Great warships

The most brilliant carrier-based aircraft of the U.S. Navy is the F-14 Tomcat. It is a pity that the elders in Congress do not like this aircraft and have been trying to kill this aircraft. Now, the remaining Tomcat wing of the U.S. Navy is getting more and more At least, they will all retire in a few years.

The U.S. Navy's next-generation aircraft, that is, the JSF, does not know that it will be in service until the year of the monkey, so they can only rely on the Hornet to spend this time. Although no one in the Navy likes it, they even nicknamed it a big bug, but After all, this is their main aircraft.

Therefore, the navy improved the E/F type on the basis of the original C/D type. Compared with the former, the wing area is 414/6 larger, the fuel is 7/[-] more, and the thrust of the F[-] engine used is increased. After the development of this aircraft, it has become the backbone of the US Navy, not only to fill the gap between the Tomcat and JSF, but also to undertake the A-[-] and A-[-], the two attack aircraft missions, so this aircraft is also the only aircraft in the history of the US Navy that begins with F/A.

In addition to those improvements, it has also undergone stealth modifications. For example, the air intake has completely changed its shape and reduced the radar reflection area.

Now, the Americans are actually willing to sell this kind of aircraft to Ah San. Of course, Ah San wants to buy it, and they can buy it with any amount of money, as long as there are no political conditions attached!

Ah San's status is very important, the United States and Da Mao have to win over, but among Ah San's weapons, there are very few American-made weapons, because American-made weapons are not only exported, but also have many conditions attached, they are not willing to be restricted, So I use very little and instead buy expensive French ones.

Thinking of this, Sunil asked: "Excuse me, do you have any other conditions for providing us with this kind of fighter?"

Swift thought for a moment: "There is one condition."

"What conditions?" Sunil held his breath. If the conditions were too harsh, then their joy would be in vain.

"The aircraft carrier Foch uses BS-5 catapults, which cannot eject our Super Hornet at all. If you plan to purchase our fighters, you need to modify the aircraft carrier Foch and install our C- 13 catapults."

Transformation?
Ah San was relaxed for a while, and then nervous for a while.

As long as it's not political conditions, it's fine!However, if this needs to be remodeled, it will cost another sum of money!In particular, the transformation will take a long time, which is absolutely unacceptable to them.

"The French said that their Rafale fighter took off and landed on the Foch aircraft carrier, which means that this catapult can eject the Rafale. Then why can't your Super Hornet eject, and you need to modify the catapult?" Sunil Open your mouth.

"That's right, it was ejected, but it was only empty. Later, the Rafale fighter jet was ejected with a full load, and it was tested on our aircraft carrier. Why, don't you know?" Swift asked curiously.

Empty?

All the Ah Sans felt a thunder crackling in their heads, they were cheated!
When they decided to buy the Foch aircraft carrier, a very important reason was that everything was ready-made and could be used directly, especially the Rafale fighter jets. The French promised it themselves at the beginning, but the French did not say yes Empty or reloaded.

The empty weight of the Rafale fighter is only ten tons, plus one or two tons of fuel, it weighs only eleven or two tons, while the most advanced Super Hornet in the United States has an empty weight of more than 13 tons!In this way, it is very difficult for the Foch aircraft carrier to eject an empty Super Hornet, let alone take off with a full load!

The maximum take-off weight of the Rafale fighter is 22 tons, and the maximum take-off weight of the Super Hornet is 29 tons. These are not what the Foch aircraft carrier can afford. If the Foch aircraft carrier cannot operate these aircraft, it will only operate the old super Military flag, what's the point?
Siam has stealthy fourth-generation aircraft!
Sunil felt a tightness in his chest.

The purchase of the aircraft carrier has been completed, the aircraft carrier has been delivered, and it is currently in the process of returning. It is absolutely impossible for them to ask for a refund.

What should we do now?
Sunil looked at Swift: "How much is your catapult?"

"We will give you the cost price, one set only needs 3000 million U.S. dollars, but it still needs to be installed, so you need to pay 2000 million U.S. dollars for the installation fee, and only 5000 million U.S. dollars can make your aircraft carrier operate the most modern carrier aircraft."

$5000 million! The aircraft carrier Foch was purchased at a scrap iron price of 130 million US dollars, and now it costs 5000 million US dollars to install the catapult?The Frenchman and the Yankee have communicated in secret, are they here to deceive themselves?

"Didn't you sell it to the French for 1000 or [-] million?" An adjutant couldn't help but ask.

"That's the price in 91, and we don't include installation." Swift said: "If someone else comes to buy our catapult now, the price needs to be at least 8000 million. What we give you is what our allies have. Great price."

The scene fell into silence.

Obviously, if they don't change the catapult, then the aircraft carrier will not be able to use it when it comes back. If they want to change it, they can only go to the Americans, and they can't go to the East to buy it, right?Ah San couldn't bear this face.

Swift sealed the deal.

