Dominate South Asia

It is also beneficial to study the two at the same time and learn from each other. Yang Wei has made much more progress in his understanding of the fly-by-wire system.

For the Tomcat fighter, the most difficult thing is the control of the variable swept wing. The Soviets solved it by manual adjustment, while the United States has already controlled it by computer. Therefore, what Yang Wei needs to do is to add this control to the fly-by-wire he developed.

Of course, during the development, there were also Pakistani technicians working together. There were Pakistani technicians on the scene. Over the past two years, the two sides have become good friends.

Installed and tested! Since the Tomcat fighter is already a mature fighter, the modification of digital fly-by-wire is an improvement based on the previous hydraulic operation, and the difficulty encountered is less. Now that the initial development has been completed, the effect still needs to be tested.

However, looking at the Tomcat fighter on the iron bird platform, Song Wencong also knew that it was very difficult.

After all, this Tomcat fighter was provided by Pakistan to China for reverse mapping. After each component was mapped, static pressure and other tests were also carried out to determine the strength of each position. Therefore, the frame looks strong, but metal fatigue has appeared in many places. It was caused by excessive pressure during the experiment. Even if the aircraft is assembled, it may not be able to fly, which will be dangerous.

In this way, if you want to modify the fly-by-wire and install it for flight test, you need another one. Ask Pakistan for another plane? This seems a bit too much. After all, this Tomcat fighter is the first-line fighter of the Pakistan Air Force. Pakistan is already quite generous to pull one out for research. You can't get a second one. What if it crashes during the test? How can we be worthy of Pakistan?

"Mr. Song, Mr. Yang, someone outside the institute wants to see us." At this time, a staff member on duty said.

"Who?" Song Wencong asked.

"Pakistani Consul."

"Please invite him in." Song Wencong said quickly.

Pakistani Consul! Pakistan and China have a deep friendship, and at the same time, the diplomatic relations between the two sides are also very close. In addition to setting up an embassy in the capital, Pakistan has also set up consulates general in Shanghai, Guangzhou and Chengdu, each in charge of one side.

Pakistan's Consul General in Chengdu is Khalid. Due to the military trade cooperation between the two sides, Khalid often comes to Chengfei.

"Mr. Song, Mr. Yang, I'm glad to see you." Khalid is tall, has a short beard, and wears a suit. A capable performance.

"We are also very happy." Song Wencong said: "What's the matter with the Consul General coming to Chengfei?"

"Our president is very concerned about the reverse mapping of the Tomcat fighter, so let me come to see how it is going." Khalid said.

Progress? Song Wencong has not spoken yet. Yang Wei, who was standing by, spoke up: "The progress is going smoothly. Xi'an Aircraft has almost finished the fuselage. As for the flight control, we have completed the reverse mapping. Now we only need a good Tomcat fighter, modify our fly-by-wire flight control, and conduct tests. See how it works."

Now facing this difficult problem, since the Pakistani consul is here, Yang Wei is a newborn calf and has nothing to be embarrassed about.

"Do you mean that you want Pakistan to provide another Tomcat fighter and improve it to digital fly-by-wire?" Khalid asked.

"Yes." Yang Wei answered very straightforwardly without any hesitation.

"Okay, I will report to the country." Khalid said to Yang Wei: "If we can provide a new fighter. How long will the digital fly-by-wire need to be tested before it can be put into use?"

"We need to go through rigorous test flights, which will take about a year." Yang Wei said: "Of course, it would be best if there are pilots from your country who are familiar with Tomcat fighters to test fly."

The digital flight control has been developed. Pakistan needs to provide another aircraft! When the news reached Pakistan, Muhammad just frowned. Then he said: "In this case, we can provide one, and at the same time, send our best pilot to test the modified flight control fighter."

Mhammad agreed very readily. This is necessary, and if the effect is good, the original aircraft can be improved to digital telex, which can make the performance of the fighter more advanced.

Of course, digital flight control is very difficult, and it may even be accompanied by a crash in the middle. Muhammad is mentally prepared.

"Now that the flight control has entered the test flight stage, I think our body can actually start to be built." Muhammad continued: "In this way, while building, we wait for the flight control to be perfected. Even if we don't order from the United States, we can produce it in small batches ourselves."

Producing aircraft is not like producing cars. The assembly line is enough. The progress of producing aircraft is very slow.

