In the past, the navy did not have a dedicated weapons test ship. When needed, it would temporarily find a ship to use. Sometimes it was a warship, sometimes a civilian ship, and various weapons were tested directly on it.
When Qin Tao met Zhao Ling for the first time, they were next to a specially modified ship equipped with the Hongqi 61 missile system.
However, these improvised and modified experimental ships have many disadvantages. The navy could improvise and carry them in the past, but in the future, it will not be easy to do so again.
The testing of any modern weapons has strict requirements, especially the anti-aircraft missiles and other systems that are urgently needed by the navy, which have to undergo countless test launches and require a perfect carrying platform.
The weapons test ship is here to do this. Specifically, it should be called a comprehensive test ship, which can be regarded as the "birth certificate of naval weapons and equipment." Naval weapons are first tested on this kind of test ship. After passing the test, they can be installed on the warship.
In the past, it was enough to improvise, but how to improvise in the future? Even the 051 cannot be installed in the Hongqi Nine, which is so big! Therefore, in China, in 1994, a special comprehensive test ship began to be brewed, in fact, it was for the Aegis ship
Preparing for the test.
Now, the Navy should also put this kind of warship on its agenda.
"First of all, for a standard weapons test ship, it needs to have a relatively high displacement. The Type 051 with more than 3,000 tons is simply not good. It needs at least six to seven thousand tons. At the same time, the hull must be wide, so that it can
Install a large number of weapons systems."
Qin Tao has already begun to plan non-stop: "For example, there must be enough space at the bow of the ship to insert a special vertical launch system, which cannot be lower than the S-300's wheel launch mechanism. This way
This will facilitate the testing of similar models of weapon systems in the future. There should be a wide helicopter landing platform at the tail to facilitate coordination."
"Secondly, there must be a sufficient power system on the ship, and the speed can be slower, but the power generation capacity must be sufficient. After all, future shipborne weapon systems will consume large amounts of power. If sufficient power cannot be provided, it will not be able to meet the requirements.
Testing needs.”
Even if only one phased array radar is used, it must be output at full power, so that the ultimate performance can be tested, and the power supply must not be compromised.
"Yes, when our Sea Star radar is assembled and tested in the future, there must be sufficient power supply!" Mr. Ben agreed from the side.
(It was just called Aegis earlier, which makes sense. Some readers explained that Aegis was given by an outsider. We use the code name of Sea Star, and the numerical model is 346 radar. So we use Sea Star.
Bar.)
When the radar is developed, it will first be tested on land, but it must be tested on a ship. Otherwise, what if it is not adapted to the climate?
Wu Shengli nodded, and then continued to look at Qin Tao: "Taozi, this is a very high request. Can you bring a scrap iron cruiser over and let us modify it for use?"
Obviously, Wu Shengli was a little worried. After all, the navy was short of funds. Building a warship specifically for testing weapons sounded like a waste. Therefore, Wu Shengli used his brains and came up with a countermeasure. Qin Tao could do it.
Damn, wouldn't it be enough to get a decommissioned cruiser from Lao Maozi and renovate it?
This saves money!
Qin Tao glanced at his father-in-law helplessly: "Are you sure? If it is modified, it will be more expensive than building a new one. Don't blame me for not telling you in advance."
"How is that possible?" Wu Shengli was almost shocked. Renovating one is more expensive than a new one?
"Of course." Qin Tao said: "Renovating an old warship, even a cruiser, is not as good as a professional one. This kind of old ship has its own original weapon combination. If you want to transform it, you must first change the original
The weapon systems are all dismantled. This is not just dismantling it and selling it for scrap metal, so the labor hours are very high. We need to dismantle them all, leaving only an empty shell."
"Why take it all apart?"
According to Wu Shengli's idea, just bring an old-fashioned cruiser and tear it out to create a makeshift space.
"Because we need to avoid interference." Qin Tao said: "The original equipment may cause electromagnetic interference. A professional weapons test ship must have a blank sheet of paper so that the real weapon performance can be detected. Moreover, due to the test
The frequency of weapons testing on the ship will be very high, even testing under extreme conditions. Therefore, there are high requirements for the strength of the hull. Second-hand warships, even cruisers, may not be able to withstand this kind of torture. If you want to be able to
If it is used, it may need to be reinforced, which will waste more."
After Qin Tao's words, Wu Shengli finally gave up: "It seems that we really need to build a special weapons test ship. I will report this requirement to my superiors, and the Navy will also hold a special meeting to discuss it."
