Agriculture Maniac

Chapter 591 Three Beauties
In terms of circumstances, North America is actually quite difficult as well.

From a macro perspective.

The North American financial economy split into the Morgan faction and the Old Smith faction.

The North American bourgeoisie split into the old military-industrial class, led by J.P. Morgan, and the new technological class, led by George H.W. Brooks and John Smith.

The North American political system split into the Northern Republican Party, led by J.P. Morgan, the Southern Republican Party, led by George H.W. Bush, and the immigrant democracy faction, led by John Smith.

From a micro perspective

The subprime crisis threw Wall Street into chaos.

The financial crisis caused numerous bankruptcies of real economy businesses across the states.

The military has been fighting the three factions for five or six years, and has been reduced to only two or three aircraft carriers in service. In addition, there is a large group of senior executives and members of Congress colluding with the three factions within the Bush administration.

It can be said that in less than five years, the once glorious imperial flag has almost become a children's doodle board.

However, after the three-way cooperation, and after two rounds of negotiations totaling half a year, North America successively obtained the three-way brain-computer interface project, the three-way military-to-civilian overseas project, the three-way rural credit cooperative project, the three-way people's hospital project, as well as the three-way shared high-tech materials and technologies.

By uniting the three systems, North America successfully acquired dormant European patents, discovered European scientific research talents, and created a large number of unprecedented high-tech industries.

So before North America fell into the abyss, it grabbed the lifeline thrown by the three systems and had hope of revival.

Therefore, whether it was J.P. Morgan, the Bush administration, or both Bush and Smith, they were all in a very good mood at this time.

At least this time, the three factions did not kick each other when they were down, nor did they go back on their word.

Against this backdrop.

North America is not gloating over the pandas' plight.

·
The Pentagon.

On the huge laser projection screen, images were clearly displayed, generated by the combined detection and analysis of UFO UHF follow-up satellites, Keyhole spy satellites, GPS Starlink, and North American ground radar.

Nowadays, single radar scanning has been phased out by the country.

Even the 'radar-communication integration' that was very advanced five years ago is now completely outdated.

The current trend is a combination of radar, communication, starlink positioning, dedicated satellites, AI analysis, and information enhancement, led by three systems.

Alternatively, radar can be used to scan and locate the target. Then, the communication frequency bands in the target area can be hijacked, filtered, or eavesdropped on. At the same time, real-time positioning can be achieved using UHF Starlink, and then photography can be achieved using dedicated satellites.

Then, artificial intelligence is used to analyze the above information to obtain the final result, which is then put into the database to make the result more high-definition, realistic, accurate, and spatial, thereby completing the attack or interception.

This new system, named the 'combat platform,' almost completely surpasses the previous 'early warning radar + fire control radar + combat system'.

But because of this, most countries simply can't afford to play this game.

This is also true in North America.

For example, radar modules need to cover all frequency bands; otherwise, AI will lack complete information sources during analysis, leading to distorted results. However, radars of different frequency bands are developed and produced by different manufacturers. If they are to be integrated into a single module, it would be necessary to unite these different manufacturers, which is obviously impossible in a capitalist society.

For example, a communication module needs to have functions such as hijacking, filtering, and eavesdropping. To achieve this, it requires a graphics card array, a separate database, a separate AI, and a separate application. These devices and services are also developed and produced by different manufacturers…

This has resulted in a huge difference in the performance of the world's 'combat platforms' today.

If rating is required:

Three-system combat platform (Western Tower) - 9.5.

North American Combat Platform (Military GPS) - 7.2.

Ice Bear Combat Platform (New GLONASS) - 4.8.

Eastern Combat Platform (Beidou)-4.3.

Oilfield combat platform (the West Tower purchased from the third system, covering only West Asia) - 4.1.

The Indian combat platform (which imports rocket fuel from the Indian system and independently launches 6 ultra-high frequency communication satellites) - 3.5.

EU combat platform (Galileo project, which failed several times) -1.2.

