novelraw Chapter 128 Planned Flight Vehicle
Chapter 128 Planned Flight Vehicle
Data matching complete.
Cormorant-type tiltrotor aircraft
[Equipped with foldable wings, the wingspan is 18.8 meters when unfolded, with a maximum takeoff weight of 13 tons and a maximum payload of 4 tons.]
This type of drone is fully electric-driven and has both vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) and short takeoff and landing (STOVL) capabilities. Its wings can be deployed or folded during flight.
Maximum flight speed: 400 km/h; maximum service ceiling: 8,000 m; maximum range: 1,300 km; maximum endurance: 8 hours; cruising speed: 160 km/h.
The military-modified version of the aircraft has disabled the ability to change wings during flight, added a modular cargo hold interface, reduced maintenance difficulty, and enhanced its corrosion resistance.
Seeing the information displayed on the data panel, Platinum finally remembered the purpose of this somewhat familiar drone.
"If I remember correctly, coastal troops are equipped with some of these aircraft, which are often used to transport supplies for soldiers stationed on islands."
"Due to their relatively complex mechanical structure, these aircraft are relatively difficult to maintain. Therefore, they are mostly deployed at airports in coastal areas with well-equipped maintenance facilities. In addition to transporting supplies, they are also responsible for coastal patrol and defense."
Lorraine nodded, then lowered his head to study the size of the cargo hold and the weapons that could be installed and mounted inside.
The cargo hold is 7.5 meters long, 3.7 meters wide, and 4.2 meters high.
[Based on our existing equipment, its cargo hold can be filled with thirty-six anti-tank loitering munition launchers, or all of our stockpiled 85mm high-explosive and white phosphorus incendiary rounds.]
Looking at the aircraft's terrifying carrying capacity, Lorraine silently calculated the size of the flagship's aft deck.
In addition to the existing drone strike system, the remaining space on the aft deck can also accommodate two cormorant-type tiltrotor aircraft in a folded-down position.
"Where would be the best place to put the two loitering munition launchers on the flagship?"
While pondering this question, Lorraine turned his attention to the Vanguard high-speed transport ship.
"Its deck can also accommodate two Cormorant-type tiltrotor aircraft."
As Lorraine pondered, he switched to an overhead view of the Vanguard transport ship, noticing its flat and spacious top space.
"The number of anti-tank loitering munitions is limited, and we don't need that many right now. We can order two in advance and place them on the helipad of the Vanguard transport ship."
Lorraine had just written his thoughts down on the data board when he looked up and saw the two women standing guard beside him.
"Have you recorded all the data? It's getting dark, we should leave."
Upon hearing this, Lorraine placed the data pad into the storage compartment of the exoskeleton armor, left the warehouse, and drove the transport vehicle back to the Vanguard transport ship.
Once the transport vehicles entered the cargo hold of the Vanguard, the ramp slowly retracted, and the Vanguard transport ship then sailed away from the dock, stopping with the flagship 10 kilometers off the coast.
To prevent danger at night, today's surveillance mission will be carried out by reconnaissance drones and loitering munitions.
After the three of them and the robotic dog finished the disinfection work, they called Lin Shu over and showed him the samples that had been disinfected.
After some research, the group gained a general understanding of the structure of this extraterrestrial life form.
Looking at the results he had obtained, Lin Shu was somewhat puzzled.
"Based on the available information, it is highly unlikely that such naturally occurring silicon-based life forms could exist in the universe. However, considering the footage you have captured, this life form may be a creation."
At this point, Lin Shu turned to look at Ouyang Nian, who had just returned.
"Xiao Nian, what did you find over there?"
"Sister, you're right. These life forms might actually have been manufactured."
Ouyang Nian pointed to the gun barrel that had been split in two in his hand and said.
"The barrel is molded in one piece, and the internal acceleration coil and power supply lines are all encased in this hard silicon-based shell."
"From the outside, its internal power supply pipes are basically the same as the wiring found in the larvae previously discovered."
As Ouyang Nian spoke, he rewound the video back to the last moment before the loitering munition struck.
After being processed by Cleveland, the image became much clearer, and the various lines on his forearm could be seen.
"There's something even more alarming now: the unit in the picture is probably just a relatively basic combat unit."
Hearing this conclusion, Lorraine was somewhat surprised, but it was within his expectations.
"According to Cleveland's calculations, this barrel can be enlarged, and even when the caliber reaches 400 mm, it can still make steel bullets reach a speed of 2 km/s."
"However, according to calculations, it is almost impossible for any individual in their population to be capable of firing a 400mm electromagnetic railgun."
"Is it possible to estimate the largest possible individual among them?"
Platinum asked anxiously, as she hated this kind of unpredictable danger the most.
「根据克利夫兰的推测，其最大个体大约为30米长、6米高，背负1~2门230毫米口径的电磁炮。」
Upon hearing Cleveland's prediction, Lorraine recalled a message from the intelligence system.
