Rebirth of the 1980s: The Military Industry Empire

That afternoon, after inspecting the combination of the Mercedes-Benz heavy-duty truck head and the artillery, Old Yang returned to the military parade headquarters and finalized the inclusion of the 203mm towed howitzer in the parade program.

"Old Yang, to boost the export prospects of Factory 960, we can include this cannon in the parade formation. However, I believe it's too early to consider procurement," said Cao Ruize, an old professor from the Artillery Academy.

For this military parade, various departments mobilized a group of elite personnel. Since many of the equipment to be reviewed were cannons, the Artillery Academy also participated.

The Artillery Academy is the highest institution of artillery, its history tracing back to the Yan'an Artillery School, the first military academy in the history of the People's Liberation Army, founded in the autumn of 1944 on the basis of the artillery regiment of the Eighth Route Army headquarters.

This school relocated four times and changed its name five times during the revolutionary war years. In 1986, it would be renamed the Artillery Command Academy, and in 2011, it would merge with the Nanjing Branch to become even more glorious.

Cao Ruize was already in his fifties, but still full of energy, working hard every day to review the various weapons submitted. Now, just when everyone agreed, he raised a different opinion.

Hearing him say this, Old Yang was very curious: "Why?"

Initially, everyone didn't favor the 203mm cannon because it was too bulky and inconvenient for maneuvering. But with the Mercedes-Benz heavy-duty truck as a tractor and the auxiliary engine design, it should be mature by now.

"The parameters of this cannon are not significantly different from our existing 155mm cannon," Cao Ruize said. "For example, in terms of range, this 203mm howitzer only has a range of forty kilometers when firing ordinary shells, while our 155mm howitzer can also achieve this range, especially when using base bleed projectiles, the range is even longer."

Although the caliber is larger, the range of the shells has not increased, and there is no significant difference compared to the 155mm howitzer.

He was not afraid of offending Chief Engineer Qin, after all, the 155mm howitzer was also developed by Chief Engineer Qin. Praising the 155mm howitzer was also praising Chief Engineer Qin.

"When using base-bleed projectiles, the range only reaches fifty kilometers, which is completely within the same range as the 155mm howitzer," Cao Ruize continued. "So, there is no advantage in range. As for the power, the 203mm howitzer shell weighs 101 kilograms, while our 155mm shell is fifty kilograms. That is to say, two 155mm shells can completely replace one 203mm shell. On the battlefield, why don't we use two 155mm howitzers? Why do we have to use this big guy, the 203mm howitzer?"

Everyone nodded, deeply agreeing with this statement.

"Other countries have this weapon because they have been using it before and have a large stockpile of shells. But what about us? We don't have this weapon in our armory at all. I don't think there is any need to purchase it. The 155mm howitzer can completely replace it."

Old Yang pondered for a moment: "Bring Chief Engineer Qin here! Immediately, right away!"

With his seniority, calling Qin Yang meant he had to come whenever he was called, especially since he had just supported Qin Yang.

Qin Yang was discussing the groundbreaking ceremony of the automobile factory with the Germans when he received the news that Old Yang was looking for him. He quickly drove over in his RV.

"Old Yang, what's the matter?" Qin Yang entered the conference room, even more curious seeing so many people.

"Chief Engineer Qin, everyone thinks that the current 203mm howitzer is still relatively bulky and has not been able to differentiate itself from the 155mm howitzer, so they don't think it's necessary to develop a cannon with similar technical parameters. What do you think?"

"How are they the same?"

"Old Cao, please explain in detail."

Cao Ruize turned on the projector and compared the parameters.

Looking at the parameter comparison made by the old professor on the transparency film, Qin Yang smiled helplessly.

"Chief Engineer Qin, you see, these parameters are not significantly different from the 155mm cannon," Cao Ruize said. "We don't think it's necessary to equip ourselves with redundant equipment. You can sell it, but let's forget about it for our own use."

"Old Cao, your parameter comparison is indeed correct, but think about it, since we can increase the range of the 155mm howitzer to forty or fifty kilometers, can't we also increase the range of the 203mm cannon?"

Everyone immediately realized: "Chief Engineer Qin, are these parameters for the export version?"

"Of course," Qin Yang said. "This cannon was developed for us by Dr. Bull, targeting the export market. Can the export version be the same as the version for our own use? If it's for our own use, the performance will definitely not be so poor."

"If it's for our own use, what performance can it achieve?"

"As long as we modify the design, the range of our base-bleed projectiles should be able to increase to seventy kilometers, and the range of rocket-assisted projectiles should be able to increase to one hundred kilometers."

One hundred kilometers! The range is doubled compared to the 155mm howitzer!

Just a few years ago, the main domestic 152mm howitzer had a range of only a dozen kilometers. Now, the range of domestic howitzers will be increased to one hundred kilometers. What a huge improvement this is!

Everyone became excited.

However, Cao Ruize still frowned.

"Old Cao, do you still have concerns?" Old Yang asked.

Cao Ruize nodded: "If the range is long, the accuracy of the shells will be greatly reduced. If the accuracy of a shell that travels one hundred kilometers is less than the kill radius, then it is meaningless. Chief Engineer Qin, what do you think?"

The further the shell flies, the lower the accuracy will definitely be, because the cumulative error will increase with the distance. At one hundred kilometers, God knows where the shell will fly. Even if there is a 101-kilogram warhead, what's the use? You want to hit the enemy's headquarters, but the shell lands in the forest next to the headquarters!

"What about mushroom bombs? The kill radius should be much larger than the accuracy, right?" Qin Yang said casually.

"If it is conventional warfare, then we can use new technologies. Have you heard of precision-guided shells?"

In the 1980s, it was still very difficult to introduce this technology to these people. However, the Strategic Defense Initiative has already begun, so it is still possible to fool them.

Not to mention the 203mm cannon, the 155mm cannon can also fire more than 100 kilometers when using gliding shells. Relying on the global positioning system, it can still achieve an accuracy of within ten meters.

Now, let's give everyone a preliminary course on satellite navigation.

"Precision guidance? Chief Engineer Qin, tell us about it," Old Yang's eyes lit up.

"Okay, this is relatively long, we have to start with the needs of navigation first."