"Oh, by the way, our shipyard has too many orders, so we will not participate in the bidding for this weapons test ship." Qin Tao was very generous.
To prevent others from thinking that Qin Tao is seeking benefits for himself, or even deliberately exaggerating, this kind of weapons test ship is not easy to build, and the effort is thankless. Qin Tao would rather build two more bulk carriers and natural gas carriers than accept one.
This kind of order.
Wu Shengli nodded.
The development of specific projects will definitely take time. Qin Tao just made suggestions, and it has nothing to do with Qin Tao such as when to start construction.
Domestic roof radars are definitely not up to par. However, this thing is not a new technology. It is just a surveying and mapping imitation of Lao Maozi's product. Even if it is improved, Institute 14 is very professional and there is no big problem.
This kind of observation of the Type 382 radar is over here. Mr. Ben led everyone through the laboratory here and continued to walk inside. Then, he changed into dust-free clothes. After the dust-free treatment,
Entered a more sophisticated laboratory.
"What you see now is our process laboratory, where we explore the production process of the most important T/R component of the phased array radar."
Hearing what Mr. Ben said, Qin Tao was a little flattered: "It seems that I have entered the core of your 14th Institute!"
For phased array radar, there are many difficulties to overcome, but there is no doubt that the core component production is the most critical. Without this T/R component, no matter how advanced the design is, it will be useless.
"You can think so. After all, countries around the world are also studying the production technology of this kind of components. In this aspect, we are on the same starting line as the West."
Mr. Ben said as he picked up a brick-like object: "This is the T/R component we developed."
If it is another radar antenna, it only undertakes the task of radiating electromagnetic waves and is a simple antenna.
However, active phased array radar is not. The basic component of this antenna, that is, the T/R component, belongs to a circuit. It contains two transceiver channels to complete the final power amplification of the transmitted signal to the array element and the pre-reception stage.
Stage amplification realizes functions such as amplitude and phase correction of the array and beam scanning.
Specifically, T/R
The functions of the components include generating and amplifying transmit frequency signals, amplifying received signals, achieving antenna beam control, etc.; specific components include phase shifters, radio frequency
T/R
Switches, power amplifiers, limiters, low noise amplifiers, circulators and control circuits, etc.
In this era, it is not possible to put so many circuits on one chip, so its brick-like appearance and inside are still the structure of a circuit board. Even the tile structure commonly used in later generations will not be available until two thousand years later.
What just appeared is that the tiles are directly inserted into the base, and the metal on the base is responsible for transferring heat.
Now, the famous T/R assembly looks like this. (The brick is just a description of the style. In terms of size, it should be much smaller than the brick block.)
"This type is made of silicon bipolar transistor material. The current yield is about 5%, which is relatively optimistic. The yield of another gallium arsenide component is less than 1%." Mr. Ben
Said: "We are currently trying to improve the process, hoping to improve the yield. The most difficult one is the single microwave integrated circuit (MMIC) inside."
Apart from anything else, this yield rate alone is staggering. After all, it is a high-tech product with high technical difficulty and a very low yield rate. If thousands of T/R components are used on a phased array radar, then
Hundreds of thousands of products have to be produced before one can select enough for use. One can imagine the cost involved.
Now it is only laboratory production. If it is produced in a factory, the yield will be further reduced. After all, the factory does not have the precision environment of the laboratory.
"How much does such a component cost?" Wu Shengli asked.
"If you average it out, it's about 50,000," Mr. Ben said. (In the information I found, it was said that the price is 12,500 US dollars, which is 25 times that of Americans, so it cannot be mass-produced.)
"What, fifty thousand?" Wu Shengli thought of the thousands of T/R components needed for a phased array radar. If multiplied, wouldn't it cost hundreds of millions? How can the navy afford the equipment?
"Everything is difficult at the beginning. In the future, as our technology continues to mature, the yield rate will become higher and higher. In the future, after conquering the technology of gallium arsenide, we may be able to make phased array radars at a bargain price," Qin Tao said.
Qin Tao is not worried because he knows that the domestically produced Aegis battleships of later generations will continue to produce dumplings because the technology continues to mature, the yield rate is getting higher and higher, and the cost of phased array radars is also constantly decreasing.
Later, not only destroyers but also frigates replaced the 382 radar with imitation roof plates with phased array radars, which didn't cost much anyway.
Mr. Ben nodded: "We just love to hear Mr. Qin talk!"
Wu Shengli smiled: "You mean, what our navy says is not nice enough?"
"Well..."
Before Mr. Ben could answer, the intercom phone in the laboratory rang. When he picked up the phone, his face became ugly when he heard the rapid voice on the phone.
