Chapter 319 Yak-38 Improvement Plan
In the small building, Pleshakov looked at a group of people coming in and was very excited. He almost ran towards the crowd in a few steps, and then grabbed the hand of one of them.
"Mr. Qin, the appearance plan you gave is really great! Through simple modification design, our radar reflection cross section has been reduced by an order of magnitude!" Pleshakov was excited, this is definitely a What a miracle!
As for radar reflectivity, it was a calculation formula developed by one of Lao Maozi’s professors, but it was not taken seriously by Lao Maozi. Instead, it traveled across the ocean and was regarded as a classic in Skunk Works.
Therefore, Pleshakov and the others simply did not know how to make the aircraft have stealth performance. Qin Tao gave them specific ideas and guided them to improve. In recent times, they have been working hard in this area. After all, the shape of the aircraft is the first thing to be determined.
With capital investment, a professional electromagnetic laboratory was also established. Following Qin Tao's suggestion, they made relevant models and put them in for testing. The results were incredible to them!
"By the way, Lao Mao, I heard that in the Red Empire era, instead of physical invisibility, what kind of plasma invisibility technology was used? Have you ever been exposed to this technology?" Pu looked at the excited face in front of him. Leshakov, Qin Tao asked immediately.
Plasma is the fourth state of matter formed by gas ionization. It is an ionized gas that is generally electrically neutral and composed of positive ions, free electrons and neutral atoms. It is said that in the 1960s, Lao Maozi and the Americans began to engage in these studies, and some research results appeared, for example, the interaction between electromagnetic waves and plasma.
When the plasma frequency is greater than the frequency of the incident electromagnetic wave, it will block the entry of electromagnetic waves. It can only enter 2 millimeters at most, and 80 to 90 percent of the energy will be reflected away.
However, if the value is reversed, the electromagnetic wave will enter the plasma and propagate in it. During the propagation process, part of the energy of the electromagnetic wave is transmitted to the charged particles in the plasma and is absorbed by the charged particles, while its own energy Gradually attenuate, which means that the electromagnetic wave is absorbed by the plasma!
Using this principle, the aircraft can be made invisible. When the opposite radar emits electromagnetic waves, a layer of plasma is gathered on the surface of the aircraft, so that all those electromagnetic waves are absorbed and cannot be reflected back, making it impossible to detect.
If you were to use an image to describe it, it would probably be the same as the energy shield in science fiction novels.
However, it is one thing in theory, but it is another thing to turn it into practice. During the Cold War, Lao Maozi did come up with a lot of black technology. At the same time, the MiG 1.44 under development did not consider stealth performance. In other words, Lao Maozi pinned all his hopes on this plasma stealth technology.
What is the reality?
Now, we can take this opportunity to ask Pleshakov. Although the Yakovlev Design Bureau has been marginalized, they should know something.
“This thing was indeed being studied during the Red Empire era.” Pleshakov said: “This project is mainly carried out by the Skrdesh Research Center.”
“Plasma invisibility?” Everyone present became curious. This sounds very high-end!
“Is there really such a technology?”
"It's just that the engineering application of this technology is still very far away." Pleshakov said: "They have encountered many difficulties. For example, if they want to absorb electromagnetic waves, they have to control the frequency of the plasma. This Frequency is related to many factors, especially external conditions. If it is not done correctly, it will not absorb electromagnetic waves, but completely reflect electromagnetic waves."
Originally I wanted to be invisible, but what happened? It suddenly became clearer that this outcome was unacceptable.
“Also, this plasma generator is not easy to make. How to generate plasma is a difficulty. According to our estimation, it will take at least ten or even twenty years before it can be truly used in engineering applications.”
It is indeed being done, but it is still early to mature. This thing, like laser weapons, is elusive.
Qin Tao nodded, finally understanding.
Although Da Mao boasted about plasma stealth technology many times in the next ten or twenty years, in the end, Da Mao still honestly went to work on the T-50, changing its appearance to make it invisible, and completely gave up on this tall In other words, until the end, this stealth technology did not mature.
"In contrast, now we can achieve such a good stealth effect just by modifying the appearance. It is really rare." Pleshakov continued to bring the topic back: "This kind of stealth design does not It does not reduce the flight performance of the aircraft and is relatively stable. It is the best choice, but... there is still a big gap between it and the American F-117."
The radar reflection area of F-117 is said to have been reduced to 0.001 square meters, while our own aircraft can only be reduced to 0.5. The gap is huge!