Time passed slowly in silence, 5 minutes, 10 minutes, 10 minutes, half an hour later, someone said something in Sunil's ear, Sunil's eyes lit up, and he immediately asked Swift Special: "Is the take-off and landing performance of your Hornet fighter quite good?"

"Of course."

"That is to say, in addition to being able to catapult and take off, this aircraft can also take off from the ski jump deck when needed?"

What?Swift's eyes widened. The duck is going to fly?
"Now, ski jump takeoff is the mainstream. Both the MiG-29K and the Su-33 can take off by ski jump. Your fighters are no worse than Lao Maozi's. They can definitely take off from the ski jump deck. We bought the Foch aircraft carrier. After returning, it will be refitted and the bow of the ship will be improved into a leaping deck. In this way, the MiG-29K we have on hand can make do with it. If you want to sell us the Super Hornet, you also need to have this capability , and, not only the aircraft carrier Foch bought back, but the Blue Sky Guardian we are building will also operate the same fighter jets. This is at least a big deal for more than [-] fighter jets. You should be interested. ?”

A $5000 million catapult?Ah San said that he would not be fooled, but the order of 8000 carrier-based aircraft is definitely a huge amount. This kind of aircraft is not cheap. One aircraft must sell for at least 50 million US dollars, which is a large order of nearly [-] billion US dollars. .

Swift swallowed: "That's right, our planes can take off with ski jumps, and we have done related experiments in the 80s."

This is not a bragging point. In the 80s, the Americans saw that the Red Empire began to take off by ski jumping. They were very curious, so they decided to follow suit, so they put all their carrier-based aircraft, such as A6, A7, and Tomcat Hornet. And so on, all experiments have been done, and the jump deck is at Patuxentine Naval Air Station.

However, it was very conservative at the beginning, and the jump deck was only 6 degrees and 9 degrees. Now almost all the jump decks of aircraft carriers use 12 degrees.

"Since 82, F/A-18A/B has done 91 ski jump take-off tests. When using a 9-degree slope, the take-off distance of the Hornet can be shortened to one-third of the original. Under normal circumstances, the afterburner only needs a runway of 175 meters to take off. Our current F/A-18E/F is much larger in size and wingspan than the F/A-18A/B, and it will definitely have a better ski jump takeoff performance."

The test at that time was surprising. The Hornet's ski jump was very good. Even the E-2C early warning aircraft could ski jump. , because the ski jump does not allow it to take off safely under the maximum take-off weight of 28 tons, and even, the weight is reduced to 33 tons. When using a 21.8-degree slope, the minimum ground run distance of the F-9A is 14 meters!
This is hard work. After all, the latest "Nimitz"-class nuclear-powered aircraft carrier only has a 304-meter-long deck, so the Tomcat is destined to be unable to take off on the aircraft carrier.

This is probably due to aerodynamic flaws. No matter how powerful the Tomcat is, it is only a variable-sweep wing fighter. Compared with advanced wing-body fusion and side-strip wing aircraft, it has many disadvantages.

At this time, hearing what Swift said, Sunil nodded: "Okay, then please fly over a Super Hornet from your side to conduct take-off and landing experiments at our naval base. As long as the take-off and landing requirements can be met, we will You can purchase this aircraft!"

Ah San’s Sea Harrier is a ski jump take-off, and later Chaori Wang and Blue Sky Guardian also use a ski jump to take off, so the Ah San Naval Base has already had this kind of ski jump take-off and landing device, and the Americans made it in their homeland The experiment is definitely not as good as the experiment at Ah San's place, which is more suitable for the actual situation.

"Of course, I will contact you. However, I still don't recommend you to use this method. Your Foch aircraft carrier only has a displacement of more than 3 tons, and the deck area is too small. If you use the jump deck, It is too wasteful to park aircraft in the bow part of the ship.”

Although the Americans have tested it, they have not used this method, because if they use the jump deck, the bow of the ship will become upturned, and the carrier-based aircraft cannot be docked. It is unbearable, and the ski jump is a compromise choice for the navy without catapult technology. If you have a catapult and use a ski jump to take off, that is a brain flood.

"We can transform it ourselves, and it only costs a few million dollars. It will cost you 5000 million dollars to purchase your catapults. What kind of waste is it?"

Swift shook her head: "The waste I'm talking about is not money, but combat effectiveness!"

"What we value is money."

There is no way, Ah San is also short of money, several projects have been abolished, and the Chaori King is the biggest pitfall. They have had those miserable experiences, can they not save money?
A 5000 million set of catapults is unacceptable to them.

Now it is their best choice. After all, even if they purchase American-made catapults, they will still face the serious defect that the deck area is too small, and it will still be inconvenient to operate.

The flight deck of the Foch aircraft carrier is only 259 meters long, and the bow deck is only 90 meters long. It is the most suitable choice to install the 67-meter-long BS-5 catapult. If the American catapult can be installed, then France would have already installed.After all, the C-7 and C-13 catapults were already available at that time.

Because of being poor, Ah San finally avoided a trap.

