Chapter 153 Old wine in new bottles
the next day.
“Where is my old friend Ben Jing?” After the two parties met, Mr. Wu saw that there were fewer people in the crowd and asked immediately.
“His Excellency Benjing drank too much last night and cannot accompany you today. I will take you to see our S-300 missile system production factory.” Yefimov said.
Qin Tao knew very well that Ben Jing talked too much yesterday and deliberately did not show up today so that he could be fooled.
But well, it’s not that easy!
Even if the opponent wants to install the missile system on the trailer chassis mechanically onto the Maz 543 chassis, Qin Tao can still identify it.
Diamond Design Bureau is only responsible for design, and related production work is produced at the Pioneer Factory, also located in Moscow. At nine o'clock in the morning, everyone walked through the snow-covered city and arrived at the Pioneer Factory.
“This kind of car is so domineering!” The delegation members immediately shouted out when they saw the Maz 543 chassis parked in a row.
Anyone will probably be shocked when they see this kind of vehicle full of Lao Maozi’s rough style.
In August 1954, the Minsk Automobile Plant (it seems it was still called the Tractor Factory at the time) established the Special Design Bureau (SKB) to specialize in the manufacture of four-wheel drive heavy military vehicles. After several years of hard work, the eight-wheel drive Maz 543 was born.
It has eight thick tires, a tall chassis, and the car's off-road performance is first-rate. Therefore, after it came out, it was selected by various weapon systems. For example, the most common one is the Scud missile, which is used as a launcher.
However, because the Scud missile is relatively large, in order to lower the center of gravity, the cab is separated to both sides, leaving space in the middle to place the missile.
The S-300 missile system is not so huge. Whether it is the missile launcher or the radar, it only needs to be placed in the cargo area at the back. Moreover, there will be an additional cabin between the cab and the weapon system at the back. When fighting begins, the missile soldiers operate in this cabin.
The cab has also become a separate cab on the left side, leaving the right side free.
Although you may have seen photos in newspapers and magazines, the feeling is completely different from seeing the real thing. At this time, many people were shocked when looking at the row of launch vehicles.
“Since everyone is interested, you can take a look first.” Yefimov said generously.
So, everyone ran towards the chassis, jumped up and down, and took a closer look.
"This kind of vehicle is very useful to the army." Qin Tao stood next to Mr. Wu and discussed together: "It is most suitable for transporting various weapons, especially ballistic missiles. In the future, we will also have This is the kind of vehicle that will do.”
Old Wu nodded.
The Second Institute belongs to the aerospace system. There are various ballistic missiles in the system. Now we can only use trailers, which is obviously not suitable. If we can get such vehicles, it would be quite good.
The director of the Pioneer Factory came out soon.
“Everyone, let me introduce to you, this is the director of the Pioneer Factory, Lemansky Smirnov.” Yefimov said.
Smirnov?
Qin Tao looked at this old man with a smile on his face, but sighed in his heart, this guy had no luck at all, because he had mastered too many secrets, and was killed in the end.
Of course, there are too many unfortunate people, and Qin Tao is not a savior. There is no need to remind Smirnov to protect his own safety.
“Mr. Smirnov, it’s nice to meet you.” Mr. Wu shook hands with the other party first, and then it was Qin Tao’s turn.
“We are here to inspect the second-generation S-300 weapon system.”
He spoke very seriously of the second generation.
"Of course, please come here. We have a set of equipment that has been produced. The army has not had time to take it away. You can take a look first." Smirnov said.
At this time, the other people had already finished looking at the chassis, and under the leadership of Smirnov, they walked to the warehouse.
Sure enough, in the warehouse, there was already a fully equipped missile battalion's equipment, including a row of missile launch vehicles, a phased array radar vehicle, and a low-altitude target search radar vehicle. These vehicles were equipped with weapon systems and looked more powerful. It is majestic.
“We attach great importance to our friends from the East. Since you want vehicles with self-propelled chassis, we will provide you with such vehicles.”
Qin Tao bent down, and when passing by a launch vehicle, he glanced down and finally couldn't help but sigh.
These old fools are really not afraid of trouble! Since their own side insists on a self-propelled chassis weapon system, they have transferred the first-generation weapon system from a trailer chassis to a self-propelled chassis.
