59: Artillery that rewrites the rules of the battlefield: gliding extended-range projectile!

Changhe Weapons Manufacturing Sub-factory.

Upon learning that the 155mm howitzer and the Weishi rocket launcher had been successfully test-produced, Peng Lin immediately rushed over from his office to inspect them.

Led by Wu Yuan, the chief engineer of the Weapons Manufacturing Sub-factory, he arrived at the R&D workshop.

Compared to the production workshop for mass manufacturing, this area was a bit more disorganized because many technicians often worked overnight in the R&D workshop.

When Peng Lin arrived, many technicians and workers were still using files to calibrate the barrel threads.

On the blackboards on the walls, formulas for calculating ballistic parameters were scribbled everywhere in chalk.

As it was working hours, the tapping sound of rivet guns intertwined with the cutting sound of Soviet-style lathes throughout the workshop.

Old cranes were still moving several-ton heavy cannon body castings, and failed barrel remnants from test production were piled in the corner.

Furthermore, due to the surge in military orders and high production pressure, the best machine tools in the Weapons Manufacturing Sub-factory were all allocated to the production workshop.

Therefore, the technical and R&D personnel were currently making do with these old pieces of equipment.

“In a while, a batch of new American-made machine tools will be imported into the country.”

“At that time, a batch will be allocated to your Weapons Manufacturing Sub-factory.”

Peng Lin said to Wu Yuan, the chief engineer of the Weapons Manufacturing Sub-factory.

A few days ago, Dragon Country delivered a total of 10,000 individual thermobaric grenade launchers, 30,000 thermobaric grenades, and 5,000 sniper grenade launchers to Afghanistan.

This was far higher than the Pretty Country's proposed minimum 10% share of the arms market.

In exchange, the Changhe Ordnance Industry General Factory made a request to Pretty Country to purchase a large batch of advanced machine tool equipment.

Pretty Country, intending to support the development of Dragon Country's military industry and jointly counter the Mammoth Bear Empire, agreed to this condition.

Now, Peng Lin's planned purchase list has been handed over to Pretty Country via the embassy.

Soon, this batch of advanced machine tool equipment will arrive in Dragon Country via sea shipping.

“Pretty Country's advanced machine tool equipment?”

“That’s great!”

Wu Yuan, the chief engineer of the Weapons Manufacturing Sub-factory, said with some excitement.

Subsequently, he led Peng Lin through the experimental manufacturing area to the finished product display area.

The massive cannon body, recoil mechanism, and gun carriage of the 155mm howitzer that Peng Lin was most concerned about stood majestically there.

Its thick barrel was like the throat of a steel beast, and its dark, hollow muzzle was large enough to fit an adult's head.

The steel cannon body gleamed with a cold light, and its several-ton heavy body required hydraulic mechanisms to elevate and traverse.

“Deputy Factory Director Peng, this 155mm howitzer you designed directly broke the record for the largest artillery caliber in our country.”

Wu Yuan, the chief engineer of the Weapons Manufacturing Sub-factory, said.

Since the successful test production of this massive cannon body, he felt a sense of awe every time he saw it.

This was because Peng Lin had also designed a series of specialized ammunition types for this 155mm howitzer, including high-explosive shells, top-attack anti-tank munitions, rocket-assisted glide extended-range shells, armor-piercing shells, incendiary shells, and thermobaric shells.

Every time Wu Yuan looked at the design drawings, he couldn't help but sigh; Peng Lin had truly innovated with a howitzer.

For example, the top-attack anti-tank munition is a new type of ammunition specifically designed to automatically search for and strike armored vehicles like tanks from above.

There's also the rocket-assisted glide extended-range shell, which utilizes the aerodynamic design of the shell body to generate lift during flight with wings, extending the glide distance after the apex of the trajectory, allowing the shell to achieve a range of 80 kilometers.

It's important to know that even the most advanced rocket launchers of the Mammoth Bear Empire and Pretty Country today only have a range of about 35 kilometers.

This new technology completely overturned Wu Yuan's understanding.

If it weren't for the fact that the 155mm howitzer currently lacks a suitable vehicle.

He wished he could test fire it right now and witness this world-shocking artillery piece firsthand!

Even with this 155mm howitzer, it might not be impossible for the reputation of their Changhe Weapons Manufacturing Sub-factory to rival Rheinmetall globally!

Meanwhile, Peng Lin silently inspected the gleaming cannon body and various parts of the gun carriage.

Although the 155mm howitzer test-produced by the Weapons Manufacturing Sub-factory was a bit rough in craftsmanship, all its parameters were ultimately without any problems.

Moreover, the issue of rough craftsmanship can be continuously improved in the future through mass production and improved processes.

“Once the Vehicle Manufacturing Sub-factory produces the dedicated vehicles in a few days, we can go to the firing range for joint testing.”

Peng Lin nodded silently, then said.

He designed a total of three different vehicles for this 155mm howitzer.

The first type is an armored chassis vehicle, which is the most expensive to build.

The armored chassis and the 155mm howitzer will be modularly combined to form a 155mm self-propelled howitzer.

It will not only have an automatic loading system and tracked off-road mobility but also armor protection.

It will be directly equipped in heavy combined arms brigades, becoming one of their core heavy firepower assets.

The second type is a 6x6 off-road truck chassis.

It also possesses a fully automatic loading system and self-propelled mobility.

However, compared to the 155mm self-propelled howitzer, it lacks armor protection and a tracked chassis.

But similarly, its cost will also be relatively lower.

