Oriental destroyers usually have a meter-wave radar. The first meter-wave radar was a Yagi antenna, which looked like a clothes drying rack. Now, the latest radar has been replaced by a fly swatter, a more regular rectangular shape. The performance of the shelves is also becoming more and more advanced.
“How is the performance of our radar?” Qin Tao asked enthusiastically.
"The maximum target detection distance is more than 400 kilometers, and it has the ability of interference analysis and adaptive frequency agility. During the course of a week of antenna scanning, it can process 500 target data at the same time, and can be turned on for 24 hours continuously. Moreover, during normal operation In this case, the power of the whole machine is only three kilowatts."
Three kilowatts, which is the power of a household instantaneous water heater! For a warship, such consumption is almost negligible.
“What about the ability to search for stealth targets?”
“For a stealth target with a radar reflection area of 0.01 square meters, the search distance exceeds 100 kilometers.”
Qin Tao nodded with satisfaction: "Our relevant units have done a good job!"
Not only is the Aegis system developing, this ordinary meter-wave radar is also developing, and the technology is becoming more and more advanced.
The previous clothes drying rack could only detect stealth targets of 0.1 square meters with a detection distance of 100 kilometers, but the current clothes drying rack has been further developed to 0.01 meters. Such performance has made all so-called stealth machines invulnerable. Shaped.
“This is also due to the rapid development of our domestic electronic technology. The advanced capabilities of this radar are inseparable from the later data processing. The latest Loongson processors are also used in these circuits.”
Without the development of electronic technology, there would be no advanced radar equipment. Although Godson is for civilian use, it has now been used in various military equipment and has played a huge role.
“In this way, even if the Americans come up with flying toads or invisible fat electricity, they will not pose a threat to us.” Qin Tao said.
On the Pacific Ocean, the blue waves are rippling.
The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Reagan, with a displacement of 100,000 tons, is a super aircraft carrier that is still in the final stage of sea trials and has not been delivered to the U.S. Navy. It is also the ninth Nimitz-class aircraft carrier.
This aircraft carrier is currently undergoing frequent aircraft carrier tests and is also undergoing carrier-based aircraft tests.
Swift was smoking a cigar, standing on the island of the aircraft carrier, looking at the huge flight deck. For some reason, he felt a sense of urgency in his heart.
"Our opponents have begun to use electromagnetic catapults. Only we are still using the old steam catapults. This reminds me of the gap between steam locomotives and modern high-speed railways. Can anyone tell me when we can use electromagnetic catapults?" Ejection, can the next aircraft carrier, the USS George Bush, become our most advanced aircraft carrier."
After the end of the Cold War, there was no imminent threat from the Yankees, so the construction of aircraft carriers also slowed down. CVN-76 was ordered in 1994, named the USS Ronald Reagan, and CVN-77 was ordered in 1998. It was named the USS George Bush at the end of last year.
Hearing his words, Adams, a technician from Newport News Shipbuilding on the side, said: "According to the original plan, CVN-77 will be used as an equipment verification ship for the next Ford-class aircraft carrier. The ship island, electronic system, The catapult, power system, armament, etc. will all be redesigned and configured, and the changes will be significant enough to make it an independent-level aircraft carrier. Currently, the island design of this warship has been completed, and the island will be reduced in size. It has a simple appearance and uses a phased array radar.”
"The design of the ship island is of no use, the key is the take-off and landing of the aircraft carrier's aircraft!" Swift said: "The ship island is just a trivial project, take-off and landing is the most important."
“Relevant units have started research and development, but if you want to replace the electromagnetic catapult, you may have to wait for a long time. The Orientals are said to be planning to build a third aircraft carrier. Our aircraft carrier cannot be delayed, so..."
So what? We have ten aircraft carriers in active service. What are we afraid of? We must have advanced aircraft carriers! Swift's face showed dissatisfaction, but before he could get angry, he heard the roar of the plane.
A Super Hornet flew over and slid along the determined route.
Compared with previous aircraft, the Super Hornet's fuselage has undergone stealth modifications, and the air intake has also become a rectangular shape, which looks more beautiful. However, compared with Dongfang's fourth-generation stealth aircraft, it is still far behind. .
“The attitude is normal, continue to descend!”
“Five hundred meters away, keep it!”
The voice of the landing officer continued to be heard on the radio, but just when the carrier-based aircraft was about to fall, suddenly, the nose of the aircraft was pulled up again!
