"We improved the engines of the missiles."

Zhang Xingyang briefly introduced the improvements of the second-generation missile.

Actually, it's an improvement.

But it's more like a redesign of a more aggressive missile.

After all, the power system, the starting shape, and the guidance system are not the same as the original.

It can hardly be considered the same missile.

"Let's talk as we go."

Zhang Xingyang did not elaborate on the detailed improvement plan for the missile.

After all, it's not a good place to chat in the snow.

Everyone else can hold on.

They are all young adults in their thirties.

But the old chiefs are all over seventy after all.

Even if it looks tough on the outside, you can't stay in this environment for too long.

"Let's go to your office."

The old chief nodded and said.

The group walked from the helipad of the base to the office building.

Heating on your face.

It makes everyone feel as if it's suddenly summer.

"Your base has plenty of heating!"

The old chief also felt that the cold air in his bones had dissipated a lot, and said jokingly.

"We lack everything here, but we don't lack hot water."

Zhang Xingyang also replied with a smile.

Most of the coal produced around the base is sent to the power plant.

The hot water boiled out of the boiler, in addition to pushing the steam turbine to generate electricity.

The rest can only be used to heat everyone.

It also counts as a rational use of the remaining resources.

After walking into the office and leaving everyone else out of the office.

The old chief closed the door to his office with his own hands.

"Tell me, what's going on with the new missile?"

The old chief was not the slightest polite.

There were a bit of a lot of people out there just now.

He didn't dare to talk to Zhang Xingyang in detail.

Although the people around me are strictly scrutinized.

But leaking such a thing, that is not afraid of 10,000, just in case.

Or people who know, the less the better.

"Our new generation hypersonic missile with a range of 9800 kilometers and a terminal strike speed of Mach 19."

"A composite guidance method is used, and the strike accuracy is expected to be 5 meters."

Zhang Xingyang adjusted the most important data of the improved missile this time.

The old chief's complexion changed slightly.

Just now, Zhang Xingyang only talked about the increase in the range of missiles.

And nothing more important was said.

That's the speed gain.

For missiles, especially newly designed missiles after entering the XXI century.

Speed is almost the most important metric.

Due to the development of technology in recent decades.

Anti-missile technology is also constantly maturing.

Even more than three years ago, the first successful mid-course anti-missile experiment was carried out in China.

At that time, a large number of people at home and abroad were stunned.

Some people even suggested at that time that as soon as the mid-course anti-missile was launched, the ballistic missile would lose its effectiveness.

If a missile is compared to a spear, an anti-missile system is compared to a shield.

This means that the power of the shield surpasses that of the spear.

However, hypersonic ballistic missiles still break this argument.

The intermediate period of hypersonic ballistic missiles is very short-lived and does not have the conditions for anti-missile at all.

Even some hypersonic missiles, there is simply no intermediate segment!

If you want to anti-missile, you can only do it in the atmosphere.

But within the atmosphere, ballistic missiles maneuver at high speeds.

The difficulty of anti-missile has skyrocketed!

The terminal maneuvering speed of the original missile has reached nearly Mach 10.

The terminal anti-missile system on Earth is already in a state of powerlessness.

Nowadays, a speed close to Mach 20 is infinitely close to extraterrestrial technology.

Some say that it can be defended with lasers.

But you know, the principle of laser anti-missile is to destroy the warhead radar or warhead of a missile with heat accumulation.

For ordinary small rockets, high-power lasers require an irradiation time of nearly one second.

And the size of hypersonic ballistic missiles is much larger than that of rockets.

Let it shine, at least three seconds.

How far can you fly in three seconds, twenty times the speed of sound?

The answer is, close to 21 km!

Such a distance.

Enough missiles to penetrate the range of the laser defense system!

"What about the warheads of missiles?"

The old chief asked an extremely important question.

"Don't tell me that your missile warhead can only be loaded with conventional charges!"

Zhang Xingyang also felt that he seemed to be scaring the old man enough, and hurriedly said:

"The formula of our warhead explosives has not changed, it is still the same as the previous all-nitrogen explosives."

