Happy times are always short-lived, and after a perfect two-day vacation, Chen Chen was invited to participate in the final combat test of the drone, and immediately flew directly from Hawaii to the mainland of the United States.

And Oliga and Luo Xinran returned to China and continued to devote themselves to their respective work.

Chen first went to Northrop Grumman to meet Clarence and Victor, and then took their vehicle to the U.S. Air Force Combat Test Ground in Wyoming to undergo a rigorous inspection.

The X-48 Pegasus drone was transported in a large truck, and the rest of the crew traveled in several commercial vehicles, in addition to Chen Chen, Harry, Clarence, and Victor, there were also technicians from the Advanced Technology and Design Center.

The entire convoy was also closely protected by the US military, with military vehicles full of soldiers arriving in front and behind, and helicopters escorting them overhead.

At nine o'clock in the morning, the group drove into the test site in the middle of the wasteland, a sandstone wilderness, with cross-sectional mountains and slashing canyons everywhere, showing the ochre red characteristic of sandstone, and the whole area was deserted, which was undoubtedly an excellent testing site.

Immediately after entering the test site, soldiers led the way and led the group into the control center, a huge tower building with a large signal antenna at the top, and the control room and data room on the top floor.

The technicians stayed below to debug the drone and signal transmission, and Chen Chen went to the designated area on the top floor with Harry, Clarence and Victor, as well as the controllers, and sat down.

It was the first time for Chen Chen to participate in such an actual combat test, and he couldn't help but observe the various instruments around him with great interest.

Seeing this, Clarence smiled and said, "It's the first time Mr. Chen has taken such a test, right?" Maybe you don't know much about the specific process, why don't you explain it? ”

"That's for the best." Chen Chen nodded and looked at the other party: "It seems that you will be here for a while, right?" ”

"That's right." Clarence pointed to the control system in the corner: "The building itself is a huge signal base station, with a large signal antenna installed at the top, and it is here that remote control is carried out, giving various commands to the drone." ”

"Then, now the drone is debugged before takeoff," Chen Chen nodded and said: "At the same time, connect to the operation system and debug the data transmission." ”

"Yes." Clarence replied in the affirmative, continuing to explain: "Before the test begins, the military will assign us a specific flight route and action target, and we will input all this data into the drone, and then fly according to the designated route and target, and complete the entire mission, in which all kinds of data and status of the drone will be fed back here." ”

"And after the test, the flight data is left here, and the military people will take it back and look at it carefully, score it according to their performance, and finally summarize it to decide on the final procurement plan."

"I basically understand that way." Chen Chen laughed lightly: "So that is to say, this time it is the drones of both sides that are being tested at the same time, which has become a direct face-to-face competition. ”

This is not wrong, generally speaking, all parties involved in the R&D project are tested separately, out of politeness and respect for all parties, and the winner is decided without meeting, which can also save some face and avoid any conflicts.

And this time it turned out to be a rare arrangement of the two sides together, face-to-face competition, which somewhat added some gunpowder flavor, the original ordinary bidding, but also in such a direct dialogue, there are more winners and losers.

Separate tests, the losing side will not have any ideas, go back and close the door to convene the technical department to open a review, now face to face, the losing side will inevitably be a little unable to raise its head.

Clarence and Victor also understand this, but the two of them are people who have been mixed with the wind and waves, and they have long looked down on success or failure, even if they lose to their opponents face to face, they just can't hold on to their faces, and they won't have much reaction.

After all, in this world, who can guarantee that they will not lose in their lifetime.

"Actually, we also feel that this time the arrangement is a bit strange, why let everyone compete face-to-face and cause some unhappiness?" Victor, who had been silent on the side, nodded, expressing his agreement with Chen Chen's idea: "But since it is arranged by the military, it is inconvenient for us to say anything, anyway, just try our best to complete the test, as for the order, it is a matter decided by the top level of the Air Force." ”

"This arrangement is so that I can defeat you face to face and make you lose convincingly!"

At this moment, an annoying voice suddenly came from the side.

