At one point, the Soviet Union's stubbornness became a barrier to progress. In the face of the West's electronic revolution, they remained indifferent, continuing to rely heavily on vacuum tubes. These devices were bulky, limited in functionality, power-hungry, and ran hot. Yet, Soviet engineers pushed vacuum tube technology to its limits, squeezing performance through sheer ingenuity. If they had adopted the West's electronic advancements, there's no doubt the Soviets could've developed even more powerful systems.
Ironically, the USSR wasn't lacking in transistor technology. They had it back in the 1950s. In May 1953, the Soviets established НИИ-35, later the "Pulsar" complex, to mass-produce semiconductors. By 1955, Leningrad's "Svetlana" plant had a transistor production line. Even in the '70s, the Elbrus supercomputer used integrated circuits. But the resistance was cultural and bureaucratic. In 1953, a miniaturized vacuum tube called the rod-core tube was created, and it even flew aboard the first artificial satellite. It had more power than American transistor-based satellites, reinforcing Soviet engineers' belief in tubes.
Military conservatism played its part. Many experts argued transistors couldn't survive a nuclear electromagnetic pulse. That logic stalled the transition. So even into the 1970s, Soviet military electronics were dominated by vacuum tubes. The MiG-25, for example, boasted a powerful radar that could supposedly cook a rabbit. In reality, it was just a massive oven with mediocre performance compared to its American counterparts.
Still, it's not too late. If the USSR pivoted and fully committed to transistors and integrated circuits, it could catch up or even surpass the U.S. Soviet planning had one major strength: when the leadership backed something, resources flowed without concern for market demand.
Now, here at Sokolovka, Soviet engineers got their first hands-on look at the American EP-3 electronic reconnaissance aircraft. The insides shocked them. Transistors and integrated circuits everywhere. Was this really how the Americans built their military tech?
"How can this be?" someone murmured.
At that moment, a voice interrupted from behind. It was Andrei.
"Transistors and integrated circuits significantly reduce the volume and weight of electronic systems. They're energy-efficient and can achieve far more complex functions. Look at this EP-3: it can monitor all frequency bands used by our Navy and Air Force, record a wide array of electronic signals. If we used vacuum tubes to replicate it, we'd need an An-22 just to carry the system. Integrated circuits are the future. We need to invest heavily in them."
He pointed at a circuit board: "This handles signal output to the display. The integrated circuit does D/A conversion easily. With tubes? We'd need a giant cabinet just for this one board."
Kuoridub, standing beside him, was visibly uncomfortable. "Andrei, these are experts. Let's not speak out of turn."
But Simonov's eyes lit up.
A technician asked, "But in nuclear war, won't these circuits be destroyed by EMPs?"
"We are prepared for nuclear war," Andrei replied. "But I don't believe a full-scale nuclear exchange will happen. Even if one side 'wins,' the aftermath would be apocalyptic. Everyone knows that. Future wars will be high-tech, driven by electronic superiority, not mushroom clouds."
Some engineers exchanged skeptical glances. High-tech wars? No nukes? Had Moscow lost its mind?
Andrei pressed on: "Take our MiG-25. Its nose radar is powerful, yes, but most of the power is wasted as heat. With tube limitations, we can't even implement pulse-Doppler functions. That means we can't filter out ground echoes. So, while the MiG-25 can intercept high-altitude targets, it's blind to low-flying, fast-moving enemies. Compare that to the U.S. Navy's Tomcat with its AWG-9 radar. It can guide six missiles at once and strike six separate targets."
That radar, Cyclone-A, was massive, weighing half a ton with an inverted Cassegrain antenna over a meter wide. It had a nominal peak power of 600 kW, but most of that was lost as heat. Its max detection range for bombers? 100 kilometers. It could only perform simple air searches, track one target, and guide one missile.
Andrei's knowledge was undeniable.
"How do you know all this?" Simonov asked, clearly intrigued.
Andrei smiled. "Before joining the Air Force, I studied electronics at the Kyiv Polytechnic Institute. My father was an engineer at a power station. I grew up fascinated by electronics, built a crystal radio as a kid, and later started collecting foreign air force materials."
Simonov nodded thoughtfully. A pilot with this level of insight? Perhaps it was time for the Sukhoi Design Bureau to rethink some things. Andrei's perspective on future warfare, electronics, and system integration wasn't just accurate—it was visionary.
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