Daming 1805

Chapter 463
Zhu Jingyuan discussed with the craftsmen for a while, and chose the general specifications of the shipboard early warning aircraft.

Then Zhu Jingyuan continued to exhort and remind:

"The biggest difficulty in the design of early warning aircraft is the integration of a large number of high-power and complex electronic equipment.

"Radio detection equipment, radio communication equipment, and, of necessity, transistorized computers.

"How to solve the electromagnetic compatibility problem of these things?
"This should be a long-standing research category, and I can't give any constructive advice in this regard.

"Then there is the structural design and flight control technology of the aircraft itself.

"If the airframe of the AWACS is newly designed, then the manufacturing standards will naturally have to be re-established.

"What's more important is that there is a huge disc on the back of the machine, which will obviously directly affect the shape of the boot.

"So how do you keep this strange organism balanced and controllable?

"How to maximize the use of the dish radome that has to be installed, and use it as a second layer of wing to provide additional lift.

"This is also an important issue that needs to be solved in the design process of the early warning aircraft.

"I don't know much about this, and I still need specific design craftsmen to experiment and solve it..."

Zhu Jingyuan paused at this point, and the craftsmen immediately started discussing.

"Let the dish radar antenna provide lift? That's why it was designed as a biplane from the beginning..."

"With such a large plate on the back of the aircraft, the trim and control are indeed problems, but as a second layer of wings, there is a feeling of sudden enlightenment..."

"It's not the same. The shape of this disc is rounded at most, and it cannot be the shape of a normal wing. The key point is that you can't add ailerons, flaps, or spoilers. It can only provide lift and cannot enhance control capabilities..."

"So the control surface of the wing is all on the normal wing below."

"The control surface will be larger. Your Highness has already drawn it. The huge horizontal tail and the four vertical tails..."

"His Royal Highness has always been so modest. This obviously has already proposed a design idea, and he also said that he can't give opinions."

"There's also the issue of electromagnetic interference, and being aware of that is a very important opinion in itself."

Zhu Jingyuan and the craftsmen discussed in this conference room until noon.

A batch of simple assumptions and preliminary design schemes have been formed.

A group of people ate at the proving ground at noon, and went to see various advanced machines in the on-site testing of the proving ground together in the afternoon.

This test site is the core test base in the southern part of the Ming Dynasty, and its main task is to test various aviation and aerospace engines.

Here is a collection of the most advanced aviation and aerospace engines of Ming Dynasty, as well as various engines that are being tested, verified, and are under conception and exploration.

The first are those already seen this morning, the ultimate version of the piston engine used in current propeller aircraft, using turbocharging, water injection afterburning, or turbine energy recovery engines.

Then there are practical turboprop engines and turbojet engines that have been initially formed.

The next step is to design the turboshaft engine that is being tested, that is, the turbine engine used for helicopters.

As well as test engines for several rockets and missiles of different classes and specifications.

Finally, there is the ramjet engine which explores the concept.

The ramjet engine is one of the typical engines of supersonic missiles in Zhu Jingyuan's previous life.

The concept of this engine actually appeared very early, and it existed before World War I.

However, the requirements for materials and craftsmanship were too high, and it was not really practical until the middle and late stages of the Cold War.

Now Zhu Jingyuan has brought out the concept and let the craftsmen start to toss ahead of time.

In addition to engines, there are also the carriers of these engines, that is, various types of aircraft, rockets, and missiles.

There are many kinds of aircraft, single-engine and twin-engine fighters and bombers, as well as four-engine transport aircraft and bombers.

In terms of missiles and rockets, according to Zhu Jingyuan's suggestion, they are divided into strategic missiles and rockets that do not strictly limit specifications, conventional tactical missiles and rockets of about two tons, and air-to-air missiles that pursue speed and hit rate.

Finally, there are various rocket launchers and rocket depth bombs that are more miniaturized.

Zhu Jingyuan, Li Rui and other craftsmen walked around the main warehouse and testing ground, and returned to the previous meeting room at around four o'clock in the afternoon.

Li Rui put forward new questions and suggestions to Zhu Jingyuan from the perspective of his position:
"Your Highness, according to your discussion and speculation with everyone, in the next ten years or so, the turbine, guidance, radio detection and other technologies we are developing will be gradually applied, and a new round of military equipment revolution will also be launched simultaneously.

"Now these technologies are already being put into practical use or are about to be put into practice, at least they are already being developed.

"So should we start designing specialized warships earlier?
"Warships that use missiles as their main weapons and use radio detection technology on a large scale must have a huge difference in design ideas from previous warships. Should we start preparing in advance?"

