Chapter 21: It’s All Right—Let’s Continue!

An active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar alone is enough to look down on all current radars. One must realize that even the warships of the United States currently use passive electronically scanned array radars.

The United States would not employ the most advanced AESA radar until seven years later on the Arleigh Burke-class Flight III destroyers.

Although the 1,916-day analysis time was long, Su Dingping felt it was absolutely worth it.

In addition to this, there were the advanced YJ (Yingji) system and the HHQ (Hai Hongqi) system—these were the very foundations upon which a warship’s survival and strength rested.

However, he was in no rush for the latter two; he had to finish analyzing the core technology of the 052D first.

He then turned his attention to the "Moskit supersonic anti-ship missile system" and the "SA-N-7 Gadfly air defense missile system," and initiated the analysis.

In the next second, two analysis panels appeared in his mind.

[Moskit supersonic anti-ship missile system, paired with the 'SS-N-22 Sunburn' supersonic ship-borne anti-ship cruise missile.]

['SS-N-22 Sunburn anti-ship missile' integral ramjet engine technology (analysis time 879 days, progress 14%), active/passive radar guidance technology (analysis time 331 days, progress 44%), launch control system (analysis time 88 days, progress 67%), 'Mineral' fire-control radar (analysis time 101 days, progress 52%)...]

['SA-N-7 Gadfly air defense missile system', paired with the 9M38 ship-borne air defense missile.]

[9M38 air defense missile semi-active single-pulse radar guidance technology (analysis time 331 days, progress 36%), 3D air search and fire-control radar (analysis time 487 days, progress 31%), MR-750 air search and early warning radar (analysis time 301 days, progress 44%), 10B air situation console (analysis time 312 days, progress 19%)...]

Scanning back and forth between the three virtual panels, Su Dingping was full of drive.

He glanced toward the dock, and sure enough, a brand-new 052D had appeared next to the 956E.

With one step, Su Dingping appeared on the 052D.

Having only seen it on television in his previous life, this was his first time ever stepping onto a 052D.

With a wave of his hand, the 052D was instantly disassembled into thousands of parts. Immediately after, with a thought, the 956E was likewise dismantled into countless components.

Having done all this, Su Dingping wandered among the parts of the two warships and began a new round of research.

Two days passed in a flash.

That afternoon, just as Su Dingping was busy with his final planning, his dormitory door was knocked.

Knock, knock, knock—

"Dingping, are you in?"

"Professor Zhang, I'll be right there."

Opening the door, he saw Zhang Gongnong standing outside, sweating profusely.

"I checked the laboratory, the classrooms, and the library several times and couldn't find you, so I knew you had to be in your dorm."

Zhang Gongnong followed Su Dingping into the room, looking at the draft paper piled everywhere, and felt a surge of emotion.

Natural talent is one thing, but diligence is equally important. Su Dingping possessed both.

"I didn't trust anyone else to come pick you up. Is everything ready?"

Picking up a bag, Su Dingping said, "Ready, we can leave at any time!"

Looking at the room full of blueprints, then at the backpack in Su Dingping's hand, Zhang Gongnong was stunned.

He pointed at the items on the table, then at the surrounding blueprints: "These... are they no longer needed?"

"I have them all memorized; these are just inconsequential things."

The corner of Zhang Gongnong's eye twitched violently.

Half an hour later, the two arrived at the 335 Research Institute.

Upon seeing Su Dingping, Sun Yongguo walked over excitedly and shook his hand.

"Dingping, thank you for your hard work in the coming days."

"Dean Sun, this is what I should do."

Su Dingping looked around and noticed that, besides Professor Li, there were three other professors he did not recognize.

"Dingping, we have studied the many blueprints you brought back from Old Zhang for two days, and we have benefited greatly," Professor Li said.

The other three professors nodded in succession.

At first, when they saw Zhang Gongnong and the others bringing in a whole truckload of blueprints and learned they were the graduation project of a senior student, they had all expressed that it was a waste of time. But after reading them, everyone felt truly impressed.

"The document approving the visit to the 956E will arrive in a few days," Sun Yongguo said, changing the subject. "Dingping, why don't you get familiar with the place tonight, and we'll start tomorrow?"

"Dean Sun, time is of the essence; I can start today."

"No need for a rest?"

Su Dingping shook his head.

Sun Yongguo immediately made the call: "Very well, I have already prepared the place."

...

"Over-the-horizon attack is the greatest weakness of our warships! It is also the primary problem that urgently needs to be solved! The 'Mineral' sea situational awareness radar on the 956E can perform active detection on..."

On the podium, Su Dingping listed the derivation formulas while speaking.

"We know that the X-band causes significant energy loss during propagation and reflection. According to the wave integration equation, the range cannot reach that far. If we replace the X-band with the Gamma-band and use the Funesfud conjecture, what would happen?"

Su Dingping lectured seriously, and Zhang Gongnong and the others recorded just as earnestly.

More than an hour later, Su Dingping asked, "Does everyone understand?"

"We understand."

"Professor Zhang, do you understand?"

Suddenly being called out, Zhang Gongnong felt a bit embarrassed; it had been many years since he was a student.

"It's alright."

Su Dingping looked back at the derivation formulas and asked, "Which part is unclear? Bring it up, and I will explain it again."

Professor Li nudged Zhang Gongnong’s arm, and Zhang Gongnong said helplessly, "Dingping, to tell you the truth, I didn't understand any of it."

The others followed suit.

"That's right, we are all encountering these theories for the first time; none of us have grasped them yet."

Su Dingping looked back at the derivation formulas again.

Is it really that difficult?

Only then did he realize that breaking through technical barriers and bridging the technical gap was indeed not that easy. He had the system, but they did not.

Seeming to notice Su Dingping's silence, Sun Yongguo quickly said, "Dingping, it's fine, just keep lecturing! We will discuss it after class."

The others quickly added, "Exactly, we will ponder it tonight. It's no trouble at all."

Taking a deep breath, Su Dingping said, "It's fine, it's always like this at first. It will get better later. Come, let's go over it once more!"

As he spoke, Su Dingping erased the formulas on the blackboard and wrote as he explained, "The Funesfud conjecture faces many problems in the practical stage. At this point, we need to..."

Three hours later, the half-hour dinner break gave everyone a chance to relax.

Sun Yongguo said to Zhang Gongnong, "I originally thought about bringing everyone from the institute to attend the lectures, but it seems that won't be possible in the short term."

"Sigh."

Zhang Gongnong sighed and said, "There's no other way; we are all confused by many of these theoretical concepts. If we want our navy to move from non-modernized to modernized, we have to overcome this hurdle no matter what! Once we get past this point and bridge the knowledge gap, everything else will be much easier."

Zhang Gongnong looked helpless. "Dean Sun, do you think Dingping was wondering why these professors just don't get it? I've explained it so thoroughly!"

Back when he was teaching at Harbin Institute of Technology, facing those so-called "heavenly favored" students, he often lamented why they just couldn't understand. Now, he had become the subject of that lament.

Hearing this, the corners of Sun Yongguo's mouth twitched.

He really had to bring up the most painful topic.