The third-generation fighters of the United States were all developed in the sixties and seventies. In the 80s, the U.S. Air Force began to develop the next generation of fighters, and the project name at that time was 'ATF', which required stealth, overcruise, short take-off, and so on.

Before the 'ATF' project, the U.S. military had already developed two stealth fighters, the F-117 and the B-2, in the seventies. Among them, the F-117 'Nighthawk' was even more prominent in the Gulf War.

At that time, China was still engaged in 'J-60,000', and the second-generation J-7 had just started not long ago, and by the way, it made a big pit that the parts of J-8 were not universal.

The people who sent Jian-8 to the United States back then were really big-hearted, where did they get the courage? This is like a scumbag holding an exam paper and asking a scholar for guidance, and after a glance, the scholar wonders if he has met a fool.

Thanks to the confidence of Americans, every progress of the 'ATF' project is open to the world. I also did some follow-up research in China, but I quickly gave up. This is simply not something that a low-end industrial system can handle.

However, since Zhou Qingfeng began to fight the domestic manufacturing industry, especially the supercomputer that got a lot of 'smuggling', China suddenly found that it seemed that it could also conduct research on stealth technology.

You must know that the most important thing in stealth technology is the shape of the body, and the angular and strange appearance of the F-117 was made when the computing power was insufficient.

By the time the B-2 was studied, the computing power gradually caught up, and the shape was much more rounded. When it came time to develop the F-22, the computing power of the United States was far inferior to the PS3 given by Zhou Qingfeng. But it has been completely enriched in terms of the shape of the computer body.

With PS3, China finds that it seems that it can also do it, but the confidence is not very sufficient. At the technical demonstration stage of the 'Red Tomcat', most of the aerodynamic layout was based on the modifications of the F-14A.

But Zhou Qingfeng brought in a group of 'American experts'. They worked hard to obtain the Red Dragon Elixir, and brought a lot of current design materials about the F-22.

If you want to play, you can play based on the 'ATF' project benchmark.

American experts quickly overturned the design scheme based on the 'Tomcat', which was the result of aerodynamics research in the sixties, and was still used in the nineties.

The variable swept wing has proven to be too large and inappropriate, expensive and complex, and then no one has used it at all. Its effectiveness can be achieved by many means such as canard wings and edge wings.

As for the stealth shape and S-shaped air intake, it is not worth mentioning at all for the computing power that can solve the DSI technology. The engine is OK with the AL-31F first, and it's not that it can't fly.

A group of young and enthusiastic domestic designers and a group of experienced American experts put together a bunch of results to create a 'red raptor' for Zhou Qingfeng. In order to overcome the power defect, many lifting methods such as canard wings were used.

Is this a difficult solution?

Of course.

Just a glass canopy is a big problem.

In addition, the United Avionics used by the F-22 is also a field that has never been touched in China, and the phased array radar of gallium nitride is a difficult point that has not yet been broken through. Even a translucent skin is an obstacle to R&D.

"Mr. Zhou." The researcher from Hongdu Factory scratched his scalp and looked at Zhou Qingfeng.

Zhou Qingfeng was dumbfounded for a long time, looked at the wooden model of the 'Red Raptor', and said quietly: "Is this thing ready to be sent to the microwave anechoic chamber for stealth effect testing?" ”

"Yes, yes, yes." The researcher's head kept nodding, "But we don't have a large anechoic chamber yet. This stuff costs a lot of money. But American experts say they have a mature plan, it depends on the budget. ”

Zhou Qingfeng complained: "Won't the military give money?" ”

The researcher also smiled bitterly: "Last year, a number of nuclear submarine experts from the former Soviet Union were dug up in China, and they felt that the national economy was developing in a good direction, so they gritted their teeth and started the nuclear submarine project again."

