Chapter 449： Intelligence Analysis II

Robert Wilson is nominally a reporter for the Wall Street Journal, but he also has an identity as a CIA peripheral. It can be said that during the Cold War, journalists in the United States and the Soviet Union were basically trained in espionage. During Reagan's visit to the Soviet Union, the future Russian leader also made a cameo appearance as a reporter.

When Robert Wilson returned to Washington, he saw more than just CIA leaders waiting for him in the conference room. I also saw representatives of major companies such as Boeing, Lockheed, General Dynamics, and Pratt & Whitney also discussing topics related to ground effect vehicles in the conference room.

Although William Casey has astonishing powers as CIA director, he sometimes has to take into account the interests of big American companies. In particular, each of these military giants is a master with amazing energy, and he really can't afford to offend him.

Now not only are the major US military giants waiting for intelligence, even the presidential special envoy Wainwright has also come to the CIA. You don't have to think about it and understand that Reagan is also paying attention to this matter at this moment. After all, this is a brand new vehicle, and it is not an exaggeration to say that it is a new type of weapon.

William - Casey must speak first, after all, this is his territory. He smiled and said to Robert Wilson: "Robert, what have you gained in Xiangjiang this time, I heard that you are one of the few people who have personally experienced the Xiangjiang monster ground effect aircraft."

Robert Wilson also knew that since so many people came today, it seems that the President has taken this matter very seriously. Isn't this a chance to prove it for yourself! So I sorted out my clothes and said, "Your Excellency Director, and all the representatives of the company. I felt very shocked when I took the ground effect aircraft this time. The Xiangjiang Monster basically adopts computer control in the operation process, and the degree of automation is very high."

"Because we only flew for an hour, we did not fully experience its comprehensive performance. Although the Black Cloud Group announced that the maximum take-off weight of the ground effect vehicle is 800 tons, I think it can do better, but it is still In the test flight stage, Heiyun Group does not dare to say too much."

After hearing Robert Wilson finish, many people know that this aircraft has strategic value. It seems that the United States also needs to carry out related research and development, otherwise it will be completely behind in the ground effect aircraft project.

Presidential envoy Wainwright said: "During the test flight of the Xiangjiang Monster Ground Effect Vehicle, did our radars deployed in Asia detect any targets?"

The military representative said embarrassedly: "Because there was no early warning aircraft deployed during the test flight of the Xiangjiang Monster, and it is difficult for ground radar to detect low-altitude aircraft. Therefore, the radar stations deployed in Asia have not found the target, not only us, even the British stationed in the United Kingdom. The Xiangjiang troops only found the target when they saw the aircraft with the naked eye, and the radar could not scan it at all."

These words made everyone present look solemn, because they knew that the Soviets had already developed ground-effect aircraft. If the performance is similar to the Xiangjiang monster, then once the war breaks out, it will be a very troublesome thing for them to use the ground effect aircraft to attack the United States.

William Casey: "You should have heard that our satellites have photographed Soviet aircraft activity in the Caspian Sea. Now it seems to be concluded that it is a Soviet ground effect aircraft. The United States is already in the ground effect aircraft project. Completely backward, the Black Cloud Group’s ground-effect aircraft is a means of transport, but the Soviet aircraft is equipped with missiles. If the United States does not have corresponding counterattack weapons, then the outbreak of war in the future will be very passive.”

At this time, the representative of Lockheed said: "Mr. Wilson, what is the altitude of the aircraft during the test flight, or at what altitude the aircraft is the most stable."

Robert Wilson: "Due to the good weather in Hong Kong during the test flight, my watch has an altimetry function. The aircraft is the most stable when the flight altitude is about 8 meters, and I feel that it is also the fastest time to fly."

Hearing the representative of Lockheed here said: "The wingspan of the Xiangjiang monster ground effect vehicle is 42 meters. We calculated that when the ground effect is the strongest, it is when the height of the aircraft and the ground is about 15% of the wingspan. However, There are other factors involved, such as the length of the aircraft and the area of ​​the wings, but the general proportions will not be too different.

As Lockheed's old rival, Boeing will not let them do. Looking at the posture, the U.S. military will definitely launch the ground effect aircraft, so Boeing and Lockheed are most likely to develop and produce this product. As for General Dynamics and Pratt & Whitney, they are more likely to provide engines for both of them. Now that Lockheed representatives have expressed their views, they can't be left behind, otherwise the ground effect aircraft will have nothing to do with Boeing.

The markets most affected by the emergence of ground-effect aircraft are large passenger aircraft and transport aircraft, which are exactly Boeing's traditional fields. It can be said that it is an invincible existence in this world. Now that a more efficient aircraft appears, everything becomes confusing.

