Author: Wang Zixu

After listening to Zhu Jingyuan's reminders and suggestions, the craftsmen headed by Li Rui basically dissipated the regrets that had been held in their hearts for more than half a year.

It was confirmed that Zhu Jingyuan himself did not feel that the relevant research was a waste, and his worries were basically gone.

Hearing Zhu Jingyuan talk about early warning aircraft, Li Rui instantly realized something:

"Transport aircraft and radio station detection? Installing radio detection equipment on the transport aircraft is the early warning aircraft His Highness mentioned?

“This is indeed a good idea.

"The distance of radio detection is theoretically infinite, but the earth's surface is curved, and the emitted radio waves cannot return to the receiver from below the horizon.

“So the actual maximum detection distance is still the horizon, which is the theoretical furthest visual distance boundary line.

“If you want to detect farther, you need to install the detection equipment as high as possible.

“So shipborne detection equipment must be installed on the top of the highest bridge or even on the top of the mast.

"But no matter how high the bridge and mast are, they can't fly higher than the plane.

"If you install detection equipment on an airplane, you can detect objects hundreds of kilometers away.

"But isn't it just a reconnaissance plane?

"The Ordnance Department is actually already trying to design a radio detection reconnaissance aircraft using bombers and fighter jets as carriers...

“The only difference from His Highness’s idea is that a transport plane is not used as a carrier.

"His Highness wants to use a transport plane as a carrier...

"Is it to install larger detection equipment?"

Zhu Jingyuan laughed directly after hearing what Li Rui said.

He just briefly mentioned the name and the things he used, and Li Rui basically understood his idea.

Zhu Jingyuan is not afraid that the craftsmen will have ideas, but he is afraid that they will not have any ideas:

"Yes, the early warning aircraft I am talking about is essentially a larger and more professional reconnaissance aircraft.

"To use a transport aircraft as a carrier, we need to install large-scale detection equipment at the battleship level, as well as large-scale communication equipment.

“Moving detection equipment onto an airplane, as long as the airplane is high enough, the theoretical detection distance can be increased to hundreds or even thousands of kilometers.

"But everyone must also know that it is only a theoretical effect.

"How far it can actually be detected depends on the power and accuracy of the detection equipment, in addition to being related to height.

“If you want to increase the transmission power, improve the processing power, and improve the accuracy by more than a dozen, you must make the device itself and the antenna larger and heavier.

“If you want to carry larger and heavier detection equipment and antennas, you can only use larger aircraft.

"Then, in addition to the reconnaissance function, what is more important is the communication and intelligence capabilities.

"Equipments with higher power, higher accuracy, longer detection range, higher efficiency and more channels of communication equipment are installed on the same transport aircraft and fly in circles over battlefields and positions.

"Continuously flying over battlefields and positions, through the replacement of a few similar aircraft, always maintaining at least one on air alert duty, monitoring hundreds or thousands of kilometers around the clock around the clock.

"At the same time, maintain direct communication with the combat command center and maintain communication with all aircraft, ships, and ground combat vehicles.

“After discovering enemies hundreds or thousands of kilometers away in advance, we cooperate with the command center to coordinate and direct all combat units on sea, land, and air to attack the enemy.

"I think that after achieving this effect, this kind of aircraft can no longer be regarded as an ordinary reconnaissance aircraft.

"So I'm going to call it an early warning aircraft."

When the craftsmen headed by Li Rui heard this, they showed surprised expressions one after another:

"This is based on the reconnaissance aircraft, achieving the effect of quantitative change to qualitative change.

"This is indeed not a reconnaissance aircraft. It is indeed very appropriate to call it an early warning aircraft alone.

"With this kind of aircraft on duty around the clock and continuously monitoring hundreds of kilometers around, enemy ships and aircraft will have no chance to suddenly break into our fleet.

"So...if we have this kind of aircraft...then the aircraft carrier..."

When Li Rui muttered this, he suddenly realized something:

"We already have radio detection equipment that can guide aircraft, artillery and missiles at night, and if we design this kind of special early warning aircraft, does the aircraft carrier still need battleship escort?"