The fighter plane roared past the left side of the ship island. Everyone opened their eyes wide and looked at the fighter plane that did not know why it had made a go-around. At this time, a curse came from the radio: "Damn it! I hate three obstructions. Suo, let someone else fly!"
Although they are all called Nimitz-class aircraft carriers, they are divided into three batches. The Reagan and Bush belong to the third batch.
The Reagan has made a lot of improvements. For example, the right side of the ship island extends outboard, which greatly improves the security capabilities of the right side. It also increases the surface area of the ship island. Therefore, the Reagan The ship island has one less floor than before. At the same time, there are independent masts integrated into tower masts, some radars are replaced, etc.
At the same time, many improvements have been made to the bow. For example, the bulbous bow has been redesigned to be larger and more buoyant, so that even if three catapults are used together, the bow will not sink.
At the same time, the blocking cable was also improved.
Through long-term practice, the U.S. Navy believed that the fourth blocking cable was often not used, so they simply omitted one.
According to them, it is to save manpower, maintenance time and space. After all, even if the fourth set of blocking cables is not used, they still have to maintain it according to the maintenance manual, which is a labor-intensive task.
The blocking rope is not just a section seen on the deck. There are a lot of mechanisms below. Those poor green vests are working **** the deck carrying the thick blocking rope. The scene is similar to the trackers on the Volga River.
It's a pity that the superiors had good intentions, but forgot to consult the users. For the U.S. Navy pilots who are used to four blocking ropes, they lack a sense of security without one blocking rope. They are already under great pressure to land. Big, now, while the aircraft carrier is still undergoing sea trials, some people have already begun to put down their options.
I won’t try anymore, you replace me with someone else!
There was a moment of embarrassment on the island.
“Next, the ejection test.”
“This ejection is the turn of our 374-configuration F-32B. We believe that this test flight will be a success.” Hudson said.
Their Flying Toad was recognized by the Navy because of its faster progress. After their continued efforts, the 374 configuration, which is the most perfect configuration of the F-32B, has been built. According to the requirements of the Navy, they need to be on the aircraft carrier test.
In fact, this B-type vertical take-off and landing model should be used exclusively for the Marine Corps. However, their three models are similar. This is the most difficult model to develop, and the others can be deformed at any time. Moreover, even Vertical take-off and landing must also have the ability to catapult take-off. After all, British customers are always thinking about installing electromagnetic catapults on their Queen-class aircraft carriers.
Their opponent Lockheed Martin's X-35 is also progressing very quickly, so they must test it quickly and try to let the three armies make a complete decision and eliminate the X-35.
The white flying toad was dragged to the ejection take-off position.
Hudson was still talking there: "Actually, if naval pilots feel that landing with arresting cables is risky, they can use our vertical landing, and our landing will be perfect."
Their plane must have flown over and then landed, but their pilot did not have the cowardly choice just now: he could not bear the pressure and left, and just landed vertically. With such a large deck area, it was easy to land.
“No, we need to arrest the cable landing. After the aircraft ejects and takes off, we will use the arrested landing method to board our aircraft carrier. This is a test that must be passed.”
"I'm sorry, ours is a vertical take-off and landing model without a landing hook. Once the F-32C we develop for the Navy is built, we can conduct this kind of test." Hudson cleverly rejected Swift. proposal.
Swift had no other choice but to nod: "Okay."
On the deck, the Flying Toad was still preparing to take off. The slender landing gear looked very thin. It was not known whether it would be torn off during ejection and take-off.
The Feitian Toad uses a ventral air intake scheme, and with the movable chin, it can play a good stealth role. However, this also means that its landing gear must be very long, and the J-10 is not suitable for boarding ships. One of the important reasons is that the landing gear is too long due to the layout of the J-10's belly air intake.
The Flying Toad not only has a long landing gear at the front, but also a long main landing gear at the back, which makes it even more distinctive.
Of course, this is also a helpless choice.
Ordinary airplanes put the engine on their butt, while the Flying Toad puts the engine on its belly. This leads to a flaw: Where to put the bomb bay?
Designers racked their brains, but they could only think of openings on both sides of the fuselage. They couldn’t open to the back, right? When you throw the bomb like this, it has to fly upside down.
There are openings on both sides for placing bombs, but what about the landing gear?
The landing gear has become the same as that of the second-generation aircraft. It is stuck on the inside of the wing and is placed at the wing root when retracted. It does not occupy the space of the fuselage. It is completely different from the small three-point landing gear.
