Siheyuan: The Era of Struggle

Chapter 258: J- Canard Wing Improvement Plan (Subscription Request)

With the new J-8 prototype successfully completing its first night long-distance transfer test flight, not to mention anything else, just the J-8's night flight capability and range made all the leaders involved in the test flight very satisfied.

However, in order to maintain confidentiality, the news of the J-8's successful test flight was only spread within a small range.

"Director Yang, according to the news from the northwest, the J-8 fighter jet encountered the following problems during this test flight that need to be resolved."

In the blink of an eye, it was October, and the first batch of J-10 experimental data was sent back from Northwest China.

After the J-8 was successfully transferred to the Northwest, due to time constraints, the test flight project could not be carried out in Sijiucheng, so testing had already begun in the Northwest.

Although this is somewhat out of order, the J-8 is after all an integration of all our latest technologies. To keep it confidential, we have no choice but to do so.

Just look at the final fate of the Maple Leaf Country's "Arrow" fighter last year and you will know that just to prevent the technology of the "Arrow" fighter from being stolen by the Bear Country and other countries, the United States forced the Maple Leaf Country to destroy all the data and prototypes of the "Arrow" fighter that had completed all flight tests.

Although this is partly a revenge for the United States' Royal Air Force's refusal to allow them to participate in this project, they are also unwilling to see their neighboring country equipped with such advanced fighter jets.

But in the end, the United States was able to successfully persuade the Maple Leaf Country to accept this suggestion. It is conceivable how cruel the measures used by various countries are in order to prevent their enemies from obtaining advanced technology.

Although countries now do not exclude other countries from knowing that they have advanced military equipment, countries that want to steal the core technology of these equipment must be prepared to suffer some setbacks.

In order to cooperate with the tests in the Northwest, the J-8 project research group and affiliated factories of the Institute of Aerospace Research also dispatched a group of technical personnel to the Northwest, including Liu Guangqi, who redeemed himself for his meritorious service.

Yang Ning took the information handed over by Director Zheng and read it carefully.

Data shows that the main problem with the first prototype of the J-8 is that it is very easy to lose control of its flight attitude when performing maneuvers at high altitudes and speeds.

Yang Ning knew that the reason for this phenomenon was that due to the limitations of current electronic technology, the aircraft control system could not keep up with the flight requirements of the J-8.

However, integrated circuit technology has only been around for a year, and the control system currently used on the J-8 is already the best design available. This problem cannot be solved in a short period of time.

Since the control system cannot be solved due to the limitations of the times, we can only continue to improve it in other aspects.

Yang Ning thought about the fact that in the future, due to our backward electronic technology, in order to ensure that fighter jets can maintain flexible maneuverability at high speeds, we designed a canard layout, and he had some preliminary ideas in his mind.

Although the canard layout requires overcoming the vortices generated by the canard, if this problem can be overcome, the canard layout can improve the aircraft's lift coefficient, thereby increasing the aircraft's flexibility and maneuverability.

Because the J-8 does not need to consider stealth performance now, the addition of the canard layout not only does not increase the requirements for the control system, but on the contrary, it can save some of the control system's computing power because it greatly improves the lift coefficient.

"Director Zheng, please gather all the research group leaders of the J-8 project. Let's collectively discuss how to solve the problems that occurred during the J-8 fighter test flight!"

After coming up with an idea, Yang Ning closed the documents and said to Director Zheng.

"Okay!" Director Zheng did not hesitate and went out to notify them immediately.

The regional test flight of the J-8 fighter jet has not only attracted the attention of the Air Force, but all leaders are also very concerned about the test flight of this fighter jet.

No matter what position these leaders hold now, they all suffered at the hands of enemy fighter planes 20 or 30 years ago.

Now that we have developed the most advanced fighter jets in the world, how can they not care?
After Director Zheng left, Yang Ning took out a pen and paper and began to improve it based on the aerodynamic layout of the first J-8 prototype.

Half an hour later, Yang Ning's secretary came over to inform him: "Leader, the meeting is ready."

"Okay, I'll be there right away!" Yang Ning put away the paper and pen, put the drawings into his briefcase, and walked towards the meeting room.

"Everyone knows about the test flight of the J-8 during this period, right?"