The representative of Boeing said: "This is just a simple formula, which can be calculated by any college student who has studied aerodynamics. I am most concerned about the LCD screen and the computer control system inside. It can be seen that the Black Cloud Group is in these two aspects. The technical advantages of the company are already very obvious, and if we can't catch up, we will definitely be very passive at that time."

"In addition, you have noticed whether there are exhaust holes next to the external engine. Looking at this arrangement reminds me of the aerodynamic layout of the British Harrier fighter. If the Xiangjiang Monster can take off and land vertically, then his combat effectiveness will increase by more than one level. . But looking at the layout of the engine is not impossible, that's what we have to care about."

After listening to the Boeing representative, everyone carefully watched the pictures brought back by Robert Wilson. They are all professionals, and they really see some clues.

Presidential envoy Wainwright suddenly said at this time: "Can General Dynamics and Pratt & Whitney build a three-rotor turbojet engine similar to the Black Cloud, and whether it can achieve the effect of vertical take-off and landing?"

The competition between General Dynamics and Pratt & Whitney is also very fierce, even more so than Boeing and Lockheed. Now that the presidential envoy has been named, it proves that Wainwright was authorized by Reagan. This is not the time to mix mud, and they don't have much confidence in their hearts at this time.

The representative of General Dynamics said: "We have the ability to develop and produce the engine, but the technical patent of the three-rotor engine is in the hands of Heiyun. If the U.S. military has no big problem using it, once it is exported to our allies, it will face the patent. dispute."

"And now we need IBM's cooperation in terms of computer software and hardware. Only IBM can do this by disclosing technical parameters and source code to us."

The representative of Pratt & Whitney also said: "Although I don't want to admit it, this is the truth. At present, no company has obtained the patent authorization of the three-rotor engine. If the traditional engine is used, the product performance may be greatly reduced."

"In addition, the Xiangjiang monster ground effect aircraft uses a large amount of titanium alloys, which can only be imported from the Soviet Union at present, which is also a very troublesome thing. Looking at the appearance and color of the entire Xiangjiang monster, Heiyun Group must have added rare earths to the metal formula. Elements, which need to be imported from Huaxia."

Wainwright is now a big head, not only to obtain technical authorization, but also to IBM open source code; to import titanium alloys in the Soviet Union; finally, to buy rare earth minerals from China. These things are not easy to handle, but His Excellency the President has made it clear that the Americans must develop their own ground effect aircraft, even if they are difficult.

Wainwright: "I don't think Bao Zixuan has the guts to refuse the engine patent authorization, so give him more money. The CIA is responsible for importing minerals from the Soviet Union and China. No matter what method is used, it must meet the requirements of the Institute of Ground Effect Aircraft Production. raw materials needed.”

"However, Heiyun should not have obtained IBM's data parameters and source code, so why do you need it?"

The people from General Dynamics are also speechless. Can you send someone who knows science and engineering next time? This person is simply a technical idiot, but after all, he represents the president, and it is not easy to offend him.

General Dynamics representative: "Your Excellency, the Black Cloud Computer Company of the Black Cloud Group is one of the largest software and hardware suppliers in the world. Their ground effect aircraft only need to use the system. After all, it is a company with the same interests, and Developers are likely to be a team."

"But the computer hardware and software we need comes from If they don't cooperate, we can only accommodate them. Now the product is very suitable for the combination of software and hardware. If one party does not cooperate, it may lead to the project. Failure. As a computer company, many data parameters and source codes are fundamental to the survival of the enterprise, and we have no affiliation with IBM; this is more troublesome.”

Villette: "I will coordinate these matters. IBM must make necessary sacrifices for the sake of national interests. Now you need to come up with a bidding plan. Your Excellency the President should see your proposal within half a month. If you don't want the Soviet Union's The ground effect vehicle flew over us and was discovered, so everyone must let the United States have this weapon too.”

As usual, Boeing and Pratt & Whitney against Lockheed and General Dynamics. This may be the basic operation of every aircraft tender in the United States, and as for the remaining small companies, they can only drink some soup in the back.

Bao Zixuan did not know that one of his actions had already increased the investment in the research and development of ground-effect aircraft by the two superpowers, the United States and the Soviet Union. Now it seems that the Soviets have taken the lead, but I believe that it will never be difficult to do something with the technical reserves of the Americans.

Both superpowers are increasing their investment in ground-effect aircraft, and it is impossible for other countries to fall behind. It can be said that the fate of a product that was not successful in the previous life has undergone earth-shaking changes, and the influence of Bao Zixuan is gradually increasing.