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

Chapter 496 Discussion of Arsenal Ships
Northwestern Polytechnical University, Department of Navigation.

“Principal Qin, there are many problems with the design of this arsenal ship,” Chen Shuguang said, frowning.

Qin Liang smiled and asked, "What's the problem?"

"The entire ship is a mobile maritime arsenal. It has no reconnaissance or detection capabilities of its own. Once it is cut off from communication with other warships, it will be a sitting duck at sea."

Qin Liang nodded: "That's right."

Over the years, Chen Shuguang's vision has gradually broadened!
Last year, Chen Shuguang graduated with a master's degree and then... stayed on to teach at the university. This was because the third department did not have any doctoral students, so he went directly to the master's level.

Other ship design institutes and other organizations extended invitations to him, but Chen Shuguang resolutely stayed to teach at Northwestern Polytechnical University. There were many more job opportunities at Northwestern Polytechnical University than at other institutions, and he could also gain a lot of experience.

Stealth warships are already standard practice. Designing warships for other countries is nothing special. But designing arsenal ships for the Americans was something Chen Shuguang was puzzled about back then. Now, the Americans have actually agreed!

This...how is this possible!

At this moment, Qin Liang said frankly, "But you have to think about the problems facing the West, especially the problems facing the United States. They lack money, and they also want to have sufficient firepower, so an arsenal ship is their best choice!"

What's more, the person who came was a key figure!

Qin Liang didn't know Jeremy Michael Bourdae's current position, but he would become the Chief of Operations of the U.S. Navy in the future. This guy had always been particularly fond of arsenal ships.

The vertical launch system must have more than 500 launchers; this is a hard requirement. After all, this warship is conceived as a high-capacity missile ship, not just a missile vessel. Of course, other options were also considered during the design process, such as those with naval guns or multiple rocket launchers.

In short, warships are extremely simple, resulting in a very concise superstructure. As for the hull structure... double hull, numerous watertight compartments, and extremely thick armor, designed primarily for durability.

Chen Shuguang's expression was somewhat complicated. By now, he was certain that Qin Liang was indeed setting a trap for the Americans.

"Alright, I'll listen to you. Principal Qin, so how should we develop our navy?"

"Our navy? Of course, we'll follow the conventional path. This time, once we've jointly designed a 25-megawatt gas turbine with the British, we'll have a suitable product for our shipboard gas turbines. Two units will be enough to power warships of seven or eight thousand tons, and four units will be enough to power warships of twelve thousand tons."

Previously, a 36-megawatt gas turbine was developed using the RB211 as a base. Now, using the RB211, a 25-megawatt gas turbine is being developed. It may seem like a step backward, but in reality, this research is more advanced because its fuel consumption rate is quite low!
With a thermal efficiency of 42% and a fuel consumption rate of 184 grams per kilowatt-hour, what does this mean? It's even lower than a traditional diesel engine at the same power output!
Even for low-speed marine diesel engines, this figure is between 160 and 190, while for medium-speed and high-speed diesel engines it is generally above 200.

Therefore, this gas turbine is not known for its power output, but for its economy!
With this gas turbine in hand, the Spey ship modification project can truly be abandoned.

In terms of power, it is similar to the later 25,000-watt dog head, with a slight improvement. Therefore, using two on the 052D and four on the 055 is the best choice.

Especially the Type 055!

Although the Navy's current focus is on mass-producing the Type 052 destroyer and increasing its quantity, there will definitely be a demand for quality in the future, making the Type 055 destroyer a necessity.

Now, let's design it first, so we have a technological reserve that we can use whenever the navy needs it in the future.

"Yes." Chen Shuguang replied excitedly.

"Okay, if you're done here, I'll be going now. I still need to go to the Department of Electronic Engineering."

The biggest advantage of the arsenal ship that can fool the Americans is still its electronic technology. Now, we need to get the electronics department to make some things. When the Americans have carefully evaluated them and need to purchase them from us, we can then show them what we can do!
That's right, Northwestern Polytechnical University will be responsible for the electronic systems of the arsenal ship! Because the Americans simply don't have such advanced technology, and even in the future, we will be responsible for upgrading the NATO standard data link.

In this way, they will completely control Western weapons and equipment!
Of course, the Americans might not agree, since they understand the reasons behind it; it all depends on how much personal charisma Bulda possesses.

Qin Liang had complete confidence in him!

The Pentagon, United States.

"Ladies and gentlemen, this is the arsenal ship designed by Northwestern Polytechnical University! It is over two hundred meters long and more than twenty-five meters wide..."

Before Burda could finish speaking, Swift frowned: "In that case, wouldn't the displacement be over 20,000 tons?"

"That's right, it needs to be over 20,000 tons. Only a ship with that kind of hull can accommodate 500 vertical launch systems!"

five hundred!

This data stunned everyone, and when they saw the actual design drawings, they were even more shocked.

"Isn't this just a logistical support design? How can this thing be used as a main warship?"