This has the advantage: the wheel spacing is very large, so you don’t have to worry about the tricycle flipping over when landing, but at the same time, because it is a high-wing monoplane, the length of the landing gear is very long.
I wonder if it can withstand the impact of landing?
At this time, Swift also felt a little regretful. Was he rash?
If the X-35 can be successfully developed, that configuration should be more mature. After all, there are mature models from the East as a reference.
The yellow vest stood on the side of the plane and made the familiar gesture. The giant flying toad quickly glided on the deck, filled with steam behind it, and jumped out at the end of the runway.
"The takeoff was successful!" Hudson said excitedly: "Mr. Swift, did you see it? Our aircraft is mature and perfect, and it can fully adapt to the navy's carrier!"
“Since we can’t prevent the landing, let’s fly back,” Swift said.
Fly back? Hudson's expression changed: "We don't have enough fuel on the plane to fly to the airport."
"Then why don't you add more?" Swift's expression changed: "Are you doing it to make the ejection more beautiful?"
The lighter the weight, the easier it is to take off.
"Of course not. This aircraft carrier is in the trial stage and has not yet loaded with aviation fuel. We cannot replenish it."
“In that case, I’ll call you an air tanker.”
"Okay." The F-35B test pilot nicknamed Yellow Croaker almost cursed when he heard the order given on the radio.
“What? Flying to land? Why?”
“No reason, this is Sir Swift’s order.”
“Damn it, why didn’t you say that before takeoff?”
“Yellow croaker received.”
Of course, what he was most worried about was the lack of fuel. He originally planned to turn around and land after taking off, and finally wait to return with the aircraft carrier. But now he actually had to fly back by himself, so he had to refuel.
For American pilots, everyone must be able to refuel in the air, and they never worry about running out of fuel, because they can call for air refueling at any time. During the Vietnam War, there were often F-4 ghosts that burned out of fuel and hurriedly The ground came to refuel without worrying about running out of fuel and falling. There was even an aerial tanker that was short of fuel, and then it connected to the pipeline of another aerial tanker for refueling.
In short, for American pilots, mid-air refueling is a common thing.
But today, they encountered a head-on blow.
"Huanghuayu calls the nanny, I've seen you." Huanghuayu looked at an A-6 fighter in front and said in a calm tone: "Please release the air refueling pipe."
After the U.S. Navy eliminated the professional KA3B carrier-based aerial tanker, it used the A-6 to modify the KA-6 aerial tanker. It can be used for partner refueling and bombing. One aircraft has multiple functions. It is the first version of the U.S. Navy aerial tanker. Main force.
Yellow Croaker also often docks with this kind of aircraft to refuel. He skillfully maneuvers the Flying Toad to get close, then get closer, and then suddenly move forward.
Whoosh!
The aerial refueling drogue flew off!
Failed to connect!
The retractable aerial refueling pipe is on the right side of the Flying Toad cockpit. You can clearly see it. This originally foolproof docking actually failed!
Yellow croaker gritted his teeth and continued to connect.
Whoosh!
The aerial refueling drogue flew off again!
After two consecutive failed attempts, the yellow croaker already had an ominous premonition.
Is it because I don’t have enough skills? Of course not. I have carried out thousands of aerial refuelings over the years, and there has never been an accident! The docking success rate is as high as 99%. The docking failure this time is clearly due to a problem with the design of the aircraft!
The aerodynamic shape of the aircraft has a huge impact on the docking. When the aircraft is close to the conical sleeve of the air refueling pipe, the airflow will push the conical sleeve away. This is a problem with the design of the aircraft!
“Croaker reported that it was unable to dock with the tanker.”
Unable to connect?
Everyone’s expressions on the aircraft carrier changed.
“Croaker, how much fuel do you have left?”
“About five hundred liters.” Huanghuayu glanced at the large LCD screen, which had already started to alarm.
"Don't parachute. You must not parachute. Find a way to save the plane." Hudson was anxious: "As long as you can save the plane, the company will reward you one million!"
Western pilots have no idea of saving the aircraft. When encountering danger, saving their own lives first is the right way. After all, the aircraft can be rebuilt, but if the people are gone, then they are really gone.
But now, this plane is the only one with the 374 configuration, so there cannot be any losses. Moreover, if it falls because it cannot refuel in the air, it will definitely be criticized by the opponent. They will never tolerate this. A situation arises.
one million? One million is nothing. Huang Croaker looked at the fuel alarm and was already planning to pull the ejection handle. When he took one last look outside, his eyes suddenly lit up: There happened to be a container ship below!
