I asked you to modify it, what the hell is this fighter jet's engine?

The base's working capital is barely enough to keep the existing projects going!

Two billion? That's simply a pipe dream!

He Tao took off his glasses and slowly wiped the lenses with the corner of his clothes, using this to conceal the intense turmoil in his heart.

When he looked up again, his eyes held a thoughtful compromise: "Xiaoguang, the real difficulties that Lao Wang mentioned are indeed the formidable obstacles before us."

How about this?

He turned to He Yunyi, his tone as gentle as possible yet revealing an undeniable pragmatism, "Yunyi, could your design team... think of another way to network the existing three satellites?"

For example, how about developing a dedicated high-altitude signal relay drone?

He traced a path in the air with his finger: "Let it fly high enough to hover in a specific airspace, serving as a relay between space-based signals and drone swarms."

This would make the cost much more controllable and would also solve some of the coverage and gain issues, right?

The light in He Yunyi's eyes quickly dimmed. She shook her head, her tone carrying the precise rejection characteristic of an engineer: "Secretary He, we conducted in-depth analysis of this plan during the initial feasibility study, and the conclusion is that it is not feasible!"

She picked up a blueprint with a sketch of a drone with huge, straight wings: "In order to pursue ultra-long endurance, we were forced to cancel the single turbofan engine with a thrust-to-weight ratio of 10 tons in the original plan and replace it with four small turbofan engines with a thrust-to-weight ratio of only 5 tons!"

This not only reduces the overall thrust-to-weight ratio, but more fatally, it severely limits the structural strength and aerodynamic layout of the aircraft!

The maximum flight altitude is strictly limited to below 8000 meters!

Her finger touched the 8000-meter mark on the drawing, her nails turning slightly white from the pressure.

"At this altitude, the main air defense radars of various countries can detect it as easily as taking candy from a baby! Not to mention..."

She suddenly looked up and stared directly at He Tao: "We are still in the laboratory research stage for even the most basic radar stealth coating!"

In wartime, such a clumsy relay drone would be a huge, slow, and shiny live target on the enemy's radar screen!

Once it is shot down or suppressed by strong electromagnetic interference, the entire drone swarm that relies on it for signals will instantly become blind, deaf, or even out of control like a kite with a broken string!

This systemic vulnerability can be easily exploited by any experienced adversary, resulting in a fatal blow!

"No! Absolutely not!"

Gao Xiaoguang's resolute voice rang out, carrying a metallic coldness that shattered He Tao's last shred of illusion.

"This kind of setter strategy is essentially putting all your eggs in one fragile basket, artificially creating the most fatal single point of failure!"

In wartime, it becomes the primary target of the enemy's electronic warfare units!

Interfering with, paralyzing, or destroying it can cripple our entire space-based sensing and strike system!

It's our responsibility to plug this loophole, not to actively create it!

He stood up, walked to the huge blue star projection, and looked up at the lonely arc that represented the orbit of Qihang 1. His back was straight and stubborn.

"Only a truly independent and robust Skynet can support the new generation of unmanned combat forces to stand firmly on its own."

Eight stars are a must.

funds……"

He took a deep breath, as if inhaling the resilience of the entire Gobi Desert, "Teacher, Secretary He, I need to submit a report!"

On behalf of the Qinling Base, we formally report to the Sijiu City Organization!

We broke down and explained the difficulties and consequences of meeting the demands, one by one, item by item, until they were clear and distinct!

"If we act as a unified nation, we'll always find a way!"

Wang Debiao and He Tao exchanged a glance, both seeing immense pressure and endless exhaustion in each other's eyes, but also a burning determination to burn their bridges.

Wang Debiao sighed heavily, as if trying to expel all the pent-up frustration from his lungs, his voice hoarse: "Xiaoguang, you... you're putting us old guys on the spot..."