"That's right, of course it's a capital ship. The biggest advantage of this design is that it can save costs. We estimate that we will need two billion US dollars to develop a brand-new destroyer, and it would be good if we could control the later construction costs to one billion US dollars. But the cost of this kind of warship that can carry five hundred missiles is well under five billion US dollars, and it can even be built for two or three hundred million US dollars..."

Some of the people present had already begun to frown.

Are you kidding me? Cutting costs?

Burda, you probably don't know how excited domestic shipbuilding companies are right now. These orders will make them incredibly wealthy. If you try to reduce costs, aren't you just reducing their income?

You're very good at doing things, but you're bad at dealing with people!
However... at this moment, Weinberg was in high spirits.

They want to develop a massive army, but... they don't have enough funds. For example, the so-called 15 aircraft carriers are definitely not meant to be built, but rather to be a few that are being towed from decommissioned carriers.

They went to see them, and those decommissioned aircraft carriers were in very poor condition! They were completely unusable.

Therefore, the so-called 600-ship plan is most likely impossible to achieve.

Now, the arsenal ships have presented them with a completely new approach: they can acquire powerful weaponry while saving money, so...

"Keep talking!"

Seeing Weinberg's enthusiastic expression only made everyone feel worse.

"Yes, currently, the biggest cost of our warships is the electronic systems, especially the bulky phased array radar. This warship will abandon various detection facilities, thereby greatly reducing costs, and will use data links..."

“Even our most advanced Link11 data link cannot transmit such a large amount of data.”

"That's right, so we need to introduce data links from the East. Their data links have a large data transmission capacity and strong anti-interference capabilities, which can fully meet our needs..."

boom!
The entire conference room erupted in chaos.

"Bulda, what are you saying?"

"Let us introduce data chains from the East? Do you know what that means?"

"Should we open our weapons interfaces to the East? Our current relationship with the East is only because of the Soviet Union. Once the Soviet Union falls, our relationship with the East will definitely not improve. Is your brain full of shit?"

Burda's face remained calm, as if he had already realized the problem.

"Everyone, we are only temporarily relying on Eastern technology, not on it forever. When our own data chain becomes more powerful in the future, we can switch back to our own data chain. We are only temporarily relying on the Eastern data chain to make the project feasible. Do you really think our technology will never develop?"

That's true.

Weinberger began, "We can have the Easterners send over their data link first for us to test. If it meets our needs, we'll have them release the technology publicly..."

His plan was perfectly well-conceived, but Swift interrupted it the next moment.

"Easterners are unlikely to disclose their technology. In particular, we cannot mass-produce the same type of chip and have to import it. We have no idea whether there are backdoors installed in the chip. Doing so is very risky."

Are you kidding me? An Asian making their technology public?
We're not that close to Easterners yet!
"If CDMA mobile communication technology hadn't been released, we could have used this to blackmail them. But now... CDMA technology has been rolled out, and many high-tech companies have participated in the project. So, we are destined not to be able to create obstacles for Easterners."

The chips have already been purchased, and the base stations are under construction. If the project is halted at this point, these domestic technology companies will be furious with the government!
"That's right, that's how it is. So, as I just said, using Eastern technology is only temporary. I don't believe that our American high-tech companies can't develop similar technologies, especially in mobile communications. Many civilian technologies will benefit our military."

You're really optimistic! Swift was speechless.

Weinberg nodded: "That's right, I believe in our technology!" He wasn't naive, but he valued cost, and he liked anything that could reduce costs.

"What about battlefield survival rate? Don't tell me you survived just because of this stealth appearance!" Swift continued to ask questions.

"Stealth design is one aspect. With its simple appearance and wave-piercing hull shape, this warship has excellent stealth capabilities, roughly equivalent to a speedboat. Of course, this still carries the risk of being hit. Therefore, its overall design incorporates the experience of large merchant ships and oil tankers, such as the double-hull structure..."

Reduced chances of being detected and hit, excellent damage control, heavy armor...

"I think I hear the word 'battleship' in the background. Folks, are we going back to the battleship era?"

World War II rendered battleships obsolete, and aircraft carriers and carrier-based aircraft took center stage. Most modern warships are thin-hulled structures, as long as they can withstand wind and waves. The later American Arleigh Burke-class destroyers were easily blasted open, revealing that the hull was made of thin steel plates.

To still do it this way now is a clear sign of regression!
“Battleships? Battleships are fine too. If everyone is willing to part with those Iowa-class ships, we can cut open the hulls and modify the superstructure.” Bulda was quite frank.

During World War II, the largest battleship the Americans built was the Iowa-class, with a full-load displacement of over 50,000 tons and its main armament consisted of nine 406mm guns... with a maximum speed of 35 knots.

It was very powerful when it was built, so it was never scrapped. At most, it was just stored away. During the Gulf War in 91, it was even taken out and fired.

However... it turns out that the era of battleships has indeed passed. After their debut in the Gulf War, they never appeared on the stage of war again.