The third type is a conventional off-road vehicle towed type.

This design requires fitting the 155mm howitzer with wheels for towed mobility.

Its disadvantages include inability to move independently and requiring loaders to manually load and fire, and so on.

But similarly, its cost is also the lowest, making it very suitable for large-scale deployment.

Additionally, without vehicle restrictions, it can be directly airlifted by helicopter to deploy positions, offering strong flexibility.

Once these three dedicated vehicles are produced and tested together with the 155mm howitzer, they can be widely deployed in the military.

By then, the heavy firepower coverage strike capability of the Dragon Country military will directly leap to the forefront of the world.

Especially the specialized glide extended-range munition, which will further change the rules of the battlefield, directly controlling the battlefield from outside the enemy's defense zone and conducting one-sided firepower saturation!

Compared to the artillery of various countries today that require close-range firing, the 155mm howitzer will directly implement precise suppression outside the enemy's artillery range!

“The new rocket launcher has also been produced; it’s right next door.”

After inspecting the howitzer, Wu Yuan led Peng Lin to the other side of the R&D workshop.

The launch box of the Weishi 400mm modular rocket launcher was displayed there.

This is a rocket launcher designed by Peng Lin according to the most advanced technical indicators in the world today.

The people of Dragon Country have always had a special sentiment towards rocket launchers.

During the Korean War (Resist America and Aid Korea), Dragon Country once purchased a batch of “Katyusha” rocket launchers from the Mammoth Bear Empire through an account loan method.

At that time, the Mammoth Bear Empire would sell one Katyusha rocket for 6-8 taels of gold.

On the battlefield, a single 16-tube salvo from a “Katyusha” rocket launcher would cost 96 taels of gold.

Therefore, many units would rather endure enemy artillery bombardment, strapping explosives to themselves and charging forward, than use rocket launchers.

But even so, that war necessitated firing tens of thousands of rockets, incurring a debt of hundreds of tons of gold!

At that time, the entire gold reserve of Dragon Country combined was only sixty to seventy tons.

This foreign debt was repaid for nearly twenty years before Dragon Country finally settled it with resources such as minerals.

Since then, Dragon Country also made a firm decision to definitely reverse-engineer and develop its own rocket launchers.

However, to this day, the rocket launchers equipped by the Dragon Country military are still behind advanced world standards.

This was also the reason for the lack of heavy long-range firepower coverage during the self-defense counterattack against Vietnam.

Currently, the Mammoth Bear Empire's most advanced “Hurricane” 220mm rocket launcher is still a 16-tube multiple launcher, capable of a 35-kilometer range.

Its design goal is to suppress NATO's armored clusters on the Eastern European plains.

Pretty Country's most advanced M270 “HIMARS” multiple launch rocket system uses a 12-tube multiple launcher with a 32-kilometer range.

But beyond that, it also adopted the advanced design concept of “shared launch platform for missiles and rockets.”

In addition to launching rockets, it can also launch a tactical missile with a range of 300 kilometers.

However, the Weishi 400mm modular rocket launcher designed by Peng Lin is far ahead of the Mammoth Bear Empire's “Hurricane” and Pretty Country's “M270 HIMARS.”

Due to its large-caliber design, its conventional rockets can have a range of 70 kilometers.

If special extended-range rockets are used, it can even achieve a range of 400 kilometers.

This range is even greater than that of some tactical missiles!

In addition, the top-attack anti-tank munition and thermobaric warheads further enhance the power of the Weishi rockets!

If the Mammoth Bear Empire's “Hurricane” was designed to suppress NATO's armored groups on the Eastern European plains.

Then the Weishi rocket launcher system was designed and developed specifically for the Mammoth Bear Empire's million-strong armored torrent!

Once the Automobile Manufacturing Sub-factory produces its dedicated 10x10 off-road truck chassis vehicle, this rocket launcher system will also be equipped in heavy combined arms brigades.

“Have you started test-producing the tank smoothbore gun components I gave you a few days ago?”

After inspecting the Weishi rocket launcher, Peng Lin asked again.

“We are currently test-producing them. The manufacturing process for smoothbore guns is more demanding, and we have already failed to produce quite a few barrels...”

Wu Yuan said with a slight hesitation.

“Hmm, one step at a time!”

Peng Lin nodded, not blaming him.

He knew that the manufacturing process requirements for the 99A tank's smoothbore gun system were high, which is why he had Wu Yuan and his team start manufacturing in advance, even before it was fully developed.

Compared to the 155mm self-propelled howitzer and the Weishi rocket launcher, the Type 99A heavy main battle tank is the coremain force of the heavy combined arms brigade's ground advance.

If the Valiant Combined Arms Brigade is the king of maneuver warfare in complex terrain.

Then the Heavy Combined Arms Brigade is the king of ground warfare for deep operations on vast plains!

This year marks the beginning of Dragon Country's grand reform and opening-up policy.

All economic and national development requires a strong military and armed forces to provide escort and protection.

Additionally, this year is also the 30th anniversary of the founding of Dragon Country, and according to information revealed by Marshal Xu, Dragon Country may hold an unprecedented grand military parade this year to showcase its military might!

To clear obstacles and pave the way for the great reform!

Therefore, Peng Lin wanted to quickly develop all the core equipment for the heavy combined arms brigade and equip the troops before September.

By then, the heavy combined arms brigade could appear on the parade square and participate in the review!

This is not only an opportunity to deter petty villains.

It is also an excellent opportunity to promote Dragon Country's heavy firepower weapons and equipment to various countries worldwide!