In later generations, the J-10 has become the most needed fighter in China, and the annual output is only more than 20. Now, the initial production of Pakistan's Tomcat fighters, plus the running-in of the production line, will definitely be in the single digits, and everything needs to be done by trial and error.

"As for the initial production base, let's set it here." Muhammad thought for a while and continued. Pakistan needs to develop its own aviation industry. Now, Pakistan also has the strength to build a new aircraft production line. This is the first time for Pakistan to produce a complete aircraft. However, it will gradually increase in the future. Muhammad is convinced of this.

Anyway, we are just trying to get there now. Inviting some technicians from China to teach by words and deeds can bring out a large number of qualified technicians. You know, manufacturing aircraft requires a large number of senior technicians, and now, Pakistan’s technical schools, It is also continuously cultivating blue-collar workers.

This is not the Great Leap Forward, it is a necessary process!

Hearing Mhamad's ambition, Mushaaf said: "Mr. President, there is news from XAC that although they have mastered all the structures, they are still unable to do anything about some components. "

Some components? Mhamad asked: "What components?"

"The titanium alloy beams and frames of the aircraft body." Mushaaf said.

In order to make the aircraft both light and strong enough, the body must use titanium alloy components. The beams that run through the entire length and the large intersecting frames form the frame of the body.

The world's most advanced aircraft, including the Su-27, are all made of titanium alloy frame structures.

However, it is difficult to manufacture titanium alloy frames with existing technology. Even for the Su-27, due to the lack of advanced titanium alloy processing capabilities in the Soviet Union, the large titanium alloy frame of the fuselage was manufactured in sections, and then electron beams were used. It is made by welding, and the strength of the weld is much lower than that of the whole forging, so it seriously affects the structural strength and fatigue life. In China, the J-7 and J-6 produced in large quantities in China hardly use much titanium alloy. They are mainly used in engines. Therefore, the processing capabilities of titanium alloy are also very lacking.

The Tomcat fighter jet is not only the fuselage frame, but also the main component of the variable sweep wing. The wing box of the wing is also made of titanium alloy components.

"We can introduce technology from the West." Mhamad said: "Aren't the British short of money now? We can introduce large machine tools from the UK, and the island countries can also do it. The mechanical equipment of the island countries is also quite advanced. We still need Introduce large-scale forging presses to completely solve the problems of these components.”

The advantage of Pakistan is that it has channels for Western communication, and now it has enough funds. Therefore, Mhamad immediately decided to introduce technology from the West, improve equipment domestically, and directly have the processing capabilities of these large components.

"It seems that our investment will be quite large." Mushaaf said.

I'm afraid hundreds of millions of dollars will have to be thrown into it.

"In the short term, it may be more cost-effective for us to directly import fighter jets, but if we want to develop our own aviation industry, we need to make a large initial investment." Mhamad said: "In the future, we will gradually recover profits, for example, In the future, we can sell the fighter jets we produce to Saudi Arabia and other countries. I think Saudi Arabia is more willing to use our fighter jets. We will gradually enter a virtuous cycle. Of course, this is our most difficult time, and at the same time, we must also Beware of Americans.”

Americans will not watch the emergence of an industrial power in South Asia, especially a country that copies their Tomcat fighter jets. In order to introduce the F100 production line, Mhamad put a lot of thought into it, and even used later generations of it. The concept of stealth fooled the Americans, and they were finally able to produce this engine in Pakistan.

Therefore, the United States is more wary of Pakistan and will not allow Pakistan to have the ability to manufacture complete aircraft. Although it will definitely not be able to hide it from the Americans in the future, at least it can hide it for one more day now.

"The new factory must be located at another location, not the original overhaul factory." Mhamad continued: "We can consider establishing a branch factory in the southern coastal area."

The original J-6 overhaul factory was transformed into a factory for overhauling Tomcat fighters. It seemed more suitable to improve there and become a factory to produce Tomcat fighters. However, Mhamad had more considerations and opened another factory in the south. , is definitely a more suitable choice.

Of course, in this way, time will be delayed even further. It would be more appropriate to wait until the test flight of the fly-by-wire Tomcat over there is completed and production begins here.

"Okay." Mushaaf said: "This matter is related to the development of our armed forces in Pakistan, and we will definitely resolve it properly."

"Report." At this moment, an adjutant came in and said to Mhamad: "China has invited our naval formation to go to China for a friendly visit." (To be continued ~^~)