That's all.

Of course, at this moment, the generals in the Pentagon were not considering the 'combat platform'.

They sat neatly on either side of the conference table, watching and analyzing the performance of the SS-26 and the advanced tactics presented for the first time by a nuclear-powered spaceplane.

A RAND Corporation official stated, "Although the SS-26's terminal speed is claimed to exceed Mach 5, it uses a conventional rocket engine. We have plenty of ways to intercept it before it reaches the terminal phase, so the SS-26 is already outdated for us. However, the Soviet Union left behind the Avangard hypersonic missile, and intelligence indicates that the Soviet Union has completed one test, which poses a threat to us. We need to strengthen our missile defense system on Aleutian Island."

Robert Gates, North American Defense Director, nodded. "This compromise with the three systems and the resulting cooperation has made the men of Congress very clear about how powerful the three systems are. If it's about defending against the Ice Bear and the three systems, Congress will definitely approve the funding."

The RAND Corporation representative continued, "The three-series anti-ballistic missiles that intercept the SS-26, in terms of appearance, propulsion method, and flight trajectory, are very similar to the 02 version of the Javelin multi-purpose missile, but are slightly shorter overall and have a higher flight speed. It is likely that the range was sacrificed, and the propulsion system and fuel loading were improved, and then it was installed in a nuclear-powered spaceplane and used as an air-to-air missile."

Based on the presented parameters, almost all of our short- and medium-range attack missiles are likely to be intercepted, while the interception rate for long-range cruise missiles and ballistic missiles is currently unpredictable.

However, this type of tri-system missile heavily relies on nuclear-powered spaceplanes…

According to information released by the RAND Corporation, "Strictly speaking, the three-line system treated the aircraft as an airborne aircraft carrier, which led to the subsequent deployment of cluster missiles and drones."

Robert Gates began by asking, "Does it pose a threat to us?"

"In the past, we have engaged in numerous confrontations with the three systems, including conventional missile exchanges, ballistic missile attacks, cruise missile engagements, and head-on drone battles..."

Although the three factions used us as test subjects, we also obtained a lot of information about their weaponry.

In general, current drones, including the three series, all have many drawbacks.

For example, small drones, although they can evade radar, have short ranges and are easily interfered with.

For example, large drones, despite their long range and high speed, are difficult to make stealthable under the surveillance of combat platforms.

Thus, hiding small drones inside hypersonic cluster missiles, using the cluster missiles' penetration capabilities to quickly approach the target, and then discarding the cluster missiles to achieve a highly efficient and precise kill, becomes an excellent tactic.

"And this tactic..." the RAND Corporation representative said, glancing around, "If the Third System obtains the coordinates of this room, and if Yu Sanyuan is willing, a nuclear-powered spaceplane + cluster missiles + drones could destroy this place in almost 15 minutes."

"hiss…"

The many generals who were listening in all gasped in shock.

However, some looked tense, some relaxed, and some had unpredictable expressions...

Robert Gates coughed. "When will our nuclear-powered spaceplane be ready for use?"

As early as the 50s, North America launched the 'Transatmospheric Vehicle Program', the first generation of which included the X-15, X-23, and X-24, collectively known as the 'Rocket-Powered Experimental Vehicle'.

However, due to the limitations of technological advancements, it has never been able to meet NASA's requirements.

In 1979, North America built a new generation of space shuttles - 'Discoverer', codenamed OV-103, which resembled the current three-series nuclear-powered spaceplanes, and was bulky and chubby.

However, its wings are far inferior to those of the three-series aircraft.

In 1984, Discovery completed its maiden flight and began operating in Earth orbit.

In 1999, North America decided to send Discovery back into the atmosphere, but this attempt failed again.

The project was subsequently shelved.

In 02, when the third system launched two West Towers (communication towers) in one day and built West Tower satellites (sentinel towers) for the West Towers, North America hastily drafted a framework for a space launch plan.

The initial investment was $1.92 million, and the subsequent investment was $3.01 million.

