Facing Luo Gong's questioning, Qin Shan fell into silence.
After a long while, Qin Shan nodded slightly and said, "Alright, I'll introduce you to Engineer Luo when the time comes."
Pausing for a moment, Qin Shan continued, "Engineer Luo, what kind of performance will the upgraded Pheroes have after modification?"
"Modification?" Hearing Qin Shan's inquiry, Engineer Luo shook his head slightly and did not give Qin Shan an answer. Instead, he directly said, "To be honest, I don't recommend modifying the Hidden Dragon."
"????" Qin Shan was taken aback and subconsciously asked, "Why?"
"Because it is too advanced," Engineer Luo answered.
Before Qin Shan could respond, Engineer Luo continued, "The technology it contains far exceeds ours by a great margin. If we try to modify it using its technology, we're simply wasting resources. It's even possible that we're being wasteful."
"If we were to equip the Hidden Dragon's shaftless pump-jet propulsion system, then the stealth capabilities of our strategic submarines could be further enhanced!"
"Fifty?"
"Ssssss!"
Upon hearing that number, almost everyone present drew in a sharp breath.
Upon hearing this, Qin Shan furrowed his brow slightly and asked, "Engineer Luo, do these technologies really have such high costs?"
After a long while, Engineer Luo sighed lightly and then helplessly said, "General Qin, before considering these issues, I think we should first think about the cost. Building a strategic submarine like the Storm-class, indeed, is attractive. However, the Xuanwu alloy is a special metal that we currently have no means to produce."
Indeed, a genuinely national treasure!
After a long time, Qin Shan forced himself to suppress the shock in his heart and asked again, "Then if we completely use the power system of the Hidden Dragon and replace the reactor with batteries instead, how many missiles can we carry in the saved space?"
After a long time, Qin Shan took a deep breath, forcing down the excitement in his heart, and said, "Engineer Luo, if we upgrade our strategic nuclear submarine with Xuanwu alloy and use the shaftless pump-jet propulsion and all-electric propulsion systems from the Hidden Dragon, how many missiles can our submarine carry at its maximum?"
As low as ten decibels, this is simply unimaginable!
At that moment, Engineer Luo continued, "Of course, this noise is related to the very quiet power system of the Hidden Dragon. The shaftless pump-jet propulsion and all-electric propulsion systems of the Hidden Dragon have a noise level that can be considered nonexistent compared to our nuclear reactor."
"High?" Engineer Luo slightly shook his head and said, "General Qin, I can only say that these are the basic investments. And you should also be aware that developing such things doesn't guarantee success with just any amount of investment. Often, research and development requires investment but the outcome depends on luck."
Without giving everyone time to think, Engineer Luo continued, "Actually, we don't even need the Hidden Dragon. If we just use the Xuanwu alloy on the Hidden Dragon, we can create a strategic submarine that could be considered perfect!"
What kind of monster is this?
Just the thought of it sends a shiver down one's spine!
It's not fear, but excitement!
Such a payload capacity is more than double that of the Black and White Eagle's strategic nuclear submarine!
Such a terrifying payload capacity, to put it bluntly, a single submarine is enough to annihilate a nation!
"?" Suddenly interrupted by Qin Shan, Engineer Luo was taken aback.
"?????" Hearing Engineer Luo's voice, Qin Shan was directly stunned.
"Don't need!" Before Engineer Luo's words had even finished, Qin Shan's voice cut through abruptly, interrupting Engineer Luo.
"If we use the power system of the Hidden Dragon and upgrade our submarine to a scale of 48,000 tons like the Storm-class strategic nuclear submarine, then under the condition that we do not modify the size and specifications of the missiles, our nuclear submarine is expected to carry at least fifty submarine-launched ballistic missiles!"
"In addition, thanks to the superior performance of the Xuanwu alloy, our submarine can be further expanded to reach the level of the Hidden Dragon, even surpassing it! Reaching the level of the Polar Bear's Storm-class strategic nuclear submarine is completely feasible!"
Pausing for a moment, Engineer Luo continued, "I previously advised not to modify the Hidden Dragon because of two reasons. One is the incompatibility of the systems. The other is the cost issue. The Hidden Dragon is too advanced and its cost may be astronomical. If we use it, our financial and military expenses might be unfeasible."
At this moment, Qin Shan smiled and said, "Engineer Luo, there's no need to worry about this issue. The price of the Hidden Dragon is merely 1.6 billion."
In other words, if we replace the hull of our strategic nuclear submarine with Xuanwu alloy, our strategic nuclear submarine can achieve a level of silence equal to, if not surpassing, the Black and White Eagle's Wolf-class attack nuclear submarine!
"……" Hearing this, Engineer Luo fell silent immediately.
The largest nuclear submarine in the world is the Polar Bear's Storm-class strategic nuclear submarine, with a underwater displacement of up to 48,000 tons!
The most advanced submarine in the world is the Black and White Eagle's Wolf-class attack submarine, according to the promotional data from the Black and White Eagle, its noise level is below 90 decibels!
The payload capacity is only about half of the Black and White Eagle's strategic nuclear submarine with a displacement of less than 48,000 tons!