Zhu Jingyuan thought about it for a while, and instead of answering directly, he asked a question first:

"What is Wang Lai Wang's main task now?"

Li Rui immediately reported:

"The core task directly responsible is to design [-]-ton aircraft carriers and battleships.

"There are still many important projects in charge of as a servant.

"There are mainly 24-ton steam catapults, 30-horsepower boilers and turbine systems.

"480mm-class battleship guns, [-]-ton electroslag furnaces and larger-scale hydraulic self-tightening equipment.

"Automatic loading system for naval guns with a caliber of 160mm and below.

"Research on the linkage between radio detection, fire control computer and firing command system.

"Feasibility study of spent uranium shells, design and development of various proximity fuzes, optimization and upgrade of submarine structure and control design.

"There are also plans to upgrade old ships that have been completed using new technologies and so on.

"If Your Highness wants to learn more, you can call Wang Lai to report to you. Lao Wang will be very happy."

After hearing this, Zhu Jingyuan waved his hands subconsciously:

"With so many projects, I feel tired and flustered after listening to it, so it's better not to torment him yet.

"A warship designed around a guided weapon is really a new kind of warship that really needs to be designed specifically.

"However, the conditions for designing such a guided missile cruiser are not yet mature.

"The research and development of the most critical missiles has not yet been completed.

"The main reason is that the guidance accuracy is still too poor, and it does not have real practical significance for the time being.

"As for capital ships, the aircraft carrier we are building now is actually almost finished.

"I'm not going to mount direct-launch anti-ship missiles directly on the carrier itself.

"The missiles on the aircraft carrier should be mainly airborne missiles.

"Airplanes can be replaced at any time, and guided bombs and airborne missiles can be installed and used at any time.

"Radio detection equipment can also be retrofitted for installation.

"The future research direction of the aircraft carrier itself is to continue to enlarge, [-] tons or even [-] tons.

"So the work in this area is not busy."

Although Li Rui is not directly in charge of warship design related projects, he is still familiar with the general situation of the same Yamen.

Hearing Zhu Jingyuan's train of thought, he nodded subconsciously, and then realized a new problem:

"Your Highness is right, it's too early to directly design a guided missile cruiser.

"Also, Lao Wang's side is really busy, and there are no fewer things than my side.

"Then, when it comes to Lao Wang's project, the Ordnance Department actually has a problem to be determined.

"The final improvement of the aircraft carrier's combat system and the final maturity of the missile system will be a matter of the next ten years at most.

"At that time, battleships will have no practical use.

"The design of the 480-ton battleship and the supporting [-]mm artillery project should be at least five years away when the relevant research is completed and completed.

"At that time, the aircraft carrier should already be able to stand on its own. If it continues to serve for five years, it may really be useless.

"Under such circumstances, is it necessary for us to continue the research on this battleship?"

Facing this question, Zhu Jingyuan obviously hesitated for a moment.

If cost and demand are not considered, and personal feelings and preferences are simply considered, Zhu Jingyuan certainly hopes to complete the design and construction of the [-]-ton warship.

Even if only one or two ships are built.

Zhu Jingyuan's personal heart has always been unable to refuse the romance of the big ship and cannon.

It's just that when considering practical issues, Zhu Jingyuan certainly knows that there is no need to continue to build larger-scale battleships if he makes a normal judgment based on his own naval concepts and ideas.

When the missile technology matures, the significance of the battleship is only the remnant deterrence of the old era.

On the actual battlefield, the aircraft carrier will soon be able to take the lead alone, completely eliminating the battleships from the main fleet.

For this deterrence, is it worthwhile to continue building this kind of warship?
Or you can just build one or two ships, pick them up when they are out of use, and pay for them as museum exhibits.

Let future generations be able to directly see that their country has built such a mighty and majestic war machine.

One's own personal income can definitely afford to build and support a fleet.

Of course, the large aircraft carriers in the future, the current battleships and aircraft carriers, will also have the choice to keep some of them.

It is also used as a naval museum to introduce the past to future generations.

Zhu Jingyuan thought for a while, and then told Li Rui his own analysis:

"If there is no large-scale naval battle in the world in about 20 years, then battleships will still be useful.

"As long as actual combat does not break out, and the aircraft carrier does not directly destroy the battleship in naval battles, it is difficult for the actual deterrent power of the aircraft carrier to quickly surpass that of the battleship.

"At present, there are no signs of large-scale wars and naval battles breaking out in the world...

"So, for the time being, continue the research step by step, and continue to complete the design of the [-]-ton battleship."

Li Rui understood Zhu Jingyuan's thinking, this is "accumulated prestige".

