The third generation of American fighter jets were all developed in the 1960s and 1970s. In the 1980s, the U.S. Air Force began research and development of the next generation of fighter jets. The project name at that time was 'ATF', which required stealth, super patrol, short takeoff, etc.
Before the 'ATF' project, the US military had already developed two stealth fighters, the F-117 and B-2, in the 1970s. Among them, the F-117 'Nighthawk' became a hit during the Gulf War.
At that time, the country was still working on the "J-60 Long Live" project, and the second-generation J-7 had just started, and by the way, the J-8 was built, which was a big trap with no universal parts.
The people who sent the J-8 to the United States were really big-hearted. Where did they get the courage? This is like a scumbag asking a top student for guidance with a test paper. The top student took one look and wondered if he had met a fool.
Thanks to the confidence of the Americans, every progress of the 'ATF' project was disclosed to the world. Some domestic tracking research was also done, but it was quickly abandoned. This is simply not something that a low-end industrial system can handle.
But since Zhou Qingfeng began to intensify efforts in the domestic manufacturing industry, especially by acquiring many "smuggled" supercomputers, the country suddenly found that it seemed that it could also conduct research on stealth technology.
You must know that the most important thing about stealth technology is the appearance of the fuselage. The weird and angular appearance of the F-117 was created when there was insufficient computing power.
By the time the B-2 was being studied, the computing power gradually caught up, and the appearance was much rounder. By the time the F-22 was developed, the U.S. computing power was still far inferior to the PS3 given by Zhou Qingfeng. But it was completely rich in computer body appearance.
With the PS3, China seems to be able to do it, but the confidence is not very high. In the technical demonstration stage of the 'Red Tomcat', most of the aerodynamic layout is still based on the improvement of the F-14A.
But Zhou Qingfeng brought a group of "American experts" here. They worked very hard to obtain the Red Dragon potion and brought a lot of current design information about the F-22.
If you want to play, just play based on the ‘ATF’ project benchmark.
American experts quickly overturned the design plan based on the 'Tomcat'. This was the result of aerodynamic research in the 1960s. Isn't it too backward to still use this thing in the 1990s?
Variable sweep wings have been proven to be large, expensive, complicated and useless. Its performance can be achieved by many means such as canards and strakes to achieve the same effect.
As for the stealth shape and S-shaped inlet, they are not worth mentioning in terms of the computing power that can solve DSI technology. It is okay to use the AL-31F as the engine first, and it is not impossible to fly.
A group of young and passionate domestic designers and a group of experienced American experts worked together to create the "Red Raptor" for Zhou Qingfeng. In order to overcome the power deficiency, canard wings and other enhancement methods were used.
Is this plan difficult?
Of course there is.
Just a glass canopy is a huge problem.
In addition, the joint avionics used in the F-22 is an area that has never been touched by China, and the gallium nitride phased array radar is a difficulty that has not yet been overcome. Even a wave-transparent skin is a roadblock to research and development.
"Mr. Zhou." The researcher from Hongdu Factory scratched his scalp and looked at Zhou Qingfeng.
Zhou Qingfeng was dumbfounded for a long time, looking at the wooden model of the 'Red Raptor', and said quietly: "Is this thing ready to be sent to the microwave darkroom for invisibility testing?"
"Yes, yes." The researcher kept clicking his head, "But we don't have a large-scale microwave anechoic chamber yet. This thing is extremely expensive. But American experts say they have a mature plan. It depends on the budget."
Zhou Qingfeng said resentfully: "Won't the military give you money?"
The researcher also smiled bitterly: "Last year, many nuclear submarine experts from the former Soviet Union were poached in China. The superiors felt that the national economy was developing in a good direction, so they gritted their teeth and launched the nuclear submarine project again.
You know, the priority level of nuclear submarines is much higher than ours, and it is a bottomless pit of military spending. Therefore, the money that can be allocated to us is not only not more, but also less. We also complained to our superiors. But the leader said, don't you still have to do this?