"At present, this is already a great progress." Qin Tao said: "For a combat aircraft, it is unreliable to remain completely invisible unless it does not use radar and only launches attacks on the enemy. Before the attack, it is enough not to be discovered by the enemy. Specifically, it is enough to prevent the enemy from being discovered dozens of kilometers away. In the future, when our absorbing coating technology matures, we will absorb some radar waves, so that The RCS can continue to be reduced by an order of magnitude.”
Stealth aircraft are indeed high-end, but unless they are guided by early warning aircraft and operate silently throughout the entire process, their own radar must always be turned on when launching missiles to attack the enemy.
The target will be exposed as soon as it is turned on, so stealth is no longer necessary.
So, reducing the radar reflection area by one order of magnitude is enough for Qin Tao.
After all, the invisibility of the appearance is on the one hand, and on the other hand, it still depends on the absorbing coating. As for this thing, it requires the efforts of relevant departments, and Qin Tao cannot participate.
In the electromagnetic laboratory, there is a one-to-ten scale model, which is close to two meters. It looks very realistic. When Mr. Lin saw this model, he couldn't help but sigh.
“This look is so sci-fi that it could only appear in movies. When I saw the prototype of Project 10, I was amazed, but now, compared with today’s surprise, it is nothing to mention.”
Mr. Lin's words were a bit disparaging to Jian Shi, but Mr. Song didn't think there was anything wrong with him. Mr. Lin was an upright person, and he would say what he said without hiding anything.
In public, Mr. Lin has supported the J-10 more than once, because he knows that the J-10 is of great significance to the Air Force. Now, Mr. Lin is extremely shocked when he sees this model, more than the J-10. That is normal. .
The J-10 is very beautiful, but it is still conventional after all. However, the model in front of us is definitely unconventional.
The rhombus-shaped nose, the parallelogram air inlet, the wide fuselage, the butterfly-shaped wings, and the inclined twin vertical tails all look completely different from today's fighter aircraft. They are simply from two eras.
If we make a comparison, it is like the gap between the Su-27 and the MiG-21.
"The stealth technology tested on this aircraft will be a great inspiration for our future development of new fighter jets." Mr. Song said from the side: "Many design elements will be inherited and carried forward by us. Mr. Qin is still very good. The designs that came out are quite good.”
Qin Tao quickly waved his hand: "I'm just saying casually, you have to go through a lot of complicated calculations before you are the real experts."
It’s just an appearance and a few words. However, if it really wants to have an effect, it must go through engineering calculations. This proportional model in front of you was only made after complex calculations. of.
Chin Tao cannot take credit.
"Lao Wu, our navy is really powerful. We have developed such an advanced aircraft. In the future, when our air force has more money, we can also support you!"
Mr. Lin was very happy and seemed to see the great prospects of the motherland’s aviation force.
The heavy-duty Su-27 and the medium-sized J-10 have become the backbone of the aviation force, and the stealth aircraft in front of us is completely designed to meet the needs of the next twenty or even thirty years! The technology used on it is one generation ahead of current aircraft!
“You just talk the talk and don’t practice the tricks, but you are investing. If the JH-7 didn’t have the funds of our navy, it would have been ruined long ago.”
Just when they were old friends falling in love and killing each other, Qin Tao had already circled the aircraft model, and he was very satisfied in his heart. This is a real F-35!
Let’s work this out and see if Lockheed can successfully bid by then? It would be fun if America chose the big-mouthed X-32.
Wait, something seems wrong?
Qin Tao stood next to the air intake, thought about it carefully, and then thought of something.
“This plate at the air inlet will affect the stealth effect. You can remove this plate.”
Following Qin Tao's hand, Mr. Song looked slightly embarrassed.
Mr. Qin is very good, but when it comes to professional content, he is not so proficient.
When an aircraft moves at high speed, the air flowing across the surface of the fuselage will produce a boundary layer effect, that is, the thin layer of air close to the surface of the fuselage is blocked and the flow speed slows down. By analogy, similar to a river, the flow speed of water on the edge of the river will be lower than the flow speed in the middle of the river. (The Hero of East China remembers that when I was in college, this seemed to be called the Bernoulli effect. I don’t know if it’s correct.)
In this way, if the air intake is directly adjacent to the fuselage, the amount of air entering will be reduced under the same area, and it will not be uniform, which can easily cause the engine to surge.
