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Chapter 151:1240 Tons

Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation

How should we talk about these two project proposals?

It was rather unconventional, to say the least.

What did that mean? It means that under normal circumstances, these are not the kinds of projects that should be initiated.

Let’s begin with the super-large transport aircraft project.

In the project documentation, the requirements for this transport aircraft specified that it should have a maximum payload of no less than 400 tons, the ability to conduct intercontinental cruises and a minimum full-load range of 10,000 kilometers.

From these requirements specifications, wasn’t the issue obvious?

They lacked any overseas military bases.

They were not looking to engage in conflicts with other nations.

Given the current situation, they didn’t require the ability to deploy troops globally.

Back in domestic China, the Y-20 served their needs adequately.

However, the project’s requirement parameters are akin to their need for global troop deployment capability. In the absence of overseas military base transits, the transport aircraft would need to take off from home and reach its destination directly. Additionally, since they couldn’t equip themselves with a large number of such transport planes, they had high demands for the aircraft’s capacity.

With the discussion on the transport plane concluded, let’s turn our attention to the ground attack aircraft.

This aircraft type, known as an assault aircraft in the past, was something China used to manufacture.

Many people might not have heard of the S-5.

But this was the only fighter jet in thier country capable of dropping tactical hydrogen bombs.

However, back in the day, their technology wasn’t up to par, and this attack aircraft had a range of only 1,200 kilometers, which led to its early retirement.

Subsequently, their air force would constantly play catch-up. Ground attack aircraft were essentially sitting ducks without absolute air superiority.

Consequently, after the retirement of the S-5, they never pursued attack aircraft.

Now, with the higher-ups initiating this project again, what did that imply?

It means they now had the confidence to achieve absolute air superiority.

At this juncture, what they needed was a model that could “kiss the ground.”

“Alright, I’ll accept both projects,” Tang Rui decided after some thought. After all, he didn’t have much to occupy his time currently, and taking on these two projects could also enable him to design a personal jet for himself.

“Very well. Funding for the project will be transferred to the company’s account within three days.”

Lin Chao had no objections to Tang Rui taking on the two projects.

At home, he could play as he pleased without interference.

In the evening, after finishing dinner, Tang Rui went to the laboratory to work on the aerodynamic layout of the transport plane.

Now, why didn’t they go for a ground attack aircraft?

There was no need.

As long as he could develop the transport plane, he could easily modify it to carry a 400-ton load of ammunition and add some weapons, effectively turning it into an attack aircraft. Whether such an attack aircraft was a bit too large was a matter for the Air Force to decide. His responsibility was the design aspect, and whether it got adopted or not was the Air Force’s business.

“Red Lotus, show me the model of the An-225.”

“Yes, Master.”

Swoosh!

The An-225 model appeared in front of Tang Rui.

This was a product of the Cold War era, the largest transport aircraft in human history, which had now become a relic.

In fact, the simplest solution for the military’s transport aircraft project would be to modify the An-225.

They would replace it with stronger materials and better engines.

They wouldn’t need to make extensive changes to meet the military’s requirements.

But Tang Rui was not that kind of person.

With his current level of expertise, there was no need to mimic the approaches of the past.

Let’s not discuss the other details.

The An-225’s takeoff and landing requirements alone did not meet wartime needs.

Even the Americans didn’t have such a massive transport aircraft.

But was that because it couldn’t be built?

No, it wasn’t.

They just didn’t need it.

Whether it was the C-5 Galaxy or the C-17 Globemaster III, they were deemed as sufficient.

These two transport planes could take off and land even on rough terrain in the wilderness.

This was the kind of transport plane that met the military’s requirements.

The An-225 wasn’t developed for war; it was intended for space shuttle missions.

After Tang Rui looked at the An-225 model, he asked Red Lotus to display the top transport aircraft models from around the world.

Yes…

After examining them for a while…

Out of the world’s top ten transport planes, the U.S and Russian planes accounted for two-fifths, while China occupied a fifth.