Now, Engineer Luo claims that if they design it to the scale of a Storm-class submarine, their nuclear submarine can carry 50 missiles!
"This is impossible!" As Qin Shan's words fell, Engineer Luo couldn't help but interrupt immediately!
Yes, cost!
If the cost is too high, even the most advanced things are useless.
It is indeed a genuine underwater behemoth!
However, due to its power supply issues, although the Storm-class strategic nuclear submarine has an enormous displacement, most of the space is used to install two nuclear reactors. Additionally, its missile technology leads to large missile volumes, resulting in only twenty ballistic missiles being carried despite its unparalleled displacement.
"1.6 billion dragon coins!" In response to Engineer Luo's inquiry, Qin Shan responded with a relaxed smile.
Upon hearing this, Engineer Luo fell into thought. After a long time, he finally said:
What does ten decibels mean?
In simple terms, sounds at this level can only be heard by someone who is very close to the source of the sound!
The average background noise level in the ocean is 95 decibels!
Upon hearing Qin Shan's response, Engineer Luo's eyes bulged: "How much?"
"Much like the controlled nuclear fusion technology, fifty years ago, some people said that controlled nuclear fusion would be successfully developed within fifty years. But now, fifty years have passed, and global investment in this area has exceeded a thousand billion US dollars. Yet controlled nuclear fusion is still at the same stage as fifty years ago!"
"It is too advanced, so advanced that it's like comparing our modern third-generation aircraft with the biplane propellers from two hundred years ago. If it joins our system, we will only become its burden..."
"1.6 billion US dollars?" Engineer Luo was surprised: "1.6 billion US dollars? So cheap?"
Similarly, they had said the same thing when they saw Su Heng using T30 or even T40 carbon fiber to make fishing rods.
"Similarly, because of the terrifying performance of Xuanwu alloy, the maximum depth of our submarine can also reach a depth of at least 600 meters below the sea level!"
Although this data has not been verified for truth or falsehood, regardless of the truth, even if it is true, 90 decibels and 10 decibels are completely different concepts!
According to internationally recognized data, every reduction of six decibels in noise reduces the detection range of an enemy's sonar by half!
While below 90 decibels, in the ocean, it is almost impossible to effectively detect!
"I think its cost will be extremely high. If it's used extensively, can we afford that exorbitant cost?"
"1.6 billion dragon coins? Are you joking?"
"Xuanwu alloy not only has super strong toughness and rigidity, but also has extremely strong noise shielding ability. We have conducted noise detection on the Hidden Dragon and found that its noise is even lower than ten decibels!"
Equalling or even surpassing the Wolf-class attack submarine in terms of silence and submerged depth, as well as matching or even exceeding the Storm-class nuclear submarine in terms of displacement!
At that time, everyone was saddened by Su Heng's waste of a gift from heaven.
Upon hearing this, Qin Shan and the others fell silent.
Like the Ghost Stealth Strategic Bomber from the Black and White Eagle family, the cost of one aircraft is higher than that of an equal weight of gold!
Even the wealthy Black and White Eagle can't afford many of them!
"Hu..."
Ten decibels?
Upon hearing this number, whether it was Qin Shan or the others beside him, their pupils contracted sharply.
Without waiting for Qin Shan's response, Luo Gong continued, "General Qin, do you know how many technologies are packed into the Hidden Dragon? Just one technology on it requires at least a hundred billion in research and development costs. Even if materials are cheap, what about the research and development costs?"
He suddenly felt that talking about these technical problems to people who don't understand technology is really troublesome...
However, he hadn't expected that now, Engineer Luo had actually placed that word on their own heads.
Upon hearing this, the people in the room looked at each other and the fiery enthusiasm in their hearts was gradually suppressed.
He is not the first time he has heard the word "wasting heaven's resources". Before seeing Su Heng using the towline as a tow rope, he had also said this to Su Heng.
Compared to the Black and White Eagle's Ghost, the Hidden Dragon seems to be even better, how can that be used?
However, in response to Luo Gong's question, Qin Shan's expression seemed odd.
Upon hearing this, whether it was Qin Shan or the others beside him, their eyes lit up.
If we're using something that's just like the Hidden Dragon, what's the difference between that and using the Hidden Dragon directly?
Why bother upgrading our old and broken house when we can just use something like the Hidden Dragon directly?
"Wrong, it's not US dollars, it's dragon coins! 1.6 billion dragon coins!" Qin Shan smiled.
Seeing this, Luo Gong sighed lightly, then said, "If the cost of Xuanwu alloy is too high, I think we should consider whether to use it within limits or find ways to develop a lower-grade alloy to reduce the cost of use..."
"However, even if we disregard the propulsion system, if we stuff our reactor into the Hidden Dragon as we estimate, its noise will not exceed 90 decibels."
What is this? A boomerang?
At this moment, Engineer Luo continued, "To put it simply, any single technology on the Hidden Dragon could lead to a leapfrogging advancement in our technology!"
"We don't even know if we can break through in the next fifty years, or if it will take another, or even more, fifty years!"
Chapter 3 delivered! Thanks to the patronage of the Big Brother of Xuanwu alloy and the support of all our family members with their monthly tickets and recommendations, thank you so much!
(The chapter ends)