Swift had no choice but to nod in agreement, and asked Ah San to contact the catapult, and Ah San's navy began planning to modify the aircraft carrier before the aircraft carrier arrived.

"We have full experience. The aircraft carrier that has been launched has a complete jump deck installed. We can build the jump deck and install it ourselves. However, we need the original design drawings. After all, the jump deck is added. The deck will increase the weight of the bow by one or two thousand tons. We must calculate carefully, increase the deck area at the stern, and increase the counterweight to offset this effect. Without the design drawing, we cannot modify it.” Alex, an expert on the Asan aircraft carrier Kex spoke.

"You take people to find the French now, they deceived us on the aircraft carrier, they must give us the blueprint!" Sunil said angrily.

It was agreed that it could take off and land gusts, but what happened?Pure nonsense!Now, they don't trust the French at all!

Alex personally led the team to France and met Philip.

"Mr. Philip, you lied to us. Your Foch aircraft carrier can't take off fully loaded Rafale fighter jets at all! Your catapult is too weak!" After seeing the other party, Alex immediately accused him.

"Really? I don't know either. I'll call you and ask." Philip picked up the phone, and chattered in front of them.

When he put down the phone, Philip said seriously: "Our Dassault company replied that the Rafale fighter jets can take off and land on the Foch aircraft carrier."

"This is impossible!"

"Maybe, as long as the engine thrust is enough, the current M88 engine thrust is only 75 kN, but in the later stage, the thrust of our M88-3 engine will be increased to 90 kN. This engine will definitely support the Rafale using the existing ejection The aircraft carrier Foch took off and landed, please trust us."

The weight of the Rafale fighter is only one ton more than the F-16, but it uses twin engines, so it has full thrust. Supersonic cruise, which can only be done by the fourth-generation aircraft, can also be made.

The only problem is, you have to wait!
Over the years, the Rafale fighter has been tested with the F404, and the M88 has just matured, and it is not known how long it will take for subsequent modifications.

Anyway, they didn't lie!
"Late stage? How long is the late stage?"

Philip shook his head: "We don't know."

"We don't trust your catapults. We want to change the bow of the ship to a jumping deck. Please provide us with all the drawings and design materials of this aircraft carrier. We want to improve!" Alex said.

"We still have the blueprints of the aircraft carrier from decades ago." Philip spread his hands together: "We cannot meet your request."

what?
Alex's eyes widened: "You guys don't keep the drawings of your former aircraft carrier?"

"Yes, you also said that it was just the blueprint of the aircraft carrier. With the sale of the Foch aircraft carrier, we no longer need those drawings. In fact, since the last refit, the Foch aircraft carrier's blueprint It's gone."

"Damn it, you lost the blueprint, so how do we transform it?" Alex was extremely annoyed.

"If the blueprint is gone, can't it be remodeled?" Philip said, "For you, there is no need for any blueprint at all, right?"

Alex was speechless for a while, what a joke!Our Asan can't do it without blueprints. We also talk about science, okay?
"We need to add a jumping deck, which may increase the weight by one or two thousand tons. In this way, it must be trimmed at the back." Alex said: "Without drawings, we can't complete the transformation."

"It turns out that this is the case. This problem should not be a big one. Although we no longer have the drawings, the designers who designed the Clemenceau-class aircraft carrier are still there. We can completely entrust this work to them."

Alex nodded: "Well, it can be handed over to them. They need to give us the design for free. After all, this is your mistake."

"Free?" Philip shook his head: "Do you think that we French are all idle and boring people? We still have a lot of work to do. If you are thinking about it, please go back."

"Hey! This is your mistake. Now we just ask you to draw a few blueprints. Shouldn't you give them to us for free?"

"No, we didn't make any mistakes. We sold you an aircraft carrier for scrap iron for just over $100 million, and now you are asking us to draw drawings worth several million dollars? Are you kidding me!"

etc!Worth several million dollars?

Alex’s eyes widened: “What did you just say?”

"I said, if we want to design the jump deck, it will cost at least 800 million US dollars. We need to invite professional designers. They need to carefully recall the original design data, restore the drawings, and then improve it. This is a very difficult task. Complicated and tedious work, even with the money, those designers may not be hired, after all, some of them have already retired, and they are vacationing at the seaside with high pensions."

800 million dollars!
Alex nearly vomited blood.

The French are not a good thing either, and they also want to cheat them, first selling them the aircraft carrier at a low price, and then selling them the blueprint at a high price, but they still have nothing to do!
What should we do now?
Either let the French cheat $800 million, or let the Americans cheat $5000 million, or abandon this aircraft carrier and really dismantle it as scrap iron.

When the news reached Sunil's ears, he really wanted to give up the aircraft carrier and sell it for scrap, but...they needed the aircraft carrier!

The situation is getting more and more complicated. They need a strong sea force. Moreover, the Americans have decided to provide them with the Super Hornet. Their self-developed aircraft carrier is still far away. If they don’t improve the Foch aircraft carrier, they still have to Rely on dilapidated aircraft carriers and old sea harriers!

Or, grit your teeth and admit it?