In 04, the plan was awarded to Boeing, with a total project cost of $280 billion, and named X-37.

At this time, due to the three-system's promotion of 'unmanned' technology, the X-37 program also extended to unmanned spaceplanes, manned demonstrator aircraft, and unmanned orbital vehicles.

In 05, the three-series nuclear-powered spaceplane completed its maiden flight and was put into use on the same day.

North America immediately terminated the X-37 program and declassified many Cold War-era technologies, such as the CL-1201 nuclear-powered aircraft, naming it the 'North American Nuclear-Powered Aircraft Carrier Program'.

The plan has a total investment of 1200 billion, and with previous investments, it totals 1500 billion US dollars.

According to the plan, the North American nuclear-powered airborne aircraft carrier uses a 9-meter diameter liquid sodium-cooled nuclear reactor that can provide 182 megawatts of thermal power (equivalent to two Nimitz aircraft carriers) and is connected to 1.82 lift engines that can provide approximately 8.2 pounds of thrust.

It is 170 meters long, has a wingspan of 340 meters, a height of 47 meters, and an empty weight of 5300 tons.

Companies involved in research and development and production include: General Dynamics, General Electric, Lockheed Martin, Boeing, Raytheon…

In theory, it can transport about 3000 soldiers or 24 fighter jets at a time, and can then survive in low Earth orbit for 1 to 41 days, ready to land on the ground for combat in 15 minutes.

Ten years ago, North America definitely wouldn't have bothered with this.

However, the three systems triggered a revolution in new materials, and new materials drove a technological revolution.

Furthermore, the emergence of clean nuclear energy technology…

Nowadays, small nuclear power plants are almost the size of gas turbines and are gradually being put into use, such as 'nuclear steam turbine' locomotives and nuclear-powered cruise missiles.

Therefore, no one can guarantee whether nuclear-powered aircraft and nuclear-powered spaceplanes will be commercialized under the impetus of the three systems.

Therefore, North America can only passively participate in the space race and invest in nuclear-powered space carriers.

When asked the question, the NASA official hesitated and said, "As you all know, the current economic situation has forced the suspension of funding for many departments, including nuclear-powered space carriers."

Robert Gates paused for a moment, "I remember that the $1200 billion project funding has already been received."

"The money arrived, but it was transferred away again in order to save General Motors."

"."

The NASA official continued, "I inquired with the finance system, and they gave a clear answer that the money would definitely be transferred back within three months."

"How long has it been now?"

"Six months."

"."

The NASA official hesitated for a moment, then said, "Actually, I think that spending $1500 billion and three years to build a nuclear-powered space carrier is both time-consuming and expensive."

Robert Gates nodded in strong agreement, "But we can't do without them!"

"We can have it."

"???"

"The second nuclear-powered spaceplane of the three series has rolled off the production line. The price is clearly stated as US$598 billion. If a dedicated take-off and landing platform is needed, each platform will cost US$99 billion. I have calculated that we can set up four take-off and landing platforms, totaling US$396 billion. Including the cost of purchasing the aircraft, the total cost will be less than US$100 billion, which is at least US$50 billion cheaper than our self-developed and self-produced nuclear-powered spaceplane carrier."

Robert Gates' eyes widened in disbelief. "What the hell? Are you serious?"

"I'm just trying to save the federal government money."

"."

"Actually, it's not just about saving money. Currently, 180 take-off and landing platforms for the three-system nuclear-powered spaceplane have been deployed, including three in Shiliying, Meihekou, Amur, Vladivostok, Chukotka, Kamchatka, three in Southeast Asia, five in West Africa, and 150 in outer space. If we use the same model, once the three-system achieves a spaceplane landing on the moon, we can completely borrow the three-system take-off and landing platforms to reach the moon directly."

"???"

"This time, I'm doing it again to save the federal government money."

"."

"Seriously, even if we spent at least 1000 billion US dollars, we still wouldn't be able to get to the moon."

"."

(End of this chapter)