The several craftsmen on site headed by Li Rui are all the top core craftsmen of the Ming Dynasty, and they are all from the Ordnance Department.

The latest state of technological development of the Ming Dynasty, the latest military innovation and exploration plans of the Ming Dynasty are directly handled by them.

The key is that most of them, along with Li Rui and Wang Lai, have directly communicated with Zhu Jingyuan many times.

So they all knew that according to Zhu Jingyuan's vision, battleships would be eliminated sooner or later.

The future naval fleet will be purely centered on aircraft carriers.

In addition to Zhu Jingyuan's direct explanation, these craftsmen themselves will also think about how the battleship was eliminated.

When we discussed early warning aircraft today, they immediately realized that this might be an important node.

If the battleship can be discovered hundreds of kilometers in advance, the battleship will have no chance to approach the aircraft carrier.

When Zhu Jingyuan heard this, he couldn't help but smile again.

However, Zhu Jingyuan did not directly respond to Li Rui's inquiry, but asked another question:

"How is the progress of missile research?"

Li Rui immediately put aside the unanswered questions:

"The missile tests on the ground have been able to reach a range of 150 kilometers.

"The main problem is accuracy. Smaller missiles have limited accuracy, and larger missiles are difficult to install on destroyers.

"At present, it can barely be used to attack ground cities, and it is still difficult to achieve combat against ships."

Zhu Jingyuan nodded again after hearing this:

“There are still several directions for missile research in the future.

"First of all, it is strategic missiles. The farther the strike distance, the better, and the larger the throwing weight, the better.

"The pursuit of a fatal blow is used to destroy enemy cities, fortresses, bases, and massacre populations.

"Then there are tactical missiles, of which there are many types, including surface-to-ground, surface-to-ship, ship-to-ship, and ship-to-ground.

"It is equivalent to a substitute for various types of artillery, but has a longer range and higher accuracy.

“Finally, there are air defense missiles, including surface-to-air, ship-to-air, and air-to-air.

"Dedicated to dealing with enemy aircraft and possible enemy strategic missiles.

“No matter which one, the higher the accuracy, the better.

“So the focus is still on accuracy.

"But relatively speaking, anti-air missiles have the highest accuracy requirements, while strategic missiles have lower accuracy requirements.

"As far as ship-based and ground-based anti-surface and anti-ship missiles are concerned, if they can control the weight within three tons, have a range of about 40 kilometers, and have a hit rate of more than 50% against battleship-sized targets, they can be ready for deployment.

Already.

"How long will it take to achieve this level?"

Li Rui made a little evaluation in his mind:

“The key still depends on the research progress of radio detection and guidance equipment.

"My personal judgment... may take three to five years..."

Zhu Jingyuan breathed out softly:

"Three to five years. Then it may take three years to build a new warship modified with this kind of weapon.

“Even if we modify the drawings now, reserve space, and install them directly after the equipment development is completed.

"After the installation and testing, it will still take time for large-scale deployment into the navy and eventual formation of combat effectiveness.

"It may take seven to eight years, or even ten years, to complete the missileization of the fleet...

"By that time, radio detection equipment can be upgraded for another round, early warning aircraft, guided bombs and proximity fuzes should be basically mature and practical, and jet carrier-based and early warning aircraft should also be put on ships and practical.

"The combination of these devices will create a new round of naval revolution and a comprehensive military revolution.

"I think we can call it a hit rate revolution, a strike distance revolution, and a speed revolution.

"Guided weapons will directly increase the hit rate from less than 10% to more than 50%.

“Increase the combat distance from dozens of kilometers to hundreds of kilometers, and expand the field of view beyond the sea level.

"The flight speed of aircraft will also increase from the current hundreds of kilometers to a thousand kilometers, or even above the speed of sound.

“Disruptive changes in weapons and equipment will lead to disruptive changes in combat methods.

"Just like the traditional army's way of fighting, the transformation from line infantry using muskets to rifled skirmishers is as significant.

"At that time, the combat capability of one aircraft carrier may exceed the current ten aircraft carriers.

“When an aircraft carrier formation goes to sea, it really can do without a battleship escort.

"It's just that since we have battleships, we can plug missiles into the battleships and continue to use them.
To be continued...