In the military industry that year, the cloud bombs started to wash the ground for monkeys

Although the inside of the factory area was tidy, it still couldn't hide the erosion of the years.

The mottled walls and old equipment with peeling paint give people a sense of the vicissitudes of history.

Not many people know that Rabbit's bombers and tankers were developed in such an environment.

A group of people first came to the old design center.

Seeing the huge design room, a group of gray-haired old engineers and a group of three to 40-year-old apprentices are working.

Almost everyone here looks a little thin, with sunken eye sockets and bloodshot eyes

This is a typical symptom of long-term malnutrition and not getting enough sleep...

"Is the research and development of the tanker really hard?"

Seeing this situation, Zhang Linsheng, who was originally angry, could no longer be cruel enough to blame anyone.

Chief designer Zhang Zhiping replied: "At the beginning, we didn't fully realize the technical difficulty."

"If you just convert the H-[-] into an aerial tanker, the problem is not too big, but the Y-[-] airframe is much bigger than the H-[-]."

"Moreover, after filling up with fuel, the center of gravity of the Yun-[-] will also change, which will also have a great impact on the structural strength."

"When Yunshi is flying at high speed in the air, it has to refuel multiple fighter planes at the same time. Is it really bigger..."

Zhang Linsheng frowned: "Didn't Director Lu give you a KC-135 air tanker as a reference, and dismantling that thing for research can't solve the problem?"

Zhang Zhiping sighed: "The maximum take-off weight of KC-135 is 136 tons."

"The Y-220 has a maximum take-off weight of more than [-] tons."

"Whether it is the structural design of the aircraft or the aerodynamic layout, there is a big difference."

"Although we have the research and development foundation of the tanker, we basically start from scratch..."

Fuel is a liquid, and during flight, it will flow towards the low section.

In this way, the gravity will change, and the structural requirements for the entire aircraft are relatively high 0 ..

"So, what about the air-to-air refueling technology?"

The structural problem will not be solved for a while, so Lu Xuan asked another technical question.

What he needs is not an aerial refueling aircraft transformed from a H-[-] in history.

That thing can only refuel two Jian 8s at a time.

The combat radius and self-weight of Sword 9 and Sword 10 are much larger than Sword 8.

In order to allow these two fighters to have stronger airborne capabilities and a larger combat radius.

The H-[-], which can only carry about [-] tons of aviation fuel, is really too small.

In addition, the air tanker itself is flying in the air, and the consumption of fuel is also very large.

"Currently, we imitate the KC-135's hard pipe refueling system, which lacks processing capabilities."

"So, we use a hose refueling system that is less technically difficult."

"Of course, we have been working on imitating the hard pipe refueling system..."

Director Lu was obviously not satisfied with Zhang Zhiping's answer: "The refueling speed of the hose refueling system is too slow, so it can only be used for fighter jets with high maneuverability and small refueling volume."

"At present, our H-[-] has a short range, a small combat radius, and the range of the transport aircraft is not enough. If we conduct long-distance navigation, we also need to refuel in the air."

Since the birth of the world's first aerial refueling aircraft, the role of aerial refueling aircraft has become more and more important.

Especially for aircraft performing long-range or ultra-long-range missions, the importance is unparalleled.

Just like in the Battle of the Falklands, John Bull 1.4's Vulcan bomber had a combat radius of more than 3000 kilometers.

However, starting from the mainland and bombing Agen requires multiple air refueling.

The hose refueling system has a simple technical structure and can deliver 1600 liters of oil per minute.

However, due to the influence of air flow, the efficiency of oil delivery will be reduced.

It can only be used for fighter refueling.

The hard pipe refueling system has good stability and is easy to connect.

Suitable for almost any type of aircraft for mid-air refueling.

And the refueling volume can reach an astonishing 6500 liters per minute.

"Director Lu, we also know, but our technical foundation is currently weak..."

Zhang Zhiping said in a difficult way.

He didn't know which refueling method was more advanced.

But for now, only Eagle Sauce has fully mastered the hard tube refueling system.

"No matter how weak the technical foundation is, no matter how difficult the research and development is, we have to do it." Lu Xuan said firmly.

232 Adding Tasks to Director Lu Again

Although Lu Xuan is not an aircraft designer, he also knows the difficulty of developing an aerial tanker.

He also knows the role of the aerial tanker, no matter how difficult it is, it must be done.

"In terms of aerodynamic layout, you can ask Simonov, the chief designer of Jian 618 at the 10 base, to help solve it."

"In terms of structural strength, you can ask Teacher Jia Yiming from the Basic Materials Research Center of Base 618 to help solve it."

