Chapter 316 Introduction of Su-27 production line
Selling aircraft production lines seems to be an act of drinking poison to quench thirst and making a profit.
Selling the complete aircraft can continuously make money, but the medium-term life extension of the aircraft, etc., all cost money. If the production line is sold and the user produces it themselves, and finally abandons the original factory, then what profit can be made?
However, only by selling production lines can we attract customers.
Moreover, once a user buys a production line, it cannot be produced immediately. This has to be transitioned slowly, from the initial assembly of parts to slowly increasing the localization rate. During this process, the original factory can make a lot of money. money.
So, if the user has no choice but to buy the complete machine, the original factory will be happy. If the user has other choices, then exporting the production line to help the user produce is also an alternative option.
In short, making money is the first priority.
Sukhoi Design Bureau.
"What? The inspection team from the East wants to reach an agreement with the Mikoyan Design Bureau? How is this possible? Aren't they already using our Su-27 fighter jets?" Simonov stood up from his seat and looked in front of him. people.
"Yes, they did take a fancy to our aircraft. The first batch of aircraft performed well in their hands and were full of praises, but... the Orientals have always been pursuing the independent production of this aircraft. If we don't agree to their request, If required, they can only choose other aircraft." Pugachev said regretfully: "This is a huge blow to our Sukhoi Aviation Complex."
After the collapse of the Red Empire, various military-industrial enterprises underwent great changes. Sukhoi combined its aircraft factories to form the Sukhoi Aviation Complex.
For them, the eastern market is the most important. From top to bottom, even a three-year-old child in their Komsomolsk manufacturing plant in the Far East knows that orders from China saved their factory.
The first order made them full. Then, they planned to take the second order. What about the third order? Dongfang wanted to produce it by itself? How can it be?
They have already made up their mind, thinking that Dongfang is very satisfied with the Su-27 and has no other choice. Who would have thought that they would actually choose the MiG-29 that they did not want!
“Why would they like the MiG-29 with short legs?”
Nikoshev smiled bitterly: "Yes, the MiG-29 has short legs, which is its biggest problem. However, guests from the East have made suggestions for improvement to the Mikoyan Design Bureau. I heard that they have removed them. Suggestions such as auxiliary air inlet and adding conformal fuel tanks on the back of the aircraft. If these projects are implemented, the MiG-29 can increase the fuel in the aircraft by 2,000 liters and the range can reach about 2,500 kilometers."
From one thousand five to two thousand five, this is already a qualitative leap!
Simonov’s face became serious: “Is it the improvement suggestions made by the Easterners?”
Nikoshev nodded solemnly.
This news is crucial, it shows that the Easterners are very careful about the MiG-29! If the Orientals choose the MiG-29, it means that their subsequent export of the Su-27 will come to nothing!
Although many customers are interested in the Su-27, their purchase quantities are very small, ranging from single digits to ten digits.
The East is different.
They have estimated that Dongfang needs at least two hundred Su-27 fighters, and at most, more than five hundred. Dongfang will become the most important user of Su-27 besides Lao Maozi.
In other words, just orders from the East can make their Sukhoi Aviation Complex live very well.
But what now?
This piece of meat is actually going to end up with the Mikoyan Design Bureau?
"No, we absolutely cannot watch this happen!" Simonov clenched his fists: "We must make the Easterners change their minds."
"Then, we have to show our sincerity." Pugachev said: "The Orientals want to purchase the second batch of Su-27 fighters and at the same time introduce the production technology of the Su-27. If we want to continue our cooperation, , then we must agree to their request.”
They only wanted to sell fighter jets, not technology. But now, they suddenly discovered that if they want to sell fighter jets, they must sell technology!
what to do?
"So far, Dongfang can only produce second-generation aircraft." Nikoshev said: "So, even if they want to produce it independently, they still need us to provide a large number of accessories, even in the beginning, all accessories. We can still make a lot of money from the initial orders. With this money, we can improve our own fighters, such as the two-seat Su-30 and the high-performance Su-35, which all require funds. Research and development. In the future, even if they master the Su-27 manufacturing technology, they will have to continue to ask us for help in order to produce more advanced models."
The Su-27SK currently exported is a simplified version of their own version. It is considered a first-generation product. The problem of rickets has always existed.
This problem was solved only with the Su-35.
The two-seat Su-30 is a more powerful fighter-bomber. This aircraft was originally produced as a two-seat training model for the Su-27. It turned out that it has good performance and can be converted into a specialized fighter-bomber.