"
The researcher looked at Zhou Qingfeng eagerly, "The Air Force said that they can build a basic model first. It does not need to reach the level of the latest American fighters, but it only needs to be better than their current main fighters. As long as we can build it, they will definitely buy it."
Zhou Qingfeng sighed deeply for this.
The most important thing about fourth-generation fighters is stealth.
Like Da Mao's Su-57, which has a straight air intake, it's invisible. Fortunately, they have the nerve to come to our country to register a patent, hoping to sell this scam to us. This is purely a fool.
Stealth does not mean that it cannot be detected, but that it greatly compresses the radar detection range. Even if various media claim that meter-wave radar is specifically designed to suppress invisibility, fourth-generation fighters can gain great tactical advantages.
As long as the stealth flying platform can be achieved, radar avionics, power, etc. can be improved later. If the stealth technology is not good, no matter how good other things are, it will be useless. It will still be a third-generation aircraft.
The model of the Hongdu Factory has received many superiors who came to investigate. Everyone was very excited to learn that China has the ability to track the fourth-generation fighter aircraft being developed by the US military.
But Zhou Qingfeng was not excited and had an expressionless face. The researchers at Hongdu Factory also felt their hearts sinking. The latter also knew that this leapfrog development was difficult. Many technologies were still blank in the country, and they didn't know where to get just a stealth paint.
"Mr. Zhou, we want to lay a foundation and take small steps to run quickly. Several domestic units are also working hard to develop new projects. Xi'an originally wanted to change the bombing to six, but recently there was news that they were going to launch a 'hidden bombing'.
Shenyang also wants to compete with us. Even if they don't engage in "hidden warfare", they also want to engage in specialized "hidden attacks." If Chengdu doesn't go all out to carry out the No. 10 Project, they might want to get a share of the pie.
But the sub-systems of the fourth-generation aircraft are too advanced for us. Everyone hopes that after the brother units break through, they can just capture them and use them. In fact, it is up to us."
As the researcher spoke, he took Zhou Qingfeng to another corner of the model workshop, pulled away a large piece of plastic sheet, and revealed another fighter model. He laughed to himself and said, "This is the plan we selected before."
Compared with the shocking 'Red Raptor' just now, the fighter in front of me is much more ordinary. The aerodynamic shape is basically a large version of Project 10's dual-engine, and many details are obviously copied from the 'Tomcat' and 'Fighting Falcon'
.
"Mr. Zhou, if we can't get enough investment, we can only carry out research and development according to this plan. Technically speaking, it is much smoother and basically not too difficult. But..."
As the researcher sighed, Zhou Qingfeng understood the meaning behind 'but'.
No matter how good the twin-engine Project 10 is, it is still a third-generation machine, and the one we saw earlier is still a fourth-generation machine, no matter how bad it is. There is a generational difference between the two. The performance of the higher generation is enough to beat the lower generation, otherwise there would not be three or four generations.
Already.
"How much investment does it take to build a fourth-generation aircraft?"
"There are too many missing classes. Even with the guidance of American experts, we still need to work hard on our own. It will take at least ten years to make up for all the shortcomings, plus an investment of more than 100 billion."
"What if it's just a basic stealth platform?"
"Without considering radar avionics, using the existing engines will cost tens of billions of dollars and will take five years. This is already considered optimistic. If we are conservative, it may take seven or eight years."
The researcher at Hongdu Factory looked at Zhou Qingfeng. No one would dare to think about such a large investment. Zhou Qingfeng looked back and forth between the two wooden models. He finally sighed and said: "Well, to be a hero, you have to take responsibility.
.Build a fourth-generation machine!"
"Really?" The researcher almost sighed and exclaimed after hearing this.
Zhou Qingfeng nodded affirmatively, repeating the goal he had set for himself in his mind, "If you want to do it, be the best, and don't accept mediocrity. After all, I just like to stand high and be a hero!"