Hearing General Crook's words, Fang Lang smiled, did not rush to answer, but picked up the cigar and took a deep breath. It was found that General Crook still did not seem to think that the destroyer could still go in that direction.

He didn't sell it, took a sip of tea and said:

"I don't know if the general paid attention to the V2 rocket invented by the Germans at the end of the war."

As the Minister of the Navy, Admiral Crook is a rare doer, and he also pays a lot of attention to the new weapons born during the war, and immediately understands what Fang Lang means when he hears this.

blurted out:

"You mean that in the future the enemy will attack with missiles, directly from a distance?

But how can the accuracy of the missile ensure that it hits a warship sailing in the sea? ”

Fang Lang looked at General Crook with a surprised face, and said with a faint smile:

"In fact, the HS-292 missile, invented by the Germans, proved its real combat value already at the end of the war.

This anti-ship missile sank a number of Allied transport ships in real combat.

Since he can sink a transport ship, he will naturally be able to sink a warship as well.

From here, we can see that on the battlefield in the future, missiles will become the key weapon that determines victory or defeat.

So going back and looking at our warships, do we have any means of coping in the face of a missile attack? ”

When General Crook heard this, his face changed greatly, and he stood up from his seat with a thud, and the cigar in his hand fell to the ground. But at this moment, General Crook seemed to be unaware and began to pace back and forth in the office.

Seeing his performance, Fang Lang didn't make a sound, but continued to take an unhurried puff of his cigar and spit a smoke ring into the sky. Watch as the smoke rings grow bigger and bigger in the air, and finally slowly dissipate.

General Crook, who was feeling frightened and inexplicable for the scene Fang Lang had just described, forcibly suppressed the restlessness in his heart after seeing Fang Lang's movements, and turned his head to Fang Lang and asked:

"Fang, do you mean that you want to research a destroyer that can defend against missile attacks?"

Fang Lang was stunned when he heard this, and then shook his head for a long time and said:

"No, Your Excellency, with the current scientific and technological strength, we are not yet able to intercept missiles. But we must hold the right to launch missiles. ”

Interceptor missiles are certainly possible, as can be seen from the various anti-missile systems of the future world. But it certainly can't be now, and if interceptor missiles are the research target now, it is estimated that it will take decades to have a chance of success.

In this case, the production of large warships by its own shipyard will be postponed indefinitely. This is not the result that Fang Lang wants.

However, directly studying missile-carrying warships is not an impossible task, and it is important to know that the first guided-missile destroyer "Mitchell" class built by the Americans in later generations began to be built in 1950.

Officially commissioned in 1953, at first, the destroyer was only equipped with an "A-weapon", that is, the MK-108 Alfa anti-submarine rocket launcher.

It was later converted into eight units of Asroc anti-submarine missiles and MK13 single-arm missile launchers used to launch Tatar anti-aircraft missiles. It became the world's first guided missile destroyer.

The U.S. Navy's Conz-class destroyers, which began construction in 1957, are really equipped with anti-ship missiles on warships, and they are excellent warships that entered service in the 90s.

Fang Lang's goal now is to be the first to come up with the concept of a guided missile destroyer, and then, with the support of the Brazilian Navy, invest money to start researching it.

After all, if this kind of project is developed entirely at his own private expense, it is certainly unacceptable, and he can use the state's money to research new products for himself, so why not!

As for whether it can be exported to the outside world after the research is completed, it depends on whether everyone can sit down and discuss it carefully.

Fang Lang believes that with the urine of Brazilian government officials, as long as the money is in place, nothing should be impossible.

After General Crook heard Fang Lang's words, he directly grasped the point.

"You're right, whether we can intercept a missile attack or not, we must first have the right to launch missiles."

Then he said as if he remembered something:

"But we don't have the strength to develop missiles at all!"

Hearing this, Fang Lang said with a smile:

"Your Excellency, as long as the government can give enough support, I can organize the manpower and start researching missiles.

Whether it is an anti-aircraft missile, an anti-ship missile, or a ground-to-ground missile, one law will work in ten thousand ways.

Only when we master this brand-new weapon can we have our own say in the world, otherwise we may have to purchase their missiles from European and American countries.

But the strength of national defense cannot be bought, my idea is that we must independently own our own national defense industry, and we Fangyuan Group is willing to undertake this heavy responsibility.

However, all this must be supported by the state. ”

General Crook understood what Fang Lang meant, and he also knew Fang Lang's personal selfishness in this matter. But I have to say that what Fang Lang said is very reasonable.

If Brazil can really have its own defense industry, then Brazil's international status will inevitably be rapidly improved, and this is an opportunity that no patriot is willing to give up.

And General Crook is just such a patriot, so after listening to Fang Lang's words, he was very excited.

