What the hell is a private enterprise?

Chapter 284 Switching Secrets
"It looks like a larger 052C."

Upon seeing the officially issued blueprints, Tang Wen gave himself his assessment.

In fact, that's pretty much the case. The 346 radar was originally intended to be equipped on the Type 052C or Type 052D, and the current style of Chinese warships was pretty much formed during the Type 052 era, which is also the same as the Type 055 in the original timeline.

"No problem, but the shipyard is busy building dredgers right now, so construction won't start for another two weeks. Let's build one first, okay?"

"Yes, the second point still needs some revisions."

Adhering to the principle of saving wherever possible and taking small, quick steps, Panjev did not finalize the design of the Type 055.

Tang Wen nodded. This was a contract that had been established long ago, so there was nothing more to say.

He then looked around:
"Didn't they say there was an underwater demolition expert? Where is he?"

Yan Jian pointed to himself.

"I studied torpedo design and am very familiar with underwater damage calculations. I could barely call myself an expert. If you don't believe me, ask Chief Engineer Pan."

Panjev nodded.

Tang Wen: "..."

"Okay, then you probably know what I'm going to do."

Yan Jian: "Use 10,000 torpedoes to destroy Okinotorishima Reef, making it completely unable to surface?"

Although he had a vague suspicion, he still took a deep breath when he saw Tang Wen nod. This approach was too rough.

"It'll obviously be discovered!"

"Don't worry, we'll use a submarine this time."

Yan Jian was even more troubled:

"If we encounter an anti-submarine aircraft, we're doomed. Your submarines... are like tractors, even noisier than ours."

Although he was very reluctant to hurt Tang Wen's feelings, he still said it.

Since the Navy tacitly approved Gaijin's import of materials and technology through submarines, Tang Wen simply frequently manufactured and recalled submarines for maintenance, creating the illusion of a busy underwater shipping route in the South China Sea.

As a result, the navy believed that the submarine technology in the South Pacific was exceptionally poor and never considered developing it.

But as soon as he brought it up, Tang Wen suddenly slapped his forehead:
"Nuclear submarines, huh? That's definitely something we could have. But most of them are early technologies from the 1950s and 60s, and I've never tried one."

In the 1960s, the Thresher-class attack nuclear submarine had already appeared, and shipyards had the technology in reserve, but noise control was still unclear.

Yan Jian was startled at first, then quickly advised:

"Absolutely not! Even if there are any, they absolutely cannot be driven in!"

If a reactor from the 1950s or 60s were to spill into the sea, the pollution would be devastating.

"Stop thinking about messing with the notebook. I just want to advise you not to act impulsively. Now is a critical moment."

Tang Wen immediately understood what Yan Jian said, but since the idea was just an impulse at the time, he didn't insist on it.

Perhaps feeling a little uneasy, Yan Jian added:
"Your swap agreement is currently under review, so please don't let anything go wrong at this crucial moment."

Upon hearing this, Tang Wen indeed became much more serious and immediately asked:
"So, when do you plan to buy the USS United States? Or another supercarrier?"

"It's very difficult, very difficult to handle."

Amid Tang Wen's confusion, Yan Jian explained:

"Strictly speaking, the swap agreement does not disadvantage the higher-ups; in fact, it can be said that they have gained huge benefits without paying too much of a price."

"Why not?"

"Because only the navy benefits."

Tang Wen slapped his forehead.

How could we have forgotten about this? Even if we don't mention the Army, the Air Force would be envious!

Putting everything else aside, the cost of building a battleship and an aircraft carrier battle group already exceeds the cost of acquiring the Su-27, so adding another super-class cruiser would be really unfair.

He leaned back in his chair, feeling a bit of a headache.
"I really can't think of anything for the Army, but I do have some ideas for the Air Force. I think I can get an F-14 in a while."

