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

Chapter 353: The upgrade and improvement of the S-300 is to be evaluated by the Red Flag 9 team.
The meeting room fell silent; no one spoke as everyone watched the Russian's expression and tried to guess what he was thinking.

Will the Russians agree?
Let them send us their most advanced air defense missiles for us to modify. That means that this system will have no secrets from us anymore!

The Russians would probably refuse, right?

Under everyone's gaze, Benjing hesitated for a long time before finally asking, "If we send it here, how much will the modification cost?"

"That depends on the workload. You need to provide us with the design data for the entire missile system so we can evaluate it. If the original radar and data processing equipment are usable, and only a simple upgrade is needed, then the price won't be too high, around ten or twenty million US dollars should be enough. However, if the post-processing circuitry is too poor, or even the radar is unusable, the entire system will need to be replaced, and then the price will be very high, possibly even hundreds of millions of US dollars."

Qin Liang stated bluntly: "It's pointless for you to ask for a quote now. If you are sincere about entrusting us with the modification, then give us detailed information first, and we will prepare a modification plan evaluation report."

Honjing's expression became even more complicated; this was to ask for information on their most advanced anti-aircraft missiles!

Can you give me this?
This could very well be a scheme to get something for nothing—get all the information, then quote an outrageously high price, forcing the Russians to give up...

However, if we give a quote without reviewing any information now, it would seem rather arbitrary...

Later, the Super 7 project, a collaboration between Factory 132 and Grumman, was like this. We asked them for a quote, but they shook their heads. "Isn't that ridiculous? We're completely clueless. How can we give a quote? We need to bring all your data so we can study it carefully, conduct a project evaluation, and then we can produce a budget report."

If you give a price directly, that's definitely not honest!
"Alright!" To everyone's surprise, Benjing agreed: "I'll send a telegram back home right away and have them send over our design data. It will take a day or two. Can we stay here and visit your missile factory?"

"Of course," Qin Liang nodded. "It's getting late today. Tomorrow, I'll take you to see our missile factory."

Modern missile technology cannot be copied by simply glancing at a production line. Those densely packed multi-layered printed circuit boards and integrated circuits of all sizes require careful analysis, examining each circuit one by one, to understand their working principles.

This also lets the other side know that our missile technology is far superior to theirs!

Northwestern Polytechnical University, Guesthouse.

Triyanovsky paced back and forth in the room with some concern: "Mr. Benjin, isn't what we're doing a bit inappropriate? Isn't there a possibility that our technology could be stolen by the Easterners? And the KGB probably won't approve it, will they?"

Honjing's expression was complicated: "Eastern technology has long surpassed ours. Now, we are here to learn from the Easterners!"

"Even so, the S-300 missile is our most advanced product, classified as a top national defense secret. Our relationship with the East isn't great, but our relationship with the West is excellent. If we hand over our S-300 data to the East now, the West might just learn it..."

“Yes, so the information we give to the East is our original design data, not the finalized data,” Benjing said. “There is a big difference between the two, and it will not pose a risk of leakage to our current equipment. If we really cooperate with the East, it will be to modify our original data, and then transfer it to our current equipment after we have learned it.”

At this point, Honkyo was already confident of success.

"For us, the best outcome would be to have a detailed discussion with them during the equipment evaluation process, to understand their modification ideas, and then we might be able to modify it ourselves without paying them any consulting fees."

Easterners want to get something for nothing, and they've had the same idea in mind!
Those Russians also hope to acquire technology from the East! Although this hope is slim, anything is possible as long as they don't pay.

Triyanovsky nodded.

The capital city, HD district, Wukesong.

In 1957, the Second Academy of Aerospace Science and Technology was established here. From the imitation of the SAM-1 to the Hongqi-1 and then to the Hongqi-2, almost all of these achievements were made by the Second Academy. Because of its continuous efforts in this field, the Hongqi-9 missile project was finally approved in 1980, and the researchers began the development of a new generation of long-range air defense missiles.

However, the research and development work did not go smoothly from the very beginning.

The atmosphere inside the meeting room was somewhat oppressive.

"The HQ-16 missiles from our brother units have already shone brightly on the battlefield in the Bekaa Valley, and the navy's air defense destroyers have also begun construction. I believe that if we continue to use the original technical route, we will not be able to meet the needs of the army, and we must upgrade!"

“Director Chen, with our current level of expertise, it’s almost impossible for us to develop a missile that surpasses Northwestern Polytechnical University’s… Their medium-range missile has a theoretical range of 70 kilometers, while our HQ-9 currently only has a range of 60 kilometers. How can we compare them…” Engineer Di Weichao said.

Before the HQ-9 missile, they had many failed projects, such as the HQ-5 and HQ-65. In the initial demonstration work, the HQ-9 missile adopted the two-stage structure of the HQ-2 missile. It can be simply understood as replacing the two-stage liquid rocket engine with a solid rocket engine, and upgrading the radar to a phased array radar, which has the ability to attack multiple targets.

It can be said that these designs were outdated from the very beginning. Although the navy has reserved space for the HQ-9 on its warships, it seems that no one has much confidence in it.

