Lin Hongfei was dumbfounded, he was really dumbfounded.

What is a carrier-based AWACS aircraft? It is the eyes of the aircraft carrier formation galloping on the ocean from afar, and to a certain extent, its technical content is better than that of an aircraft carrier, and there are very few countries in the world that can manufacture aircraft carriers, and the other four of the "five hooligans" except the Republic can develop their own aircraft carriers, and in addition to these four countries, Italy and Spain can also build aircraft carriers.

So far, there are a total of six countries in the world that can independently build aircraft carriers, but only two countries that can independently develop and manufacture carrier-based early warning aircraft: the United States and the former Soviet Union.

The well-known E-2 series carrier-based early warning aircraft are a product of the United States, and this is something that anyone with a little basic military knowledge knows about it; the "Sea King" carrier-based early warning helicopter used by the British aircraft carrier formation uses a carrier-based early warning helicopter modified from the Sea King helicopter produced by the Sikorsky Company of the United States, and the arrogant Gallic rooster simply uses the American E-2C.

In addition to the Americans, there is only the former Soviet Union, the former Soviet Union developed a carrier-based early warning helicopter KA-31 and two semi-finished fixed-wing early warning aircraft: Yak-44 and An-71, the latter two semi-finished products have not yet been put into service, the Soviet Union collapsed, and the most valuable legacy of the huge red Soviet Union to the Russian Navy is the KA-31 early warning helicopter.

He didn't expect that the country was ready to hand over such an important task to himself: to develop a carrier-based early warning aircraft, this is a task that he can accomplish?

Facing Lin Hongfei's eyes mixed with shock, surprise and disbelief, Li Wei nodded solemnly, "That's right, if the results of this inspection meet expectations, the country will start the development of carrier-based early warning aircraft, after careful consideration." The Central Committee has decided to entrust this work to you. ”

"That's not right, right?" Lin Hongfei hesitated for a moment, and then said cautiously, "I heard that the country is now considering introducing Russian KA-31 carrier-based early warning helicopters?" Also, even if we develop it ourselves, it should be carried out by AVIC, in terms of overall technical strength, AVIC should be stronger than our company. ”

"KA-31 is one of our two programs, on the one hand, we actively strive to introduce KA-31, but on the other hand, of course, we must also have our own carrier-based AWACS design and manufacturing capabilities; As for AVIC. Of course, we have been in contact with them, but after careful consideration, the leaders of AVIC believe that they will not be able to complete this work in 20 years......" Li Wei said lightly, but the disappointment can be heard by a fool.

"AVIC actually took the initiative to give up ......," Lin Hongfei grinned. No matter how he thought about it, he didn't expect that it would be such a result: when the country needs AVIC's strength. They turned out to be deserters? That's really ...... Nima! it!

"The state and the military are disappointed with AVIC's performance. Otherwise, what do you think your company will be able to take over some of AVIC's companies and R&D institutions so smoothly this time? Li Wei looked at Lin Hongfei and said in an extremely flat tone something that Lin Hongfei had never figured out.

Lin Hongfei suddenly realized!

This time the work of dividing part of AVIC to Guqi Provincial Industrial Manufacturing Co., Ltd. smoothly made Lin Hongfei feel like a dream, he couldn't figure it out, this time it was clearly cut from AVIC, why did AVIC just symbolically oppose it? This is not in line with common sense, AVIC should jump up and down. For this problem, even the old Wang family is secretive, and now Lin Hongfei finally knows that AVIC has deeply offended the military. With the strong support of the military, it is no wonder.

"In other words, our company has to take on this task?" Lin Hongfei said, I don't know what Lu Dao is for, when he asked this question, he suddenly felt that his blood was burning!

In the previous life, when the Varyag was in service, in the face of the shortcomings of the KA-31 carrier-based early warning helicopter, Lin Hongfei, like all military fans, also considered various possibilities for the carrier-based fixed-wing early warning aircraft that could be used on the old tile: shortening the fuselage, folding wings, changing the single vertical tail to four vertical tails to reduce the altitude, and replacing the Yunqi "balance beam" with a higher power engine; Faster AWACS helicopter ......