Without looking back, he knew that it was Thomas who arrived, and Clarence couldn't help but snort lightly: "Young man, no one in this world can guarantee that he will always win and not lose, if we lose, we will naturally be convinced, and we will not say a word." ”

"Of course that's for the best." Thomas stepped forward confidently and stretched out his right hand in a seemingly friendly manner: "Although it is said that several of them are seniors, this is a business competition after all, and I, a junior, can only try my best to compete, I think the two of you can understand." ”

"We're not going to be polite either." Harry, Clarence and Victor were so old that they couldn't hear the smell of gunpowder in their words, so they stretched out their hands without smiling and shook each other formulaically: "Everyone depends on their own abilities." ”

"Of course." Thomas withdrew his hand and shrugged his shoulders easily: "But this time the face-to-face test is arranged, the losing side will inevitably be a little embarrassed, presumably the two seniors are also very generous, can accept it calmly, but I don't know ......"

As he spoke, his eyes turned to Chen Chen: "Mr. Chen of the pioneer company, can he accept defeat calmly?" ”

"Listen to Mr. Thomas's tone," Chen Chen didn't have the same good temper as Clarence and Victor, and sneered at the moment: "It seems that you have already won the game, and you can't even wait to come up and announce our defeat?" ”

"That's obvious, I've said before that falcons are invincible, and now I'm just as daring to say that." Thomas smiled lightly, looking at Chen Chen's gaze extremely playfully: "I just hope that when the result comes out, Mr. Chen can accept it calmly, if you lose, you lose, don't find any excuses and reasons to shirk." ”

"This hasn't been tested yet, and Mr. Thomas had better not overwhelm himself when he gets to." Chen Chen smiled faintly and glanced at the other party disdainfully: "The same thing applies to Mr. Thomas, if you lose at that time, I don't know if you can accept it calmly, don't find any excuses and reasons to shirk." ”

"I don't really have to think about it at all." Thomas shook his head nonchalantly: "Because, I won." ”

"No one can win all the time." At this time, the voices of two other people came from the side.

Everyone turned their heads to look and saw Antonio, the chairman of Lockheed, and Benedict, the chairman of Boeing, who walked towards this side, presumably just coming to the scene.

"Mr. Thomas, the test will begin soon." Antonio stepped forward and glanced at Thomas: "You better go and check the falcon's situation, since you are so full of words, I sincerely hope that there will be no accidents, it will not do us any good." ”

"Of course!" Thomas nodded nonchalantly: "Actually, Mr. Antonio can rest assured, the falcon is no problem at all, but in order to reassure you, I'd better go and see it myself." ”

In Thomas's view, with the technology provided by "those people", the Falcon contains far more technology than any existing drone, and it is no longer a problem to win this battle, just think about how to hit Chen Chen after winning.

Relatively speaking, the most critical issue now is to become the fourth shareholder of Lockheed, and at this juncture, there must be no accidents, in addition, Antonio is the chairman after all, and it is better not to offend.

Therefore, at this time, he didn't dare to confront Antonio, so he glanced at Chen Chen easily, and then turned around and left the top floor, going to the hangar below to see the falcon's preparations.

After he left, Antonio and Benedict walked up to Harry and extended their hands in a friendly manner: "Director Harry, the young man is very angry, please don't worry about him in general, although I don't know for what reason, this time it was arranged for a face-to-face test, but no matter who wins or loses, it's just a normal competition, right?" ”

"Of course!" Harry smiled and stretched out his hand to shake the two of them separately: "Anyway, we have been fighting for decades, and it is not the first time that we have faced each other, and it is normal for anyone to lose and win." ”

"Yes...... Antonio and Benedict also sighed leisurely, then walked up to Chen Chen, and also stretched out his right hand: "Mr. Chen, in fact, Lockheed and Boeing are also very concerned about the pioneer company, and I hope that one day we can also cooperate." ”

"That's a real honor." Chen Chen smiled and shook hands with the two of them, and nodded modestly: "Both of them are seniors in the industry, if they really have the opportunity to cooperate, they must be able to learn a lot." ”

"Alright, testing will begin soon." Antonio and Benedict nodded to the group again: "It's time for us to get back to our places, good luck to you." ”

So saying, he turned and left.

The etiquette has been put in place, and then it is time for the soldiers to meet.

(To be continued)