"Therefore, our performance indicators need to be further improved. The range should reach 100 kilometers, so that in addition to intercepting high-altitude aircraft, it can also intercept ultra-low-altitude sea-skimming targets." Director Chen looked at everyone present: "Comrades, we are the professionals who specialize in missiles, and we must demonstrate our strength!"

Director Chen was born in Shanghai in 1937. After the Battle of Shanghai broke out, he was taken to Yangzhou by his family to take refuge when he was only half a year old. He grew up in a state of constant displacement and dreamed of building a strong motherland. After graduating from the Department of Radio Electronics at Tsinghua University, he was assigned to the Second Branch of the Fifth Academy. In 1965, he became the group leader of the Second Department of the Second Academy of Aerospace Science and Technology, and later the deputy director and director. Now he is the director of the Second Department of the Second Academy.

As an aerospace professional with ideals, Director Chen deeply felt the backwardness of the air defense system. Therefore, he resolutely volunteered to his superiors to develop an advanced third-generation air defense missile system.

The technology involved was vast, and there was a lack of design experience and technical engineering capabilities, but none of this could stump the aerospace engineers in the East!
However, after two years, their position suddenly became awkward.

“Director Chen, Northwestern Polytechnical University has even copied the Phoenix missile. If this missile were converted into a surface-to-air missile and a booster were added, it could easily achieve a range of 100 kilometers. Northwestern Polytechnical University didn’t do that. They entrusted us with the development of long-range air defense missiles. I’m afraid they have higher expectations for us.” Another engineer, Gao Li, said.

Is a range of 100 kilometers not enough to satisfy our appetite? Are we expecting even greater things? Do we want our air defense missile systems to have a range of 200 kilometers? Or do we want them to be able to intercept even more difficult targets, such as… ballistic missiles?
Everyone's heart sank.

"Yes. It seems we need to raise our targets." Director Chen's tone also became serious: "Comrades, we..."

Before he could finish speaking, someone rushed in from outside.

"Director Chen, Director Chen, the higher authorities have received a message from Northwestern Polytechnical University, requesting that our HQ-9 R&D personnel join us in studying data on the Soviet Union's most advanced air defense missile system..."

what?
Everyone stared wide-eyed. How could this be?! The Soviet Union's most advanced air defense missile system—how could it possibly be handed over to Northwestern Polytechnical University?! But... Northwestern Polytechnical University has always been a place where miracles happen. No matter how unbelievable something may seem, if it comes from Northwestern Polytechnical University, it's not surprising.

Northwestern Polytechnical University, it can do everything!
Director Chen stood up: "What are you waiting for? Hurry back and pack your things. There's a train to Chang'an tonight!"

The next day, in the morning, at the Northwestern Polytechnical University's school-run factory.

"Everyone, this is our missile production factory." Qin Liang led everyone into the production workshop with a big smile on his face.

This was Qin Liang's first visit to a missile production plant in the past six months, and he saw many familiar faces. These big names in the missile field had all been recruited by Northwestern Polytechnical University!

The Russians also stared wide-eyed at the modern production factory.

This is a missile assembly plant. The factory is very spacious, with rows of missile parts waiting to be installed, neatly arranged on shelves. Overhead cranes lift the missile parts from the shelves and place them on the installation station. The missile body, warhead, warhead... are finally assembled into a complete missile.

The robotic arms are moving back and forth. On this assembly line, most of the assembly is done automatically. This level of technology is probably unmatched in the West! This Eastern technology is truly advanced!

You can also see that many workstations have computers installed. These machines, which should be used for scientific calculations, are being used here only as testing tools for installation. What a waste!
Wait! What did I just see?
Benjing opened his eyes wide and looked at the missile being installed on the workbench. It was a short-range missile. Inside the semi-circular glass sphere, he could see the infrared seeker, which glowed with a faint green light. It looked like... multiple seekers were combined together?

Upon closer inspection, there are four in each direction, making it a combination of sixteen guidance heads!

how can that be!

Even a single guidance head is extremely expensive. The Soviet Union has only just developed the indium antimonide guidance head, and its short-range missiles have only just acquired the ability to truly engage head-on attacks. And these Eastern missiles have already deployed sixteen of them. Are you trying to defy the heavens?

"Excuse me, what is this?"

"It's nothing, it's just... a regular short-range air-to-air missile, a copy of the Python-3. Come on, everyone, let's go take a look at the other products..." At this moment, a strange look flashed across Qin Liang's face, but he quickly returned to normal, though the Russians still noticed it.

We saw something we shouldn't have seen.

These weapons from the East are amazing! I always thought that the products they exported were the strongest, but it turns out that the ones they use themselves are even stronger!
Sixteen guidance heads mean it has the most basic imaging capability! This thing can not only be used on short-range air-to-air missiles, but also... anti-missile systems!

That's right, it's missile defense!
The Americans launched the Star Wars program, and the Russians had to respond, so of course they also had to develop a similar program. However... the Russians' technology was too poor, so the method of destroying missiles by precision impact in space was simply unusable!

