The rise of great powers: starting from military industry

This day.

Liu Tao drove a ‘Ray Sculpture’ helicopter to the Guizhou Aircraft Group.

When he arrived at the flight test academy, he saw the large aircraft that was somewhat similar to the Yun-10, but also somewhat different.

This was a tanker modified on the basis of the Yun-10 based on the needs of the Air Force.

On the other side, there was another aircraft that was also very similar to the Yun-10, but it was an early warning aircraft modified on the basis of the Yun-10.

As a passenger aircraft, the Yun-10 still had to complete many test flights before it could obtain an airworthiness certificate. After all, for civil aircraft, safety is the first priority, and all aspects must have high requirements.

However, tankers, early warning aircraft, and transport aircraft are different. As military aircraft, safety, comfort, and so on are not so important.

Originally, it would be best to wait until the Yun-10 was completely completed before changing it to a tanker, transport aircraft, and early warning aircraft.

But the Air Force can’t wait any longer.

Specially and strongly requested the Guizhou Aircraft Group to develop prototypes of tankers, early warning aircraft, and transport aircraft.

Yes, the Air Force really can’t wait any longer now.

The Air Force now has advanced fighters and advanced trainer aircraft, and even auxiliary helicopters have "Ray Sculpture" helicopters, but in terms of transport aircraft, refueling aircraft, and early warning aircraft, it is very lacking, which is a weak link.

In terms of early warning aircraft, China previously only had one KJ-1 modified on the basis of the Tu-4 bomber. At that time, due to strong practical needs, China invested almost all its resources in the development of the KJ-1 early warning aircraft.

However, the radar P-type display used by the KJ-1 only had a long afterglow at that time, and the operator and controller had to keep a close eye on the display, otherwise they might miss the air situation. In addition, the KJ-1 was also backward in radar data processing and information transmission, lacking a practical human-machine interface, which made a high-tech airborne early warning aircraft have to rely on manual mapping and voice communication to transmit information.

In the end, because the radar performance could not meet the actual combat needs, the development of the KJ-1 was stopped in 1979, and the original KJ-1 was refitted into a bomber after the project was discontinued and continued to serve the Chinese Air Force.

In the past ten years, China has not failed to develop early warning aircraft, but the development of early warning aircraft is too difficult, and coupled with the problem of carriers, only two Y-8s were converted into two early warning aircraft later. However, compared with the imported E2 early warning aircraft, the performance is not satisfactory and cannot satisfy the Air Force.

Now China's early warning aircraft, the most advanced is the E2 early warning aircraft, but there is only one. At that time, China was really short of foreign exchange, so it gritted its teeth and imported one. When it was time to import more later, the Americans were unwilling to export the E2 early warning aircraft to China.

However, the early warning aircraft cannot be abandoned, so the work on the development of early warning aircraft has never stopped.

After all, the early warning aircraft is an airborne command and early warning aircraft with a complete set of long-range warning radar systems. It can be used to search and monitor air or sea targets, command and guide its own aircraft to perform combat missions, and play the role of "soul" and "nerve center" in war.

It is so important that China naturally cannot give up its efforts in early warning aircraft.

After the restart of the Y-10, the prototype performed well, and the Air Force became active in the early warning aircraft.

As for transport aircraft, the same is true. China's demand for transport aircraft is very urgent.

Speaking of China's transport aircraft, the original origin can be attributed to the United States' assistance to China in various types of transport aircraft during World War II, such as C46 and C47 transport aircraft. Later, after the establishment of the Republic, transport aircraft were introduced from the Soviet Union and developed on this basis. The imported transport aircraft include Li-2, Il-12, An-2, etc., and domestic transport aircraft such as Yun-5, Yun-6, Yun-8, etc. were developed on this basis.

Yun-8 is the most advanced domestic transport aircraft in China, but compared with the transport aircraft of the United States and the Soviet Union, Yun-8 is too backward and far from meeting the needs of the army.

The tanker is also in an embarrassing situation. China's tanker is modified from the Yun-8 transport aircraft, that is, the 'Yunyou-8' tanker.

However, no matter how the 'Yunyou-8' tanker is modified, its fuel capacity is only 20 tons now.

As for China's first tanker, the H-6, it is not satisfactory. When the refueling radius is 1,000 kilometers, it can only provide 10 tons of fuel, which means that if the H-6 can only refuel one J-11 fighter.

This reflects the importance of the Y-10 aircraft. As long as it is there, it can be transformed into a tanker, an early warning aircraft, and a transport aircraft.

However, Liu Tao is somewhat dissatisfied with its shape.

In the future, it is still necessary to develop military large aircraft. The Y-10 aircraft is just the beginning, not the end.

Ma Fengshan saw Liu Tao and hurried forward.

"Master Ma, thank you for your hard work!" Liu Tao took the initiative to shake hands.

After Ma Fengshan joined Panshan Group, he devoted himself to the Y-10 aircraft. With the support of Panshan Group, he finally brought the original Y-10 team together again.

Over the years, Ma Fengshan has never slacked off and can be called a model worker.

If it were not for the strict monitoring of medical staff, I am afraid Ma Fengshan would have died of illness.

However, even with the most advanced medical team at Panshan Hospital, Ma Fengshan's health is not optimistic. His health was too bad before, and it is not easy to make up for it now.

Moreover, Ma Fengshan is 64 years old, and his old injuries are flaring up.

Even if the expert team is optimistic, they think it is difficult for Ma Fengshan to live for more than five years.

Liu Tao had a special talk with Ma Fengshan about his health condition, but Ma Fengshan refused to retire and chose to fight on the front line. He wanted to shine as much as possible and make the Y-10 aircraft successful as soon as possible.

The Y-10 aircraft can be said to be the most important effort in his life. For Ma Fengshan, the Y-10 aircraft is his child, even closer and more important than his children.

Liu Tao chose to respect Ma Fengshan.

Because he can understand Ma Fengshan's heart.

"The early warning aircraft and the tanker have flown four times and performed very well. We have confidence in the Y-10 aircraft. It will definitely support a piece of the sky in China." Ma Fengshan's voice was a little hoarse, but his voice was firm and powerful.

Liu Tao also said: "I have full confidence in the Y-10 aircraft and believe it will succeed!"

So far, more than a dozen Y-10s have been built, all of which have been handed over to Xi'an Aircraft.

The Y-10 used by Panshan Group for transportation is the largest transport aircraft of Panshan Group. It can transport goods and is also undergoing tests.

So far, the performance of the Y-10 is much better than that of the original Y-10 prototype.

It has more advanced engines, more advanced aviation layout, better fuselage materials and processing conditions.

Although it is still called the Y-10, it is a completely different aircraft from the original Y-10 prototype.

It's just that everyone still calls it the Y-10.

In recent years, the Y-10 development team has grown much stronger than before. A large number of college students have joined the team, replenishing their vitality and getting training. Perhaps in a few years, they will be the backbone of China's passenger aircraft field.