Chapter 1306 Nuclear-powered aircraft
Guizhou Aircraft Group.
Assembly workshop of the H-10 strategic bomber.
Liu Tao came here, accompanied by Yang Wei and Chen Weimin.
This H-10 strategic bomber is different from the normal H-10 strategic bomber, that is, the left and right underwing racks of this H-10 strategic bomber are each equipped with a laser cannon.
In addition, the interior is actually very different.
Because this H-10 strategic bomber is not actually a real H-10 strategic bomber, but is named Laser-10.
Yes, this is not a strategic bomber, nor is it a bombing mission, but an airborne laser platform, using the H-10 strategic bomber as an airborne laser platform, specializing in strategic missions such as laser anti-missile, laser anti-satellite, and laser air defense.
Laser-10 does not carry any missiles or bombs. There are a total of 4 laser cannons under the wings and two laser cannons on the fuselage.
The whole aircraft is equipped with 6 laser cannons. The 4 laser cannons under the wings are responsible for intercepting missiles and aircraft, while the two laser cannons on the fuselage are responsible for anti-satellite and intercontinental ballistic missiles.
Inside, it is not fueled by oil, but by nuclear reactors!
Yes, this is a nuclear-powered aircraft.
Nuclear-powered aircraft, in fact, this is not a new thing.
The idea of nuclear-powered aircraft has a long history. In fact, as early as the Cold War in the 1950s and 1960s, the United States and the Soviet Union had already turned this idea into reality. It was only because of the problems of protection and weight that it was not widely used.
The most famous is the US Air Force X-6 project. According to the original idea of the US Air Force and the US Atomic Energy Commission, the X-6 is based on the B-36 bomber and is equipped with a General Electric P-1 nuclear reactor. The heat energy generated will drive four electric J47 turbojet engines to operate, thereby providing flight power for the X-6.
Of course, the Soviet Union also transformed the Tu-95LAL into a nuclear-powered aircraft based on the 'Tu-95' 'Bear' large bomber.
Because the United States and the Soviet Union could not solve the problems of protection and weight, and because the two countries had intercontinental ballistic missiles, nuclear-powered aircraft seemed redundant, so the nuclear-powered aircraft test project was abandoned.
Liu Tao changed his mind and used nuclear-powered aircraft to carry laser cannons instead of nuclear weapons.
The weight of laser cannons is much lighter than nuclear weapons, bombs, and missiles, and there is no need to carry fuel, and the space is transformed into a nuclear reactor.
The entire aircraft, including the aircraft engine, uses electricity generated by nuclear reactors.
The aircraft engine is the latest electric aircraft engine developed.
Originally, the most suitable nuclear reactor was controlled nuclear fusion, not the current nuclear fission, because if controlled nuclear fusion is used, the size and weight of the reactor can be further reduced, and it is safer.
However, now, as a transitional product, Laser-10 is barely enough.
And because the aircraft uses a nuclear fission reactor, in order to be on the safe side, the test was not conducted at the Guifei Group, but at a deserted military airport in the Western Region Province.
Laser-10 will not be produced in large quantities, but will be used as a new weapon experiment. At most, 5 to 10 aircraft will be produced to test and verify new technologies, as well as to supplement anti-missile, anti-satellite, and anti-aircraft.
Yang Wei looked at Laser-10, and there was still some disbelief in his eyes.
In the past, nuclear-powered aircraft only existed in legends, and the United States and the Soviet Union had given up early.
But China actually launched a nuclear-powered aircraft project.
Even in the field of new-generation fighters, the original demonstration positioning submitted was overturned.
In the new-generation fighter project, Liu Tao's definition is: integrated air-space fighter, hypersonic speed (10 Mach), high information automation, laser + missile, and controlled nuclear fusion.
Yes, Liu Tao's definition of the next generation of fighters is no longer a traditional fighter, nor a fourth-generation fighter, but an integrated air-space fighter.
Power is no longer a traditional aircraft engine or a traditional fuel engine, but a controlled nuclear fusion and electric aircraft engine.
Yang Wei personally found Liu Tao and wanted to persuade him.
After all, in Yang Wei's opinion, this is simply incredible.
Is this still a fighter?
This is a space shuttle!
It is a combination of a fighter and a space shuttle!
And the core of this is controlled nuclear fusion.
Even though Yang Wei is not in the field of controlled nuclear fusion, he knows that controlled nuclear fusion faces many technical problems and is not so easy to solve. Even with optimistic estimates, it will take until around 2050 to achieve controlled nuclear fusion technology.
But Liu Tao vowed to tell him that China will be able to achieve controlled nuclear fusion in about 20 years.
In fact, in Liu Tao's opinion, there is no need to rush to launch a new generation of fighters.
Because the J-20 fighter will still be the most advanced fighter in the world in the next 20 or even 30 years, which is enough.
He raised the indicators for the new generation of fighters just because he didn't want to waste.
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In fact, when controlled nuclear fusion is realized, China's aerospace will be the first to usher in a leapfrog development. At that time, manned spacecraft will turn to space shuttles, or more precisely, aerospace planes for both military and civilian use, or aerospace fighters are more appropriate.
By then, whether it is manned lunar landing or even manned Mars landing, it will not be a problem.
Like Laser-10, it is actually just an experimental demonstration of some new weapons and new equipment, and a supplement to the national strategic defense system and theater defense system.
"Teacher, can we really achieve controlled nuclear fusion in the next 20 years?" Yang Wei still found it unbelievable.
Liu Tao smiled, "Let alone a big guy like Laser-10, do you think it is feasible to transform the J-11 fighter into a nuclear-powered aircraft and change it to a tactical laser weapon?"
Yang Wei smiled bitterly.
It is feasible, of course it is feasible!
Although the J-11 fighter is a heavy fighter, it is a little brother compared to the H-10 strategic bomber. It does not need a large nuclear reactor or such a large aircraft engine.
He seemed to see that in the future, the sky will belong to nuclear-powered aircraft.
All current aircraft may be eliminated in 30 or 40 years.
The entire aircraft field will usher in a subversive revolution.
The future war model will undergo subversive changes, and this change will far exceed the impact of the Gulf War.
"We cannot be trapped by fixed thinking, we must have the courage to jump out of these frames and dare to imagine!" Liu Tao smiled lightly, "Science and technology have been constantly improving and are not static. Our Chinese vision should not only focus on the earth, but also on the entire starry sky."
"If China's vision is only on the earth, it would be too small!" Liu Tao said with a confident look.
After nearly 30 years of struggle, China has actually caught up with the United States.
The original dream of catching up with Britain and the United States can almost be said to have been realized.
But after achieving the goal, will China just stand still and be satisfied?
If that is the case, then China will lose the motivation to move forward. (End of this chapter)