The patriarch of the ruling group for decades, as long as he hasn't really died, all the subjects will always fear him.

A new challenger in a group, no matter whether the actual strength has surpassed the original overlord or not, as long as there is no direct force to defeat the opponent, other onlookers will always recognize the original overlord.

This principle is actually very simple and very true.

In Zhu Jingyuan's previous life, even in the 21st century, there were still various so-called military enthusiasts who always insisted that modern missiles cannot destroy battleships.

Because the battleships were not directly hit by missiles until they were all retired.

Li Rui thought about it for a while, and couldn't help asking subconsciously:

"Then can we actively promote a war? Use aircraft carriers and missiles to sink the opponent's battleship?"

Zhu Jingyuan directly asked:
"Why are we doing this? It won't do us any good, Ming.

"From the standpoint of Ming Dynasty, we should avoid the sinking of battleships by aircraft carriers and missiles.

"Can you understand why?"

Li Rui and the craftsmen at the scene really didn't understand.

If you are talking to other princes or even the emperor, if you don't understand it in your heart, you probably dare not ask directly.

But Zhu Jingyuan is different, Zhu Jingyuan is a very good teacher, and the craftsmen are most familiar with Zhu Jingyuan.

So Li Rui asked directly without hesitation:

"I also ask Your Highness to advise..."

Zhu Jingyuan sat at the table, picked up a few small models on the table and explained with gestures:

"If there is no major war, our battleships are stronger than all the battleships of other countries.

"Our aircraft carrier is also stronger than all other countries' aircraft carriers.

"Our future missiles will be developed earlier than all other countries, and they will definitely be more powerful.

"It may be possible that at a certain node, one of our missiles or aircraft is weaker than a certain model of other countries, and this special situation may occur.

"Even if other countries, such as the British, one of their military personnel thinks that an aircraft carrier can unilaterally suppress a battleship relatively easily, other people will not fully accept it without showing the actual results of the war.

"At the very least, that notion will not become a consensus, but will be constantly questioned.

"The vast majority of politicians and military personnel, the general cognition of ordinary people in the whole world, or all the types of weapons they own, correspond to weapons of the same kind that are weaker than ours in Ming Dynasty.

"The saying that the British aircraft carrier can defeat the Ming Dynasty's battleships will not become public knowledge without actual combat.

"So in this case, our Ming's weapons and equipment will be considered all-round strong.

"Once a war breaks out, once an aircraft carrier actually unilaterally suppresses a battleship, and even a battleship is sunk by a guided missile cruiser or even a guided missile boat, the situation will be completely different.

"The military personnel of other countries will start to believe that their own aircraft carriers have a suppressive effect on Ming's battleships, and their own guided missile cruisers and even destroyers have a chance to sink Ming's battleships.

"In this way, the deterrent effect of the battleship will be gone.

"Of course, our aircraft carriers and battleships are still able to gain deterrence, but the overall deterrence of the Ming Navy has been reduced.

"Other small and medium-sized countries have gained the ability to challenge the capital ships of the Ming Navy.

"Missile weapons give small countries the courage and possibility to challenge big ones.

"Just like if people stand together with bare hands, a strong man of two hundred catties will definitely form a huge deterrent to a thin man of one hundred catties, and the thin man will definitely face the strong man cautiously.

"But if both of them are holding pistols, the big guy's size is less of a deterrent.

"Even if a strong man is physically strong, even if he takes a few bullets from an ordinary pistol, he won't be able to die, but he will definitely be seriously injured.

"What's more important is that the appearance is disfigured, so that the thin man has a chance to fight the strong man.

"The battle line is the brawny man, and the missile is the pistol.

"A carrier can be thought of as an archer.

"So we should avoid war as much as possible now.

"If war inevitably breaks out, it is also necessary to prevent our battle lines from engaging the enemy's aircraft carriers and missile warships.

"Let the battle line escort the aircraft carrier, and let the aircraft carrier carry out combat missions.

"Unless the enemy has no missiles, the number and specifications of the enemy's battle lines are obviously weaker than ours.

"And the battle line is acting alone without the escort of an aircraft carrier.

"We might use ten or eight battleships to deal with the enemy's two or three battleships.

"This is not only because the aircraft carrier is more efficient, but also to save the last face for our own battle line."

After Zhu Jingyuan explained it this way, the craftsmen headed by Li Rui fully understood.

The truth is still the same, the battle line will not be easily defeated by reality, and the power will always exist.

The large number of battle lines of Ming Dynasty will continue to provide deterrence.

Once the battle line is abolished, Ming's deterrent power will drop, and the gap between the enemy's deterrent power will be greatly reduced.