In the East, the H-6 has been used for decades, and its normal flight capacity is only six tons of bombs. What about the Su-30? Nine tons of weapons and equipment can be mounted externally! Therefore, the two-seater type suddenly transformed and became a weapon for ground attack.
Although the prototype had been released before the collapse of the Red Empire, the electronic equipment at that time was too primitive and backward. If you wanted to market it, you had to carry out a package of improvement plans, which all cost money.
Simonov finally nodded. Since we can’t just export equipment, let’s sell technology. This is better than giving up the market to Mikoyan Design Bureau!
“We contacted the Dongfang people and agreed to sell the production line. However, because the third-generation engine technology is relatively advanced, they cannot produce it. Therefore, we will never sell the Su-27 engine. This is our bottom line.”
Simonov still had a hand in reserve.
Just when the senior executives of the Sukhoi Design Bureau were forced to compromise, Qin Tao, Gu Lao and others were still continuing their inspection. They had already visited the aircraft manufacturing factory and arrived at the Mikoyan Design Bureau.
"We are here to cooperate with you this time. In addition to the MiG-29 fighter project, we also plan to introduce MiG-29 subsystems." Qin Tao continued to lie: "Our domestically developed and produced J-8 Fighters lack qualified radars, so we plan to transplant the radar and fire control systems of the MiG-29."
Belyakov’s eyes suddenly lit up. Is there still business?
"Of course, no problem. The N019 radar used by our MiG-29 is an advanced pulse Doppler radar..." Belyakov introduced, and then said: "If you need to modify it, you'd better send the aircraft to Come to us and we will do all the modifications and commissioning.”
Qin Tao was speechless.
What's this? That kind of person whose family is in decline still has a proud heart. How do you think about it before?
"I'm sorry, we have suffered a big loss in our cooperation with the United States. In order to avoid encountering similar problems, we will not hand over the aircraft to others. Also, we do not want backward reverse-card antenna radar. We want a more advanced flat-plate gap radar." Qin Tao made the request.
The expressions of Mr. Gu and others were serious.
What Qin Tao said was exactly what they thought.
Each lesson brings wisdom. They suffered such a big loss in the Peace Model Project, and were forced to raise the price in the end. The lesson was too profound, so they will never make the same mistake again.
Actually, Belyakov didn’t mean to trick anyone, he was just used to being the boss.
When Mr. Tu from Factory 132 came to ask for help, hoping to help solve some problems of the Super Seven fighter, they also asked to be the general contractor, so that the project was delayed for a long time, and in the end it was just a shape.
Now, they also want to be the general contractor for the J-8 radar modification project.
However, when Qin Tao said this, he reacted: "Well, it's possible. Our Phazotron Radar Research Institute (some translations are Phazotron-NIIR) is developing a new beetle radar. , this radar uses a flat-plate slot radar antenna. We are planning to use this radar to improve our MiG-29 fighters."
“Is there a real machine?”
“The actual machine is still under development, and we currently have some design information on hand.”
Everyone listened attentively.
The performance of this radar, codenamed Beetle, is quite good. It uses traveling wave tube transmitters, flat-panel slot array antennas, programmable signal processors and other advanced technologies. It has a head-on detection range of 100 kilometers for targets with an RCS of 3 square meters. It can track 10 targets at the same time and engage 4 targets in the track-while-scanning (TWS) mode.
Everyone opened their eyes wide. This radar has the same performance as the American radar they planned to purchase before, or even more advanced!
“Cough, cough.” Qin Tao couldn’t help but said: “Please don’t introduce the design parameters to us. We want to know the performance that has been achieved now.”
This kind of PPT introduction is really boring.
It is meaningful to know the real performance.
Hearing what Qin Tao said, Belyakov felt a little embarrassed: "We don't know the specific performance. If you want to know more, we can go to the Faztron Radar Research Institute in the afternoon."
Now the old man has also learned to deceive people!
Everyone was so enthusiastic when listening to the introduction, and thought it had been realized. In the afternoon, when they went to the Faztron Radar Research Institute and listened to the introduction, they realized how much the data had shrunk.
The maximum detection range is only 80 kilometers, and the tracking range is 50 kilometers. It can track ten targets at the same time, but can attack up to two at the same time.