Now, hearing everyone say this, Burda has found a new way of thinking.

There's no need to build a new hull; just modify an existing battleship!

"you!"

Everyone was completely speechless.

“Yes, that’s a good idea.” Weinberger nodded. “We can give it a try, starting with modifying the South Dakota-class battleships!”

The Americans are indeed wealthy and powerful. They not only have the Iowa-class, but also the South Dakota-class, which is a class lower. Due to displacement restrictions imposed by the treaty, it was not very successful, but it was still a treaty-type warship that was well-balanced in offense and defense.

This warship played a significant role in the Pacific theater, and all four ships survived the war and are currently in storage.

Therefore, taking one out and modifying it first seems like a good option.

Some people's eyes lit up.

Can car modifications save money? That's absolutely wishful thinking. In fact, modifications can cost even more money!

After all, labor costs in the United States are not cheap. Just dismantling it would cost a lot of money, even if only the superstructure was demolished.

If that's the case... then they could offer some simple support.

Burda's expression was complicated.

What about the wave-piercing bow? What about the stealth design?

All of these are gone.

However... he knew he couldn't insist too much now; it was already good enough that everyone agreed to modify the old ship!

"it is good."

"Bulda, you're now in charge of this brand-new arsenal ship!" Weinberg said. "Provide ten million upfront..."

"Ten million? Isn't that a bit low?"

"Ten million will be used to test the data link from the East, and at the same time, a feasibility analysis will be conducted on the modification of the battleships."

"Ok."

Eastward, Northwestern Polytechnical University.

Seeing Bulda return, Qin Liang asked curiously, "General Bulda, you're back so soon?"

"Yes, Principal Qin, I hope to introduce your data link as soon as possible and start testing."

"Well... of course, no problem. Please provide us with the data on the Aegis fire control system and the MK41 vertical launch system so we can perform the matching. The R&D funding... will be cheaper, fifty million US dollars."

This...this is way too expensive!
Burda frowned: "We only have ten million dollars in research and development funding in total..."

"That's impossible. The R&D funding is too low, it's simply not enough. It needs to be at least forty-five million US dollars. We can earn less, but we can't lose money!"

Burda's expression was complicated...

If the funding problem can't be solved, then their project can't proceed.

How to do?
"Principal Qin, we hope you can let us develop the project first. As long as it passes our anti-interference test, I will continue to apply for more funding..."

"Oh, no need for that."

What?
Burda thought the Easterners were unwilling to help.

“Our mobile phone base stations have already been built in major American cities. You can fly over electronic jammers and the like to test our civilian systems directly.”

What do you mean?
CDMA networks have strong anti-interference capabilities! Using new millennium electronic technology to combat 1980s electronic interference is a piece of cake!
At the same time, this is also a great form of publicity!

We must let the world know that our civilian mobile phones can withstand American electronic jamming!

Is Motorola any good? Even without interference, the signal is bad, let alone with interference!

“For example, in New York, we have already built eight mobile base stations. You can try to interfere with our mobile network and see if it can still make calls.”

New York City boasts many landmark buildings, such as the Statue of Liberty, the Empire State Building, and the Brooklyn Bridge. However, in the 1980s, the tallest building here was undoubtedly the World Trade Center Twin Towers.

The North Tower is 417 meters tall and was completed in 1972, while the South Tower is 415 meters tall and was completed in 1973.

Now, the height data for the North Tower needs to be revised! It's increased by another twenty meters, and a mobile communication base station has been erected at the top of the tower!

That's right, base stations are built on top of towers for the best signal!
As for radiation?

People in this era weren't so fussy, and even foreigners in later generations weren't so fussy. Only in the East, under the influence of a group of anti-radiation clothing vendors, did everyone turn pale at the mention of radiation.

Because it's located here, making phone calls throughout the building is very convenient, even though there are plenty of landlines...

Who wouldn't want to be able to answer a phone call anytime, anywhere, while eating, driving, etc.? Especially business elites, who love mobile phones even more.

Therefore, after the first batch of mobile phones from Qualcomm, a subsidiary of MIT, were launched on the market, they were instantly purchased by business elites. At the same time, with their support, the CDMA network in New York was quickly established!
That's right, Evan Jacobs, along with Martin Cooper and others, has created a company specializing in mobile phones, named Qualcomm, a combination of the words "Quality" and "Communications." The former means quality, and the latter means communication, so together it means high-quality communication.

They also followed the model of the Northwestern Polytechnical University's school-run factory, affiliating the company to MIT. Although this would require giving the university a portion of the profits, it also had many advantages, such as being able to use the university's resources, especially those of the university president.

On this very day, Evan Jacob and Martin Cooper were both a little nervous because... their civilian equipment was going to be subjected to interference tests by military equipment!
Although they have confidence in Eastern products, if they mess things up, it will still have adverse effects.

Thump thump thump... Just then, an assistant ran in.

"Report! A large group of reporters has arrived outside!"

(End of this chapter)