Chapter 2867
'Longbow' Detection Radar
Chapter 2867 'Longbow' Detection Radar
end of September.
A shooting range on the outskirts of Beijing.
By this time, the summer heat had subsided by about 70-80%, and the morning air was quite cool.
The firing range is nestled against the foothills of the Yanshan Mountains, with distant mountains bathed in a light blue mist.
Along the road, poplar trees lined the target path, their leaves half yellow and half green. When the wind blew, they rustled, like someone shaking an old record, emitting the sound of an era.
Boom boom boom
rumble rumble
In the distance, a deafening sound came from the road, followed by a line of Yellow River heavy trucks leading the way, with soldiers armed to the teeth standing on the trucks.
Behind the heavy trucks were rows of heavily armored vehicles, with a soldier peeking out from the roof of one of them, guarding the anti-aircraft machine gun in front of him and glancing around from time to time.
Behind the armored vehicles were rows of Optimus Prime heavy trucks, towing cannons as they slowly advanced along the road. The cannons behind them were covered with gun covers, but their outlines revealed that the muzzles were quite large.
Behind it was a modified armored vehicle covered by a rain cover, making it difficult to see inside.
Behind this armored vehicle are rows of tanks.
There are Type 59 tanks and main battle tanks.
There weren't many, but they were quite conspicuous in the convoy.
Blah blah blah
Just as the convoy arrived at the firing range, a buzzing sound suddenly came from overhead, followed by two helicopters flying over the convoy, causing the treetops to droop.
On the helicopter.
Yang Xiaotao looked at Boss Peng and Old Chen across from him, then at Old Zhang, who was in charge of security. If anything happened, he would probably be finished.
No wonder the pilot was sweating profusely even before boarding the plane.
This would be incredibly stressful for anyone.
"This helicopter is pretty good."
Ever since he boarded the helicopter, Old Chen has been full of curiosity, looking at this and touching that, just like a curious child.
Mr. Peng nodded in agreement, glancing out the window through the glass from time to time.
Old Zhang, however, had prior experience riding in helicopters and immediately chimed in, "You two leaders, this helicopter has been improved. In the earliest days, the noise inside was so bad that you had to shout to talk."
"I'm feeling better now."
After saying that, he looked at Yang Xiaotao and asked, "I heard that this was your feedback?"
Yang Xiaotao was looking at the convoy below when he heard Zhang Lao's question. He nodded and said, "I rode in it when I went to Guancheng last time, and I gave my opinion when I came back."
After speaking, Yang Xiaotao looked at General Peng again and asked, "Commander, is it necessary for us to be so formal?"
"It's just a radar test, and they've brought trucks, tanks, mortars, howitzers, and rocket launchers. They're really giving us too much credit."
After Yang Xiaotao finished speaking, General Peng turned around and said, "Since it's a test, let's test it in actual combat."
"This also helps us identify problems more effectively."
Mr. Zhang, who was standing to the side, also chimed in, "Peng is right, that's how we find the problem."
He then asked, "Xiao Yang, what kind of artillery reconnaissance radar do you have? It doesn't have an official name?"
Yang Xiaotao shook his head, "It doesn't have a name, mainly because we don't know if it will be successful, so we haven't named it."
"So what do you usually call each other?"
Old Chen asked curiously, and Yang Xiaotao smiled and said, "It's usually called artillery reconnaissance radar."
"However, the comrades at the Fourteenth Institute gave him a nickname, and sometimes they call him that."
Old Zhang asked curiously, "What nickname?"
Yang Xiaotao laughed and said, "These comrades think that the radar looks like a drawn bow from the side, so they call it the Longbow."
"longbow?"
Mr. Peng listened and nodded slowly as if he were chewing on something. “I think it would be more appropriate to call this a longbow. A longbow can hold its power and then shoot the arrow.”
"Let's call it Longbow!"
Old Chen had no objections, and Yang Xiaotao certainly wouldn't either.
