Rebirth of the 1980s: The Military Industry Empire

Could it be replaced with two types of missiles?

If it's a universal vertical launch system, it's possible, but when the East was first developing Aegis warships, they only carried one type of missile, the HQ-9. Surely, they wouldn't need to bring along a frigate for escort, right? The HQ-9 has to be able to hit targets in the sky and on the ground, everything. Later, with the universal vertical launch system, missiles like the HQ-16 could be added, making it more flexible. However, the HQ-9 still can't be relaxed; it needs to have this capability. After all, carrying an additional type of missile would also complicate the fire control system.

Therefore, these real and practical needs place higher demands on the HQ-9 missile.

Qin Yang also proposed a solution: gas-dynamic steering!

"That's right, gas-dynamic steering can improve maneuverability, but gas-dynamic steering depends on the rocket engine. The engine can only work for a dozen seconds at most. Even if we work hard, it'll only work for twenty or thirty seconds. If it's a long-range intercept, the maneuverability is still not strong."

In the past, missiles used liquid rocket engines, which could ignite and burn continuously until they hit the target, and the remaining fuel could even be used as a warhead.

But that's not possible in the solid rocket era. The rocket engine burns out in a few seconds, and the rest is inertial flight, essentially the same principle as a firecracker.

"There are two directions we can take," Qin Yang explained. "First, we can focus on the engine. For example, the engine's fuel doesn't have to be all together; it can be made into two parts, front and back, separated by a partition. Don't let the front burn when the back is burning; ignite it when it's close enough to the target."

This is the high-end dual-pulse engine technology. In later generations, the Americans proudly announced that their missiles used this technology, but it was actually just bragging. As a result, the East achieved it. The East's missiles had this technology, adding wings to a tiger, while the Americans were in a hurry.

They fooled the Soviets, crippling them. They fooled the East, but the East figured it out!

Since gas-dynamic steering is no longer needed when reaching the target, let the missile have a secondary ignition capability, thereby regaining power and the help of gas-dynamic steering. In this way, the missile's maneuverability can be greatly improved.

"President Qin, the technology you mentioned is feasible, but the technical difficulty is still there. Just this partition requires special materials, and a new ignition system needs to be set up in the middle. Even if we design it, manufacturing it will be a problem."

Building rockets is not easy, and building solid rockets is even more difficult. Those high-energy fuels may suddenly burn during processing, causing disastrous consequences. As a result, people who process solid rockets are dealing with death every day they go to work. They are well-deserved master craftsmen of a great power. Now, building a two-stage one is even more difficult.

"Yes, President Qin, tell us what the other technical route is?"

"The other is to improve the missile body by installing micro lateral thruster rockets, so that when attacking the target, the lateral thruster rockets can be activated to allow the missile to move sideways in the air."

In fact, lateral thruster rocket technology is mainly used to intercept ballistic missiles. These targets fly very fast, and it's difficult for the interceptor missile to adjust its attitude in time after it goes up, so it simply uses a brute force method.

A bunch of lateral thruster rockets are arranged on the outer ring of the missile body, like a honeycomb. Which side it needs to maneuver to, the corresponding rockets are ignited, directly changing the direction of the missile body. This increases the reaction speed.

Although the HQ-9 currently being developed is mainly used to intercept fighters and ultra-low-altitude missiles, in the future, there will definitely be a need to intercept ballistic missiles. Therefore, this technology can also be developed now to pave the way for the future.

"President Qin, your vision is really long-term. The technologies you propose are all advanced. If you hadn't said it, we wouldn't have dared to think about it."

"Yes, we're all old. The future belongs to young people."

"Okay, everyone, stop complimenting me. I've already said the technical routes. Next..."

Before Qin Yang could finish speaking, Old Wu interrupted, "Next, we need to work together to develop these technologies. President Qin, since you've proposed them, we have to find a way to implement them."

"Yes."

"So, these technologies are all handed over to your Factory 960?"

"That won't work. We don't have professional solid fuel research and development technology. At most, we'll take on the task of lateral thruster rockets."

"Okay."

Qin Yang smiled. He knew that's what everyone meant. The key to lateral thruster rockets is when to ignite them. These require precise coordination from the fire control system and the development of electronic systems, which are Factory 960's strengths.

"Next, let's talk about the seeker. President Qin, you insist on active radar guidance. This task is also handed over to you, after all, you have the radar seeker of the Phoenix missile as a reference."

Whether it's the Patriot or the S-300, they all use the TVM guidance mechanism, and there's a reason for that. In the 1980s, electronic technology was not advanced enough, and using this mechanism could delegate many tasks to the radar station behind, reducing the missile's workload.

However, in order to pursue advanced performance, Qin Yang insisted on using active radar guidance. He proposed the project, so of course he had to do it.

"Yes, we'll develop it. In the future, it can also be used on air-to-air missiles, leading the entire era."

Air-to-air missiles will also transition to active radar guidance. Compared to semi-active radar guidance, this method has huge advantages and can create a crushing effect. Although we can only start by imitating now, we will definitely develop advanced weapons and equipment in the future.

Old Liu didn't say anything on the side, his face beaming. He believed that after Qin Yang intervened in this project, it could be completed faster and this advanced area air defense missile could be developed to fill the gap.

"Regarding the guidance radar, I heard that President Qin has already agreed to develop an air defense ship system with four-sided phased array radar for the Navy. As long as it's turned into a single-sided one, it can be used by our Army for point air defense, aiming at the direction of the threat," Old Wu continued.