This was especially true for the Chinese Y-9 and the American C-130, where the two aircraft were practically like half-siblings.

Tang Rui waved his hand.

He deleted all the models in front of him. These designs were of no use to him.

He didn’t want to design it as a traditional transport aircraft.

“Red Lotus, perform some calculations. With the current material properties, without considering the engine thrust, how large can a transport plane with a 400-ton payload be built?”

Tang Rui thought for a moment and instructed Red Lotus.

“Master, the calculations are complete. Excluding external factors, based on the material’s strength, the maximum size of the transport plane can reach 720 meters.”

This length seemed a bit excessive.

Additionally, the payload was a bit too small.

“What about 600 tons?”

“585 meters.”

“800 tons.”

“410 meters.”

“1000 tons.”

“220 meters.”

Tang Rui furrowed his brows and contemplated for a while.

The material’s performance was no longer an issue. It was more than sufficient to withstand a 1000-ton payload.

It would have to be aerodynamics. He had to think about the aerodynamic layout.

“Red Lotus, retrieve the blueprint of the second version of the drone from the database. Then, using this blueprint, simulate the structure of the transport aircraft and perform a simple calculation.”

This was the blueprint of the second version of the drone, which had been enhanced twice, with a wave rider body and a variable-sweep wing.

“Master, the calculations are complete. The aerodynamic layout doesn’t support the 1000-ton payload requirement. If we follow this design plan, the thrust-to-weight ratio of the engines will exceed 80.”

A thrust-to-weight ratio of 80?

Wouldn’t that make it a flying brick?

“Change the variable-sweep wing to a large delta wing. With the current engine thrust, add six additional engines.”

“Red Lotus is calculating. Please wait a moment, Master.”

The aircraft model in front of Tang Rui kept changing shape. The data, calculated every second, was based on the whole aircraft simulation.

Even with such a vast amount of data, Red Lotus took only five minutes to complete the calculations for the new airframe.

She also presented two types of airflow arrangements.

One was a sharp triangular body, with large delta wings integrated into it. It had a certain tilt angle, and no tailfins.

The other type was a flat boomerang body with super long wings that provided substantial lift. Similarly, it had no tailfins.

After Tang Rui saw the models of these two types of airframes, he understood their inclinations.

The first design was meant for supersonic cruising.

The second one was inclined toward subsonic cruising.

The aerodynamic layout was similar to the B-2 stealth bomber, which, in its subsonic cruising state, had higher lift and range.

However, once it entered the supersonic realm, this design would become ineffective.

“Remove the second design. I don’t need a subsonic transport plane.”

“Red Lotus was wrong. Please punish me, Master,” Red Lotus’s projection said pitifully.

“Don’t be silly. Based on the first design, add vertical takeoff and landing and calculate.”

“Alright, Master, but according to my simulation, it’s nearly impossible to incorporate vertical takeoff and landing with this weight.”

“In that case, make it a short takeoff and landing plane… something within 200 meters. We can add rocket thrusters under the aircraft for takeoff.”

“Design completed. With 68 small rocket thrusters added, the transport plane can take off within 200 meters and stop within 120 meters during landing using reverse thrust.”

This was close enough, but the current transport plane was still too large.

As of now, its specifications read 215 meters in length, 192 meters in wingspan, 53 meters in height, and it featured six engines.

What was this?

It was almost the size of an aircraft carrier.

“Red Lotus, reduce the body length to less than 150 meters and recalculate.”

“Alright, Master. Simulating.”

After eight minutes, a completely redesigned model was finished.

The airframe was now 148.8 meters long, with a wingspan of 126.2 meters, a height of 46 meters, and a maximum takeoff weight of 1500 tons. It had a maximum payload of 1240 tons, a maximum range of 18,000 kilometers, with a top speed of Mach 2.3.

These figures looked impressive, but that payload seemed excessive.

What could they possibly carry with something that had a 1240-ton payload?