile.

Now he doesn't need to go through those complicated processes. Just submit the project proposal and project plan to the Russian admiral-level generals for review.

Unlike before, you have to report one level at a time, and you must first consult the colonel whether you can develop it. The colonel then approached his superior, the Major General, and submitted the relevant materials. It will take at least half a month to get to the table where the decision is made.

"Now, Mr. Mavey, well!" said Dr. Peter, pulling the phone out of his pocket. He didn't use a Google phone, but an old-fashioned one-touch phone.

Half a minute later, he dialed his friend Dr. Stepan's phone, and then said on speakerphone, "Hey, is it Stepan? I'm Peter, I haven't been in touch for a long time, that's right, I have a friend who wants to ask you, if you want to invest in the research and development of a nuclear-powered underwater vehicle with a sailing distance of more than 10,000 kilometers and a nuclear-powered nuclear torpedo with the goal of destroying aircraft carrier battle groups and naval bases, how much research and development funds will be required? Can you briefly explain some of the general steps and processes?"

As soon as Dr. Peter answered the phone, he spoke very quickly to his friend Dr. Stepan. If it weren't for Ma Wei's closer, he could hear it clearly, otherwise he wouldn't know what he was talking about if he was a little farther away.

"Nuclear-powered underwater vehicles?" asked Dr. Stepan, on the other end of the line, completely stunned. He originally thought that he was an old friend, but this was looking for him to catch up. I didn't expect it to be thrown, such a subversive concept.

"Yes, that's right, or else, my friend is right next to me, and I'll let him take the phone?" said Dr. Peter, handing the phone to Mavey. He only plays the role of an intermediary, and as for the rest, it is inconvenient to participate.

"Oh... Okay, that's really amazing about this R&D proposal. You must know that at present, the most advanced nuclear torpedo technology in the world belongs to us Russia and the United States. And the range of nuclear torpedoes can only reach about 35 nautical miles at most. Whether it's a ship or a submarine, it's easy to be discovered by the other side before it is launched......"

Dr. Stepan, who is also a science maniac, can't stop talking about his specialty once he gets to it.

"Okay, Dr. Stepan, how much money would you need to develop this project?" Ma Wei was a scumbag in his previous life, and scientific theories were like heavenly books to him, and he had a headache to listen to. So he likes to be simple and straightforward, and directly ask how much it will cost to get the project done. As for the other details, he didn't need to understand them completely, as long as he did what he asked and didn't make mistakes.

"How much to invest, sir?" said Dr. Stepan, not knowing who he was talking to. It is only known that it is a friend of Peter, presumably from the Russian military.

"In terms of R&D funds, if I want to do it, it will be about 650 million US dollars! If a nuclear dynamic vehicle like this is not detected by sonar buoys, sonar matrices, and underwater radars. It is necessary to be able to travel at a speed of up to 200 kilometers per hour (107 knots) at a depth of 1,000 meters. As for the conventional warhead or nuclear warhead yield on board, with current technology, it can carry a nuclear warhead with a TNT yield of 2 million tons......"

Although he didn't know who the other party was, his proposal was very appetizing to Stepan. It even touched his desire to explore and conquer as a scientist. In this direction, we want to develop a "nuclear-powered nuclear torpedo" that has never been seen before or since.

It's just that when it comes to R&D funding, Dr. Stepan is also bitter. His previous two R&D projects were temporarily suspended by the Russian government due to funding problems. As a result, he can only do some small research similar to "miscellaneous" now. At best, it's hundreds of thousands of dollars. The key is to reduce the funds as much as possible for such a project, which is really painful.

However, just as Dr. Stepan finished speaking, Ma Wei, who only listened to the other end of the phone, said lightly and directly, "650 million US dollars? So let's do it, Dr. Stepan, I'll give you 800 million US dollars, and you will personally select the team." Within a week and a half, submit the preliminary R&D plan to me, what do you think?"

Ma Wei's loud and wealthy voice just fell. I only saw Dr. Stepan, who was holding the phone, suddenly "hissed", feeling a little incredible!

"$800 million? Not $650 million, and I don't want to be reduced to $600 million, or $500 million?" Dr. Stepan was a little surprised.

。 m.