We Russians want this technology from the East too!
At this moment, someone came over and added a plastic cap to the outside of the guide head. The movement was very hurried, and in the rush, one of the plastic caps even fell to the ground.

Benjing's feelings became even more complicated as he watched the Easterners' attempt to cover up their misunderstanding. The equipment that the Easterners used themselves was far more advanced than the equipment they exported. An infrared focal plane imaging device—something that the Russians wouldn't even dare to dream of!
Sincere cooperation with people from the East would definitely be of great benefit to us!

After passing this row of shelves, you'll see radar-guided air-to-air missiles ahead, their sharp radomes contrasting sharply with their hemispherical optical covers.

"How do your air-to-air missiles counter jamming?" Benjing asked.

"This certainly requires an advanced target illumination radar with small sidelobes and a narrow beam, so that it is not easily jammed."

"What if the other side's jamming power is very strong?"

"Then attack the source of the interference. Our seeker has this program built in; if it loses the target due to interference, it will attack the source of the interference..."

"How is this possible? How can an air-to-air missile be turned into an anti-radiation missile just by modifying the program? How is that even possible?"

"I'm sorry, I can't say."

Analog circuits can't do it, and simple digital circuits can't do it either. To achieve this function, a microprocessor would have to be installed on the missile!

A violent thing!
The Russian leader, still shaken, concluded his inspection of the missile factory at Northwestern Polytechnical University. That afternoon at four o'clock, the group returned to the conference room, where Benjing's men brought several large boxes.

"Gentlemen, this is the design data for our S-300 air defense missile system. You are welcome to view our data, but only here. You cannot take it out of the conference room. This gentleman next to me is Christopher, the KGB comrade in charge of secrecy. I hope you will cooperate with his work..."

Director Chen's eyes widened. After sitting on the train for more than ten hours, everyone was exhausted, but at this moment, looking at the documents the other party had taken out, they were no longer sleepy. These were the design documents for the most advanced anti-aircraft missiles from the Russians!

"Alright, Director Chen will take charge of this side." Qin Liang glanced at the people around him: "Director Chen, we'll be counting on you all for now!"

"Yes, no problem, leave it to us!" Director Chen nodded.

They have no idea how to evaluate it; what they need to do now is thoroughly understand the Russians' design materials!
He tried to suppress his excitement and took the Russian version of the materials. Fortunately, all of them were fluent in Russian. In 1957, Director Chen was recommended to the preparatory department for studying in the Soviet Union in the capital. These professional Russian materials were difficult for ordinary people to translate, but Director Chen did it with great ease.

Chapter 1, Background of the Research and Development.

In the 1960s, the United States established a triad of cruise missiles, bombers, and theater ballistic missiles. my country's existing S-75 and S-200 air defense missile systems could no longer meet the needs of national air defense...

Director Chen skimmed through the unimportant parts.

Chapter Two: The Development Process.

In 1967, the Soviet government approved the development of the S-500, but it was opposed by the Rocket Force, so...

None of that matters, let's keep reading.

Chapter 3, Technical Points.

Considering the difficulties of active radar guidance technology, we believe that TVM guidance system has advantages such as low technical difficulty, high accuracy, and low cost, therefore…

So even the Russians can't handle a proactive guidance system!

Director Chen's expression was complicated. It was obvious that the Russians' technology was no longer comparable to that of the East!

Principal's office.

"Liangzi, aren't you going to take a look?" Principal Luo said seriously, "After all, this is the Russians' most advanced air defense missile system."

"No, we won't go. What they're showing us now is definitely not the most valuable. We'll evaluate it in a few days and deem this missile system worthless, deeming it completely unworthy of improvement. Only then will the Russians bring out more advanced equipment. We'll have to give them a good scare then."

Director Luo's expression was complicated. He guessed that only Qin Liang in the whole country would do such a thing, criticizing the Russians' most advanced air defense missile as worthless.

"By the way, what are your thoughts on the technology you deliberately leaked at our school-run factory?"

Whether it's a guidance head or some kind of attack radiation source, it was all intentional on Qin Liang's part. So what's the point of him saying that?

"It's a fishing game. The Americans are already working on Star Wars, and the Russians definitely have a countermeasure. It's just that the Russians have limited technology and can't solve many problems. If they come to us for cooperation... then our Northwestern Polytechnical University can also use Russian funds to research anti-missile technology!"

As history has shown, the American Star Wars program was a deceptive scheme, but the Russians took it very seriously!

The Buran space shuttle, the Polar space laser weapon... these are all projects that have achieved phased results. There are also some projects in the planning stage, such as the spaceplane developed under the Spiral project, and the anti-satellite system deployed in space... even the anti-missile system around Moscow has been upgraded from the previous A-35 to the A-135, which is similar to the American NMD. Unfortunately, none of these money-burning projects have yielded results before the collapse of the Soviet Union.

Qin Liang couldn't wait until the Soviet Union collapsed to dig up the grave; it would be even better if he could get his hands on it now!
Even if we only get the Russians' preliminary research results, combined with the advanced technology of our Northwestern Polytechnical University, we can still get these projects done!

(End of this chapter)