After the group settled on the names, Old Zhang said, "I heard you made two longbows this time?"
Yang Xiaotao nodded, "Yes."
"The other one is a backup."
"Then, could you..."
Upon hearing this, Yang Xiaotao immediately turned to look outside, understanding the other party's intentions.
Seeing this, Old Zhang gritted his teeth and said, "Let's just buy it, shall we?"
Before Yang Xiaotao could turn around after saying this, Old Chen suddenly patted Old Zhang on the shoulder and said, "Old Zhang, you can't afford it."
Old Zhang stared wide-eyed, then looked at Yang Xiaotao, then at Boss Peng, before finally asking cautiously, "How much?"
Old Chen smiled and said, "Cost price, ten million."
hiss~~~
"Don't scare me!"
Old Chen ignored him and looked out the window.
Old Zhang was completely speechless this time.
This is too expensive.
That's enough for him to form an armored regiment.
"This is from Beian, take a look."
Just as the group was silent, President Peng suddenly handed a document to Yang Xiaotao.
Yang Xiaotao was stunned for a moment, then quickly took it, opened it and glanced at it, then looked up at President Peng.
“That’s right, the United States has already used it on the battlefield.”
"The Alliance has also discovered this situation, and I believe they will soon begin investigating it."
At this point, Old Chen spoke up, "The Alliance wants to cooperate with us to research minicomputers. To put it bluntly, they've got their eye on our 'Nine Machines, Number One'. By the way, is our radar also made of this type this time?"
Yang Xiaotao nodded first, then said, "Yes, all the components used in this radar were produced by our Ninth Division ourselves."
"The computer used in it is the 'Nine Machines No. 1' that we made based on the United States minicomputer. It is a bit larger than the other one, but its computing power is no less."
"Moreover, we are constantly making improvements, and we have made progress. Once new computers are available, this radar will be improved and upgraded accordingly."
Old Chen nodded in satisfaction.
Don't be fooled by how much money the nine departments spend; they actually get things done.
Unlike some departments that not only spent money but also wasted it, the money spent on these nine projects can be earned back many times over. For example, the research and development cost of the artillery reconnaissance radar this time was not ten million, but it was still more than one million.
But if we were to sell them, they would cost ten million dollars each, and that would be in US dollars.
So, as long as you sell one unit, you can make back all the costs.
They might even be able to earn the funds for subsequent research and development.
But can this thing be sold?
At least before he came, he and President Peng had an unspoken understanding that they couldn't sell.
How can we sell the advantages we've worked so hard to build?
But now, it seems to Yang Xiaotao that there's still room for improvement?
Then, could you please try it out?
Anyway, other countries already have it, so even if we don't sell it, other countries will sell it sooner or later.
Why not take this opportunity to make a quick profit?
Old Chen exchanged a glance with President Peng without leaving a trace, and then asked, "Young Yang, tell me about the performance of this radar."
Without much thought, Yang Xiaotao recited the data from the previous design.
This radar uses an X-band wavelength to achieve target tracking capabilities.
"The radar we are researching is expected to be able to detect relevant artillery units within a 20-kilometer radius, quickly calculate the launch point location by tracking the trajectory, and then react rapidly."
"Of course, this is just data on paper; its actual effectiveness still needs to be verified in practice."
Old Chen nodded, then pondered for a moment before saying, "Isn't twenty kilometers too close? Could it be a little further?"
Yang Xiaotao nodded, "Theoretically, with improvements to the radar, it can travel even further."
"However, with the increased range comes more data reception and more data processing, requiring faster computers."
"In short, it's about better radar and better computers."
Old Chen understood Yang Xiaotao's meaning and began to make plans in his mind.
As they talked, in the helicopter behind them, Li Yunlong and his two companions sat together, listening to Liang Zuoxin introduce the helicopter. Their eyes showed both joy and envy.