Therefore, except for the fighter planes with nose air intake, other fighters have designed this kind of special isolation plate on the air intake duct to maintain a certain gap between the air intake duct and the fuselage to prevent the boundary layer airflow from entering the engine.
In the J-10 fighter jets being tested outside, this isolation panel is hung up by a stick above the air inlet.
Qin Tao smiled: "I know, I was just wondering if we could design a non-adjustable convex curved surface near the air inlet, so as to create a difference in pressure distribution at the air inlet and make the boundary layer The airflow is blown away before entering the inlet duct and does not enter the inlet duct, thereby keeping the airflow evenly entering the compressor.”
What Qin Tao is talking about is the famous clam inlet in later generations, or bulge inlet. This design has many advantages. It can reduce weight, block the air inlet, and reduce the radar reflection area. Therefore, we get a wide range of applications.
However, to a layman, it looks like just a bag. In fact, the shape of this bag is very important. If it is slightly inappropriate, it will have a great impact on the flow field characteristics of the inlet and the performance of the engine. It is difficult to design and difficult to manufacture. Simple, but not that easy to make.
The technicians present all started thinking. After thinking for a while, Pleshakov nodded: "Theoretically, it can be done."
"Well, we can continue to study this. Use this partition first. When the technology matures, it will not be too late to replace it." Qin Tao said: "After all, this is a vertical take-off and landing fighter. We must first complete the basic requirements. .”
The entire J-31 project is to serve the navy. It is necessary to create an advanced vertical take-off and landing fighter for the navy. This is the basic requirement. Everything else can be placed on the back burner.
"If the vertical takeoff and landing fighter can be successfully developed, our Air Force will also have demand." Mr. Lin said: "However, it must be mature, and it cannot be like the Yak-38."
In fact, by the time this aircraft was developed, Mr. Lin had retired a long time ago. What he said now was of no use at all. It could only encourage the technical staff present, especially these old fools, who started from Yakovlev's design. Those who came through the Bureau have always been in a marginalized position. Now, to be recognized by the Air Force boss, it is even more encouraging for them.
"Actually, we also know that the Yak-38 has many problems, so we also have various improvement plans." Pleshakov said: "Taking power as an example, we once planned to use the AL-21F engine to modify the Yak-38. -38, which can solve the problem of insufficient engine power in high-temperature areas.”
AL-21F engine? Second uncle?
This engine is also a masterpiece of the Rulika Design Bureau. It was installed on many aircraft in the 1960s, such as Su-17, Su-24 and other fighter jets.
Moreover, it is very interesting that when Lao Maozi exported the Su-17 fighter jet, it was equipped with the AL-7F engine, called the Su-20, and later equipped with the Tumansky R-29BS engine, called the Su-22. However, the refusal to export the second uncle is enough to show how much Lao Maozi values this engine.
Although it was developed in the 1960s, its performance is very powerful, with an afterburner thrust of more than 110 kilonewtons and an intermediate thrust of 87 kilonewtons. Before the third uncle was developed, the Su-27 also used the second uncle for test flights. .
The main engine at the back of the Yak-38 fighter jet uses the Tumansky R-27V-300 turbojet engine, which can only produce 70 kilonewtons of thrust. If it is replaced by an AL-21 engine, it will not need an afterburner. , that power is definitely powerful enough!
After the Yak-38 was manufactured, it was not only used on warships. They also made many other efforts. For example, the Yak-38, which can take off and land on the complex terrain of Afghanistan and does not require a runway, is said to have many advantages. Big advantage. In order to adapt to more environments, they have also made various modification plans.
However, due to various problems, the various improvement plans of the Yak-38 did not reach the stage of mass production in the end. The Yakovlev Design Bureau put all its energy on the Yak-141. They believed that this newly designed Only fighter aircraft can perfectly solve the various shortcomings of the Yak-38.
Now, when Pleshakov talked about this modification, Qin Tao felt a burst of excitement: "Old Mao, does this modification bring major changes to the aircraft? Can it be modified at a field airport on the front line? ?"
"The sizes of the two engines are roughly the same, and it is not difficult to modify them. It should be possible to complete the replacement at a field airfield on the front line." Pleshakov replied after some thought: "It only takes a few specialized parts. ”
Qin Tao was even more delighted: "After such modification, will it be able to adapt to take-off in tropical areas?"
