Chapter 1327 Knows Better Than the Americans Themselves
Although the Americans avoided the issue at the press conference, the air-based weapons test could not be concealed.
In addition, the relevant personnel of various countries are not fools, and they quickly analyzed the fact that this flight test had failed.
However, no one came out to tear off this disguise.
After all, the Americans did not lie, they just omitted some facts.
Although the X51A obviously did not complete all test flight subjects, it still broke many world records for hypersonic aircraft.
Moreover, it is indeed the hypersonic verification weapon that is closest to practical application to date.
As for the failed first flight...
Now, only 15 years have passed since the end of the Cold War, and most of the core personnel in key positions still retain memories of that time.
In that crazy era, it was not uncommon for a few accidents to happen to a manned verification aircraft, let alone a weapon like a missile.
Therefore, while countries were gloating over the misfortune, they did not think that a seemingly ordinary failure would have a particularly serious impact on the entire project.
Perhaps because of this stimulation, the day after the press conference in Washington, Moscow disclosed in the same way the hypersonic weapons program they are developing, which corresponds to three models: air-launched short-range, ship-borne/submarine-launched medium- and short-range, and land-based intercontinental.
However, any discerning person can see that these three models are still in the early design or even conceptual stage, and cannot be compared with the X51A, which has already flown once.
As for the reactions of Britain, France, Germany and other countries, they are not even rigorous concepts. They are purely trying to hype up the concept. Moreover, they all avoided the sensitive area of weaponization and chose products that are more radical and closer to the common concept of "aircraft".
I think that, firstly, they are not prepared to invest too much budget in the military field, and secondly, they can set a more ambitious goal and hold this pole to the longer term, which will help delay the entire project to a dead end.
On the contrary, China did not make any response in the following two weeks.
Not even the side ones.
It simply made a series of bland accusations such as "destroying the strategic balance".
To some extent, this seems to be a sign of compromise.
After all, anyone with a discerning eye can see that the Americans’ idea of striking the entire world in one hour came right after China’s test launch of a new medium-range missile that year.
Who is this so-called "global strike" aimed at? It is self-evident...
Of course, in reality, the reason why China made such a slightly slow response has nothing to do with compromise.
But for a moment I really didn't know how to react.
On the surface, this seems to be a big win.
The fleet that went forward to monitor the entire flight process successfully completed the mission without anyone noticing, and even directly captured the entire process of the opponent's aircraft splitting into two and finally completely disintegrating.
Even the Americans themselves don't see it so clearly.
Later, an object that was able to float on the water due to its appropriate shape was accidentally fished out in the splashdown area and was temporarily identified as a piece of debris from the X51A aircraft.
But to sum up, it seems that the key is to vent the anger for the various surveillance activities that the other side has carried out close to the Chinese mainland in the past few decades.
How much has been gained...
It doesn't seem right to draw a conclusion so early.
We will have to wait until we return to see if we can dig out something more valuable from these data and wreckage.
Therefore, after the fleet returned, all the information was sent to Huairou Science City as soon as possible.
……
For the sake of convenience of communication, although the entire mission was completed by the navy, Zheng Liangqun was still responsible for liaison.
"The superiors want to know whether we can use this data and... fragments to speculate on the reasons for the failure of the X51A test, and further, analyze the current progress of the US hypersonic weapons project."
While transferring the materials, Zheng Liangqun found an opportunity to talk to Chang Haonan alone:
"Although the Americans do have reason to make a relatively negative estimate because they lack wind tunnels, considering that the previous X43A and even the earlier X15 were completed in the same or even worse environment, we still need to consider the possibility that the other party, relying on their wealth, will directly replace the test with shooting..."
"I understand what you mean."
Chang Haonan raised his hand, signaling the other party not to continue:
"but……"
He glanced at the staff who were importing surveillance information into the Science City database with difficulty:
"The radar data can only record the target's flight path. After all, I'm doing science, not metaphysics. If you want to rely on these things alone to analyze the cause of the failure... I can only say that you can try, but it's best not to have too high expectations. If abductive analysis is so easy to do, humans wouldn't have to design such complicated black boxes for airplanes. You should understand this."
Zheng Liangqun was a pilot by training, so he had anticipated this situation. He did not show any disappointment when he heard this, but simply replied:
"Don't worry, it doesn't mean there must be a clear result..."
He had only said half of his words when he realized that Chang Haonan's attention didn't seem to be on him.
Instead, he stared at somewhere behind him.
When I looked back, I found that two officers were moving something wrapped in marine camouflage rainproof cloth onto a trolley.
After squinting his eyes for a long time, Chang Haonan turned his head again:
"That thing is the debris that Long March 9 picked up?"
"yes……"
Zheng Liangqun nodded
"It is speculated that it was a section of the hull. Because it was shaped like a ship, it happened to float on the sea and was salvaged by our submarine that arrived in time... Speaking of which, because of the impromptu decision made by our surface ship formation, we entangled the American destroyer for about four hours. As a result, by the time they arrived, there was probably no oil stain on the water surface..."
However, Chang Haonan did not listen to the details he was talking about. He just walked forward quickly and said to the two lieutenants:
"Please open this tarp. I want to see what shape this thing is."
The two first saw Chang Haonan chatting and laughing with Zheng Liangqun, and quickly noticed the work ID hanging on his chest. They didn't care about the details that had not yet been signed and handed over, and pulled away the rain cloth as instructed, revealing the true appearance of the fragments covering it.
Chang Haonan's eyes lit up instantly.
Even though Zheng Liangqun was standing behind him, he could sense some changes in the atmosphere:
"Why, is this section of the shell important?"
Chang Haonan hesitated for a moment, but finally gave a positive answer:
"Ramjets are different from common aircraft engines. Instead of using impellers, they rely directly on the shape of the inlet-isolation section to provide gas compression capabilities and adjust the intensity of the shock wave train they accommodate."
Zheng Liangqun nodded, not quite understanding.
"This shell is exactly part of the compression section in the air intake duct..."
Chang Haonan bent down and walked around the cart twice:
"Although it is somewhat deformed, it still has a certain restoration value. Considering that there will be no strange bends in the intake duct of the scramjet engine, it can be restored based on the restoration situation... at least a large part of the compression section design in the intake duct can be restored."
After finishing speaking, he turned around and called several other staff members over:
"After the handover is completed, give this part of the fragment a high-precision scan, and then tell Mr. Jiang that I am going to conduct a wind tunnel test on a new model..."
This time, Zheng Liangqun understood completely:
"Then... there is hope that we can analyze the progress of X51A?"
"If you're lucky, it's more than that."
Chang Haonan looked a little strange, as if he was trying to hold back a laugh:
"We have an ultra-high-speed wind tunnel that can reproduce flight conditions, which the other party does not have at all."
"So, it is very likely that we can analyze something that even the Americans themselves don't know yet..."
