Chapter 46: Successfully Firing the Second Shot!

Song Haidong said with a solemn expression, "Dean Ly, we are all ready!"

"Captain Song, follow me onto the ship!"

Ly Guangjun was in high spirits, his hands trembling slightly as he gripped the data logbook.

Walking beside him, Song Haidong felt a sense of suspicion and couldn't help but ask out of curiosity, "Dean Ly, how is the second modification coming along?"

"It was a great success!"

Song Haidong was momentarily stunned.

How long had it been since the last failure? Only a little over a month!

Instinctively, he didn't believe it.

Because there had never been such a precedent before!

Although he was not a researcher, as a captain who had commanded multiple warships, he naturally understood the difficulty involved.

"Dean Ly, it hasn't been long since our last shipboard test. Isn't this a bit too fast?"

"Fast? I think it's too slow! You have no idea... compared to Ding... anyway, we are already several steps behind."

Halfway through his sentence, Ly Guangjun abruptly swallowed the rest of his words.

The matter regarding Su Dingping was currently under strict secrecy; those not stationed at the same military base had no authorization to know.

Even if Song Haidong was a Colonel, it didn't matter.

"In short, rest assured. As long as this test goes smoothly, our Navy will officially enter the ranks of modernization!"

After a pause, Ly Guangjun added, "A modernized warship of our own making!"

Before even stepping onto the deck, a massive wave of emotion surged within Song Haidong.

He knew that the 051B was originally designed to benchmark against international modern warships, but with the arrival of the 956E, the researchers realized they had still underestimated what a truly modern warship looked like.

There was no helping it; previously, they had no reference and could only derive information based on the meager details disclosed by third-party countries.

The dejected expressions of the two vice-deans after the last failed test were still vivid in Song Haidong's mind.

"Dean Ly, it's only been a month. Have we really overcome so many technical difficulties?"

As his feet hit the deck, Ly Guangjun nodded heavily and said with certainty, "We have!"

*Whoosh—*

Song Haidong's breathing grew heavy. "When did this happen? Why haven't I heard a single word about it?"

"It's been a little while."

"How did you do it?"

"The 956E!"

"The 956E? I heard previously that the 956E's research phase had failed and that the higher-ups were preparing to suspend the project. What does this have to do with the 956E?"

Song Haidong's head was buzzing.

How could a research project that had clearly been suspended suddenly bring such a major technical breakthrough to Ly Guangjun and the others?

If it truly had this effect, the project wouldn't have been suspended.

As a captain, he was aware of the news regarding the additional procurement of two 956E vessels.

Ly Guangjun sighed softly. "This matter... is a long story."

"Dean Ly, then let's make it a short story."

Ly Guangjun glanced at the anxious Song Haidong and uttered a sentence that nearly made the man spit blood.

"Regrettably, Captain Song, your rank is insufficient."

What?

My rank is insufficient?

What the hell?

I am a high-ranking Colonel with actual authority in the Navy, and my rank is insufficient? I even knew about the news of the 956E project suspension, and yet my rank is insufficient?

Song Haidong felt numb.

Ly Guangjun remained unyielding. "That's right, your rank is insufficient! It is a key classified project designated by the leadership."

The more he said it, the more anxious Song Haidong became.

"Dean Ly, just give me a small hint. You know me—I know the rules and the procedures. If it's not possible, let's step aside and talk privately."

After a moment of hesitation, Ly Guangjun, who was leading Song Haidong toward the main control room, finally revealed a small piece of information.

"We learned some things from the 956E, which played a significant role in promoting our improvements to the 051B."

The moment he heard this, Song Haidong's heart skipped a beat.

Had the 956E research actually achieved a breakthrough?

Was the so-called suspension just a smokescreen?

His mind was filled with doubts.

He looked at Ly Guangjun with a sharp gaze, trying to read something from the man's face.

"Dean Ly, was the second purchase of the 956E a decoy?"

"Ahem—"

Ly Guangjun's expression turned slightly unnatural.

The man had hit a sensitive nerve, making things a bit awkward.

"That's not important. Anyway... you will find out in the future."

As they spoke, the group arrived in the main control room.

"Captain Song, heading out to sea. Prepare for testing!"

"All hands, prepare to set sail!"

Accompanied by a massive roar, the 051B slowly steamed out of the harbor.

By the time the horizon began to turn pale with the dawn, the 051B had already appeared in the waters dozens of kilometers away from the port.

Inside the main control room, Ly Guangjun said, "That's about right. We can begin."

Song Haidong did not hesitate. "Deploy the target!"

A moment later, the communications officer reported, "Report to the Captain: the target is 65 kilometers from our ship. Awaiting instructions!"

"Continue moving forward!"

"Report to the Captain: the target is 55 kilometers from our ship. Radar has locked onto the target. Permission to fire?"

55 kilometers?

Song Haidong's brow twitched violently.

During the last test, the 051B's maximum active locking range was only 40 kilometers, and the strike range of the compatible YJ-8 missiles couldn't even reach that far.

This time, the active radar locking range had suddenly jumped to 55 kilometers. What was the equipped YJ-8 supposed to do?

Ly Guangjun nodded with a serious expression.

Taking a deep breath, Song Haidong commanded, "Fire!"

A few seconds later, accompanied by two ear-piercing shrieks tearing through the sky, two anti-ship missiles soared into the air, disappearing from sight in moments.

Song Haidong quickly shifted his gaze to the radar monitor.

On the screen, a small red dot representing the target was drifting in the sea 55 kilometers away, while two small green dots representing the anti-ship missiles were rapidly approaching.

In just a short while, the red dot vanished, and the green dots vanished as well. Immediately after, they heard the sound of explosions echoing from the distance.

Song Haidong immediately commanded, "Observation station!"

"Report to the Captain: both hits confirmed. Explosion points are..."

"Report to the Captain: the anti-ship missile's maximum strike range is 55.4 km..."

After hearing the report, Song Haidong was momentarily stunned.

It wasn't just that the radar's active detection range had increased; the strike range of the anti-ship missiles had also improved.

He remembered clearly that the strike range of the YJ-801 anti-ship missile was between 8 and 35 kilometers. Now, it could directly strike a target at 55 kilometers—the maximum strike range had increased by a full 20 kilometers!

For a warship, this was of immense significance!

After all, the standard for anti-ship missile strikes on modern warships is a minimum of 50 kilometers.

In other words, in the field of shipborne anti-ship missiles, the 051B's equipment had officially entered the ranks of modernization! Although it had only just exceeded the standard line, it was already quite remarkable.

"Dean Ly, this...?"

"The newly improved YJ-801A," Ly Guangjun said calmly. "Captain Song, please continue!"

"Deploy the cloverleaf target! Test the twin-barrel 100mm automatic naval gun!"

"Yes, Captain!"

...

"Deploy the cloverleaf target! Test the Haihongqi anti-air missiles!"

"Yes, Captain!"

...

After nearly two hours of intense activity, the sun had already risen above the sea level before the thunderous cannon fire on the 051B finally subsided.

All tests were concluded.

In the main control room, Song Haidong stood frozen in place, his face filled with shock.

At this moment, he had only one thought in his mind—this is a modernized warship that we built ourselves!