Chapter 165 The future development of Thunderbolt 11

Naturally, the target test cannot end with just one shot.

Therefore, a second target drone took off immediately afterwards.

Even at the request of Yang Fenghata and Guo Liqiang, the trial training base further lowered the target's flight altitude.

But it was still hit accurately using almost the same process.

"The target drone confirmed the shootdown!"

As the commander's voice sounded, thunderous applause erupted in the tower command center.

Medium-range interception capability up to 25 kilometers away.

If we talk about the range alone, it is only at the level of the United States and the Soviet Union in the 60s and 70s.

But it means that China’s aviation industry has truly broken through the threshold of “beyond visual range air combat”.

Although more advanced active radar-guided air-to-air missiles that can fire and forget to a certain extent have emerged, the AIM120 and R77 were in service in 1991 and 1994 respectively. It is only a few years ago that fighter aircraft from various countries have The main weapon is still the same semi-active radar guidance model as the Thunderbolt 11.

What's more, these 25 kilometers were shot while looking down.

So overall it is not backward.

"Thank you so much."

Guo Liqiang, who finally relaxed, turned around and shook hands with the test personnel from Institute 601 one by one.

He stayed here in Chang Haonan for a particularly long time.

The trial training base is not a place where media cameras often show up, so many of the innermost thoughts can be said without any scruples.

"Comrade Xiao Chang, although you have not directly participated in the research and development of Thunderbolt 11, you can definitely be regarded as our great hero and savior!"

Halfway through, Guo Liqiang's tone even choked up.

This is definitely not a fake mood swing.

Like almost all units in the military industry, the Second Bureau of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering has not had an easy time in recent years.

The only way they can change their fate is to develop the Thunderbolt 11 and then export it with Chinese fighter jets.

In the arms trade, although ammunition is not as conspicuous as equipment, in terms of profit margin and transaction volume, the former is often the largest.

After all, the contract price of an aircraft includes maintenance for the next few years or even more than ten years. If the customer is not willing to upgrade the model, it is often a one-time deal.

But ammunition is different.

That's a consumable item.

Even if there is no war, maintaining basic training consumes a lot every year.

For most countries without decent military industrial capabilities, if they want to replenish their supplies, they can only buy from the original sellers.

Therefore, Thunderbolt 11 can become a cash cow for the Second Bureau of Electrical and Mechanical Engineering.

Of course, the premise is that there must be relatively advanced fighter jets that can be sold.

Otherwise, if someone buys a bunch of Q-5s or J-6s, they won’t consider mid-range ammunition at all.

Correspondingly, the aviation industry system will also benefit from the finalization of Thunderbolt 11.

After all, it is already the mid-to-late 90s, and fighter jets without beyond-visual-range air combat capabilities can no longer find much market.

All in all, everyone is happy.

……

That evening, everyone who participated in the test held a small celebration banquet in the guest house of Dingxin Base.

After drinking for three rounds, Chang Haonan himself felt fine, but looking at Guo Liqiang next to him, he seemed to be a little unable to stand.

If the drinker is in the mood, it will definitely be useless if you just tell him not to continue drinking.

So while the latter was still awake, Chang Haonan pulled him directly to the door of the guest house and chatted about missile-related topics.

"Mr. Guo, there must be no problem with the target test of Pili 11. I wonder which direction you are going to go next?"

After hearing the serious matter, Guo Liqiang put down his wine glass and seemed to have sobered up more than half:

"Is this...the development of semi-active radar guidance should have come to an end, so my initial idea is to replace the seeker and further develop two models, B and C. Type B is infrared guidance, and type C is active radar guidance."

"In addition, the current range of 40 kilometers is too short. If new propellants can be replaced, it should not be a problem to extend it by another 50% on this basis."

"Um……"

Chang Haonan thought for a moment after hearing this.

In fact, Guo Liqiang's judgment on the general direction has no problem.

Increasing the range and upgrading the guidance method are exactly what Ermao has adopted to improve the R27 series missiles after the alliance disintegrated.

The final products of the latter, the R27AE and R27EM, have actually undergone earth-shaking changes compared with the earlier models.

But God is not as good as man. Just as the R27 cannot compete with the R77, which has a higher starting point, no matter how much it is modified, on the Chinese side, the 612 Institute of Air-to-Air Missile Research Institute in Luoyang has already begun to carry out research on active radar guidance. Technical preliminary research.

According to the historical process, Dong Bingyin, the chief designer there, should be collecting R77 technical information from the Signal Flag Design Bureau at this time, and after eliminating the unnecessary and unnecessary, applied it to the model he was responsible for, and finally came up with the superior model around 2006. The PL-12 active radar-guided air-to-air missile.

But now with the presence of Chang Haonan, this process will only become faster.

The PL-11 is essentially equivalent to the AIM7. If you want to compete head-on with the PL-12, there is basically no hope, even if the active radar seeker is replaced.

The only way out is to change track.

Thinking of this, Chang Haonan organized his language a little:

"I wonder if you have ever considered expanding the application scenarios of Thunderbolt 11?"

"How to say?"

Although Guo Liqiang is considered a person from the aerospace system, Chang Haonan has indirectly helped a lot in the past, so he is also willing to listen to the latter's opinions.

"It's not just air-to-air missiles that are in short supply right now."

Chang Haonan picked up the cup, took a sip of the white grape juice that Yao Mengna had just secretly replaced, then stretched out his other hand to take inventory one by one:

"The Air Force's airport air defense force only has twin 37 anti-aircraft guns and pitifully few red flag 61 anti-aircraft missiles with outdated performance. They can completely develop a missile similar to the red flag 11 but with a lower cost based on the Thunderbolt 7. Short-range anti-aircraft missiles are provided to the Air Force anti-aircraft missile troops."

"In addition, the PL-11 is relatively large among air-to-air missiles, which is a disadvantage. But if we change the idea and replace the missile with a passive radar seeker, it can become a missile with a larger range by virtue of its larger warhead. It is an anti-radiation missile of about 40 kilometers, and it is also very fast. Even if it is not as good as the Hamm, it is definitely better than the Moxa."

"besides……"

At first, Guo Liqiang just regarded it as a casual chat between colleagues. However, as Chang Haonan talked more and more, his expression gradually became serious. In the end, he put down his wine glass, took out a notebook and took notes seriously. .