Chapter 1555: One machine eats two

"The planned C929 is a large aircraft with a take-off weight of 200 tons. With reference to the United States, this type of aircraft has the characteristics of large payload, long range, long flight time, and comfortable environment inside the aircraft. So, I think This type of aircraft is a very good choice for China to use to solve special aircraft platforms in the future, so my plan is to eat two with one aircraft."
"Special aircraft? One aircraft, two food?"
"Yes, as far as China’s current most urgent needs are concerned, for special aircraft, we at least need to address refueling aircraft, strategic early warning aircraft, anti-submarine patrol aircraft, electronic reconnaissance aircraft, electronic jamming aircraft, and command communications aircraft, which are extremely important for future operations. The issue of flying platforms with a significant bonus effect. The experience and lessons of the Gulf War tell us that modern warfare is first of all a war for the control of electromagnetic power and the right to control information. It is difficult for the party that loses these two rights to win victory on the battlefield. The tragic failure of the Ikra people has fully proved this."
Zhang Jun thought for a while and nodded: "Dr. Tan, what you said, our aviation department is aware that our department has reached agreement with the air and navy forces for the types of anti-submarine patrol aircraft, electronic reconnaissance aircraft, and electronic jammers. We have reached a consensus and plan to continue to improve and develop on the existing "Yun 8" airframe, but the tanker and strategic early warning aircraft, the existing "Yun 8" airframe is obviously too small. We have discussed the feasibility of using C919, but we have demonstrated From now on, I think the C919 is still small. It would be nice if we had a Boeing 707."
"That’s why I said that C929 is of great significance to China. This level of aircraft can at least solve our strategic early warning aircraft and the two key platforms of the tanker. Let’s talk about the tanker first. The U.S.’s current tanker is from The KC135, an improved version of the Boeing 707, has 641 tankers in active service in the Air Force, plus reserve and National Guard equipment. It is precisely because of so many tankers that the Americans can guarantee the popularity of hot spots in the world. The region can invest in air intervention forces in a very short period of time, and its fighter jets can even perform transcontinental operations. We currently do not have this capability for China, but I think we will have it sooner or later, and we must have it, especially our China. It’s impossible to build military bases all over the world like the Americans. It’s even more important to use tankers to ensure the range of our fighters. Minister Zhang, you see, our South China Sea is vast and the situation is complicated, even Su-27 and "Flying Leopards" "The voyage cannot cover the entire territory. To ensure the safety of the airspace in this area, a tanker is an indispensable equipment."
Zhang Jun said: "In that case, our department needs to immediately advance the research and development of the entire aerial refueling system."
"Yes, my suggestion is that from now on, this subject should be included in the list of important research and development projects of our Ministry of Aeronautics and Astronautics. Minister Zhang, you see, our C929 has very good congenital conditions. In terms of design parameters, If it is changed to a tanker, in addition to the fuel needed to maintain its own flight, it can also carry about 90 tons of additional fuel into the air at a time, which is enough to fill up the aircraft with 12 Flying Leopards or 10 Su-27s. The internal fuel tank will double the combat radius of these two types of fighters, and its strategic significance is extremely important."
Zhang Jun pondered for a moment and then nodded again: "Dr. Tan, your suggestion is very good and very important. I will immediately organize the relevant technical forces in the department to start research on this subject. Well, besides, you just said that the strategic early warning aircraft can also be used. The body of C929? By the way, when it comes to the early warning aircraft, if my information is correct, Dr. Tan, you and XAC, have a project that has been done for several years, right? Are you planning to build a new one? The early warning aircraft project comes out?"
"I can't hide anything from Minister Zhang." Tan Zhenhua patted a little flattery before continuing: "The idea that I proposed to use C929 as the body to build a strategic early warning aircraft does not conflict with the project that I cooperated with Xijing Factory, Xijing The goal of the project of the factory is to develop a small tactical early warning aircraft that can be boarded in the future on the basis of the "Yun 7", similar to the indicators of the U.S. E2C, and the radar also uses a more mature pulse Doppler plus The mechanical scanning system can quickly solve the problem, and it can also be exported in the future, but the early warning aircraft with C929 as the body is different. It can use a more advanced pulse Doppler plus phased array system, and its huge take-off weight It is also sufficient to support larger-caliber radars and obtain better performance. The goal is to solve the problem of China’s national air defense early warning. Also take the Americans as an example. The country has produced and equipped a total of 68 E3 "Watch Tower" early warning aircraft, also based on the Boeing 707. For the modification of the airframe, the "Watchtower" played a huge role in the Gulf War. Here I have a not complete statistical data. During the "Desert Storm" war, E-3 completed 400 missions and more than 5000 The hourly flight was the first time in history that an early warning aircraft radar recorded all air battles. In addition to providing real-time enemy dynamics, E-3 also supported 38 of the 40 air-to-air downs during the entire campaign. For Kara, its air force has been almost completely passively beaten after losing its information rights. This shows the importance of equipping early warning aircraft."
Zhang Jun sighed: "Of course I know the importance of early warning aircraft, Dr. Tan, you are a child of 4014 and you are so concerned about the early warning aircraft business in our country. You must also know how much effort has our country made to have early warning aircraft, right?"
"Yes, I know some." Tan Zhenhua nodded frankly: "Since the installation of the 843 radar on the body of the Soviet Graphics 4 bomber into the "Air Police No. 1" in the 1970s, our country has been trying to have an early warning aircraft, but it is very It’s a pity that many efforts have ended in failure. This is actually because at that time, our technical level was not high at both the carrier aircraft and the radar. The combined effect of the two was of course only worse, but now it is different. , Minister Zhang, by digesting and absorbing the imported technologies of the "BAC" passenger aircraft and the "C919" passenger aircraft, as well as the considerable progress in our basic level over the years, I am still confident that our country will manufacture the C929 passenger aircraft itself. Many of our subsystems may still have some gaps in the pure civilian field with the advanced level of the West, but they are at least usable and sufficient. In terms of reliability and safety, they can already meet military standards, so we are developing a At the same time as the western airworthiness standard passenger aircraft, we simultaneously developed a special flight platform with all localized subsystems. I think it is completely feasible. You see, Minister Zhang, we even have a ready-made solution for the engine. After multiple models After the imitation and improvement of the advanced turbofan engine, I believe that the Gas Turbine Institute and Xihangfa will be able to produce the domestically produced D-18T within three years. In this way, a special platform developed with the C929 body , We can be completely free from others."
Zhang Jun thought for a while, and suddenly asked with some worry: "But based on the experience of the Americans, this kind of large aerial platform uses four engines, while our C929 has two engines. Is this not safe enough? "
"The Americans used a 4-engine Boeing 707 to change it. That was because when they developed this platform, they did not have enough thrust engines, and the reliability of the engines at that time was not good. Doing so can indeed increase a certain degree of safety. Minister Zhang, looking at the development of the international aviation industry over the years, the 4-engine platform will be increasingly marginalized by the market due to its poor economic performance. Let’s put it this way, I think if the Americans are now planning to eliminate the E-3 "Watch Tower" "If they re-develope a new early warning aircraft, they will definitely adopt a dual-engine scheme. Well, for example, using the Boeing 767 body to change it, this is the most cost-effective scheme."
Zhang Jun thought for a while, and felt that Tan Zhenhua's words were reasonable, so he nodded and said: "Dr. Tan also agrees with your point of view, then, now I have an additional question."
"Ok?"
"You just said that for the strategic early warning aircraft, do you recommend the pulse Doppler plus phased array system?"