Back in 1978, I was admitted to Northwestern Polytechnical University.

Chapter 109 The Proposal for a Double-Strike Powerful Six

Factory 420, conference room.

"When the meeting was held in the capital, I was studying the variable-sweep wing structure of the MiG-23, so I didn't participate. We originally thought that we could use the variable-sweep wing design of the MiG-23, equipped with the WS-6 turbofan engine from Factory 410, to create a modern Q-6 fighter jet..."

Old Lu didn't hide anything, nor did he like beating around the bush; he directly explained the design of the Qiangliu.

Historically, the Q-6 turbofan engine project ultimately failed to be launched. The first problem was the engine. The plan was to use the WS-6 turbofan engine, which had very impressive specifications on paper. However, the WS-6 project was canceled!
Later, when the higher-ups asked Mr. Lu if he could use Spey, Mr. Lu refused on the spot, saying he didn't want that useless thing!

As a result... the JH-7 fighter-bomber that could use the Spey survived and became the much-anticipated Flying Leopard, while the Q-6 had to be discontinued, and Old Lu also fell seriously ill as a result.

Now that we've met Elder Lu, we absolutely cannot let something like this happen again!

"Mr. Lu, the variable-sweep wing design is something that's very idealistic but very impractical in reality..."

Before Qin Liang could finish speaking, a technician behind Old Lu couldn't help but frown: "Comrade Qin Liang, variable sweep wings can coordinate the wing sweep angle requirements at different altitudes and speeds, and are absolutely the best choice! Look at the MiG-23, F-14, Tornado... how many aircraft have chosen variable sweep wings! Aren't you being too arbitrary in saying that?"

"That's right, variable-sweep wings were popular in the past, but look around, when third-generation fighters arrived, what kind of aircraft still chose variable-sweep wings? F-15, F-16, MiG-29... these are all conventional layouts. Variable-sweep wings have the ability to adapt to different airspaces, but they are heavy! They can easily add one or two tons of weight, which completely negates the advantages!"

Since the wings can rotate, there must be a pivot at the wing root. The supporting part of this pivot must be strong and integrated with the middle of the fuselage. The fuselage is in the center, and the pivots are on both sides, forming a huge wing box that constitutes the main load-bearing structure of the aircraft.

The Tomcat fighter jet luxuriously used titanium alloy to build its integral wing box, yet it still weighed 800 kilograms, a weight that could be completely eliminated in ordinary fighter jets.

As for the Russians, they prefer to use stainless steel; the MiG-23's wing box weighs a whopping 1.5 tons! Meanwhile, domestic technology lags behind, and the wing box copied by Factory 320 is 12% heavier!

An aircraft weighing around ten tons has a wing box weighing one and a half tons! No matter how good the variable-sweep wing design is, it will become useless in the face of outdated materials and processes! If the manufacturing precision is insufficient, and the wings cannot rotate simultaneously during flight, that would be fatal!

In later generations, countless people lamented the failure of the Qiangliu project, wondering what would have happened if it had been built. In reality, the Qiangliu project was fundamentally impossible to succeed, unless…

Old Master Lu's expression grew increasingly complicated.

"Yes, we are aware of the drawbacks of variable-sweep wings. However, the targets set for our project by our superiors are clear. For example, we need to have a sufficiently long range to fly to the South China Sea and back, and the speed must be fast so that we can get to the battlefield as soon as possible. We believe that variable-sweep wings are the best solution."

In 1974, the Battle of the Paracel Islands broke out. The navy dispatched two submarine chasers and two minesweepers, giving the Japanese navy a sound thrashing. Although they won, they lacked effective air support and had to retreat quickly after the battle. Domestic fighter jets lacked ground attack capabilities. Dedicated attack aircraft like the Q-5 had too short a range and too little payload. The H-6 could handle the attack, but it was too slow and lacked self-defense capabilities.

Therefore, after the naval battle ended, the Third Ministry of Machine Building proposed the idea of ​​a new type of aircraft. Shenyang proposed the JH-8, an improvement on the J-8, Chang'an proposed the JH-7, and Hongdu proposed the Q-6. The JH-8 was first ruled out, leaving only the latter two.

Professor Lu believes that variable-sweep wings are the best solution, although they have the drawback of being heavy, but... they are acceptable!
"Yes, variable-sweep wings are the best solution for attack aircraft, but... there are prerequisites. For example, the airframe needs to be enlarged. If the maximum takeoff weight can be increased to forty tons, then even if the empty weight is twenty tons and the wing box weight is four tons, it is acceptable. The number of engines also needs to be increased to two..."

"Comrade Qin Liang, you mean... something like the Su-24?" Old Lu's eyes widened.

In the 1960s, the Russians were dissatisfied with the poor performance of their fighter jets and decided to develop a brand-new attack aircraft to break through NATO's firepower network. After several modifications, the Sukhoi Design Bureau developed the famous Su-24 fighter-bomber.

With a length of 22 meters, a variable-sweep wing design, two engines, two side-by-side seats, an empty weight of 22 tons, and a maximum takeoff weight of 44 tons, this aircraft quickly became the mainstay of the Russian Navy and Air Force after it was built, and even continued to serve into the 21st century!

“That’s right, that’s how it is.” Qin Liang nodded: “Although the Q-6 was developed based on the needs of the Navy, the Navy is too poor to buy many. We still have to take into account the needs of the Air Force. The Air Force prefers a side-by-side two-seat configuration, where two pilots sit together and have the best view whether flying or dropping bombs.”

Back then, the Air Force looked down on the JH-7, as its tandem two-seat configuration was a major problem. After the Air Force abandoned it, the Navy could only support it with meager funding.

Now, if the Q-6 is to be successfully developed, the needs of the Air Force must be taken seriously!
"At the same time, an aircraft of this class can carry more than ten tons of fuel and seven or eight tons of ordnance, ensuring both range and attack power. I think that the Q-6, based on the MiG-23 design, would be better suited to the military's needs by making it a twin-engine aircraft..."

The visitors from Factory 320 all stared wide-eyed.

The Q-6's maximum payload is only three tons, and its range isn't much longer. It's also based on the WS-6 turbofan engine's specifications on paper. Why not make a major overhaul?

The Air Force can use it for long-range strikes, and in many situations, it can directly replace the H-6 bomber. The massive H-6 has a maximum payload of only nine tons! The Navy can use it for anti-ship attacks, carrying four C801 anti-ship missiles. As long as it's not an aircraft carrier battle group, it can take down everything else!

In later generations, variable-sweep wing fighters retired from the historical stage, but variable-sweep wing bombers still dominated the skies. The American B-1B and the Russian Tu-160 were both strategic-level aircraft, and even the Tu-22M has been talked about by Eastern military enthusiasts for many years.

Now, let's get a fighter-bomber of the Su-24 class!
Old Lu took a deep breath: "Comrade Qin Liang, your proposal is very constructive. We will consider it carefully. Thank you for your guidance!"

"Mr. Lu, please don't. I was just saying it casually. It's not really guidance. Just think of me as a naive and ignorant fool!"

(End of this chapter)