Chapter 531 Andre's Model

Andre didn't care about the engine. At that time, the Russian technology was quite powerful. The AL-31F was already fully mature and was equipped to the troops together with the Su-27. Therefore, improvements based on the Al31F and the subsequent development of the new AL-41 engine could also be carried out step by step.

After all, historically, the Lyulka Design Bureau began developing the AL41 engine in 1986, which was also for the supporting Mikoyan Design Bureau's MiG 1.42 project verification machine. This engine uses a large number of advanced materials such as composite materials and new alloys, applies full digital control and other methods, and the single-crystal blade high-pressure turbine uses a new blade cooling. In the end, the AL-41 has been greatly improved in every aspect compared to the AL-31. The turbine temperature rose by 12%, the thrust-to-weight ratio increased from 8 of the AL-31 to 11, and the thrust/frontal area ratio was also improved. Moreover, the engine operating cost was reduced by about a quarter.

If it weren't for the regrettable collapse of the Soviet Union, this engine could have been finalized and produced after test runs, becoming an advanced engine like the United States. Unfortunately, the rest of Russia can only rely on its old products. The later 117S engine was just a product of partial application of Al41 technology and a mixture of AL31, which was far from the real Al-41. With the loss of funds and technology, it was impossible for the Lyulka Design Bureau to design a real AL-41.

Now, under Andre's promotion, the Su-27 has appeared five years earlier, and the engine has also begun to be developed simultaneously. Therefore, Andre is not worried about the heart disease problems that China will face in the future. What Andre is worried about is always electronic technology.

One of the advanced features of the fourth-generation aircraft is its electronic technology. Not to mention the powerful electronic warfare capability of the entire fighter, the radar alone is not something that a flat slot radar can achieve.

In essence, the flat slot radar is the same as the original inverted card radar, except that the shape of the radar antenna is different, and the conversion rate of the radiated radar energy is different. The transmitter and receiver are still similar. In order for the radar beam to reach all places, the antenna needs to rotate, so it is impossible to achieve the purpose of observing any airspace at any time.

The newer generation of radar is a phased array radar. The radar antenna does not move, but it automatically radiates to the surrounding airspace by changing the phase of the radar beam. Mikoyan engineers put a phased array radar on the MiG-31.

However, this is a passive phased array radar. The transmitting mechanism is still the same as before, using a high-power magnetron for transmission, but it changes the radar beam phase through the ferrite phase shifter in front. This phased array radar can only be a transition.

The future radar will be the era of active phased array radar. The active feature is that every point of the radar antenna is a transmitting and receiving unit! It can both transmit and receive. Each unit is a T/R component. In this way, even if the radar antenna fails, some components can continue to work and continue to complete the task. At the same time, by changing the phase of each beam, it can not only scan the entire airspace, but also gather all beams together to increase the ability to detect stealth aircraft!

But for the Soviet Union, electronic systems have always been lacking!

Hearing Andrei's question, Simonov said: "Our radar development department is working with experts from the island country. We have now completed the development of the basic T/R module and are preparing for subsequent integration."

Hearing this, Andrei showed a look of joy on his face: "This is a huge progress. I will report to General Secretary Andropov. These experts should be rewarded! I will suggest to General Secretary Andropov that they be awarded the title of Soviet Labor Hero!"

At this time, Andre suddenly remembered that in history, the American active phased array radar was also developed from the island country!

Back in the 1990s, when the American dad saw that their godson, the island nation, had produced T/R components, they said, "Bring it here for us to test and see how much worse the performance was compared to ours." Then they took it back, studied it carefully, and then produced it. Moreover, the American dad had strong technical strength after all, and the performance of the products they produced after improvements was better than that of the island nation. Then they said to their godson, the island nation, "Well, not bad, keep up the good work, it's still a little bit worse than ours!"

However, that was the technology of the 1990s, and now, it is only the 1980s. In Andre's mind, he thought that a T/R component alone would trouble the Soviets for many years. After all, the Soviet radar technology had just reached the standard of flat-plate slot radar, and it would definitely be difficult to develop an active phased array. Who would have thought that with the cooperation of experts from the island country and strong technical strength, it would be developed so quickly!

With all these, what else is missing? Just keep investing money in research and development. Fighter development is the most expensive activity, and the Soviet state system determines that the Soviet Union is not afraid of spending money!

"I really hope that our new fighter jets can be developed quickly, truly surpass the West and the United States, and let our technology lead the world," said Andre.

"General Andrei, can you describe to us what you think the future fighter will look like?" Simonov asked.

Every suggestion Andre made was very correct, and some were even more proficient than those of professional designers. This made Simonov interested and he decided to ask Andre for advice.

What will future fighter planes look like? Andre thought for a moment: "Do you have plasticine?"

There is no shortage of this thing in the design bureau. Many designers also use plasticine to mold shapes when they have inspiration. For Andre, this is a better form of expression.

After all, it would be absolutely impossible for Andre to draw a complex structural diagram. Andre could only make a few models based on later models.

Familiar models soon appeared in front of everyone.

The first is the F-22, the only fourth-generation aircraft to be put into service in later generations. The second is the T-50 that Russia later caught up with. The third is the B-2 stealth bomber.

The fourth one? Andre thought about it and finally came up with F117.

"I'll give you these models as souvenirs." Andre said, "Butterfly-shaped wings, fully movable horizontal tail, double vertical tails with large inclination angles, diamond-shaped nose, and built-in weapons. These are the most suitable choices for a stealth aircraft. Haha, these are my personal opinions."

Next, it seems time to take a look at the aircraft carrier?