Chapter 74 Adjusting the Artillery

The advancement of electronic technology has made it quite simple to aim the aircraft guns, and hot wires can handle everything. However, aiming is more difficult for old fighters, such as the J-7, which uses the original active halo sight, codenamed Shemiao-7.

This is an optical aiming device that relies on the light from the lighting lamp to pass through the focusing tube, through the overlap of the light-shielding plate and the light-leaking lines of the ring plate group, to form a halo composed of prismatic light spots and the center of the ring; then it passes through the reflector, and is reflected by the gyro mirror and the reflector to the objective lens for magnification and then projected onto the sight. The pilot can see the aiming halo and distance numbers by aiming.

This device is also extremely cumbersome to use. The pilot determines the enemy aircraft type based on the enemy situation report or visual contact, turns the wingspan knob, selects the wingspan scale, because the rangefinder is based on the enemy's wingspan; then moves the ring selector lever to the active halo position; presses the ring stabilization button to make the halo closely follow the movement of the aircraft; turns the rangefinder handle to enlarge the halo; estimates the elevation angle and lead angle, places the halo above and in front of the target, releases the ring stabilization button, shrinks the halo, and as the halo moves backward and downward, the center light spot slowly falls on the target. This is just the initial stage!

In professional shooting terms, there are expressions such as "follow well", "encircle well" and "steady well". Align the central light spot and press it on the center or key position of the target, follow the target firmly, and measure the linear angular velocity of the target; turn the rangefinder handle to reduce the halo, so that the inner tip of the prismatic light spots that make up the halo surrounds the target, control the tightness of the encirclement according to the projection ratio of the enemy aircraft, and measure the distance to the target to form a comprehensive correction angle.

When all this is done, the comprehensive correction is carried out, and after tracking for about one second, you can open fire.

Such a complicated action is not something that ordinary people can do! Even experienced pilots do not have enough time to complete these tasks before shooting, so pilots usually use their experience to estimate and fight with bayonets in the air! Get close before shooting! It is common to shoot down the enemy's fighter plane, but your own fighter plane is also scarred because of the close distance.

Now, this sight was similar to the one Andre had used for training in his previous life, and Andre knew that it would be too difficult to rely solely on this sight.

Because this time he was attacking a target traveling at three times the speed of sound, the shooting window left for him was too short!

In fact, the MiG-25 is already a relatively advanced fighter, equipped with pulse Doppler radar and forward-looking infrared search/tracking system. However, it is absolutely impossible for existing maintenance personnel to link these systems, such as using Doppler radar to measure distance and directly output data to the sight, which can reduce the previous steps.

What should he do? Watching the maintenance personnel busy drilling holes and installing sights in the cockpit of his fighter, Andre knew that he had to be prepared in advance!

What should I do? Andre's brain was thinking rapidly. He was not only at a disadvantage, but also had advantages! The biggest advantage was that the target he was going to attack was not a flexible fighter, but a reconnaissance plane that almost always flew in a straight line!

Why are there so many steps? It is because it is very difficult to hit a highly maneuverable fighter! This was already the case in World War II. Only excellent pilots can get attack opportunities while constantly biting the tail. In air combat, do not fly in a straight line for even a second! This is a bloody lesson!

But now, the target I have to deal with is a reconnaissance aircraft. When the Blackbird flies at three times the speed of sound, it can only fly in a straight line. Even if it turns, it cannot turn with a large overload! Therefore, all kinds of data can be set in advance! At that time, my interception can no longer be a head-on interception, but a tail chase! Set a reasonable interception route, and you can intercept calmly!

Thanks to the advantages gained from later generations, Andre is familiar with all the data of the Blackbird. The Blackbird has a wingspan of 17 meters and a length of 33 meters. When the afterburner is turned on for supersonic flight, the fastest speed can reach 3.35 Mach. Although the maximum speed exceeds his own, as long as the interception line is reasonable, he still has a chance to shoot down the opponent!

It doesn't take many, just one shot down and the American Blackbird reconnaissance plane will be completely obedient!

Then, I still need to negotiate with the guidance personnel and plan the interception route this time!

"Report to the commander, the modification has been completed and we can conduct the gun test." Victor said to Andre.

"Okay, let's find an open space outside to test the artillery!" said Andre.

Weapons cannot be used right out of the box; they must be debugged to determine the accuracy of the coordination between the aiming device and the weapon. Now, all we have to do is complete the test on the ground.

No. 032 was towed out of the hangar and a paper target was placed in the distance on an open space outside.

"Boom, boom, boom." The machine gun let out an earth-shaking roar, and the paper target three hundred meters away was instantly smashed into pieces. The air was filled with smoke. The power of the 23mm twin-barreled machine gun was really too great!

"Good, not bad." Andre said. As long as the shooting at a stationary target is accurate and the sight is adjusted correctly, it is possible to hit a moving target.

In Andre's mind, he already had a complete plan. He had set up the wingspan data, approached from below, tracked steadily for one second, and then fired directly! His own route planning was now the key!

"Captain Andre, it's so lively here." At this moment, a voice came to my ears.

Even without looking up, Andre knew who it was: the base commander Kozhidub!

"Commander Kozhedub, what's the matter?" Andrei asked.

"I heard that you were modifying your fighter plane and preparing to intercept the American reconnaissance plane again, so I came to see you." Kozhedub said, "If you need me, just let me know. This mission is related to the glory of our Sokolovka base."

"It's okay, Commander, go ahead and do your work." Andre said, and he strode onto the fighter plane, preparing to adjust the sights on it in advance, as well as to adapt to this ancient shooting method.

Kozhedub stood there awkwardly, the sun was beating down on his head, and sweat kept falling. If it was before, Kozhedub would not care about such a small person, but now, he is a Soviet hero! Even Kozhedub has to speak cheerfully now, and now he has been caught by the other party!

That damn nephew actually sold the spare parts in the warehouse! Just to exchange for a few bottles of vodka! This kind of thing can be big or small. If it is solved within the base, then there will be no problem. At most, you will just write a self-criticism. However, if the KGB intervenes in the investigation, it will be troublesome! If some spare parts flow out of the country and fall into the hands of Americans, then even I will be in trouble!