"Can we analyze the habits of their adult individuals? Do they eat metal materials?"
Upon hearing Lorraine's question, Lin Shu told him the results of his current analysis.
"Based on the samples you collected, metallic materials are likely their primary food source."
"Bang"
Lorraine slammed her fist on the table.
The three women were startled by his sudden behavior and looked at him with great concern.
Lorraine closed her eyes, raised her head, and her chest heaved violently.
After a while, he calmed down, opened his eyes, waved his hand to indicate that he was alright, and then silently left.
After Lorraine's footsteps faded into the distance, Bai Jin and Lin Shu both looked at Ouyang Nian.
Have you ever seen him like this?
Upon hearing his older sister's question, Ouyang Nian silently shook his head.
"This is the first time I've seen him like this, and I don't know what happened."
Ouyang Nian was speaking when he suddenly remembered something and added something else.
"It's possible that he knew some information that we hadn't paid attention to, and after combining the two, he discovered a huge crisis."
"Oh, is that so? Why don't you go over and comfort him?"
Ouyang Nian flicked his tail but did not respond to Bai Jin immediately.
"No need. Cleveland is keeping an eye on him. She'll call me if anything happens. Besides, he's already a competent commander."
Platinum nodded, agreeing with her statement.
While the three women were talking, Lorraine had already arrived at the driver's seat.
Lorraine closed the door to the driver's cab, sat down at the driver's seat, and began browsing the secondary database.
Search: Unmanned combat equipment.
[Searching...]
While waiting for the information retrieval to complete, Lorraine began to peruse the relevant data on extraterrestrial life forms.
12.7 mm and larger caliber ammunition can effectively kill small adult individuals.
An 8mm steel nail can threaten a medium-sized individual.
Anti-tank loitering munitions are effective at killing medium-sized targets and can threaten large targets.
[A 76mm high-explosive round can kill medium-sized individuals in a wide area, while a 76mm penetrating explosive round can damage large individuals.]
155mm armor-piercing rounds can effectively kill large individuals.
Flamethrowers and thermobaric weapons are ineffective against it.
Looking at Cleveland's speculation, Lorraine couldn't help but sigh.
"Time is tight!"
Based on the collected samples, these life forms convert some of the metal materials they ingest into their own external armor. In order to prevent existing weapons from being unable to effectively kill them, we must seize the time and eliminate these alien life forms as soon as possible.
Search complete.
Lorraine turned his gaze back to the screen on the control panel, searching for any unmanned combat units that could be used at the moment.
Mechanical dogs, tracked unmanned combat vehicles, wheeled unmanned vehicles, multi-rotor drones, lightweight drones, large drones...
Of these options, the one Lorraine most wanted and the one she ruled out first was the CH-4 large reconnaissance and strike unmanned aerial vehicle.
This type of drone requires a level runway, a spacious warehouse, and qualified maintenance personnel to take off, but these are all things that Lorraine currently lacks.
However, its payload capacity and endurance are quite outstanding; out of its maximum takeoff weight of three tons, it carries a payload of one ton of ordnance; and its endurance, even when fully loaded, can still reach six hours.
The only drawback is its weak anti-interference ability; it is prone to losing contact with the host in complex electromagnetic environments.
Looking at its outstanding data, Lorraine could only reluctantly add it to her wish list.
He then turned to the next page and began to examine the multi-rotor drone design.
Based on the data, this rotary-wing drone is functionally almost identical to the support drones modified from the flagship.
Its advantages are its small size and high service ceiling, which allows it to take off and land on various small platforms, pass through various narrow spaces, and launch attacks silently from above the enemy.
However, its slower flight speed and smaller payload mean that its firepower delivery capability is not as good as that of an 80mm mortar.
Lorraine labeled the proposal as "for reference only".
Subsequently, Lorraine eagerly unveiled the CH-2 lightweight fixed-wing unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) design.
[CH-2 Light Reconnaissance UAV/Modified]
Cruising speed: 150 km/h / 210 km/h
[Battery life: 6 hours/9 hours]
Service ceiling: 1000m/2000m
[Combat radius: 60 kilometers]
【Dimensions: Wingspan 4.6 meters, Length 4 meters】
[Takeoff method: Rocket-assisted/Electromagnetic catapult]
[Airborne Equipment: Integrated photoelectric probe + high-frequency communication antenna / Integrated photoelectric probe + laser indicator + VHF communication antenna]
[Note: The naval variant can be recovered using a barrier net.]
After reading the plan, Lorraine's eyes lit up.
It is small in size, low in manufacturing cost, high in altitude, recyclable, and has a wide range of functions. It has low requirements for launch platforms, and its improved models can also guide guided fire for ground strikes.
Lorraine decisively added the improved version of CH-2 to the production pipeline.