The thrust has increased by more than ten thousand Newtons. According to calculations, it can add about one ton of external plug-in weight. If the original plug-in plan is followed, it can be fully adapted to take-off and landing in tropical areas!
"Yes, it is fully adaptable to take-off in tropical areas. Moreover, after switching to this engine, the aircraft can also be equipped with the ability to take off in a short ski jump. Of course, the front wheels need to be modified, but it is not difficult. "
Hearing these words, Qin Tao almost wanted to hug the old man in front of him and give him a kiss. Is there such a wonderful thing? This is simply an improvement plan tailor-made for the Siamese aircraft carrier!
At present, the only two mature vertical take-off and landing fighter jets in the world are the Sea Harrier and the Yak-38. However, the two are very different in actual operation.
In order to increase the mounting capacity, the Sea Harrier usually uses a ski jump to take off, while the Yak-38 always takes off and lands vertically.
On the one hand, it is because of the problem of the warships that carry them. The British Invincible-class aircraft carrier has a springboard for ski jump. Compared with vertical take-off and landing, it not only saves fuel, but also increases the take-off weight. Why not ?
However, Lao Maozi's Kiev-class heavy-duty aircraft-carrying cruiser does not have this setting. Even if the Yak-38 wants to take off by ski jump, it does not have this condition.
On the other hand, the power layout of the two is different.
Sea Harrier uses a Pegasus engine, which bleeds air from the compressor and uses the gas injected from the tail. This power can be used whether it is vertical takeoff and landing or short takeoff and landing.
However, the front of the Yak-38 uses a lift engine. What about the lift engine in short takeoff and landing? Is it open? Or is it closed?
When it is driven, the power can only go downwards. What if the plane overturns? If you don't drive it, just rely on the engine at the back, and the power seems to be insufficient.
Now, after modifying the tail engine, the thrust has increased by 20%, so even a ski jump can fully meet the needs.
With such a change, the Yak-38 can also achieve ski-jump take-off and vertical take-off and landing. In this way, the combat performance will be raised to a higher level!
Seeing Qin Tao's excitement, Pleshakov was a little curious: "Did you get a large number of Yak-38 fighter jets?"
"That's right." Qin Tao nodded and said: "We collected the junk and picked out a dozen that can be used. There should be no problem. As for the AL-21F engine, there is no problem. Lao Mao, in the next period of time , you need help to complete the replacement and testing of the engine!"
In the past, this kind of engine was regarded as a treasure by Lao Maozi, but in the past few decades, this kind of turbojet engine has long been outdated. There must be a lot of inventory in Lao Maozi's army. Qin As long as Tao says hello, Nikolai can help get a batch back, which can fully meet the needs of modification.
In this way, Qin Tao will not break his promise, and he can also help Siam solve big problems, and he can become a good friend of Siam.
"Of course there is no problem." Pleshakov nodded: "I was also involved in this modification project, and I know very well how to modify it. In fact, we also planned to use a turbofan engine for modification, which will greatly reduce fuel consumption."
Qin Tao shook his head: "Let's forget about it. Fuel consumption is not important. What's important is saving money."
His statement made everyone present laugh.
After inspecting the progress of the J-31, it was time for dinner. According to Qin Tao, everyone gave up eating in the 611 canteen and came to the most famous restaurant in the Land of Abundance, where four tables were seated.
“Today’s dinner will be hosted by Mr. Qin, and all of us will take advantage of it.” Mr. Lin said with a smile: “We are not picky anymore. We don’t need to drink Maotai, just drink Wuliangye!”
Wu Shengli smiled and said nothing. His son-in-law was capable and could buy an airplane for 100 million US dollars. A few bottles of wine was not a big deal.
Moreover, Qin Tao held a banquet mainly to entertain Mao Duanzhang and others. These people traveled thousands of miles to the East. Although they had a great time working in the 611 Institute, their lives were still a little simple. Today, they are invited Qin Tao wanted to eat and drink to make up for it.
The old men were very happy. They looked at the table full of delicacies and smelled the aroma of wine, and all of them moved their index fingers.
After three rounds of drinking, the atmosphere at the banquet became more lively. Mr. Tu raised his wine glass and said to Qin Tao: "Mr. Qin, we also hope that you can help sell our Super Seven project. If you have it, Customers, the project will progress faster.”
This day, Mr. Tu has been following Qin Tao and his group without speaking. Until now, he finally said what he had been holding in his heart.
For their 132 factory, the Super 7 project is all hope!
(End of this chapter)