But no matter which one it is, there are problems that cannot be solved: with the deeply improved Yunqi "balance beam", it is impossible to fly without a catapult in the old tile; Using AWACS helicopters? The congenital shortcomings of the helicopter platform make this thing a helpless choice in the absence of a fixed-wing carrier-based AWACS aircraft.

In the end, the result of everyone's discussion was still one: the next generation of domestic aircraft carriers were equipped with catapults, and catapults were ...... Whether it's a steam catapult or an electromagnetic catapult...... There is the possibility of a fixed-wing carrier-based early warning aircraft taking off, instead of using a backward KA-31 with backward performance as it is now, and it will be stuck in the neck of Lao Maozi.

Inspired by a certain type of aircraft of the Americans, Lin Hongfei had initially conceived a plan, but before he could further consider this plan, the whole person came back, and Lin Hongfei, who had started over in life, put this matter behind him, but he didn't expect that now he would have the opportunity to re-participate in this project.

But Li Wei's answer was unexpectedly unexpected by Lin Hongfei, he shook his head, "No, there is no compulsion, the state does not force you to do it, but we still hope that you can take over this research and development task...... Our country is a big country, and as a big country, it must have its own aircraft carriers, and it must also have its own carrier-based early warning aircraft. ”

After speaking, he stared at Lin Hongfei with burning eyes, and his eyes were full of deep expectation: although Li Wei said that there was no compulsion, they still hoped that Lin Hongfei would be able to take over this task...... Although the military itself has made an assessment and believes that with the current strength of the Guqi Provincial Industrial Manufacturing Co., Ltd., it is simply not enough to undertake this research and development task, but the magic that Lin Hongfei has repeatedly demonstrated and the huge team of engineers, experts and senior technicians they have, under the premise that AVIC is unwilling to take over this task, they still decided to take a gamble.

"Can you tell us about the request?" After pondering for a long time, Lin Hongfei finally spoke, "What kind of plane do you need?" In addition, although we are only responsible for the development of the aircraft. But can the state ensure that the work of the entire early warning system can keep up with our progress? ”

Well?

Although Li Wei's biggest hope before this was that Lin Hongfei could agree, but now when he heard Lin Hongfei's words, he was still stunned for a moment, "Mr. Lin, have you thought about it?" This is the development of an AWACS aircraft for the Varyag! ”

"I know how long the country has for this platform, how long can it be for us?" ”

"It's decided?" Li Wei's expression suddenly became serious.

"Hmm."

"Good!" Li Wei took a deep breath and looked at Lin Hongfei deeply in shock, "You don't have to worry about the performance of the radar, it's not your job." If you think you can do this, then I tell you, of course, the country wants to have a fixed-wing AWACS aircraft that can take off from a glide deck like the Varyag, and if not, a large helicopter can do it. But that means you're going to have to develop a large helicopter, and I wonder if you'll be able to make it. It is capable of flying at a minimum speed of 300 km/h. Self-sustaining ability not less than 4 hours; ”

"If you can make it possible for a fixed-wing aircraft to take off on an aircraft carrier, any of your requirements, the country will give priority to meeting them, and the only requirement is that I hope you can come up with a feasible plan within 2 years and a prototype within 15 years. 20 years of products can be formed. ”

As long as you can agree to this task, you will give whatever country you want?! Lin Hongfei was deeply shocked! At this moment, he deeply felt the determination of this government, which is considered by many to be "cowardly", to develop and become strong.

"That's right...... Even if I ask for Changfei to give our company? Lin Hongfei asked.

"As long as you have a good reason!" Li Wei replied without hesitation.

Just because Li Wei could make this kind of decision, Lin Hongfei immediately realized that Li Wei was this guy. Definitely more than just a simple military attache stationed abroad!