After arriving at the meeting room, Yang Ning asked directly without any further ado.

"Yes, we have just received a notice from the Northwest." Professor Huang and other research group leaders nodded.

"So does everyone have any solution to the problem of this fighter losing control at high speed?"

Faced with this question, everyone in the project team remained silent except for the control system research group and the pneumatic design research group that Yang Ning was in charge of.

After all, this issue has little to do with them. Besides, they cannot pretend to know everything and make random comments.

"Director Yang, according to the data, this problem is caused by the limitations of electronic technology."

"At high altitude and high speed, once a fighter jet makes a maneuver, the sensor device of the control system will experience system disorder because it needs to process a large amount of data in a short period of time. Unless there is a major breakthrough in electronic information technology in a short period of time, it will be difficult to find a solution to this problem."

At this time, there was no successful case of canard layout design, so no one would think in this direction.

The world's first successful fighter jet with a canard layout design was the Saab-70 supersonic fighter that entered service in Sweden in the 37s. Only after that did other countries in the world begin to pay attention to the research of canard layout.

Sorry, but the country that has been most successful in developing and applying canard aircraft is us.

After all, we are the only ones in the future who dare to adopt the canard layout design on the fifth-generation aircraft.

Seeing that the control system research group and the pneumatic design research group all frowned after hearing this, Yang Ning directly gave his own improvement plan.

"Since the control system cannot be improved in a short period of time due to the limitations of electronic technology, we can only work hard on pneumatic design."

"As long as we can continue to improve the lift coefficient of the J-8, we can overcome the J-8 fighter's high-altitude and high-speed maneuverability problem under existing technical conditions."

Yang Ning then came up with a design plan to add a pair of canards to the J-8 based on the original aerodynamic design.

"As long as we add a pair of canards to the front section of the wing, we can increase the lift coefficient of the J-8..."

"Director Yang, wait a moment."

As soon as Yang Ning opened his mouth, the head of the aerodynamic design research group interrupted him.

"According to what you said, if we continue to add a pair of canards to the J-8 fighter, the vortices generated by the canards will have a great impact on the aircraft during flight. How should we consider this issue?"

Facing his doubts, Yang Ning did not get angry, but patiently explained: "For this problem, we need to calculate the data of canard vortex during design to minimize the impact of canard vortex on the aircraft." "Because we can't overcome the limitations of electronic technology in a short time, at this stage we can only consider improving the lift coefficient of the aircraft."

"Almost all leaders of the J-8 project are paying attention to it. We don't have that much time to wait for breakthroughs in electronic technology."

"Next, I will stay in the aerodynamic design research group and strive to complete the technical improvement of the J-8 as soon as possible."

Faced with the request put forward by Yang Ning, the aerodynamic design research team had no choice but to accept it.

Just as Yang Ning said, the J-8 project is no longer just a matter for the Aviation Research Institute, but a test of our development in areas such as electronic materials.

After all, we always talk about what achievements we have made in these fields, but before there is practical application, no one knows whether you are just talking big.

Therefore, the current J-8 project is also a test of related fields.

While Yang Ning was improving the J-8 prototype at the Institute of Aeronautics, Academician Yu from the Institute of Atomic Research said to Dean Qian in embarrassment: "Dean Qian, if you want to continue your research on the miniaturization of thermonuclear weapons, none of our existing computers can meet the computing requirements."

"The large-scale computer that Shu University is developing with a computing speed of 200 million times per second is not working?" Dean Qian asked in disbelief.

"No." Academician Yu said affirmatively.

Since the successful explosion of our thermonuclear weapon, the main task of the Atomic Research Institute is now to conduct research on nuclear power plant reactors and small nuclear reactors for the Big Black Fish project.

As these two research tasks were conducted in collaboration with the Gallic rooster, local scientists such as Academician Yu did not participate due to communication and confidentiality reasons.

So Academician Yu started his own research on the miniaturization of thermonuclear thermal weapons.

But the research on the miniaturization of thermonuclear weapons had just begun, and Academician Yu was trapped by the huge amount of calculations.