“In addition to being able to use R-27 missiles, it can also use R-77 missiles.” The person in charge said: “This missile is an active radar-guided missile with more advanced performance.”
Semi-active radar-guided missiles require continuous radar illumination from the carrier aircraft and cannot move at this time, so they are very dangerous. After developing such missiles, various countries will continue to develop more advanced active radar missiles.
The seeker of the missile can not only receive radar waves, but also emit radar waves. In this way, there is no need for illumination from the carrier aircraft, and the safety will be greatly improved. Although due to the size of the missile, this kind of seeker can generally only switch to active mode at a distance of more than ten kilometers, but as long as it has this final sharp blow, it is enough.
Of course, Lao Maozi has already begun research in this area. He started planning in the early 1980s, and started testing prototype bombs in 1984. By the end of 1991, it was completely completed, and he was ready to enter the small batch production stage.
At this time, the Red Empire collapsed.
Although it was originally planned to be produced by the KoMMunar factory in Moscow, this has just begun, and part of the missile production technology is still with Ermao.
For example, the "Torch" Design Bureau and Alchem Production Company, which are responsible for the detailed design and production of the mesh tail and braking mechanism, and the "Communist" factory that produces the 9B-1348 guide head, therefore, the R-77 has been delayed. Put into active service.
After China and India purchased the Su-30, equipped with the R-77 missile, Mao had the funds to establish a new production line to produce this advanced active missile.
Now we can only import corresponding parts from Ermao and assemble them in Moscow. Even so, it can be considered a success.
Being able to guide active air-to-air missiles is a advanced technology that makes Mr. Gu and others very interested. Even if the performance of the radar is poor, it is not unacceptable. If such an active radar-guided air-to-air missile is mounted on On the J-82 fighter, you can get a completely different transformation!
This day's visit and inspection slowly came to an end, and everyone returned to the hotel to rest.
"Today's harvest is really not small." Mr. Gu said with emotion: "The performance of this Beetle radar can still meet our needs. Next, we hope to install it on the J-82 fighter for testing and solve the problem of J-8 as soon as possible. 2. The problem is that fighter planes cannot carry medium-range missiles.”
“Yeah, this is really a good harvest, especially being able to guide mid-range missiles, it’s perfect!” Sun Chong was also very happy.
"That's good. Even if we don't introduce the MiG-29 in the end, it can be regarded as giving an explanation to the Mikoyan Design Bureau and giving them some benefits." Qin Tao said.
"Mr. Qin, are you so confident?" Mr. Gu said, "Let's go to the Mikoyan Design Bureau and take a look. Can those people in Sukhoi bow their heads?"
At this time, Mr. Gu still had some doubts.
At this moment, the phone rang.
Sun Xiu was sitting next to him, so he picked up the phone first. When he heard the voice inside, he immediately became excited.
“What? Really? Okay, we’ll go tomorrow!”
Putting down the phone, Sun rushed to try to calm down: "I just received a call from the Sukhoi Design Bureau. They invited us to negotiate tomorrow about the introduction of Su-27 production technology."
At this time, everyone became excited.
"Mr. Qin, your method is really powerful!" Mr. Gu looked at Qin Tao with admiration.
September 4, 1993.
Sukhoi Design Bureau.
"Welcome to Moscow." Simonov said with a smile: "Since you are here, why didn't you say hello in advance? Just come to our Sukhoi Design Bureau. Our Su-27 has already taken on the responsibility of protecting It’s our country’s airspace mission.”
"Yes, we were originally very satisfied with the Su-27 fighter jets, but you have been unwilling to export the production line, so we can only settle for the next best thing. After all, our air force and naval aviation have thousands of them. Fighters are outdated and need to be replaced. We cannot keep purchasing them, so introducing production lines is very important to us."
Qin Tao clapped his fingers: "We must produce Dolphin helicopters, Sea Sidewinder missiles, 105mm guns, and all kinds of weapons and equipment ourselves. This is also a purpose of our weapons procurement."
You can talk about other things, but if you just want to sell airplanes, that is absolutely not possible.
Simonov nodded: "Yes, we have negotiated with our superiors, and our superiors have also agreed to our request to export the Su-27SK production line. In fact, we have wanted to export it for a long time, but our superiors did not agree."
Simonov threw the blame to the top.
Qin Tao secretly laughed in his heart, these guys can adapt to the market economy quickly. No wonder they can still prosper in future generations.
“In this case, let’s discuss the details of import.”