But Zhang Xingyang didn't say a word.

That is, the explosive formula has not changed, which does not mean that the warhead charge has not changed.

The previous generation of hypersonic missiles had a warhead charge of 450 kg.

If a missile goes down, there will be no grass within a range of several hundred meters.

Even the earth with rocks will not exist.

After the improvement, the second-generation hypersonic missile increased the charge.

From 450 kilograms, it has increased to 720 kilograms.

It's more than a little more powerful!

If the original missile is fired, the 120 range will be wiped out.

Then the current missiles, once fired, will be destroyed within a range of 180 meters!

Creatures within a few kilometers will be knocked down or even killed by the huge shock wave.

"Nuclear charges, even if I want to study them, I don't have that condition."

Zhang Xingyang spread his hands and said.

In fact, it is not impossible to replace the conventional charge of the missile with a nuclear warhead.

It doesn't even need to be overhauled.

Just like the DF-17 hypersonic ballistic missile they developed before, they later carried out the loading of nuclear warheads.

No problem at all.

It's just that nuclear weapons are not so simple to contact, so Zhang Xingyang directly hit a sloppy eye.

After listening to this, the old chief slowly sat back on the sofa:

"If you want to study it, it's not impossible, I can go and tell you about it."

The old chief looked up and down as he spoke.

"Don't you, I still think it's interesting to study missiles, I'm not very good at atomic energy."

Zhang Xingyang stretched out his right hand and directly rejected the old chief's kindness.

"Okay, but the performance of your missile is a bit unexpected, and it may take a little more time."

"The biggest problem is that our ocean-going experimental ship has not tested such a high-performance missile before, and it may need to be modified."

After thinking about it in his heart, the old chief said:

"The original one-month period is definitely not enough."

"So be it, three months."

"In three months, we should be able to carry out missile tests."

After the old chief finished saying this, he looked at Zhang Xingyang and continued:

"I don't know if you'll be able to wait that long."

"What do we have that we can't wait."

Zhang Xingyang smiled and said:

"Just in time for something else."

"For example, the suborbital bomber project that we used to talk about."

Suborbital bomber, Zhang Xingyang once mentioned it to the old chief last year.

Mainly deployed at suborbital altitudes.

It's a sideline ball that doesn't deploy weapons in space.

"Wait, you said before that this generation of hypersonic ballistic missiles has a new engine?"

At this time, the old chief recalled what Zhang Xingyang said to himself at that time.

Then, combined with today's conversation, something naturally came to mind.

"Isn't it the one you said last year, what kind of engine?"

The old chief didn't remember much what engine Zhang Xingyang was talking about at that time.

Just while he was still thinking hard.

Zhang Xingyang took over the conversation and said:

"Combined cycle engine, rocket/sub-combustion/scramble state can be switched freely."

Only then did the old chief show a suddenly realized expression and said:

"Yes, that's him!"

"You've already developed it?"

"Doesn't that mean that our suborbital bombers have fallen?"

"It's not a complete success."

Zhang Xingyang still maintained a trace of modesty and said:

"Switching between modalities isn't natural at the moment.

The last time the missile was on the test bench, there were some problems when the modality was switched, and it almost failed. ”

The old chief is not a foolish person either.

can hear the meaning of Zhang Xingyang's words.

The engine still has some minor problems, but it has been able to be put into service.

"Can it serve as an engine for a suborbital bomber?"

The old chief knows some technical aspects though.

Even after the last conversation, he learned a little about the history of engine development.

But really to talk about the technical details.

That's almost no understanding at all.

So I chose to ask Zhang Xingyang, who is knowledgeable, directly.

"Yes, yes."

Zhang Xingyang first answered his question neatly.

He then added:

"But the actual flight time may not be as long as the hundreds of days we said earlier."

"How long can you fly?"

"A few days? Or dozens of days? ”

The old chief asked impatiently.

"A hundred days should be available, and how long it will take is still to wait until it is made." Zhang Xingyang said.

The old chief nodded, thinking to himself too.

Now let's not talk about the prototype of a suborbital bomber.

