Rebirth of the 1980s: The Military Industry Empire

To reverse engineer and replicate the Tomcat, a qualified engine was needed. The original TF30 was a disaster, so Qin Yang proposed reverse engineering the M53. This was met with opposition from everyone at the Shenyang Engine Research Institute: If you replicate the M53, what will happen to our WS-6?

Due to their obstruction, Qin Yang reluctantly obtained Factory 5713 from the Air Force to serve as the factory for reverse engineering the M53 engine. They lived up to expectations and quickly reverse engineered it, and it is now undergoing bench testing.

Seeing the smooth progress of this project, codenamed WS-10, while the WS-6 was plagued with technical problems, the project was terminated again. This time, there was no chance of restarting it.

However, the Engine Research Institute still needed a project, otherwise the team would fall apart. So, to keep everyone busy, the higher-ups agreed to use the achievements of the WS-6 to develop the WP-14 project.

The Engine Research Institute had high hopes for this engine: Turbojet engines have a simple structure; they just need to be assembled. After the WP-14 engine is developed, it can be used as a replacement engine for the J-7 and J-8 fighters, allowing these aircraft to perform even better!

Especially the J-8.

In the 1960s, during the initial planning stages of the J-8, high-altitude, high-speed performance was popular. The Air Force proposed many goals: Mach 2.8, Mach 2.5. Unfortunately, the domestic aviation industry couldn't deliver, and the final J-8 struggled to reach Mach 2.2.

Now, the J-8's fuselage has been completed, and the nose is being improved. As long as it is equipped with advanced radar, the J-8 will have medium-range interception capabilities. If it is also equipped with a new engine, then the J-8 can achieve the goals originally proposed by the Air Force!

Once the speed exceeds Mach 2.5, the thermal barrier becomes the main obstacle for the aircraft, requiring special materials such as titanium alloys and stainless steel. Aluminum alloys cannot withstand it.

As for speeds below Mach 2.5, it depends on whether the engine is powerful enough.

Now, without making large-scale modifications, simply replacing the engine to achieve Mach 2.5 will attract everyone's attention. The old aviation industry units are still the strongest!

Old Li was also very excited. Sure enough, when people are forced into a corner, they come up with good ideas.

"The Tomcat fighter is a heavy aircraft. Even if it is replicated, the price will be very expensive, and the Air Force certainly cannot afford it. Your J-8 will be much cheaper," Leader Wang said. "As long as the J-8 can be improved, there will definitely be a market. By the way, are you only modifying the engine? Do you have any ideas about avionics? I heard that advanced airborne radar has already begun testing domestically and is progressing well."

"Times are developing, and technology is advancing. Advanced airborne radar alone is far from enough," Old Li said through gritted teeth. "We also need other advanced avionics systems, such as inertial navigation, atmospheric sensors, and fire control computers, etc. These all need to be modified using the 1553B data bus. We hope to cooperate with American suppliers to improve our J-8 fighter!"

Cooperate with America? Leader Wang frowned: "That will probably cost a lot of money."

Are you sure you want to cooperate with America, and not just because you are angry with Factory 960 and don't want to use their products?

"What are you afraid of spending money for? We are ultimately providing the Air Force with an advanced fighter. If we can use the American F404 engine for modification, that would be even better! Also, it must be equipped with digital fly-by-wire! Our J-8 can reach the level of the Tomcat!"

"Ahem, what I just said was very clear. Your J-8 fighter will become a backup for the J-11. If you do this, wouldn't it be more expensive than the J-11?"

"The J-11 is, after all, a replica. It will be impossible for us to improve it in the future. The J-8 is developed by ourselves. We can modify it however we want. It has great development potential and will be even more powerful than the J-11 in the future."

"Are you sure?"

"Mr. Horev, Mr. Harrell, thank you for traveling so far."

Beside Qin Yang was the youthful and beautiful Nie Xiaoqian. Opposite them were two blue-eyed, high-nosed foreigners. One of them was Horev, and the other was a first-time acquaintance.

Harrell was about forty years old, with messy hair, somewhat like an artist. However, he had an impressive background: a radar engineer from Israel's Elta Systems!

"Yes, Mr. Qin, if it weren't for you, the development of our Lavi fighter would have taken a tortuous path," Horev said. "Now, by finding models through wind tunnel testing, supersonic drag has been reduced by 20%. We must thank you!"

"Really? That's great." Qin Yang raised his glass: "I wish our friendship will last forever!"

Nie Xiaoqian smiled faintly, acting as an audience on the side, eating small bites, elegant in posture. Brother Yang brought her to eat delicious food and, by the way, fool some foreigners!

"Mr. Qin, four JT3D turbofan engines and two Patrolman UAVs are ready and can be airlifted to your country at any time. However, we hope to see your AWACS aircraft," Harrell said.

Natalie was only responsible for passing on the message, after all, she was from Rafael, dealing with missiles. The AWACS was a joint project of IAI and Elta Systems. After hearing about it, Harrell was very excited and came with Horev. After getting off the plane, they first met with Mr. Qin in the capital and then decided on the next step.

"Everyone, Ms. Natalie's intention is to use these to exchange for a radar antenna," Qin Yang said. "Now, only exchanging these things for a chance to see your AWACS is too disadvantageous for you."

What a disadvantage, we don't need the radar antenna at all. We can purchase it from the United States at a more favorable price. We only care about the progress of that AWACS aircraft! Horev slandered in his heart. What is the use of an antenna? If we find out it's fake after getting it, wouldn't it be even more wasteful? Anyway, it's just a chance to try our luck, might as well go directly to see the AWACS.

"Mr. Qin, we are only interested in the AWACS."

"Are you sure you only want to take a look?"

Nie Xiaoqian laughed secretly. If they only take a look, then Brother Yang will definitely take them to the airport to take a distant look, which might not even be as clear as what Natalie saw. Then they would be at a loss.

"No, no, we want to go inside and take a look, preferably inside the radome."

"That's impossible." Qin Yang shook his head: "That AWACS can only be seen from a distance; it's impossible to let you get close."

The light in the eyes of the two disappeared.

"However, if you want to see the radar antenna, our Factory 960 has just made one," Qin Yang said. "I can take you to see it, but we have to go secretly in the middle of the night so that others won't find out."

"Okay." Harrell nodded.

For an AWACS aircraft, the most important thing is the radar antenna. As long as they see the antenna and confirm the technology of the East, perhaps they can deepen cooperation, such as...