So try not to fight as much as possible, and don't let the battle line fight alone, unless it is a must-win game.

The craftsmen headed by Li Rui expressed their understanding one after another.

Zhu Jingyuan took a breath, took a sip of water, and continued to arrange future work:

"So the work of the Ordnance Department in the next few years is to do the work at hand step by step.

"Wang Gong's main task is the engineering and research directly related to warships.

"Li Gong, your main task here is aeronautical engineering and tank-related projects.

"Engineering projects related to electronic computers and atomic energy will continue to be placed in Xintianfu.

"If nothing else, no new large-scale projects will be launched in the next few years."

Listening to Zhu Jingyuan's instructions, Li Rui felt that Zhu Jingyuan was considering his previous complaints again, so he was about to lighten his burden and tasks, so he quickly stood up and explained:
"Your Highness, you don't need to worry, we understand our mission, and it's not that we can't accept the current job.

"As craftsmen of the central court, the treatment we can enjoy now is the best in the world.

"Your Highness, your generosity, your care and guidance to the craftsmen are unparalleled in the world.

"Your achievements in invention, creation and engineering are also convincing to all craftsmen.

"All of us are very happy to continue to complete more research and design under your guidance."

Zhu Jingyuan smiled and waved his hand:
"Everyone's work in recent years has been very stressful.

"Under my continuous urging, the research on ordnance and science and technology can be said to be running forward in the past ten years.

"We have achieved a lot of important results, but the foundation is obviously not solid.

"So in the next few years, let's slow down a little and settle down.

"Moreover, I am going to change my mind about the development and design of new warships in the next stage.

"After preparations and other related subsystems are completed, we will do integration projects such as battleship design.

"Because our lead over Western countries is large enough.

"Although we may stop and wait for them, there is no need to squeeze the potential to widen the gap with them.

“From now on, everyone will move forward step by step.

"Finally, my administration training Renwu as the prince has now reached the most critical stage.

"I may not have enough energy to focus on engineering research in the next few years."

After hearing Zhu Jingyuan's first two sentences, Li Rui still wanted to persist.

But when he heard the next two sentences, he immediately shut up.

This year is the 11th year of Ankang.

The current emperor of Ming Dynasty, Zhu Jianyan, is already 56 years old.

According to the tradition left by Emperor Shizu, the Ming emperor usually retires at the age of 60.

Zhu Jianyan will be in Zen in four years.

At the same time, the successor selected by the emperor will return to Beijing to serve as the Minister of the Ministry of Officials after completing the local administrative training.

The time of serving as Minister of the Ministry of Officials is usually two years.

If the current Zhu Jianyan retires according to the normal age, he will have to choose his heir in the past two years.

Zhu Jingyuan's identity is indeed very special, as long as officials and clans who are a little bit more informed, they all think that Zhu Jingyuan is the confirmed heir.

Just look at the actual positions he held.

This kind of situation has not never happened before. When a certain prince was training in a local area, he was assigned an additional position, or was assigned to a special place.

That means that the prince has been favored by the emperor since he was a child.

As long as he can pass the training assessment normally, if there is no trouble in the future, he is likely to succeed in the end.

The level of Zhu Jingyuan's additional position far exceeds that of all similar princes in the past.

Obviously, he was also favored since he was a child, and he has been treated like this since the host participated in the Western Cape Peace Conference.

But he is indeed just a prince, and has not been clearly identified as a "prince".

In fact, even the crown prince is only an heir.

From the perspective of ordinary Ming people, even in ordinary manufacturers or big families, even if the patriarch and the big boss have confirmed a certain child as the heir, this heir has to work hard in the last few years and do things in a stable manner.

Maybe even more cautious, just like those princes before.

It doesn't work if you don't do it well, you don't do it too well, you don't do it like your father, and it may not be feasible to completely copy what your father did.

In any case, it is necessary to establish a good relationship with people from all walks of life, so that after the official takeover, you can truly and directly control the entire family or manufacturer.

Normal families and other members of the manufacturer, unless they intend to compete for the position of the heir, will basically cooperate with the heir and the future helm as much as possible.

Li Rui and other craftsmen now took it for granted that Zhu Jingyuan should have the same mentality now.

The main energy should be focused on responding to governance training, so as to avoid being caught by possible competitors.

So Li Rui and other craftsmen immediately realized that the Ordnance Department should not bother His Highness in the past two years.

Let's settle down for a few years first, don't worry about anything else, it won't be too late to wait until His Highness formally succeeds to the throne.

Li Rui immediately agreed with understanding:

"Thank you for His Highness's concern and understanding. Our Ordnance Department will definitely not cause His Highness any trouble in the past few years."

(End of this chapter)