Do you really think you are easy to fool?
“Qin, what are you looking at?” Yefimov asked.
“I saw the layout of the hydraulic cylinder below. Where is the cylinder? When the missile is lifted, where will it be?”
“The side of the car body.” Smirnov said affirmatively.
“I thought it was at the back of the vehicle. In the photos taken by NATO, the launch tubes were all at the rear of the vehicle, right?”
The other party directly removed the S-300PT's trailer frame and installed it on the Maz's chassis. Everything else remained unchanged, so the missile erection method was also old-fashioned.
The missile launch tube of the trailer chassis, after being supported, will fall to the middle of the side of the launch vehicle, while the launch tube of the self-propelled chassis, after being supported, will fall to the rear of the launch vehicle.
Do you really think that we are blind and don’t know anything? How could you fool us like this?
“NATO detected only a part of the launch vehicles. Our launch methods have two different layouts,” Smirnov said.
Okay, now let me show you your true colors!
Qin Tao nodded: "I see, then, can you show it to us on the spot?"
“Well...” Smirnov hesitated.
"Of course." Yefimov said generously: "Drive this launch vehicle out and show it outside!"
Lao Maozi's warehouse is very tall, but when it is deployed, the missile may still hit the roof, so it must be driven out.
Smirnov could only nod and direct an engineer to drive.
The engine roared.
Such a heavy vehicle also requires a powerful engine to drive it. Lao Maozi directly installed the T-54 engine into it. The 38.9-liter displacement and 525 horsepower are enough to drive this behemoth. (I'm just curious about the life of this engine. The life of a tank is only 500 motorized hours, and then it needs to be overhauled. But a military vehicle like Lao Maozi can't overhaul the engine after running for 500 hours, right?)
With a roar, the car slowly drove out of the warehouse, and missiles began to be erected on the flat ground outside.
“Somewhat like Transformers.” Qin Tao said with emotion.
"Of course." Qin Tao said, "I have it."
“You have it? Why haven’t I seen it?”
"What you have seen may be big or small, long or short, or..."
Zhao Ling's face suddenly turned red. This Qin Tao was so unseemly that he would make such a joke at this time and in this kind of place!
However, when Qin Tao said the last sentence, his voice was so low that only Zhao Ling could hear it.
Looking at her blushing face, Qin Tao felt very happy. He flirted with his woman when he had nothing to do. It felt so good.
“Crooked, crooked!” At this moment, someone shouted.
Crooked?
Qin Tao looked over, and instantly his mood became even better. Let’s see how you explain it now!
The S-300PT was transported on a trailer, and now it has been modified to a heavy-duty off-road chassis. Even if they install it and connect the oil circuit, the heights of the two are different.
The hydraulic mechanism has been extended into place, but the missile launch tube is still more than half a meter above the ground! Smirnov was a little anxious and continued to release the hydraulic mechanism, trying to make the missile launch tube touch the ground. However, under the action of the hydraulic mechanism, the missile launch tube slowly tilted!
I don’t know if there are missiles inside. If there are missiles, it might completely topple over.
"What's going on?" Qin Tao asked Yefimov: "Your Excellency Yefimov, wouldn't you say that this is a layout similar to that of the navy. If the missile is ejected by high-pressure air and fails to ignite, it can land. Go to another location to avoid blowing yourself up, right?"
The navy's vertical launcher has an inclination angle. If the missile fails to ignite and falls after going out, it will fall outside the warship and will not blow up. However, the S-300 system on land does not have this particularity, it is launched vertically.
After all, it’s just a stand like this. If it’s upright, there’s no problem. But if it’s tilted, it’s easy to bring down the entire launcher when launching a missile. Besides, even if it does fall successfully without igniting, it cannot be avoided.
The reason for the navy is that the warship is moving, and there is sea water all around. On the ground, the launcher does not move. Even if it is launched at an angle, it really falls, which is a deviation of ten to twenty meters. With the warhead of the S-300 missile and In terms of high-energy thrusters, the killing radius of the complete missile explosion is at least fifty meters away.
Efimov was a little embarrassed.