Suppressing the restlessness in his heart, General Crook slowly sat down in his seat, picked up the tea in front of him, and after taking a sip, he looked at Fang Lang and said:

"I very much agree with what you said, but this matter is clearly beyond my purview, and it will need to be discussed with Field Marshal Moraes and President Dutra before a final decision can be made.

If, I'm not mistaken, do you want to directly develop a missile destroyer? ”

Facing General Crook's gaze, Fang Lang did not dodge, but nodded firmly and said:

"Yes, Your Excellency.

I don't think we should be arrogant and tie our hands and feet, and we can directly abandon the current old destroyers and embark on the track of developing brand-new missile destroyers.

In this way, we can overtake in corners and avoid the embarrassing situation of being behind the developed countries in Europe and the United States. ”

Looking at Fang Lang's determined eyes, General Crook showed a relieved smile on his face, and after relighting a cigar, he took a hard breath, feeling the fragrance of the cigar smoke between his lips and teeth, and his mood was also calmed down.

After listening to Fang Lang's words, he became a little restless, and after exhaling the cigarette in his mouth, General Crook said slowly:

"I can understand your feelings and thoughts, but I believe that you yourself can understand that the study of missile engineering is obviously not something that can be completed in one day.

There's nothing wrong with you wanting to overtake in corners, but I don't think we need to rush it.

Even though we have seen through the inevitable trend of the development of weapons of war, there is no need to rush for quick success and quick success.

Therefore, my opinion is that your shipyard can start by imitating the US "Fletcher"-class destroyers through this new destroyer construction task, and exercise the shipyard's construction capacity.

At the same time, a missile research group was set up to design a completely new missile destroyer while researching and manufacturing missiles. ”

Fang Lang understood that what General Crook said was all out of good intentions. But Fang Lang is a little worried, because the current Brazilian government has a close relationship with the United States, the economy is developing rapidly, and the domestic economic strength is also steadily improving.

In addition, Mr. President was also born as a military general, and attaches great importance to army building. Both the strength and the will may be able to agree to this series of military spending.

But after the change, there may not be such a good policy as it is now. When the time comes, whether or not you can get financial support from the government will have to be said.

This is also the reason why Fang Lang rushed over, hoping that the Admiralty could resubmit a new performance request.

In Fang Lang's view, as long as a clear guiding document is issued during the term of this government, or a formal document contract is signed, then no matter how the subsequent government wants to deal with it. At least he has a de jure advantage.

But General Crook obviously does not have such concerns as him, so he repeatedly emphasizes the importance of stability.

Seeing that General Crook had already spoken to this point, of course Fang Lang was not too stubborn, after all, being an official was also a human being.

After pondering for a while, Fang Lang poured himself a cup of tea, and his thoughts turned around:

"Your Excellency General is right, I am indeed in a bit of a hurry.

Thank you very much for your care for the Fangyuan shipyard, if I am not mistaken, you mean, let's start pre-research on the next generation of missile destroyers while copying the "Fletcher"-class destroyers, right? ”

Hearing that General Crook took the initiative to admit his mistake, he felt very relieved, and I have to say that Fang Lang is indeed the best naval officer he has promoted, and there is no one.

Before he could be happy for long, Fang Lang's words stunned him.

What do you mean, when did I say that the next generation was pre-researched while copying.

Just as he was about to ask, he saw Fang Lang pat his thigh, and stood up directly from the sofa, his mouth full of surprise:

"I understand what the general means is that our future military equipment should be "one generation of service, one generation of development, one generation of pre-research, and one generation of exploration." "Really?

At present, we will first put into service the US-made "Fletcher"-class destroyers, and at the same time conduct research and imitation, and we will also start pre-research missile destroyers, and we will also explore intercepting antimissile destroyers.

Oh, my God! This is what His Excellency the General summed up, is it the law of the development of our army's equipment manufacturing?

This is really too forward-looking, and I think this should be written into our "White Paper on the Development of National Defense Equipment," and in the future, all the development of military equipment in our army should follow this law.

Oh, my God! Your Excellency, General, you are too far-sighted. ”

General Crook, who was listening to Fang Lang talking to himself, looked a little dazed at the moment, his eyes were not focused, looking at Fang Lang in front of him who was overflowing with excitement, and he didn't know what to say for a while.

With the completion of Fang Lang's summary of the four generations, and even mentioning the "White Paper on the Development of National Defense Equipment", his eyes slowly began to focus, and his expression began to slowly become wonderful, and later, his face became red.

I have to say that the four generations summarized by him in Fang Lang's mouth are indeed too forward-looking, and they have almost pointed out the development direction for the entire national defense industry.

Such an incisive summary and extremely practical development ideas alone will certainly be recognized by everyone, and once it can be adopted at the National Defense Conference, it will be the most representative political proposition in his personal military career.

With this political achievement, whether he wants to be promoted or wants to enter politics in the future, it will be regarded as a major political capital.

(End of chapter)