You know that the priority level of nuclear submarines is much higher than ours, and it is a bottomless pit of military spending. So the amount of money that can be allocated to us is not much, but it is less. We've complained to our superiors. But the leader said, don't you still have this? ”

The researcher looked at Zhou Qingfeng with a blank eye, "The Air Force said that it can build a basic model first, and it does not require it to reach the level of the latest American fighters, as long as it can surpass their current main fighters." As long as we can make it, they will definitely buy it. ”

Zhou Qingfeng sighed.

The most important thing about fourth-generation fighters is stealth.

Like the Su-57 with a straight air intake, it's an invisible ghost. It's a shame that they have the face to come to our country to register a patent, hoping to sell us this pit goods. This is pure foolishness.

Stealth is not that it cannot be detected, but that the radar detection range is greatly compressed. Even if various media boast that the meter-wave radar is dedicated to restraining stealth, the fourth-generation fighter can achieve a great advantage in tactics.

As long as the stealth flight platform can be done, the radar avionics power and so on can be improved later. Stealth technology is not good, no matter how good the others are, it is still a third-generation aircraft.

The model of Hongdu factory has received many superiors who have come to investigate. Everyone was very excited to learn that China has the ability to track the fourth-generation fighter being developed by the US military.

But Zhou Qingfeng was not excited, and his face was expressionless. The researchers of the Hongdu factory also followed suit. The latter also knows that it is difficult to develop by leaps and bounds, and many technologies are still blank in China, and they don't know where to get a stealth paint alone.

"Mr. Zhou, we want to lay a foundation and run in small steps. Several domestic units are also riveting to launch new projects, Xi'an originally wanted to change the bombardment six, but recently there was news that they want to engage in 'hidden bombing'.

Shenyang also wants to compete with us, even if they don't engage in 'hidden warfare', they also want to engage in special 'hidden attacks'. If Chengdu hadn't gone all out to carry out the No. 10 project, I was afraid that it would have to come to get a piece of the pie.

But the subsystem of the fourth-generation aircraft is too advanced for us. Everyone expects that after the brother unit breaks through, it will be good to catch it and use it themselves. Actually, it's up to us. ”

As the researcher spoke, he took Zhou Qingfeng to another corner of the model workshop and pulled away a large piece of plastic sheeting, revealing another model of a fighter. He laughed self-deprecatingly, "This is the plan we chose before. ”

Compared with the shocking 'Red Raptor' just now, the fighter in front of me is much more ordinary. The aerodynamic shape is basically a double-hair version of Project 10, and there are many details that clearly copy the 'Tomcat' and 'Fighting Falcon'.

"Mr. Zhou, if we can't get enough investment, we can only carry out research and development according to this plan. Technically, it's much smoother, and it's basically not too difficult. But ......"

With the researcher's sigh, Zhou Qingfeng understood the meaning of 'but'.

No matter how good the Twin-engine No. 10 project is, it is still a third-generation aircraft, and the one seen earlier is also a fourth-generation aircraft. There is a generational difference between the two, and the performance of the higher generation is enough to beat the lower generation, otherwise it would not be divided into three or four generations.

"How much investment does it cost to build a fourth-generation aircraft?"

"There are too many missed classes, even with the guidance of American experts, it takes our own efforts. It will take at least ten years to make up for all the shortcomings, plus more than 100 billion yuan of investment. ”

"What if it's just a basic stealth platform?"

"Regardless of radar avionics, with the existing engine, it will cost tens of billions of dollars in five years. This is already optimistic. If you are conservative, you may not be able to say seven or eight years. ”

The researcher of Hongdu Factory looked at Zhou Qingfeng, no one dared to think of such a big investment. Zhou Qingfeng looked back and forth between the two wooden models. He finally sighed: "Well, to be a hero you have to take responsibility." Engage in fourth-generation aircraft! ”

"Really?" The researcher sighed and screamed.

Zhou Qingfeng nodded affirmatively, repeating the goal he had set for himself in his heart, "If you want to do it, you will do the best, and you will not accept mediocrity." After all, I just like to stand on a high place and be a hero! ”