Genius is just the threshold for me!

Chapter 49 Difficult Problems to Solve

"Emei..."

Lin Dong pulled out the documents from the file bag, saw the project code at the top, and a flash of understanding appeared in his eyes.

Sure enough, it was this engine project that cured the J-20's heart disease and gave birth to the J-20A, the world's top fifth-generation fighter jet.

Lin Dong continued looking down, not at the research results of 606 and 624 over the years, but directly at the performance requirements of this engine.

In his memory, the Emei turbofan engine, also known as the WS-15 engine, successfully completed its test run in 06, completed the FRET (Flight Qualification Test) of the prototype in 09, and completed the design finalization test in 2013.

However, it won't be until the 2025th anniversary of the victory against fascism that it will actually take to the skies alongside the J-20A.

Although the engine was successfully developed a few years earlier than the J-20A's first appearance, the improvement and development of the J-20A itself required a certain amount of time.

Moreover, given the domestic character of how things are handled, the J-20A will definitely be delayed for a few more years after its birth. A batch will be produced first, and it will be unveiled at the right time. It won't be like the US, which just shows a PowerPoint presentation and starts bragging.

Even with the most conservative estimate, the WS-15 turbofan engine will not be successfully developed before 2018, and the J-20A will not be finalized before 2020.

Because the country encountered several external conflicts and crises in those years, it was a time when it needed to flex its muscles, but there was still no movement on the engines and fighter jets.

According to the normal R&D process, the design finalization test was completed in 2013, and at the latest within two years, the mass production model could be determined in 2015, so that the crisis in 2016 could still be made into a show.

However, from the completion of the finalization test in 13 to the actual successful development of the inference, there was a conservative estimate of more than five years.

The fact that it took such a long time to develop the product indicates that a major flaw or barrier was discovered, causing the entire design to stall or even have to be scrapped and restarted.

Since there are flaws and barriers, there's no need to look at this core data.

Because if you don't address the problems when they arise, they will only get worse.

As for finding that one defect or barrier from a large amount of core data.

Instead of wasting time on this, it would be faster and save more mental energy to start from scratch and push it out yourself.

Once you have a grasp of the entire project, you can work through it from the beginning, and any problems with the other data will become immediately apparent.

"Xiao Dong, would you like some draft paper and a pen?"

Seeing Lin Dong's serious calculations, Wang Xingguo carefully handed him the paper and pen.

"No need, just think it through in your head. I've never used draft paper before."

Lin Dong shook his head slightly, finished reading the performance requirements, and then focused intently on flipping to the last document containing process information.

"..."

Upon hearing this, Wang Xingguo recalled the draft papers scattered all over the room and floor, his lips twitched, and he remained silent.

Comparing yourself to others is truly infuriating.

He was clearly quite talented; he taught himself calculus at the age of twelve, became the class monitor in the University of Science and Technology of China's Junior Class, graduated with two doctorates at the age of twenty-two, and became the chief engineer of the Chengdu Aircraft Industry Group's main project just over fifty. So how did he become a fool in front of Lin Dong?

Is it because I'm getting old and my brain isn't keeping up?

Lin Dong ignored Wang Xingguo's expression and kept calculating in his mind as he looked at the document.

Once you're sure you have a good grasp of things, review the core data from the previous 606 and 624 years of research, close your eyes and think for a few seconds, then pick up a piece of paper and write down a few formulas and data.

Then, below were listed more than twenty internal military research papers with their numbers, as well as seven or eight professional books, with the order of study marked after each paper or book.

"Godfather, next time you meet 624 and 606, just show them this string of formula data."

Lin Dong handed the written paper to Wang Xingguo, and said seriously, "This can solve the problem they are currently facing. They are all professionals and will understand it at a glance."

As for how to understand this series of formulas and data, how do you explain the derivation process and its source to them?

"Hmm... Godfather, once you finish reading these papers and these books and understand them thoroughly, you'll be able to master them."

The field of military research is not the research field that ordinary people usually understand.

There are also papers and research reports here, but these papers and reports are not published in SCI journals; instead, they are published on an internal, confidential paper network.

Most of the knowledge Lin Dong has acquired over the past few years comes from this internal database of academic papers.

"..."

Looking at Lin Dong's long list of papers and books, Wang Xingguo suddenly felt as if he had traveled back in time to more than 30 years ago when he was studying for his master's and doctoral degrees and was being controlled by his supervisor.

That's how his mentor taught him back then.

Whenever he asked a question, she would not give him a direct answer, but would instead provide a list of books and let him try to understand and find the answers himself.

More than 30 years have passed, and my mentor is no longer here. He has become like a mentor to me.

He thought he had forgotten the years of hard study, but Lin Dong reminded him of them today.

"etc!"

Suddenly, Wang Xingguo seemed to have thought of something, and looked at Lin Dong excitedly: "You said that 624 and 606 encountered a problem that they could solve... Does that mean the Emei fighter jet engine can be successfully developed?"

"Yes, but no."

Lin Dong handed the documents back to Wang Xingguo and shook his head, saying, "This fighter jet engine, codenamed Emei, faces a series of challenges ahead, in addition to the current difficulties."

But these research and design challenges can be overcome; the most important issue is materials.

I did a quick calculation, and to meet all the performance and service life requirements of this engine codenamed "Emei", the turbine blades must use third-generation single-crystal nickel-based high-temperature alloy.

When I was designing the Hot 2, I paid attention to this high-temperature alloy. It has just completed laboratory production and there is still a long way to go before it can be mass-produced in the industrial sector.

Although there is no third-generation single-crystal nickel-based superalloy, I can still develop and design it through alternative methods.

However, engines manufactured in this way will have a total lifespan of no more than 500 hours, and the first major overhaul will not exceed 100 hours…”

This is an Emei aero engine, not his unmanned combat aircraft engine. The cost is hundreds of thousands to millions, which is the price of a missile. It can be disposed of daily, monthly, or at will.

Such a fighter jet engine costs nearly 1 million yuan to manufacture, and the J-20's twin-engine configuration would cost 2 million yuan.

A 500-hour time limit for scrapping and a 100-hour time limit for major repairs means that, without considering other costs, the engine wear and tear alone would burn through millions of dollars in just one hour of training.

Moreover, this thing is designed for the J-20. A major overhaul in 100 hours is equivalent to solving the J-20's congenital heart disease problem, but it adds another problem of congenital weakness and multiple diseases. It is truly a case of addressing the head but not the tail.

"Then... is there no other way?"

Wang Xingguo remained silent, somewhat resentful.

As a veteran who has studied aircraft for decades, he naturally understands that fighter jet engines that require major overhauls every 100 hours have virtually no chance of being put into service.

But this is the heart of the J-20, the heart of the nation's fifth-generation strategic fighter jet.

If this problem is solved, they will immediately possess the world's most advanced fifth-generation fighter jets, and most of the external military difficulties they are currently facing will be resolved immediately.

Their air force's superior operational range is no longer limited to defensive operations on the continental shelf and coastline, but can take a step forward, extending into the open sea and advancing towards the second island chain.