Chapter 1349: The 810th Brigade’s Turnaround

For most people who experienced the Cold War, especially those in the 1960s and 1970s, nuclear deterrence was not an empty concept but a real dark cloud that once hung over their heads.

For a long time, China's nuclear delivery capabilities have been in an "if available" state, making it difficult to organize a sufficiently effective counterattack after a nuclear strike.

It is a case of unilateral nuclear blackmail by others.

Although everyone knows that the probability of a nuclear bomb landing is very, very low, mathematically, even a small probability, if multiplied by a very serious consequence, will result in a very terrifying loss expectation.

So we can’t take it lightly.

All in all, the experience was very bad.

So much so that after entering the 21st century, many people even deliberately avoid this topic.

China’s nuclear strategy has not been adjusted for many years and has basically been left alone.

Only a few closely related parties, such as the Second Artillery Corps and the Nuclear Industry Group, will occasionally bring it up for discussion.

In most cases, they have no beginning or end, just to prove their existence.

It is rare to see someone as straightforward as Chang Haonan and make such a clear judgment.

On the other hand, compared with the launch vehicles that have already clearly defined a three-step development strategy and listed subsequent models, intercontinental ballistic missiles are not a prominent subject in the industry. Although the next generation of products after Dongfeng 31A are under development, they are relatively average in terms of resources and attention.

From the perspective of personal development, it is obviously more stable to return to a relatively familiar field.

But the other party's analysis just now made him hesitate a little...

Finally, it was Chang Haonan who spoke again, breaking the strange silence in the office:

"Forget it. There's no rush for this matter anyway. There's plenty of time to think about it slowly..."

He clicked the mouse several times in succession, and then the printer next to him spit out a few sheets of paper.

"The new tactical missile with a gliding hypersonic power stage is scheduled to be tested next week. We need one of our people to come forward. I still need to deal with a few technical issues regarding angle of attack control. You have to go."

Xing Muchun was awakened from his thoughts. He raised his eyebrows and glanced at the calendar next to him with some surprise:

"So fast?"

"It was originally a relatively mature model, but there was a lack of money and staffing in the early years, so I never had the opportunity to become a regular employee..."

Chang Haonan replied:

"Now, with the favorable conditions, we can test-fire the weapon as long as we resolve some details. However, it may take several more years for it to be finalized and put into service..."

"Going to Meng Province... isn't too far."

Xing Muchun took the printed document from the other party and quickly glanced at it:

"Wait, this 810th Brigade again?"

……

Liao Province, on the outskirts of Lianhai City.

On the training ground of the Second Artillery Corps' 51st Base, accompanied by billowing smoke and dust, a convoy of vehicles covered with camouflage cloth was maneuvering quickly forward in a valley surrounded by mountains.

The base's chief of staff, Wei Jianjun, was sitting in the third backup command vehicle in the queue. While confirming the current maneuver route through the satellite positioning system, he was marking on the large-scale map according to his own habits, and filling in numbers on a form next to him from time to time.

Although modern technology and professional staff teams have greatly simplified the workload of commanders under normal circumstances, the gap in military affairs is only revealed under abnormal circumstances.

Such a gap, even if it is only a millimeter, is often fatal.

Especially for the Second Artillery Corps, which has the final say, it is necessary to take into account various extreme situations in order to truly achieve "the first battle is the final battle."

"Attention all vehicles, according to the notification from the superiors, an enemy satellite has been detected changing its orbit and is expected to pass overhead in 10 minutes, prepare to hide!"

The voice of the new brigade commander Liang Yangang came from the headset——

After successfully carrying out the test-firing mission of the DF-3 modified verification missile, Wei Jianjun was unsurprisingly quickly promoted to a leadership position in the base, while the position of brigade commander was taken over by the former deputy brigade commander.

In fact, in most cases in this era, the process of being promoted from a regiment to a deputy division involves the replacement of a unit.

But objectively speaking, as the only unit in the entire army equipped with Dongfeng 810, it is difficult for the 3th Brigade to find another military commander who is proficient in fuel storage and refueling, position deployment, and disassembly and maintenance of liquid-fuel missiles.

Subjectively, no one wants to serve as the commander of a unit with the worst equipment in the entire army.

When Liang Yangang received the promotion documents, his smile was uglier than crying.

As a result, what no one expected was that just two years later, the 810th Brigade received an order to replace its equipment with new ones.

Moreover, it is not "second-hand new equipment" retired from a sister unit, but a brand new model that is still under development.

In their superiors' instructions, they were even required to cooperate with research and development units to fully test the performance of weapons and equipment.

This is the treatment only given to ace troops.

So, although being downgraded from a medium-range missile brigade to a short-range missile brigade was considered a downgrade, no one had any complaints.

Wei Jianjun returned to his old unit today, also as an examiner, to conduct the final assessment of the 810th Brigade before it officially takes over.

As the threat of "enemy" satellites disappeared, the dormant convoy became active again.

"Confirm target information, plan missile cluster firing parameters!"

"Calculate the launch range and prepare to change the maneuvering route!"

"Launcher, get into position!"

"..."

Compared with the Dongfeng 3 that requires hundreds of people to serve, the launch process of the new missile only requires at least three vehicles and a company, and the unit of calculation of the reaction time has also changed from hours to minutes.

It can even calculate shooting parameters during maneuvering like a rocket launcher, quickly launch and withdraw after stopping, and minimize the opponent's reaction time.

Under the command of Liang Yangang, the simulated launch vehicle safely passed one "accidental" test after another and successfully drove into the launch site.

Almost at the same time as the spade was put down, the top cover was opened, revealing the green projectile wrapped inside.

"Like a bullet."

This was Wei Jianjun’s first thought after seeing the missile a few weeks ago.

"And the bullets are of uncoordinated proportions..."

Compared with the common DF-11 or DF-15, the length of the warhead and body of the new model has almost reached an outrageous and unique 1:1.

This may also explain why this missile, which has a range of just over 1000 kilometers, requires a 21*10 five-axle launch vehicle that is close in size to the Dongfeng 10...

A simulated launch vehicle naturally does not have the ability to actually ignite a weapon.

Therefore, the entire assessment process was terminated after the missile was erected.

After the whistle sounded, Liang Yangang got out of the command car and immediately ran to the side of Wei Jianjun's car:

"Chief of Staff, how are the results?"

The latter immediately put away the smile on his face:

"Just so-so."

Then he put on the score sheet next to him:

"You've passed the test in my opinion, but there will be a live-fire mission and inspection by military commanders. You have to pay more attention."

In fact, Liang Yangang's score was close to perfect, but he was forcibly deducted 5 points because he was not familiar enough with the computer for predicting various variables.

However, as a leader, Wei Jianjun seldom praises his subordinates in person.

Liang Yangang also knew the old brigade commander's stubborn character. Being able to say "qualified" was equivalent to at least excellent, so he was not too worried.

I was just a little surprised by the second half of the sentence:

"But...isn't this a tactical missile?"

Although the division of tasks is different, weapons and equipment are still divided into different levels.

Testing of models like this that do not have any significant significance would generally not cause high-level leaders to come to the scene in person.

Otherwise, people would have nothing to do all day long.

"Well... I don't know the details."

Wei Jianjun shook his head:

"But in short, your performance this time will determine whether our 810th Brigade can truly turn things around..."