A big country of aerospace with black technology

March 2001, offshore Southern California.

A huge stratospheric fortress was flying slowly above the blue sea and sky.

Not long after, a round, huge, and unusual-looking missile hung from the large missile mounting point below the strategic bomber.

"ARRW's first test, start preparations!"

The crew in the cabin obtained orders from the rear command center through the data link.

Start preparing for the upcoming test of ARRW in an orderly manner.

"Jason, what do you think those people in Congress think, spending so much money to build this thing?"

As the pilot of this behemoth with a take-off weight of more than two hundred tons, Baron poured himself a cup of coffee and said with some complaint.

"Why don't you buy us a new coffee machine when military spending increases!?"

Jason is the technical lead for the air-launched rapid response weapon (ARRW) that is about to be tested.

Since Congress passed the plan to develop hypersonic missiles more than three years ago, Jason and the others have begun researching hypersonic missiles.

The original plan was to launch the first air-launched hypersonic missile in 2003.

But last year, I don’t know what went crazy in Congress.

They are required to come up with hypersonic missiles that can be tested within a year.

Jason, who was focused on scientific research, did not know that at that time, he had just learned that the Dongfeng-17 hypersonic missile test was successful. Especially after learning about its performance, the men in Congress could not sleep peacefully.

They were afraid that at some point, a hot warhead would fall from the sky and penetrate them.

The Dongfeng-17 hypersonic missile with a range of more than 7,000 kilometers obviously has such capabilities.

Able to threaten their prosperous west coast.

But this is information that Jason does not know.

All he knows is that since then, Congress has never been as procrastinating as before in disbursing money.

With the blessing of money and constant urging from people.

Their first air-launched hypersonic missile finally completed research and development in March this year.

Originally, Jason suggested doing a few ground tests before conducting actual tests.

But obviously, the Congressmen don't think so.

They urgently need a hypersonic missile capable of equivalent countermeasures.

Although this missile does not have the same ultra-long range as the Dongfeng-17.

But as a country with countless overseas bases in the world, they use hypersonic missiles and do not really need such ultra-long range.

Although Jason did not want to conduct air-launch experiments directly, how could his opinions alone be able to control the military-industrial complex that was whispering in the ears of congressmen.

Even he himself is a member of this group.

As a result, this air-launched hypersonic missile hastily started its first test.

Inside the Stratofortress strategic bomber, Jason completed the program self-inspection before missile launch with some excitement.

He took a cup of coffee from Baron and took a sip:

"Your treatment is good enough, and the coffee beans are purer than ours!"

Baron laughed a few times and said, "It tastes good. These are authentic Brazilian coffee beans."

As one of the best-paid people in the Air Force, the coffee equipment used by Baron and his friends are extremely expensive.

Just a humble coffee cup costs as much as 1,700 US dollars, which is not a small figure even after decades of economic flooding.

As for the price of the coffee machine, it is more than ten times!

But Jason didn't know these details. He could only feel that the coffee beans were good and the coffee was delicious.

"Missile self-test completed."

After drinking a cup of coffee, Jason reported to the rear and waited for orders.

"ARRW launch approved!"

Jason operated the missile launch procedure with a confident look on his face.

Although almost no full-system experiments had been conducted before, Jason still had extraordinary confidence in the missile he developed.

Of course, his confidence is not completely unreasonable.

At this time, Yingjiang's domestic manufacturing industry, especially the high-end manufacturing industry related to aerospace, is actually still very strong.

It is not like in later generations, when the industrial center shifted to the financial industry and shrank.

A hypersonic missile with a length of 5 meters under the wing and a weight of five tons.

The booster ignited first, and the solid fuel underwent a violent chemical reaction, bursting out with powerful energy.

Jason and the others used the currently popular boost glide method to allow the missile to reach hypersonic speeds.

The missile equipped with a solid fuel rocket motor successfully separated from the strategic bomber.

Then it turned into a white wave streaking across the blue sky.

According to the predetermined procedure, the missile will be driven by a solid fuel rocket engine and reach an altitude of 400 kilometers in low-Earth orbit.

Then the missile's warhead, a hypersonic wedge-shaped warhead, will be released from the fairing.

According to their thinking, due to its shape, the warhead can maneuver at multiple angles in the dense atmosphere to avoid possible anti-missile strikes.

But Jason's expectations obviously did not come true.

Less than three minutes after the missile was launched from under the strategic bomber, the missile suddenly exploded.

A beautiful orange-red fireball was drawn in the air.

In the bomber, Jason was originally discussing which restaurant to go to for dinner after completing the test.

Instantly petrified.

Obviously, this result seriously exceeded his expectation.

According to his original idea, the missile would successfully reach the orbit and then release the missile's warhead. Even if it did not accurately hit the target, he would still be able to excuse himself.

But the current situation is really hard for him to accept.

But fortunately, Jason's psychological quality is still relatively strong.

There was no yelling, but after the bombers were turned back.

He began to lead his team members to look for clues of failure from the data before the missile explosion.

"So, to spend this money, why not buy us a better coffee machine."

After the missile launch failed, Baron took a sip of coffee and thought with emotion in his heart.

However, he did not show this trace of ridicule on his face, and even showed a little concern for Jason.

I asked if I wanted a cup of coffee to calm my mood.

After getting the unnecessary answer, he walked back to the cockpit calmly.

The strategic bomber, like a flying fortress, slowly turned around and prepared to return to the air force base.

Jason, who was in the bomber's equipment bay, was sweating profusely while checking the data.

He must find the possible cause of the missile explosion before returning to the ground.

Otherwise, the situation he will face will be very unfavorable.

And now, there is not much time left for Jason! (end of this chapter)