Chapter 811: Exchanging wood for modification funds
Shishkin understood. He came to attend the afternoon meeting not only because he was from the ship design bureau and could evaluate the Mingzhou Group's modification plan, but also because his design bureau had a relationship with Asan, so now Selling a warship to Ah San requires me to help!
Shishkin was a little speechless. You are so capable. You can sell it yourself. Why do you come to me? If something goes wrong, then our design bureau will have to take the blame.
"If Ah San knew that we were the one behind it, he would definitely not take the bait. Therefore, this modification plan must be led by the Northern Design Bureau." Qin Tao continued to lie: "The gas turbines needed can be said to be purchased from Ermao. Yes, anyway, our gas turbines are jointly developed. You can definitely go the Ermao route. You can say that the generators and motors you need are produced by relevant domestic institutions. We do not export these with nameplates and leave them to you to OEM. That’s it.”
In fact, Qin Tao just thought about it casually, but soon detailed the plan. Nicholas nodded: "Yes, this plan is feasible. Let's discuss the specific details. I will discuss it later." Will report to superiors."
To rejuvenate those giant ships, the first thing to do is not to improve the electronic equipment and weapons, but to restore the power system. This is a path that must be taken!
The next step had nothing to do with Qin Tao. These people discussed back and forth, and Mutisin also participated and put forward several good suggestions. At around four o'clock that afternoon, Nicholas ran to find the big boss with the resolution he had formed. Dude.
Although Nicholas is already in a high position, he now finds that he is not free. He cannot make decisions on many things and has to report to the boss. He is not as happy as when he was in the Far East.
The boss listened carefully to Nikolai's report, and did not speak immediately, but began to think deeply.
“The Type 1144 cruiser is our largest cruiser. Now that there is a possibility of recovery, we cannot sell it easily. Can we sell one of our Type 1164 cruisers?”
Nicholas quickly shook his head: "No, no, the 1164-type cruiser is mature. The three ships that have been commissioned now are the main force of our fleets, even the flagships. We absolutely cannot sell our main warships. We would rather Without repairing the Type 1144 cruiser, we will not sell the Type 1164."
What a joke!
The Type 1144 cruiser was nuclear-powered, but the power system was extremely unreliable, and all three cruisers were stranded. At that time, Lao Maozi also felt that nuclear power was too luxurious, so he built a shrunken Kirov-class cruiser, which had a displacement of only 10,000 tons. The first Type 1164 is the Glorious class. The latter uses gas turbines and is quite mature and reliable. It is the main force of various fleets.
The Moskva is the flagship of the Black Sea Fleet, and the Varyag is the flagship of the Pacific Fleet. The Marshal Ustinov placed in the Northern Fleet did not become a flagship because the Northern Fleet has an aircraft carrier. (There is also a saying that Peter The Great is the flagship. Did the Peter the Great become the flagship after the K-10 ship began repairs?) However, it is still the most important warship of the Northern Fleet.
So, this kind of warship must not be sold!
“What about our destroyer?” Obviously, the boss didn’t want to sell the 25,000-ton giant ship.
"Our destroyers are too old and cannot adapt to modern operations. Ah San doesn't like them either. They have their own Delhi-class warships and will not purchase our second-hand warships at all. Only warships like the 1144 type can attract them. They." Nikolai said: "It is still cost-effective for us to sacrifice one warship and restore the combat effectiveness of two warships."
The boss shook his head: "Then let's think of other ways. One hundred million U.S. dollars is not too much. We have ways to raise this fund. Didn't you discuss the plan to mine timber from the Far East? Then sell it for one hundred million U.S. dollars of wood to them.”
Wood? This thing is worthless. How much wood is worth 100 million US dollars! Nicholas took a breath of air: "In this case, it will probably take ten or eight years to sell it to cover the cost, right?"
"Then sign a long agreement." The boss decided: "In short, the three Type 1144s must be repaired or repaired, and they must not be sold. Since you and Mr. Qin are good friends, he should be able to accept this agreement."
Nicola nodded: "Okay, I will find a way to convince him."
There is no other way, you have to listen to what the boss says, and you have to work hard to get it done.
“Well, next, let’s talk about gas turbines. If our navy wants to build brand new warships in the future, it will need new gas turbines. We can’t keep importing them, we must be able to produce them ourselves.”
Nicolas also became serious.
When they wanted to build a new warship, they made many assumptions. At the beginning, they planned to build a warship of eight or nine thousand tons, but their financial resources were limited, so they could only downgrade it to four or five thousand tons. However, even if At this level, they still have difficulties. In addition to issues such as design, phased array radar, vertical hair, etc., the most important thing is the engine!
During the Red Empire era, all naval gas turbines were placed with Ermao. After the separation, Da Mao sadly discovered that he no longer had qualified naval gas turbines! If you want to build warships, you have to outsource gas turbines.
Outsourcing is obviously risky.
They are a big country and they absolutely cannot tolerate outsourcing gas turbines all the time. However, independent production is not easy!
"Now, we don't have much funds, and we simply don't have the ability to develop advanced naval gas turbines by ourselves." Nikola said: "Even if we improve our aero engines, it will require a lot of time and capital investment. In comparison, Next time, it will be more cost-effective for us to purchase.”
Nicolas knew about this problem, but he had no way to solve it because it required money. Without money, nothing could be done.
The boss nodded: "Yes, if we develop it ourselves, it will take a long time, but now, Tianjiao Airlines, a subsidiary of Mingzhou Group, already has a 40-megawatt gas turbine, so, can we... "
Nicholas had an ominous premonition in his heart. Can he come over? Is not this nonsensical? Of course not! Even if I have a good relationship with Mr. Qin, it's not as good as this! Business is business, friends are friends!
However, he could not say anything else yet and could only listen quietly.