“This car may have a problem with the adjustment device of the tie rod.”
Hearing this lame excuse, Qin Tao continued: "Then you continue to adjust, or try another one? These weapons of yours are about to be delivered to the troops, but they haven't been adjusted in place yet?"
Efimov stopped talking.
Smirnov was there, sweating profusely.
Only this one was connected to the hydraulic system, and the others were dragged out and could not lift the launcher at all. After all, it was pretty good that they were able to put these things together in just one night.
"How about we go take a look at other vehicles first?" Qin Tao continued: "I also have some questions, for example, where is the power supply of that radar car? It seems that I didn't see a special power generation car, right? That radar operation The room is too weird."
The other party is not a clueless idiot. The other party has carefully studied their S-300 weapon system before coming here. Therefore, if they want to use this method of exchanging the civet cat for the prince, it will not work!
Yefimov had already come to this conclusion in his mind. He looked at Qin Tao with a meaningful look, then looked at Mr. Wu and said, "I'm sorry, this is the weapon system that our superiors have approved for export. So, please forgive me."
There was no need to act any more, Yefimov got straight to the point.
If you don’t like trailers, I’ll change it to a self-propelled chassis. However, the weapon system is this kind of weapon system and it will not be lower.
"In this case, let's talk about our purchase later. However, since we are here, you should let us go to the production workshop to have a look, right?" Qin Tao said.
Mr. Wu nodded, as long as Qin Tao is here, let Qin Tao take the lead. Just now, Qin Tao easily exposed the opponent's methods. Now, naturally, he has to show off the opponent first.
Don’t buy it?
Yefimov's face was a little disappointed, and Smirnov's face was even more ugly.
"Of course, if you think the production workshop is too confidential, we won't look at it." Qin Tao said, "Anyway, you don't have any sincerity."
"No, Qin, you misunderstood, we are very sincere. It's just that the superiors have designated the export model, and we have no other way." Yefimov said.
"Yes, if you want to see our production workshop, you can." Smirnov said, "I will take you to see it."
“It’s a great honor.” Mr. Wu said.
He was also disappointed that he did not buy the missile, but it was good to go inside and have a look.
Everyone walked towards the production workshop together. When they saw the production line, everyone jumped on it.
Qin Tao walked to Smirnov, who had a frustrated expression on his face, and said to him: "My friend, the Su-27 fighter jets can be sold to us, but the new S-300 refuses to be sold to Eastern Europe. You can still buy it, do you have anything to hide?"
“Yes, we are also helpless.”
“What’s the reason?” Qin Tao asked.
Smirnov said nothing.
“Let me guess, is it because the first-generation weapon system has reached the end of its lifespan?”
“How do you know?” Smirnov was very surprised.
I have known it for a long time, I just brought it up now! Qin Tao felt complacent in his heart.
Lao Maozi's first-generation S-300PT was put into service in 1978. In 1982, it began to be replaced by the S-300PS, and the first generation began to be retired in large numbers.
Why don’t you keep it, Lao Maozi?
Of course it’s because it’s the end of life!
Those radars and fire control systems may have a longer lifespan, but the missiles packaged in the launch tubes have a lifespan. Qin Tao clearly remembers that the original 5V55K missile had a lifespan of about ten years.
The batch that served in 1978 has exceeded its lifespan, and the batch that served in 1982 only has one or two years of life left. Therefore, Lao Maozi will all the systems of the first-generation trailer chassis. Eliminate.
However, if you throw them away directly, it would be wasteful. If you continue to serve them, because the guidance system is not universal and useless, you have to continue to produce old missiles. If you destroy them, it will be another investment. Therefore, when the capital asked Lao Maozi to buy the S-300, Lao Maozi immediately agreed.
According to Lao Maozi's plan, when promoting test launches, the latest batch produced in 1982 will be used. When purchasing in large quantities, he will package and sell the expired missiles together to make a huge profit.
As a result, Qin Tao ruthlessly exposed it.
"If they cannot be sold, do these missile systems need to be destroyed? Rather than wasting energy on destroying them, it is better to sell them for junk." Qin Tao said to Smirnov.
Smirnov had a thought in his mind, but he still shook his head.
(End of this chapter)