"For problems in machining and surveying and mapping, the 618 base will mobilize a batch of five-axis machine tools and three-coordinate measuring instruments."

"As for research and development funds, you don't have to worry."

"If there are any other questions, they can be raised now."

Lu Xuan can use all the resources of the 618 base for the air tanker.

Anyway, in a word, no matter how weak the foundation is, no matter how difficult it is, this thing must be developed.

Hearing Lu Xuan's words, Qi Pengfei, Zhang Zhiping and other experts and leaders looked excited.

Zhang Zhiping even said: "Since there is such strong support from Director Lu, there will be no problem."

"I can issue a military order right now, and let the air tanker conduct a test flight within half a year."

Lu Xuan secretly heaved a sigh of relief when he heard this.

This shows that objective difficulties do exist, but they are not impossible to solve.

"I don't need your military order, I just need to see the results."

02

"I need to see both refueling systems on one tanker."

"I need a tanker capable of refueling at least six fighters at a time..."

Lu Xuan felt that H-[-] could only refuel two fighters at a time, which was extremely painful.

"This..."

Hearing Lu Xuan's request, Zhang Zhiping was stunned.

Refueling six fighter planes at once, they never thought about such a problem.

"Director Lu, although the current development direction of tanker aircraft in various countries in the world is an aircraft with both refueling systems."

"This mixed refueling method is inherently difficult, and there is no international precedent for refueling six fighter jets at the same time."

Zhang Zhiping was about to cry, he just wanted to issue a military order, but he didn't expect Lu Xuan to put forward higher demands.

"Install a hard pipe refueling system at the tail of the tanker."

"Hose refueling systems installed on the wings and belly."

"Such a layout can fully refuel six fighters at the same time."

Only Lu Xuan knows that there is no such thing now, but it doesn't mean there won't be any in the future.

Later, the aerial refueling machine developed by Mao Xiong can refuel eight fighters.

"Also, isn't the hose refueling system developed?"

"And the hard pipe refueling system will not take long."

"Now it's just a matter of integrating the two systems."

"Though it's much harder to do than it is to say."

"But I haven't done it yet, how do you know it won't work?"

Lu Xuan said with some displeasure.

Lu Xuan didn't ask them to develop a tanker that can refuel eight fighters at the same time.

For him, if he is timid before doing it, what else can he achieve?Not to mention innovation.

"Director Lu, the two refueling systems already take up too much space and load."

"Refueling six fighter planes at the same time will affect the flight stability of the tanker..."

Zhang Zhiping frowned even deeper, he thought it was completely unnecessary.

"Yajiao has long-range strategic bombers such as B-52 and B-2."

"Mao Xiong even has super strategic bombers like Tu-95 and Tu-160."

"Moreover, they also have a huge number of fighter planes deployed across the country or even around the world."

"They don't have big requirements for tankers, but they are still doing a lot of research and development on tankers."

"What about us? We only have a H-[-] with a combat radius of [-] kilometers."

"And Sword 1200 and Sword 1400 with a combat radius of 9 to 10 kilometers."

"But with our national strength, how many such expensive fighters can we currently equip?"

"If we don't have more advanced aerial tankers, how can we ensure long-range combat capability?"

Lu Xuan's words left everyone present speechless.

"Director Lu, this requires more funds and more time..."

They knew that once Lu Xuan made a decision, there was no way to change it.

Half a year is certainly not enough time to do this. What is important is that they need more funds.

"As I said, funding is not an issue."

"You just need to develop according to my requirements."

"Of course, I don't want the R&D money to go beyond technology development."

Lu Xuan cast a glance at Liu Pengfei, director of Qin Fei's factory, obviously dissatisfied with Liu Pengfei's welcome ceremony.

Although a grand welcome ceremony does not cost much, it is still a month's wages for many workers.

Liu Pengfei blushed, and quickly patted his chest to reassure him, "Don't worry, Director Lu, we will definitely use the funds for this purpose."

"The funds for these years have not been used elsewhere. All of them have been used for tanker and bomber projects."

Speaking of bombers, Lu Xuan frowned again.

Qin Fei's tanker has not yet been produced, so what about the bomber?

"How is the development of the bomber going?" Lu Xuan asked, rubbing his forehead.

"Shen Fei's technology is better than ours."

"But they don't want to work with us."

"Even if we cooperate, we must let them lead..."

Liu Pengfei didn't answer the progress of the bombing project, but the meaning was obvious.

Lu Xuan couldn't help but feel a little bit pained. This kind of thing happens all over the country or the whole world.

"Director Liu, I want to know."

"Do you value the country's national defense cause more, or your personal future?"