Qin Tao was standing aside and heard angry voices inside.
"This is obviously deliberately making things difficult for us!..."
What's going on?
"Leader Wu, you happen to be here, so please go to our conference room. We are going to have a meeting. Mr. Qin, since you are here, come with us to listen, and maybe you can give me some ideas!"
Since Mr. Ben invited him, Qin Tao had no choice but to follow him to the conference room.
After everyone sat down, a technician opened the newly obtained document and introduced it to everyone.
"The Second Institute of Aerospace Science and Technology notified that there have been some changes in the missile development data. In addition to the basic type currently under development, they are planning to develop a more advanced B-type missile. Accordingly, our radar performance is required to be higher. Specifically,
, the missile’s RCS is reduced by half, but the tracking distance must be twice the existing data.”
Hearing these contents, Qin Tao couldn't help but frown. Although everyone still kept the missile model secret, Qin Tao knew that this project was talking about the Hongqi 9B.
Now, the original version of the Hongqi 9 missile has not been officially put into service. However, the new missile project is already in the pre-research stage. The performance of this Hongqi 9B will be more advanced, because the Second Academy of Aerospace Science and Technology has made reference to the S-300V
ah!
The S-300PMU originally acquired was only capable of intercepting aircraft and cruise missiles, but the S-300V can intercept ballistic missiles, which means that its performance is stronger. The Second Aerospace Academy has studied the S-300V
After that, of course, we hope that the Hongqi 9 missile will also have this capability.
what is it now?
The body of the missile must be changed to increase the range of the missile. After all, the range is not enough and everything is in vain. Although the body of the missile is larger, the radar reflection area will be smaller after it is launched. In this way, one's own radar must have the ability to track smaller
target capability. At the same time, because the missile flies farther, the distance at which their radar can track this small target must also be increased.
For the Second Aerospace Institute, they want to develop more advanced missiles and then say hello to the 14th Institute in advance. However, in the eyes of everyone in the 14th Institute, this matter is completely different.
Nima, isn't this deliberately making things difficult?
"The Second Aerospace Institute failed to compete with us in the naval warship radar, so they deliberately came to cause trouble!"
"Yes, I heard that the C-band radar from the 23rd Institute is intended to be mounted on vehicles and used by the Army and Air Force. Their radar has this capability, so they are trying to ask us to have this capability as well.
If not, it means our technology is not good enough."
"Hmph, their C-band radar has a shorter wavelength and higher accuracy than our S-band radar. Their ability to detect targets with twice the RCS value is certainly better than ours! This is clearly digging a hole for us!
"
Everyone was filled with righteous indignation. While the leaders of the Navy were here, they had to make it clear that the Second House was stumbling upon us!
Wu Shengli sat without speaking, just listening to people's comments.
Mr. Ben was also thinking. For a while, the two main leaders were silent. Everyone talked for a while, and their voices slowly became lowered.
"Lao Xing, tell me." Mr. Ben began to name names.
In the 14th Institute, Mr. Ben is the general person in charge. However, because the 14th Institute has too many scientific research projects, it is necessary to designate a specific person in charge for each project.
Xing Gong is the deputy chief designer of the 346 Haizhixing radar, and his speech is crucial.
"Currently, we have been conducting research and development based on the original missile data. So far, our pre-research has ended, and the next step is engineering project research and development." Xing Gong said: "Now, the Second Academy has given us data and asked us to re-
Setting standards means that all our previous work has been in vain and we have to start from scratch.”
This is why it is not the same organization as missile development.
The missile is developed by the Second Institute, and the vehicle-mounted missile systems needed by the Army and Air Force are contracted by the Second Institute. However, the radar and fire control systems required by the Navy are developed by the 14th Institute. If they are separated like this, problems will arise.
Of course, the Navy has nothing to do. After all, if the Army and Air Force feel that the radar is not useful, it doesn't matter. They can just replace it with a radar truck. But what about the Navy? If the Navy wants to replace the radar, it needs to bring the warships into the shipyard and put them in the shipyard.
The four-sided phased array was hoisted, and the circuits inside were disassembled and messed around with, which was very laborious.
Therefore, the Navy must be cautious and finally choose the S-band radar solution of the 14th Institute because it believes that this radar can meet the requirements.
We have the specific data, and we have been working on it for a long time. What is the result? We are suddenly asked to start over from scratch?
The people below can complain, but Gong Xing can't. He just puts these things out directly, and people with a discerning eye can naturally figure out what to do.