The reason why Academician Yu is now studying the miniaturization of thermonuclear weapons is that when he was conducting research on thermonuclear weapons before, he created a new thermonuclear weapon structure that was different from the TU structure of the three companies, namely, Eagle Sauce, Mao Zedong, Bear and John Bull.

This new thermonuclear weapon structure not only extends the shelf life of our thermonuclear weapons, but also enables us to achieve initial miniaturization of our thermonuclear weapons from the very beginning.

This is also the reason why our first thermonuclear weapon can be launched by missile.

Since he is not allowed to participate in the project with Gallicus now, Academician Yu wants to continue studying this new structure, hoping to make our thermonuclear weapons go a step further based on the existing technology.

There are two main research directions on thermonuclear weapons in the world now. One is the large-yield and high-power direction of the Russian Federation, such as the "Big Ivan" Tsar bomb that the Russian Federation has already developed, with a power of 5000 million tons of TNT equivalent that stuns the world.

However, its weight of 30 tons meant that it could only be dropped by large transport aircraft at the time.

One is the miniaturization research direction of the United States, which was also the main research direction of the world's nuclear-armed countries later.

However, when Academician Yu continued his research in this area, he found that the difficulty was completely different from previous research.

Take the world's first multiple-warhead Polaris A3 developed by the United States as an example. Before the emergence of the CDC300 computer with a computing speed of 6600 million times per second, the United States failed seven times in three years.

It was not until the appearance of the CDC63 computer in 6600 that the Polaris A64 missile was successfully developed in 3 with the help of this computer.

The Eagle Sauce's more advanced Poseidon ballistic missile requires a computer computing speed of more than tens of millions times per second.

So now Academician Yu wants to continue researching new thermonuclear weapon structures, which requires very high computer skills.

Because the new structure he invented, if further research is done, will lead to the miniaturization of thermonuclear weapons. With the scientific research level and large scientific research team of the United States, they need computing assistance with a computing speed of 300 million times per second, let alone us?
"So what do you mean?" After hearing the difficulties mentioned by Academician Yu, Dean Qian understood his plan, but still asked.

"I hope Comrade Yang Ning can cooperate with my research. After all, if the miniaturization of thermonuclear weapons can be successfully researched, it will be of great use to us."

Academician Yu also knew that Yang Ning was currently busy with the J-8 project, so he felt a little embarrassed when making this request.

"Your request is very embarrassing!"

As expected, after hearing Academician Yu’s request, President Qian said with an embarrassed look on his face.

After all, Yang Ning is no longer just a firefighter like before, but now he is the general manager of a key project.

It is obviously unrealistic to ask people to put down their own projects and help others with research.

"Why don't you wait here a little longer?" Dean Qian advised.

"Now our computer technology has a good foundation and is developing rapidly. I believe that it won't be long before computers with faster computing speeds can be developed. Will you continue with your project then?"

Hearing President Qian's comfort, Academician Yu nodded helplessly.

Although he had anticipated this result, he still felt somewhat unwilling.

Seeing Academician Yu’s disappointment, Dean Qian felt sorry for him. “If we still haven’t developed a computer that meets your needs after the J-8 project is completed, I will apply to the higher authorities to have Comrade Yang Ning go to your place.”

"Thank you, President Qian." Academician Yu knew that this was the best solution.

Although his research on the thermonuclear weapon structure project is very important to us, the J-8 project that Yang Ning is currently in charge of is not much different.

When Director Nie learned about Academician Yu's request from Dean Qian, he couldn't help but say, "It would be great if we could have a few more people like Yang Ning!"

Of course, Director Nie also knew that his wish was unrealistic.

Although it was difficult for talents like Yang Ning to appear again, soon after that, with the joint efforts of Sichuan University and Southwest Computer Research Institute, we successfully developed a large computer with a computing speed of 200 million times.

With the emergence of this computer, a computer professor at Sichuan University predicted that the computing speed of our computers will double every two years.

After hearing the news, Yang Ning shook his head and smiled. Although many people thought that the professor was exaggerating, Yang Ning knew that what the professor said was right and was even conservative.

Because in history, five years later, Gordon of Fairchild Semiconductor Laboratory would make similar remarks, and they had directly shortened the computer upgrade time to 18 months.

From now on, the great era of computers is about to arrive!
(End of this chapter)