Chapter 231 Electronic Technology (Updated)

Zelenograd, a satellite city outside Moscow, code-named NI-35 Institute of Semiconductor Electronics Research and Development.

This is the advanced enterprise of semiconductor electronic technology in the Soviet Union. In later generations, it was also the backbone enterprise of Russia's microwave solid-state circuits and devices: the "Pulsar" Scientific and Production Association.

In the Soviet Union, there has always been a saying that electron tubes will conquer the world, but this does not mean that the Soviet Union's transistor and integrated circuit industries started late. More than 20 years ago, in early 1953, just when the transistor was invented in the United States, A.I. Berg, an academician of the Soviet Academy of Sciences and an expert in Soviet naval electronics engineering, who was then the Deputy Minister of Defense, drafted a letter to the Soviet Communist Party, suggesting that the development of transistors be carried out. In May of the same year, at a meeting chaired by Minister of Communications Industry M.G. Bervukhin, it was decided to organize a special semiconductor research institute, which led to the establishment of this famous semiconductor research institute.

At the same time, a 25-year-old Georgian girl named Susanna Madoyen, a genius in the field of electronic technology in the Soviet Union, came here. Under the guidance of her mentor Kraslov, she successfully manufactured the first transistor in the Soviet Union, marking the beginning of the Soviet transistor industry.

The Soviet Union's transistor and integrated circuit industries experienced many twists and turns. Due to conflicts of departmental interests, vacuum tubes began to dominate Soviet equipment. At this time, the West began to use transistors and integrated circuits on a large scale, leaving the Soviet Union far behind in electronic technology.

In later times, it was not until the 1980s that the Soviet Union began to catch up with the West in microelectronics technology. Unfortunately, the technological gap was no longer able to catch up with the advanced level of the West.

"If we want to realize informatization and digitization in the military, we need powerful electronic technology." As he walked, Andre said, "We need to unswervingly develop our microelectronics technology, especially integrated circuits."

"General Andre, you are right." An old man with gray hair and a vigorous spirit beside Andre responded: "Now, the country has determined the direction and has made microelectronics technology a key breakthrough area. We have given up the research and development of miniaturized electron tubes. That is the end."

This person is Alexander Ivanovich Shokin, the leader of the Soviet electronics industry. He became the first deputy minister of the Soviet electronics industry in 1955, starting his nearly 30-year leadership career in the electronics industry. At work, he actively supported the semiconductor industry, otherwise, Institute 35 would have almost been shut down that year.

Now, accompanying Marshal Ogarkov and Major General Andrei to inspect the progress of their own electronic industry, Shokin was also very cautious. Now, Marshal Ogarkov is definitely the most prominent person in the army, and it is said that the General Secretary is also very optimistic about him.

"We are currently studying the integration of 2,000 transistors in an area of ​​one square centimeter." After entering the conference room, a middle-aged woman in charge began to introduce herself. She was Susanna, and now she was the person in charge here.

Only 2,000 of them were integrated into one square centimeter! Now, in the West, 150,000 can be integrated into an area of ​​0.5 square centimeters! Andre couldn't help but frown: "Our technology level can only reach this level?"

The woman looked apologetic and said, "Yes, we need a series of industrial production equipment starting with silicon purification. We are currently researching equipment while improving integration. It is a great progress to be able to reach the current level. Just last year, we obtained some new processing equipment from the German Democratic Republic, which greatly improved our integrated circuit research and development."

Soviet weapons have always been large and bulky. This kind of equipment that requires fine manufacturing has always been in short supply in the Soviet Union. Now, the Soviet Union is catching up, but the starting point is still very low.

Processing equipment! Western technology has always been superior to that of the Soviet Union. In order to restrict the export of high-tech equipment to the Soviet Union, Western countries also set up a special organization called COCOM (Paris Coordinating Committee) to restrict it. This is why the Toshiba machine tool incident happened later.

Self-reliance? In many cases, the Soviet Union was indeed unable to produce such equipment on its own. It would take a long time to develop it on its own, so it would be faster to import it.

It would be great if we could take the entire island country over! The electronic technology of the island country is quite advanced. Companies like Toshiba and Sony are leading the world in electronic technology. Even the United States is envious!

It’s a pity that we didn’t advance southward in one fell swoop.

Thinking of this, Andre sighed. Of course, as a national leader, he must have considered it from more angles and would not go to war just to gain advanced industry like himself.

"Yes, we originally thought that our technology was advanced, until we dismantled the American military equipment and realized how far we were behind," Shao Jin said. "It was also from that time that the top leaders of our country decided to completely shift the focus of our electronics industry to the microelectronics industry."

Dismantle American military equipment!

The Soviet Union was also the most proficient in obtaining first-hand American military equipment, disassembling it, and reverse-engineering it. Unfortunately, during the Cold War, it was very difficult to obtain American equipment.

Hearing this, Andre knew what it was. It must be the EP-3 he crashed last year! The plane had made an emergency landing at their base and was then dismantled. No matter how hard the Americans tried, they never returned it to them.

When it was first disassembled and studied, it was the experts from the Sukhoi Design Bureau. They were not the most professional, but this department specializes in basic electronic technology, so they are naturally the most suitable institution to study American electronic technology. They can not only study various peripheral circuits, but also the internal structure of American chips!

It was this electronic reconnaissance aircraft that made the Soviet top leaders realize the gap. Finally, the conservative vacuum tube technology stopped developing. Since there was no room for further development, they began to accelerate their efforts to catch up in chips.

"How long will it take to develop the equipment we need for the informationized troops?" asked Marshal Ogarkov. This was what he was most concerned about. He did not understand the specific technology, he just put forward the requirements and then handed them over to the lower-level departments for research.

"It will take another three to five years." Susannah said stubbornly, "This is still the most conservative estimate."