Rebirth of the 1980s: The Military Industry Empire

The need for navigation has always existed. Even in ancient times, people needed to know where they were and how to get around. In modern times, the need for navigation is even more pressing.

The United States and the Soviet Union began targeting satellite navigation early on. After several generations of experimentation, they developed the Global Positioning System, which can finally be considered mature.

The American GPS is a prime example. This system deploys 24 navigation satellites in space, constantly sending time signals. A receiver on the ground receives signals from three satellites, which allows it to determine the distance to each satellite. By connecting these three lines to form a geometric figure, the location can be determined. With a fourth satellite, altitude information can also be obtained.

This completes the positioning process. Add a digital map and time information, and the navigation task is complete. It's that simple.

Besides the Americans, the Russians also developed a global satellite positioning system. However, the lifespan of the Russian satellites was too short; they would break down after only six months in orbit. This required constantly launching new satellites to form the network. As a result, after the collapse of the Soviet Union, the Russians lacked the ability to launch new satellites, and the system was abandoned.

After listening to Qin Yang's introduction, the people present felt as if a new door had been opened.

There's such a thing? This is too advanced!

Even if this satellite navigation system can provide precise guidance information to improve the accuracy of artillery shells, wouldn't the price of these electronic components be very high? Moreover, this system isn't ours. If we rely on this system to improve the accuracy of our long-range strikes, won't we be at the mercy of others in the future?

Cao Ruize continued to ask, raising the most critical questions.

Professor Cao, your concerns are indeed very thorough.

Qin Yang also admired the old man.

First of all, regarding the price issue, the terminals for this system are very expensive in the early stages, costing several thousand yuan per set. However, as mass production increases, the price will gradually decrease. Eventually, it might even drop to a few dozen yuan per set. Therefore, the price is not a problem.

GPS played this game very well through mass production to spread the costs. In later generations, the purchase price of a GPS module in a mobile phone was only a few dozen yuan, which was not a significant cost relative to a mobile phone costing several thousand yuan.

As for being at the mercy of others, when everyone in the world is using it, GPS will indeed form a monopoly. At that time, we might really be at the mercy of others. Therefore, we must also develop our own navigation satellites and build our own satellite navigation network. By using our own global satellite positioning system, we won't have to worry about being restricted by others.

President Qin, this is the world's most advanced technology.

A technician said, "Where do we have that kind of technology?"

That's right, we don't have it now, but that doesn't mean we won't have it in the future. What foreigners have, we can also have! I, Qin Yang, am making a statement here: within ten years, our own first-generation satellite navigation system will be launched. If the country doesn't provide funding, our Factory 960 will invest in it ourselves!

Our farm equipment factory has a lot of projects. Making guns and cannons is almost a side business. We've already ventured into the aviation industry, and we will inevitably venture into the aerospace industry in the future. Satellite navigation is of great importance, and we must have our own system.

Listening to his sonorous words, Old Yang nodded in satisfaction.

This is precisely why he wanted to support Qin Yang, not only because Qin Yang could develop new weapons and provide the army with better equipment, but also because of this firm belief, not worshiping foreign things. What they have, we must also have! If others don't do it, Qin Yang will do it!

Based on these few words alone, Old Yang had to support him!

The others present had a different feeling: It's good to have money!

Factory 960 has plenty of money and can do whatever it wants. When there were no tractors for the National Day parade, they directly partnered with Mercedes-Benz heavy trucks!

Since President Qin has already made such a bold statement, then we don't have to worry.

Old Yang looked at Qin Yang with satisfaction, then turned to Cao Zerui: "Old Cao, do you have any other concerns?"

Cao Zerui thought for a while, then shook his head: "No."

In that case, let's pass it. This 203mm howitzer will not only be exported but also used domestically. Let's name it the Type 83 203mm howitzer for this parade.

Because they were rushing for the National Day parade, a large number of weapons and equipment were named Type 83. Now, one more 203mm howitzer doesn't matter.

President Qin, let's make it clear first. Factory 960 has promised that if the country doesn't have the money to develop navigation satellites in the future, Factory 960 will have to do it themselves!

Of course. When the automobile factory opens, Factory 960's profits will be even greater, and we will be fully capable of supporting the research and development of an aerospace project.

Okay, we'll be waiting.

President Qin, we still don't understand. Since we already have Steyr's technology, why did you go to partner with Mercedes-Benz? If the performance of the Steyr heavy truck is improved, can it also meet the traction needs of the Type 83 howitzer?

Qin Yang smiled: "Steyr heavy trucks are aimed at the civilian market, while Mercedes-Benz heavy trucks are aimed at the high-end market. By introducing Mercedes-Benz heavy trucks, we can obtain world-class heavy truck technology. With this technology as a foundation, we can also develop wheeled infantry fighting vehicles for the army in the future."

Everyone's eyes lit up.

In the past, the country's military research and development efforts were limited, so they could only develop tracked vehicles and temporarily couldn't develop wheeled infantry fighting vehicles.

Compared to tracked vehicles, wheeled chassis have slightly weaker off-road capabilities, but their other performance is very strong: strong road mobility, low fuel consumption, and low procurement costs. If the troops are to achieve mechanization, it is not realistic to fully equip tracked vehicles. It is definitely necessary to equip a batch of wheeled vehicles!

In this parade equipment, we will showcase the WZ-523 wheeled infantry fighting vehicle. This vehicle is modified from Dongfeng's off-road truck. Now, with Mercedes-Benz heavy truck technology, we are standing on the shoulders of giants and will definitely be able to develop more advanced wheeled infantry fighting vehicles! President Qin is indeed amazing and has a long-term vision.

The products of truck chassis have long been retired.

There are also wheeled infantry fighting vehicles in China. In the early years after liberation, a batch of old Russian wheeled infantry fighting vehicles were received, and later several models were modified one after another. However, they were only slightly improved on the basis of trucks, and it is more appropriate to call them armored trucks.

The WZ-523 is the first modern wheeled vehicle. The appearance finally looks as modern as foreign ones, but it is still based on the Dongfeng EQ-245, a three-axle chassis, and its performance is still very backward compared to the world's advanced level.

Factory 960 taking over the development of this modern wheeled infantry fighting vehicle will definitely, like other weapons and equipment, move into the world's leading level!