Rebirth of the 1980s: The Military Industry Empire

The Spey not only concerns the development of the air force but also the navy. Currently, the navy also lacks a qualified ship-borne power system!

In the West, Britain was the first to install gas turbines on warships. After experiencing the benefits, they built brand-new all-gas-powered surface ships, completely eliminating boilers.

Since the advent of warships, boilers have been used, starting with steam engines and eventually leading to steam turbines. Even now, many warships still use boilers.

After all, burning boilers is a mature technology. After years of development, boilers have become very reliable, and the power is very high. The most impressive is the Eastern Navy's Type 051 destroyer. Because the boiler power is so sufficient, it can generally reach 35 knots during navigation, and some with good manufacturing quality can even reach 37 knots. In the field of warships, 30 knots is almost the highest standard.

However, boilers also have drawbacks. They are slow to start. In the films about the Sino-Japanese War, there are scenes of fleets suddenly encountering attacks at the base, hurriedly starting the fire but being unable to leave.

Saying that a boiler takes a day to start is for laymen, but it takes at least one or two hours to get moving. And what about gas turbines? As soon as they are started, they can reach full power in a few seconds, reacting very quickly, which ordinary boilers cannot match.

In addition to boilers, warships also have diesel engines. Starting diesel engines is not a problem. Large diesel engines use compressed air to start and can complete the starting process in tens of seconds. However, these diesel engines also have disadvantages, namely, the power density is too low. Warships powered by diesel engines rarely exceed 25 knots.

After some comparison, gas turbines have become the best choice. However, the East lacks gas turbine technology. Although some aero engines were modified in the past, they all came to nothing.

Therefore, in the late 1980s, when the Type 052 destroyer began to be built, LM2500 gas turbines were imported from the United States. After installation, they immediately reached the world's leading level.

However, things that are bought cannot last forever, and soon they could no longer be bought. Throughout the 1990s, the Eastern Navy only built one warship, Hull 167, which still used ordinary boiler power. Later, after purchasing new gas turbines from the Big Bear, they began to continue mass-producing destroyers.

Apart from the old Maozi, the ship-borne gas turbines of other countries are modified from aero engines. The LM2500 gas turbine uses the improved TF39 engine and is the most successful gas turbine in the world, with more than 2,000 units equipped globally, accumulating a large amount of operating time. Moreover, this type of gas turbine is constantly being improved. Initially, it only had 25,500 horsepower, or 18,755 kilowatts, but the latest model has 47,370 horsepower, or 34,841 kilowatts, almost doubling the power!

Of course, the Spey also has a modified version for ship-borne gas turbines, and it is also very successful. The British all-gas fleet uses the modified Spey, and the island country's warships also mainly use this engine. What about the East?

Could it be that the Eastern Navy will always suffer from a lack of engines? Of course not! As long as the Spey ship modification is completed, the Eastern Navy will usher in a revolution of the heart!

Hearing Qin Yang mention this, some people present who knew the situation also sighed with emotion.

"Yes, if the Spey can be modified for ship-borne use, that would be the best. However, it is too difficult. Relevant units have been researching since 1981, but breaking through many technologies is still a distant prospect."

Domestically, the significant role of the Spey ship modification has also been noticed. Old Wu suggested it in 1977. In 1981, when discussing the 051S project with the British, the Sea Dart surface-to-air missile was used, and the power naturally had to be the Spey ship modification. Thus, the project was launched.

The code name for the Spey ship modification in the UK is S*M1. This gas turbine has different power outputs depending on the model. The early power was only a few megawatts, and the maximum output power of the later models is close to 20 megawatts. When domestic Spey ship modification is launched, the final output power of the power turbine can only reach about 9.22 megawatts, but it is already very good.

Even with this, two units can drive a 3,000 to 4,000-ton destroyer, and four units can drive a 6,000 to 7,000-ton destroyer. It can be said that the size is just right. According to the current strength of the Eastern Navy, it can only produce this level of destroyer.

"However, with President Qin's support, it will be very fast." Someone said.

Everyone's eyes lit up. That's right, as long as President Qin supports it, the project can be completed as soon as possible!

"Ahem, President Qin, we seem to be talking about the air force's equipment." Old Lin reminded him, "Don't talk nonsense. We are talking about the air force, not the navy. We don't care whether the navy has a suitable power system or not."

"That's right, the Spey is of great significance to both the air force and the navy and must be supported. Old Lin, to solve the heart problem of the H-6, we can only think of a solution from the Spey. This is the easiest. If the relevant departments are unwilling to pay, give this project to us. Anyway, there is already an engine factory there, and we don't mind having another one."

With great power comes great responsibility. In the J-11 project, Qin Yang has already obtained an engine overhaul factory from the air force and transformed it into an engine manufacturing factory. Now, if necessary, this factory can also be expanded to develop the Spey.

We must never let the tears of the Spey continue to flow!

If you look at Qin Yang's choices, you can find a very important phenomenon: Qin Yang does not choose the most advanced technology, but the most mature technology! The Spey is already outdated, and the M53 is also outdated, but these outdated technologies are what the East can master with its existing level and can operate stably after being installed on the aircraft.

The performance of the WS-6 is very advanced, but those are all on paper, and even stable operation cannot be maintained. Who would use it? Similarly, the WS-8 on the Y-10 is also immature. Of course, Qin Yang cannot choose this engine for the H-6.

Old Lin nodded: "Okay, it's up to you. If our air force's factory can build the Spey, the price will definitely come down further, and our air force can really equip it in large quantities."

This meal lasted a long time. Li Chang and others could still interject at the beginning, but later only fantasies remained. A three-person crew, four Spey engines, if this kind of H-6 appeared, then they, who fly the H-6, would have the best aircraft!

Back then, if it weren't for his height, Li Chang would definitely have flown a fighter jet. Since he flew a bomber, he had to fly it well. They envied the fighter jet unit's upgrades, and now it was finally their turn.

After the H-6 matter was finished and the parade matter was also finished, Old Lin and others did not continue to keep Qin Yang. Qin Yang, this busy person, still had many things to do.