The two parties sat in the conference room and started negotiations. When it came to professional issues, Qin Tao had nothing to do with it. Qin Tao looked around boredly and listened.
"You currently do not have the production and processing capabilities for titanium alloys. Therefore, we need to provide you with the titanium alloy body structural parts for the initial batch of aircraft. Many of them are ultra-long and ultra-wide parts. These can be used The An-225 transport aircraft you purchased will be used for transportation."
At this point, Qin Tao has to get involved.
"We have been able to produce a large amount of TC4 titanium alloy in China. This two-phase titanium alloy has good performance and can be used to manufacture titanium alloy structural frames in aircraft. As long as we introduce special molds from you, it should be We can complete the production of this structural part." Qin Tao said: "We can still make the aircraft shell."
In the past, I still have a large number of titanium alloy casings that I got back! When he got it back, Qin Tao had already made plans. In addition to using the leftover materials to produce some gadgets such as spectacle frames, the main material was used to make Su-27.
Equipment such as engine fans and compressor disks must use better titanium alloys, but for aircraft structural frames and beams, titanium alloys are just fine.
Hearing what Qin Tao said, Simonov could only nod: "Okay, if the products you produce can meet our quality requirements, you can use your own products. However, you cannot produce aircraft engines yet. , can only be imported from us.”
Sure enough, Lao Maozi is not willing to hand over the Su-27 production line to China, and there will always be some troubles.
In the past, starting from the J-5, a full set of production technologies were introduced and packaged together, so that the country could achieve 100% independent production. However, when it came to importing the Su-27, Lao Maozi had a trick: not to provide an engine.
In this way, Lao Maozi can control the output of China's Su-27 through the engine.
Especially, the aircraft produced in China are fine for personal use. If they want to be exported to a third country, Lao Maozi will definitely cut off the supply of engines.
This is Lao Maozi's last resort. They will not compromise in this regard, so Qin Tao did not say anything: "This is decided by Mr. Gu and others."
The AL-31F (nicknamed Third Uncle) engine used by the Su-27 fighter jet is of great significance to China's aviation industry. It is not only used on the Su-27, but also on the J-10. If the technology can be introduced for production If so, it's very good.
However, Lao Maozi will not sell it, and if he buys it back from his third uncle, then it is conceivable that the Turbofan 10 will be discontinued, and then the pace of domestic self-developed engines will stop again.
Only when the engine is stuck, the country will invest in research, develop turbofans, and then develop subsequent advanced engines. Therefore, everything has two sides.
Qin Tao didn't interfere, and Mr. Gu and the others agreed to this request after discussing it.
If you don’t import engine technology, then buy it first. Later, when the turbofan is very successful, there is no need to buy it.
Comparing the two engines, each has its own merits.
The performance of the early turbofan X-10 was very unstable, and it could still be used on the twin-engine J-11. However, the single-engine J-10 still had to use the third uncle. However, with the turbofan With the continuous development and progress of the turbofan, the stability is constantly improving, and the performance is also constantly developing. By the time the turbofan ten B and turbofan ten C are reached, they will be completely mature.
If the third uncle's production line is introduced, it will not be so easy to improve on this engine. After all, it is not developed by ourselves.
The negotiations at the Sukhoi Design Bureau are continuing, and when the Mikoyan Design Bureau heard the news, they immediately felt like they were struck by thunder.
“Damn, these **** guys!” Belyakov cursed, his hands clenched into fists, and he hit the table hard, smashing a piece of glass on the table to pieces.
Who is he scolding?
Of course they are from Sukhoi Design Bureau!
The Mikoyan Design Bureau had just seen a glimmer of hope, but it was extinguished by the Sukhoi Design Bureau! In the past, I only saw various foreign manufacturers trying to undermine each other during arms sales. I didn't expect that it would be their turn now!
"Yes, they went too far. We have to go over and question those **** guys face to face!" His deputy was also angry.
“That’s right, let’s go together!” Someone picked up a fire stick.
“No, you can’t do that.” Although Belyakov was angry, he had not lost his mind after all. This is no longer the era of the Red Empire, and their Mikoyan Design Bureau has long since lost power.
If you hit the door, it will be a fight! No matter whose fault it is, it will end badly in the end.
“Then shall we endure it like this?”
“I’ll go find the superior leader!” Belyakov said.
PS: Chapter 313 has been released, everyone is welcome to read it.
(End of this chapter)