"I really have a plan," Lin Hongfei said, "but this plan is just a preliminary idea of mine, I need experts to evaluate my plan, but I can guarantee that this plan is very feasible, as a platform, the flight speed of this aircraft should be able to exceed 400 kilometers per hour, the maximum flight distance should be 2500 kilometers to 3000 kilometers, the load capacity is about 6 tons, and the diameter of the radar radome that can be carried should be slightly larger than that of the US E-2C. The maximum can reach 7.74 meters. ”

The diameter of the radar radome of the US E-2C carrier-based early warning aircraft is 7.3 meters, and in the scheme conceived by Lin Hongfei, the minimum diameter of the radar radome can also reach 7.74 meters. Of course, in addition, Lin Hongfei also has a plan, according to this plan, the diameter of the radome can reach 10 meters, but the realization of this plan is too difficult, whether it can be realized, even Lin Hongfei is not very sure.

"What? Speeds of 400 km/h or more? The flight range is more than 2500 km ?! In front of these two data, Li Wei, who has been a dead face since Lin Hongfei got into the car, finally has no way to maintain his dead-like expression, he grew his mouth in surprise, and his face was shocked or shocked, after the shock, he even grabbed Lin Hongfei with extreme gaffe, "Mr. Lin, what you said is true?" Can you really build an airplane that can take off without a catapult, fly at a speed of more than 400 kilometers per hour, and fly a distance of more than 2,500 kilometers? ”

This data is infinitely close to the flight data of the U.S. military's E-2C early warning aircraft flight platform, with a cruising speed of 474 kilometers per hour and a maximum flight range of 2,708 kilometers.

Although the KA-31 carrier-based early warning helicopter inherited by the Russians from the former Soviet Union carried out its first test flight in 1983, it has not been officially equipped with the Russian Navy so far, and the maturity of the technology has not been fully verified in long-term use, and in terms of its basic flight data, whether it is a combat radius of 150 kilometers, a cruising flight speed of 250 kilometers per hour, The radar detection range of 115 kilometers or its endurance of only 2.5 hours are the most helpless choices in the absence of fixed-wing carrier-based early warning aircraft, if Lin Hongfei and his company really have such an aircraft, what kind of effort does the Republic bother to "beg" KA-31 from the Russians in a low voice?

"Yes!" Facing Li Wei's extremely shocked gaze, Lin Hongfei nodded heavily.

"Shh......h

Li Wei took a deep breath and looked at Tang Jindong, Tang Jindong nodded, and said to Lin Hongfei, "Mr. Lin, let's say, what do you want besides giving Changfei to you, and, what is your plan?" ”

Lin Hongfei immediately understood in his heart, obviously, the identity of Tang Jindong, who is known as the ambassador of the republic to Ukraine, does not seem to be as simple as the ambassador of the republic to Ukraine.

"First of all, I want to know, what is our priority among all defense research projects in this project?"

"Ranked in the top five, it belongs to the key security projects in the national key security, and any reasonable requirements put forward for the purpose of this project will be met first, and the resources required will be given priority to you." Tang Jindong said, "But the premise is that unless your plan can prove that it can achieve the data you just mentioned." ”

"I'll prove it." Lin Hongfei took a deep breath, in the face of such a huge opportunity, it is really difficult to stay calm, "There are no other requirements, now I hope to be able to invite authoritative experts in the field of domestic helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft to evaluate my plan, to be honest, I am not an expert in aircraft, I am sure that this plan is feasible, but the specific details still need these experts to supplement and improve ......"

After a pause, Lin Hongfei deliberately added, "He is a real authoritative expert, not the kind who travels indiscriminately." ”

"This kind of thing, no one dares to make up for it!" Tang Jindong's flat tone was filled with a strong sense of confidence, and he turned his head to Li Wei and said, "Comrade Li Wei, you can arrange this matter as soon as possible." ”

Also, who would dare to use this project to travel with public funds? It's just impatient to live.

Li Wei hesitated, "This ...... Is it to let Mr. Lin return to China to discuss this plan? So many specialists in one plane......"

Tang Jindong was stunned for a moment, and then nodded slowly, "I should go back to China to discuss." (To be continued......)