"Don't worry, it's the same high quality at a low price, definitely not expensive." However, Yan Jian and Pan Jiefu both shook their heads:
"The Air Force can't afford to maintain a second type of heavy third-generation fighter jet. We already have the Su-27, and there's also the J-14 project under discussion. That makes three types of heavy third-generation fighter jets. Even the US can't afford to maintain them."

J-14?

"It's a twin-engine carrier-based version of the J-10, expected to be used on the 891 aircraft carrier. We definitely won't be importing any more third-generation fighters."

Yan Jian was actually a little disappointed. The F-14 was quite good, but if it were to be introduced, logistics would definitely be a problem, and there would be a lot of trouble.

“I can’t get my hands on an F-22 either,” Tang Wen said instinctively.

However, the two became confused:

What is F22?

"The old American stealth fourth-generation fighter, well... wait, this thing doesn't seem to have even had its maiden flight yet."

Tang Wen suddenly realized that, in his memory, the F-22 should have flown in mid-97 or 98, and it should still be a top secret project of the Imperial Air Force.

"..."

When three pairs of eyes met, Tang Wen simply closed his eyes and said:

"Don't listen to that. The name F22 is probably still being kept secret. It won't be good for you to hear it."

However, Yan Jian was no longer sleepy, and grabbed his arm, asking:

"We do know a little about their next-generation fighter jet, but you sound like you know a lot about it?"

Tang Wen: "I don't really know much about it... Never mind, what do I care about the US's secrets?"

As he spoke, he simply picked up a pencil and started drawing on the blank space of the 055 concept art.

As a military enthusiast, Tang Wen often drew various fighter jets in his early years, and naturally memorized the appearance and parameters of the famous "Raptor".

Furthermore, the F-22's secrecy was later lifted, and photos and dimensions of its weapons bay were released.

About ten minutes later, the revised three-view drawing of the F22 appeared on the paper. Tang Wen estimated that the proportions were fairly accurate, and then began to write down the parameters next to it:

"Length 18.9 meters, wingspan 13.6 meters, height 5.1 meters, empty weight 19 tons, maximum speed... maximum range... F119 military thrust... frontal radar cross-section... wing loading... main wing tilt range..."

Radar detection range... Ground radar detection range...

These data, which will be made public decades later, are now top-secret.

Even at the very end, Tang Wen added the positions of the four large screens, three above and one below, roughly sketching out the cockpit layout of the F-22.

"The cockpit and data accurate to 1 can only be used as a reference; they are all guesses, but they are probably close to the truth. That's all."

"Old Yan, are you satisfied with the Air Force?"

Yan Jian took a deep breath; he was already mentally broken.

Just looking at its appearance, this "F22" looks incredibly futuristic. They even drew the radar configuration and weapons bay, so it can't possibly be made up.

Old Mi has been wasting his time with FIB's bread, only to have such a shocking leak happen.

But Tang Wen wasn't satisfied with that, so he added:
"In addition, the JSF Joint Strike Fighter should also be under development. It is actually a single-engine fourth-generation fighter. I know of two models, X32 and X35, which should still be in the bidding stage. However, I can draw their designs, but there are no parameters. Just look at the appearance."

Tang Wen was about to pick up his pen again when Yan Jian firmly stopped him:
"No, my dear ancestor, if you keep drawing like this, I won't be able to memorize the secrecy rules anymore."

He stood up, immediately placed Tang Wen's F22 sketch in the middle of the table, drew all the curtains and closed the windows, then looked at Pan Jiefu:
“From now on, we’ll keep an eye on each other and never take our eyes off each other. I’m going to make a special call.”

Then he looked at Tang Wen:

"You haven't mentioned this F-22 to anyone else, have you?"

"Definitely not."

"That's good, you've really done a great job!"

"Let me think, I think I should remember something."

"do not talk!"

The two of them stopped Tang Wen in unison, saying that if they listened any longer, they really wouldn't be able to leave.

(End of this chapter)