Even the design drawings have not yet come out.

The two of them discussed this, and it was not very reliable.

"You guys are studying suborbital bombers, and if there's anything missing, tell me directly.

Even if I beg grandpa or grandma, I'll find it for you! ”

The old chief assured Zhang Xingyang.

As someone who has been in the aerospace system for almost his whole life, the old chief's energy is actually very large.

All kinds of comrades-in-arms, friends, students, and old colleagues are almost all over the country.

"I've just started researching, and there's nothing particularly missing."

"If you want to say that we lack a manufacturing site?"

Zhang Xingyang said after thinking for a while.

The design and manufacture of suborbital bombers is actually quite different from the previous bomber manufacturing in China.

To put it mildly, it is more similar to a suborbital bomber.

That's still the previously developed non-attack series of UAVs.

Especially when it comes to intelligent control systems.

There is a lot to learn from both sides.

"What are the requirements for the venue?" The old chief asked.

Zhang Xingyang said: "There are no special requirements, the venue should be larger." ”

"The volume of the suborbital bomber will be larger."

After hearing this, the old chief stood up, and did not have any more politeness:

"I'm going to figure out how to get you about the missile test first."

"I'll let you know when things come to an eyebrow."

"I'll tell you about the manufacturing yard when I let someone find it."

Then the old chief asked Zhang Xingyang if he needed anything.

Especially in the base, there is still no shortage of materials.

In the base, there is no shortage of all kinds of materials.

So after the old chief asked, he walked out of the office directly.

Neither did he say anything to the crowd who were guarding the door.

Directly boarded the helicopter and left the base.

Helicopter pilots and guards, accustomed to such a life.

Didn't ask much.

As for the base, there is nothing to say.

After all, what is the performance of missiles, is there any clearer than the people who come into contact day and night?

A week after the old chief left, Zhang Xingyang received news that the ocean-going experimental ship had returned to Hong Kong and began to carry out various modifications.

And told him that a suitable bomber manufacturing site was almost found.

Let Zhang Xingyang not be too anxious.

The design scheme of the airframe of the suborbital bomber has just come out at this time.

It was Zhang Xingyang who provided the mature design of the later generations, and then guided everyone to understand step by step.

Another week later, the bomber manufacturing site had been found.

The location is an aircraft parts manufacturing plant located in the south.

Although it can't produce the whole machine by itself, it is not a big problem for Zhang Xingyang.

A month later, more than half of the ocean-going experimental vessels were refitted.

The shape design of the bomber was finally completed in rounds of modifications.

Half a month later, the ocean-going experimental ship ended its refit life.

Set sail to the South Pacific, ready for your first job as a new student.

Ten days later, the ocean-going experiment ship officially arrived in the South Pacific.

At the same time, the second-generation hypersonic missile arrived at a missile launch site in the southeast.

"Xingyang, your design speed is fast enough."

The old chief looked at the design of the bomber in his hand and said.

"It's just a sketch, and the real design is just beginning."

Zhang Xingyang was not too surprised by the old chief's praise.

"Today's focus is on missile experiments.

Old chief, let's keep our minds on it! ”

In front of the two of them, there were thick solid rocket missiles.

This time the missile launcher was not used.

Rather, in the missile silos.

Because the missile this time is relatively special, it has not yet had time to complete the development of an exclusive missile launch vehicle.

The requirements for the launch vehicle of the rocket/scramble engine are almost completely different from those of the previous missile.

"Okay, let's see how the missile performs!"

The old chief also smiled and didn't say anything more.

After the scheduled time for the experiment has arrived.

Zhang Xingyang pressed the bright red missile launch button.

In the sound of "missiles are out of the well" around him.

The rocket engine under the missile is the first to start!

The vigorous thrust almost pushes the missile straight up!

It seems like it's going to be pushed straight into space.

The high speed generated by the rocket.

The scramjet engine switches smoothly to scramjet.

In an instant, the speed of the missile was increased by a cut.

The crowd in the firing position.

Just look at the missile, at a speed that the naked eye can't see.

Flying thousands of miles away!

(End of chapter)