Anyway, there are a group of students, and adding a group is just like that. I am not afraid of being annoying, and it is useless to be afraid. This can coax each other better. After all, Nathan is definitely the most skilled person in driving Tomcats. This has been recognized. , He came to be an instructor, that is definitely a great favor.
Under Nathan’s various tricks, I came to Grumman this time and wandered around here for several days. The representative of the BS country, who was looking for their leader, finally accepted the proposal. Now that Nathan has said, Then, quickly find a pilot and come here for training.
Talibi left with someone, and Kennel asked, "Major Nathan, did you agree to update their onboard equipment?"
This is completely ultra vires! Kenil didn't say the second half of the sentence.
"I said it doesn't count." Nathan said with a smile: "When the time comes, you can push it to me."
Nathan's words immediately made Kenil show the capitalist's peculiar smile, playing football, this idea is very good.
Nathan’s suggestion has received support from top to bottom because everyone feels that the current situation in the BS country is a bit unstable. In this case, exporting fighters to them is a bit risky. It is better to wait. At that time, the situation has stabilized.
On the other hand, it is because of inflation. When the time comes, we can use inflation as an excuse to continue to allow them to invest more.
While talking, a group of people walked to a separate workshop.
"We plan to carry out modification experiments on this fighter." Kenier said: "This is an F-14B fighter."
The Panda fighters currently in use are all F-14A models, which are also the initial production models, even if they are now replaced with TF41 engines, they are the same F-14A models.
At the same time, since the Tomcat fighter began to serve, everyone is well aware of its problems.
The biggest problem is the engine! The prototype TF30 engine, which was designed for bombers, was not suitable for use in fighter jets. Therefore, it was prepared for replacement before it was finalized. The original TF30 engine was intended as a transition.
In the selection, it is planned to be produced from the competition between GE1/10 of General Electric and JTF22 of Pratt & Whitney. At this time, it was the initial development plan of the Tomcat fighter. The F-14A was used as a transitional model. After the F-14B with a new engine was put into service, the earlier A-type was upgraded to the B-type standard. Pratt & Whitney won the engine competition. The naval military designation of JTF22 is F401-P-400, and the F100 engine derived from JTF22 has been selected by the US Air Force as the power unit of the F-15.
In other words, the Navy originally chose the same engine as the Air Force.
The F401-P-400 has a maximum thrust of 7,439 kg and an afterburner thrust of 12,700 kg, which is significantly higher than that of the TF30. It is expected that the performance of the F-14B with this engine will greatly increase, such as a 40% reduction in the turning radius and an 80% increase in the combat radius.
At the same time, the seventh prototype/pre-production model of the F-14 fighter was selected as the F-14B prototype. On September 12, 1973, the aircraft made its maiden flight with a TF30 and a F401-P-400. The new engine enabled the F-14B prototype to exceed 1 for the first time. It can be similar to the F-15. Vertical climbing action.
Although the U.S. Navy has already planned to change equipment, the U.S. is withdrawing from Vietnam. The domestic economy is sluggish and the naval funding has been drastically cut. The upgrade funding is unavailable. In addition, the F401 engine has exposed many serious reliability problems and failed the flight test. At this time, the Air Force’s F100 also encountered many problems in its development, resulting in many F-15 nests, so the replacement plan was abandoned, and the prototype that only flew for 33 hours was sealed.
Later, under Nathan’s proposal, it was decided to use Spey’s modification, that is, the TF41 engine instead of the prototype. Therefore, the sealed fighter was unsealed. After installing two Spey engines, although the thrust was not available Great improvement, but at least the reliability is greatly improved. It is with this engine that Nathan dared to make various maneuvers on the battlefield in Hokkaido.
After that, other navy fighters began to change to Spey.
However, Spey and its modifications are also just a transition. After all, Spey is the foundation of the second-generation engine. Afterwards, it needs to wait for the maturity of the real third-generation engine.
In later generations, it was not until 1981 that the Navy decided to unseal the F-14B and replaced it with two General Electric F101DFE engines. The F101 is the B-1B power unit. The fighter-derived model increased the fan and afterburner, and In the future, the F110-GE-100 engine was developed on this basis and became an alternative power for the Air Force F-15 and F-16.
How powerful is this engine? It can accelerate the F-14B from Mach 0.8 to Mach 1.8 in 90 seconds. There is no need to start the afterburner when the deck ejection takes off. Unfortunately, it still failed to serve this time. It was pushed until 1986. At this time, the F110 has been finalized. , Finally successfully completed the change-up, as the driving force of the Tomcat fighter.
Now, the third-generation engine is still immature, so even if Nathan is eager to get a new engine, this is not based on Nathan's will.
They can only continue to use TF41, at least two or three years before they can have a suitable engine.
It is useless for Nathan to be anxious. However, the upgrade of the avionics system is imminent. Therefore, on the basis of this F-14B, the avionics system will be improved.
Whether avionics is suitable for fighters, not only do experiments in the laboratory, but also need to be installed and measured to know.
"The main body of the avionics upgrade is the radar. We can only entrust this radar to Raytheon." Kenier said: "In order to reduce the burden on the project, our plan is to retain the AN/AWG-9 part of the radar. Online replaceable units, such as transmitter, power supply, rear cockpit tactical information display. The use of new digital devices include digital signal and data processors, frequency synthesizers, antenna control parts, digital displays, and multi-channel receivers. Technically similar AN/APG-70."
This aircraft is to be modified, but the newly developed radar has not yet come out, so Kenil can only introduce it to Nathan first.
"At the same time, we are also looking forward to new ground precision guided weapons, and strive to mount more ground weapons."
This is a fighter designed specifically for aerial combat, but now it needs to be improved for multiple purposes. The reason for this improvement is well known to everyone present.
"I have always hated big bugs." Nathan said to Kenil: "Our modification must make the big bugs redundant and squeeze out the living space of the big bugs."
In later generations, the fate of the Tomcat was largely due to the big bug. When it was first developed, the big bug was used as a low-end machine in the high-low range. When it was built, it was discovered that the price is actually not cheap, and the combat power, if it is not comparable. Tomcat, then Nathan has a great ability to keep the Tomcat.
"At the same time, I have a new suggestion." Nathan said to several senior officials present: "Even if we raise funds by ourselves, we must pre-study a new project."
Hearing his words, Kenil pricked his ears: "What project?"
"Stealth machine." Nathan said. (End of this chapter)