In recent days, they have also inquired about the situation of the Ninth Department, especially hearing many things from Zhao Gang.
Most of the people in this convoy below are from the Ninth Department's Security Division.
These two helicopters are from Division 9.
"Old Li, we need to take a few of these with us."
Ding Wei's face radiated with pride and excitement.
Before Li Yunlong could answer, Kong Jie chimed in, "How many more?"
"Let me tell you, the higher-ups thought about this thing when I was in Northeast China, and guess what happened?"
Old Kong took out his pipe and put it in his mouth. Although he didn't light it, he took a couple of puffs out of habit before saying in a very lifelike manner, "That's how the comrade answered."
"Hello, comrade, we are sorry, your mission level is not high enough, we cannot accept the mission, we are very sorry."
As Old Kong spoke, he made everyone in the helicopter laugh.
Do you know who said that?
"Our boss there called personally, identified himself, and that's the answer he gave."
"Now you'll know how difficult this thing is."
At this point, Kong Jie lowered his voice and said, "We've all heard about it; this thing is even harder to deal with than that White Horse."
"If you want something, you need connections."
"If you have a strong enough relationship, you can get anything."
Ding Wei glanced at Liang Zuoxin, who was standing to the side looking rather reserved, and then nudged Li Yunlong. "Old Li, you're a close friend, say something."
Li Yunlong rolled his eyes. "Old Ding, stop talking nonsense. I'm an honest man and I never do anything crooked."
As soon as he finished speaking, Ding Wei and Kong Jie both had a look of disbelief.
"You, Old Li, aren't trying to hog all the food, are you?"
Kong Jie said coldly, "This kid used to be like that, secretly hiding anything good, afraid that others would see it."
"Old Ding, I reckon this guy isn't telling the truth."
Li Yunlong waved his hands repeatedly, then said with a grin, "I'm really not lying to you. Last time I tricked several of their cars, how could I dare to go near them?"
"However, it's not like there's no way."
Kong Jie hurriedly asked, "What, what method?"
"Hehe, I've heard that there's a Red Star Machinery Factory in the Northwest, owned by the Ninth Division. They have a lot of good stuff there."
"There are several helicopters too. It wouldn't be unreasonable for us to borrow them later."
Ding Wei's eyes lit up. Although it wasn't exactly honorable, it was indeed a possible path.
The three exchanged a glance and all smiled knowingly.
Liang Zuoxin, who was standing to the side, turned his head to look out the window, and found it amusing.
These three people still want to take advantage of Hongxing Machinery Factory?
Damn it, once they get there and see who's inside, they'll know. Better stand at attention!
The car stopped.
Soldiers on the truck ahead began to stand guard around the area.
Then, the helicopter landed.
Yang Xiaotao got off the bus first, and this time he felt much better than last time.
Then the others got off the bus one after another.
General Peng glanced around, then nodded. "The troops are deploying as planned."
Old Zhang immediately saluted and left, while Yang Xiaotao followed the radar vehicle uphill.
Li Yunlong and his two companions had already made their plans: Ding Wei would go with him to command the vehicle, Li Yunlong would go with Yang Xiaotao and the others to the high ground, and Kong Jie would conduct an on-site inspection.
Upon arriving at the high ground, Yang Xiaotao had just sat down when Liu Xiangdong and several others came to operate the vehicle.
Besides the people from the research institute, there were also Wang Qing and a few others who came from the Jinling No. 14 Research Institute. They were mainly responsible for the operation of the radar.
Shortly after, the radar was activated after the technicians inspected it.
Liu Xiangdong came to report the situation, "Minister Yang, everything is ready, we can begin at any time."
Yang Xiaotao nodded and walked to the command post in the distance. "President Peng, everything is ready, and we can start the experiment at any time."
Mr. Peng nodded, "Okay, let's begin!"
Old Zhang nodded, picked up the phone, and then shouted loudly, "The exercise begins!"