The ship is full of containers, neatly arranged, and the tops are relatively flat!
Perhaps you can give it a try!
“I want ten million.” Yellow Croaker shouted on the radio: “Ten million, buy my life, this is only fair and reasonable.”
"Okay, ten million. As long as you can save this plane, the company will reward you ten million." Hudson could only agree.
“He’s losing altitude,” the radar officer said.
“Did it fall?”
"No, it's still flying normally." Hudson finally breathed a sigh of relief. If the pilot ejected, the plane would definitely fall. The current normal descent shows that the pilot is trying to save the plane. Is it necessary to make an emergency landing? On the sea? Our flying toad can't float either.
He knows that this task is difficult, so a reward of 10 million is acceptable.
Furthermore, he also made it clear that the reward can only be given if the plane is saved. If the plane is not saved successfully, the reward will naturally be gone.
This is an unprecedented experience for a container ship on the sea.
During their normal voyage, they heard a roar in the sky. The captain stood in the cockpit and watched a strange plane approaching, with surprise on his face: "What kind of plane is this? I've never seen it before!"
“Yeah, we’re not in Area 53, so we didn’t expect to see this kind of aircraft.”
“No, why did it fly so close?”
“It’s so slow. It reminds me of a sea harrier. Wait, is it trying to land on our container ship?”
When the captain said this, everyone was shocked. They were a container ship, not an aircraft carrier!
What do they do now? Don't let this plane land? Of course not, they don't have the ability.
“Quick, put the radio on the public channel.”
“White plane in front, listen, this is the container ship Pacific Conveyor, we are performing the task of operating containers, what are you going to do? What are you going to do?”
There was no answer on the radio. At this time, Huang Croaker didn't care at all. His hand pushed the operating rod steadily, and the fighter plane slowly descended, and then descended again!
咣!
Finally, the landing gear hit the container, and the plane bounced back up.
He wanted to continue operating, but the roar of the engine disappeared and the last drop of oil had been burned!
The plane fell again and lost control completely. Fortunately, after two bumps, it finally stopped.
Yellow croaker took a long breath and looked outside, success!
After the bright spot disappeared from the radar screen, the people on the Reagan aircraft carrier fell into nervousness. The radio kept calling, but there was no answer.
Did it fall into the sea?
Just after they waited anxiously for more than 20 minutes, a call suddenly came from the public frequency band.
“Yellow croaker calls the Reagan. I have successfully landed on a container ship. Please coordinate the follow-up situation. Also, please honor the reward given to me as soon as possible.”
Succeeded, finally succeeded!
Hudson's face was full of excitement.
“Sir Swift, did you hear that? This is the advantage of vertical take-off and landing fighters. Even if they burn out their fuel, they can still find a suitable place to land. I think the Navy should use vertical take-off and landing fighters as its main force.”
Swift said with a cold face: "If a vertical takeoff and landing fighter has the same weight, the same range, and the same attack power as a catapult takeoff, arresting and landing aircraft, we can choose. If not, then stop saying such stupid things."
Hudson shut up. He didn't know why. Mr. Swift seemed to be in a bad mood?
No matter, in short, our side is in the limelight again this time!
News quickly spread, including Lockheed Martin.
Daniel looked serious: "Boeing has shown off again this time. It was obviously a failure in mid-air refueling, but now it is showing that their vertical take-off and landing fighter technology is mature. Damn it, when will our vertical take-off and landing fighter come out?" ?”
With the technical capabilities of Lockheed Martin, it would take little effort to shrink the F-22 into an X-35, but it would take a huge amount of effort to take off and land vertically.
“So far, we still haven’t found a suitable material to make the fan clutch, so we’re still standing still,” said Stanley, who is responsible for the lift fan project.
“Standing still? Easterners’ vertical take-off and landing fighter jets have begun to be delivered in large quantities, but we still can’t find suitable materials. Are we still no match for Easterners?”
It used to be that the route was wrong, but now that the route has been chosen, it’s simply a shame to continue on the same path!
"If we want to make a breakthrough, there is only one way." Stanley said.
"explain."
“Find an Oriental vertical take-off and landing fighter, take it apart and look at their lift fan structure and materials.”
Imitate Oriental ones? This is even more of a shame, and, how to find it?
Daniel continued to look at Stanley.
“At present, the big dog owners are equipped with a large number of J-31A fighters. We just need to find a way..."