"As for the B-type missile plan proposed by the Second Aerospace Academy, it is just a plan at present. After all, their prototype missile system has not been developed yet, let alone test-fired. Therefore, the prototype missile may still take several years.
By the time, this B-type missile, a conservative estimate, will be ten years later, or even longer." Xing Gong said: "When their missiles come out, the warships equipped with our original 346 Sea Star radar will be
It may have been decommissioned, or it may be due for mid-term overhaul.”
Red Flag Nine B is just a PPT plan. It’s still too early to come up with it. Do we have to modify our design for that kind of distant plan?
In domestic equipment development, there are too many projects stuck in the PPT stage! There is no point in proposing those ambitious indicators!
Xing Gong finished speaking.
"Yes, this project has only been approved for the time being, and there is still a long way to go before the success of research and development. However, the indicators it proposes are still useful to us. For the target of half of the RCS area, the discovery distance is still more than one
Times, if we can provide radar with this performance to the Navy, it means that the radar performance of Navy warships will reach a new level, and they will have more confidence when facing more terrifying threats."
When Mr. Ben said these words, he had already made his attitude clear, and everyone was stunned.
Even Qin Tao was extremely surprised.
Even if Qin Tao knew that the Second Academy made such a request not to make things difficult, but to be stimulated by the S-300V missile, after all, this meant that all the hard work of the 346 radar developers of the 14th Institute was in vain, and they had to
Start from scratch.
Therefore, from the perspective of the 14th Institute, there is no need to accept the request of the Second Institute. After all, this missile is still missing. They have many reasons to refuse.
But Ben Lao didn't.
Ben Lao saw the air pressure faced by the navy through his eyes. Improving the performance of his own radar can make the navy more capable when facing high-threat targets. Even if it means starting over from scratch, it is worth it!
The image of Mr. Ben also grew taller in front of Qin Tao's eyes. Like his father and other people of the older generation, his body exuded a noble light.
We have to sacrifice our lives for the country! Even if we have to tear it down and start over, we still have to give the Navy the best radar system. At worst, we will just work overtime for a few more days!
"On behalf of the Navy, I would like to express my opinion that the Navy has finalized the 346 Sea Star radar of the 14th Institute as the main radar for future warships. It will not change again. The Navy will fully support the development of the 14th Institute, even if the progress is delayed, even if the progress is delayed,
The funding is very high, and the Navy doesn’t care.” Wu Shengli’s words ignited hope in the eyes of those present.
This chapter is not over yet, please click on the next page to continue reading the exciting content! As long as the navy supports you and gives you everything, then there is nothing to be afraid of!
"Mr. Qin, what do you think?" Mr. Ben looked at Qin Tao again.
"Old Ben, you are so great, I want to learn from you." Qin Tao said.
"That's not what I'm talking about. Don't praise me anymore. What I'm saying is, do you have any specific suggestions for improving radar performance?"
Specific suggestions? Where can I get them? Qin Tao was confused: "I remember that the relevant information I got during my last inspection in Europe has been sent to you."
"Yes, that data is very useful to us." Mr. Ben said: "Now, we want to further improve the performance of the radar. What suggestions do you have?"
As a layman, what advice can I give? Of course Qin Tao can't do whatever he wants, so he quickly changed the topic.
"I'm curious, why did you name this radar after Star of the Sea?"
Speaking of this, that was Xing Gong's expertise. He immediately explained: "Mr. Qin, have you heard of Ocean Star?"
"I've heard that this is the largest natural deep blue colored diamond in the world."
"Yes, Mr. Qin is indeed knowledgeable. We named our radar after Star of the Sea to illustrate the internationally leading technology and outstanding quality of our radar. We use diamond-cut precise mirrors and unique crystal lattice to depict this
This radar has several fronts and thousands of units, thereby expressing that our radar has powerful detection capabilities and tracking capabilities."
"I see, then I wish you can achieve your design goals."
Qin Tao laughed and laughed. He originally thought it was over, but unexpectedly, Mr. Ben continued to ask: "Mr. Qin, do you have any suggestions for our radar?"
Come and ask!
Qin Tao must say something useful, otherwise, he will not be let go.
"Our radar doesn't have the ability to detect stealth aircraft, right?" Since he wanted to say it, Qin Tao might as well just say it! He didn't understand the specific technical details, but he was still very familiar with the technical route.
－－－－－－Digression－－－－－
PS: The content comes from Baidu.
A monolithic microwave integrated circuit
T/R
Components often contain multiple
MMIC
chip, through
MCM
Technology and discrete devices are integrated onto the substrate and finally packaged