Red Soviet Union

Historically, before designing the MiG 1.44, the Mikoyan Design Bureau actually tried stealth fighters.

In 1979, the Soviet Union at that time obtained information about the development of the F117 stealth fighter by the United States, and immediately established a stealth fighter development plan code-named 90. At that time, the project was assigned to Mikoyan and Sukhoi for design bidding. Hoy's design, a twin-body layout, never took shape and was never submitted. The Mikoyan Design Bureau designed the MiG-37 fighter jet, which is almost the structure on the slide in front of us.

The main wing is laid out as a positive trapezoidal wing with a slight downward slope, the vertical tail is tilted 45 degrees, no canards, two airbrakes on the back, and a flat nose, which has outstanding high-altitude and high-speed interception performance. At the same time, the engine is placed above the wing, and the tail There is an invisible cabinet under the nozzle, which greatly enhances the invisible performance. In fact, this shape is somewhat similar to the f-117.

This shape was very avant-garde at the time. Tailless layout with no horizontal tail, medium aspect ratio and sweep angle, good subsonic cruise capability, organic side strip design, taking into account the maneuverability at high angles of attack, the V-shaped vertical tail has good stealth performance and a large area , to assist in providing a certain lift, and also to protect the rcs of the tail nozzle from the side.

Only limited by the flight control technology, the full-motion vertical tail is not used, and the rudder surface is not used as the speed brake. However, the design of the compressed aspect ratio of the tail nozzle still takes into account the reduction of omni-directional RCS. The overall focus is on high-altitude and high-speed interception. The positioning is The interceptor does not pay much attention to the fighting ability, and this fighter is finally considered as an attack aircraft first, and then a stealth interceptor.

At the same time, in the consideration of the modification, the MiG-37 is equipped with lift engines in the middle and rear of the fuselage, which has a strong short-distance vertical take-off and landing capability. It is planned that the MiG-37 will be equipped with an aircraft carrier.

However, in history, the fate of this aircraft is also embarrassing. This aircraft has always remained on paper. With the technology of the Mikoyan Design Bureau at that time, the problem of stealth could not be solved at all. Later, funds were insufficient, and at the same time, the fourth-generation fighter appeared, and its development stopped.

It can be said that the Mikoyan Design Bureau encountered various difficulties at the beginning, so it made all efforts to engage in plasma invisibility, thinking that the appearance of invisibility is flashy. The result was a detour. And as the Soviet Union obtained the wreckage of the f-117 and obtained technologies such as stealth coatings, it was considered to be back on the right track.

In history, due to the extremely difficult situation of funds during the development of MiG-37, Mikoyan Design Bureau applied to the Soviet government to cooperate with foreign countries in designing MiG-37, which was approved by the Soviet government. The Mikoyan Design Bureau proposed cooperation plans to China, Poland, and Cuba, but the high development costs prevented the Mikoyan Design Bureau from obtaining any foreign cooperation.

And now, as the MiG 1.44 project is progressing smoothly, this MiG 37 project has long been abandoned. As a result, Alexander now took it out again! Accidentally put it on the last one? Of course not!

Now, while listening humbly to Belyakov's reprimand, Alexander quietly observed General Andrei's face.

It was General Andre who ordered the foreign trade machine at the beginning, but now, this MiG 37 is the next project of Super Seven, will General Andre be interested?

Well, Comrade Alexander, your considerations are reasonable. Andre said: Now, the threat of stealth aircraft has not been fully reflected. When stealth fighters begin to appear, countries will feel the huge air defense system. There will definitely be a demand for stealth aircraft. For example, there will be a large market in Western Europe.”

Western Europe! The direction proposed by Andre made Alexander even more stunned. General Andre's appetite was indeed even bigger!

Of course Andre knows that with the scientific research capabilities of Western Europe,

It is very difficult to build a third-generation machine, especially because they are unwilling to take risks alone because of economic problems. They can only be multinational alliances. It is normal to argue with each other. In later generations, Europe jointly developed a typhoon. The price was frighteningly high. Then, Europe did not have the guts to jointly develop stealth aircraft. In the end, they bought the cheating f-35 from the United States one after another.

And now? Of course there will be a better choice in Europe! The fighter planes of the Soviet Union are of high quality and low price, with excellent performance!

Andrei, are you saying that we want to sell our fighters, stealth fighters, to hostile countries? Ustinov asked beside him.

Andre's goal was Western Europe, which of course made Ustinov a little suspicious.

Of course it's not a hostile country. Andre said: Just like Argentina, it used to be our hostile country. Now, isn't it also coming together with us? I can conclude that within ten years, there must be Some countries in Western Europe hope to fall into our arms. For example, West Germany, which is opposite us, will be able to fool them within five years or less than ten years. At that time, we will just use this foreign trade machine to win them over .”

The sense of identity between the two Germanys was originally the strongest, but now, East Germany has an obvious advantage. After the opening of the Berlin Wall, many West German residents chose to settle and work in East Germany. If this continues, West Germany and East Germany will slowly merge and eventually come together.

And in this process, to win over West Germany and participate in a stealth fighter plan, that is definitely a big move!

Unknowingly, Andre's strategic considerations have gradually matured. Every time there is a new plan, there will be multiple considerations.

But now, after hearing Andre talking about wooing Western European countries, Ustinov still has concerns: But, this is a stealth plane after all!

Stealth aircraft will definitely change the style of air combat in the future. Countries with stealth aircraft will have outstanding advantages in air combat. In this case, the export of stealth aircraft by the Soviet Union is very dangerous.

Yes, the stealth machine. At that time, the Americans will definitely not be able to export it, and if we export it, the contradiction between the United States and Western Europe will deepen. Andre said: To provoke the United States and Western Europe, of course we must use real weapons. Things will do, our MiG-37 can at least have 50% of the combat effectiveness of MiG 1.44, right?

Fifty percent! Andre's words, of course, have another meaning. After all, this MiG-37 is just a low-end machine. It is incomparable with MiG 1.44, a project that has condensed the efforts of the engineers of the entire Mikoyan Design Bureau. Therefore, The Soviet Union does not need to be afraid of the proliferation of this kind of fighter, just use this kind of fighter to win over allies!