"Can we use the technology we have in exchange for them?" What the boss said made Nikolai breathe a sigh of relief. If there is a technology exchange, it is still possible.
"Right now, they are still importing AL-31F engines from us, which is the aircraft engine they need most. It should be fair and reasonable for us to use the complete production technology of this aircraft engine to exchange gas turbine production technology with them. After Tianjiao Aviation obtains the technology, they can produce such advanced engines and expand their business. This should be a good thing that benefits both of us."
The boss has already planned it!
“Okay, let me ask Mr. Qin.” Nicholas said.
By the time he returned, the people attending the meeting had already finished their dinner and dispersed. Qin Tao also checked into the hotel. Nicholas rushed to the hotel and told the boss's request.
"We can accept the agreement on wood exchange for modification costs." Qin Tao said: "It's okay if we advance funds to you in advance. Who makes us good friends? However, the technology exchange of gas turbines is absolutely not acceptable."
In the eyes of Lao Maozi, it will take ten years to mine 100 million US dollars of wood. However, they will never know how fast the technology in the East is developing. With a few advanced machines, it can be mined in one year. By then, let Lao Maozi was shocked!
This is not a problem, but if Lao Maozi wants gas turbine technology, it is just a dream.
"Why?"
"Because your AL-31F engine will not be sold for a few years." Qin Tao said: "You should also know that we have been developing our own turbofan X in China. We have made rapid progress in the past few years and are currently preparing it for twin-engine fighters. It has been used, and in the future, it can also be used on the single-engine J-10. Your AL-31F engine is already a product that we are ready to give up at any time. If we exchange technology and get this engine technology back, There will be no market in a few years, and it will become a loss-making project for us.”
Lao Maozi is so naive!
Uncle San's engine has not changed in decades, and he has been resting on his laurels. As there are fewer and fewer skilled workers on the production line, the quality of the products is getting worse and worse. Now, Lao Maozi actually wants to exchange such an old antique for forty Megawatt gas turbine technology, isn’t this a joke?
Besides, domestic turbofans are also widely used, so there is no need to introduce the production line of Uncle San.
In fact, although there is no production line for Uncle San in China, there is an overhaul line for Uncle San. With the update of technology, the overhaul technology is becoming more and more advanced, and the life span of Uncle San is getting longer and longer. With a slight modification of the overhaul line, Uncle San can be produced. .
However, there is no domestic production, because the most important thing in China is turbofan X. This project is to replace the third uncle, with a more advanced design and higher performance. Qin Tao doesn't want any of Third Uncle's production lines.
If the Red Empire had not collapsed, this kind of engine would have been manufactured long ago, but now, the MiG 1.44 has been dusted, and the fourth-generation engine developed by the Lyurica-Saturn Company for this fighter has gone through hundreds of hours of testing. The aircraft was tested but did not reach the day of service. Lao Maozi used this engine technology to transform the original Third Uncle, and produced the AL-41F1 and AL-41F1S models, the latter of which became the famous 117S.
In other words, even if the AL-41F has passed the test run, it is still immature. Although the thrust and thrust-to-weight ratio are sufficient, the service life may only be dozens of hours. Qin Tao will not be interested in this kind of engine, let alone , domestic engine research and development is already on the right track.
“We still have turbofan 15 in China, and we are still improving it on the basis of this engine. We are not weak in aviation engines, and there is no need to introduce your engine technology.”
Qin Tao knows that he must speak clearly. If you just want to give some charity and then ask us to hand over the most advanced technology to you, then you are totally wrong.
"Yes, you have developed rapidly in recent years." Nicholas said: "In many fields, you are no longer weak, and there is no need to use ours. However, our navy needs advanced gas turbines."
"If you need it, you can purchase it from us, Nikola. As long as I am still the head of the Mingzhou Group, I can open up the supply to you. Moreover, you can also use your own aerospace engines to modify them. For example, if you have If the NK231 engine is modified with this engine, the output power can reach 40 megawatts."
Of course we know we can change it, but it requires money!
“Then if we exchange, what can we use in exchange for gas turbine technology?” Nikolai is not determined yet. He has to explain it to the boss.
“If you have to exchange, then use Tu-160 technology to exchange.”
Mao’s strategic bombers? Nicholas opened his eyes wide: "Qin, your request is a bit excessive!"
Nicholas can imagine that if he speaks out these demands, the boss may not be angry.
“Currently, this is what we need. Even if you don’t give it to us, we can research it ourselves.” Qin Tao said, “Isn’t it too much for you to ask for our gas turbine technology?”
Nicholas stopped talking.
It was already eight or nine o'clock in the evening when I came out of Qin Tao's place, and Nicholas knocked on the boss's door again.
"The issue of funding for the modification of wood-to-nuclear-powered cruisers has been finalized. Next, we have to discuss it in detail with the Oriental people." The boss began to arrange the work: "Although they provide the technology, the modification must be carried out in our country. "
"Here? We don't have the conditions for modification. Our workers are slow to work and our equipment is backward. If the Orientals can complete the modification in half a year, it will take us two years." Nicholas was very anxious.
“If we don’t support our own enterprises, we will be even less able to refit in the future. How can we revive our navy?”
Nikolai could only nod: "Okay, this kind of modification requires changes to the power system. The mooring state is inconvenient, and a floating dock is still needed. We currently only have the PD-50 floating dock of the 82nd Ship Repair Factory with this kind of repair capability. , then leave this upgrading and transformation work to 82 Ship Repair Plant."
Other modifications can be carried out directly on the dock, such as upgrading electronic equipment. In fact, this is also an illegal operation. After all, many radars need to be installed precisely. The accuracy of installation is different between shaking on the dock and being as stable as a rock in the dock. , but Lao Maozi can't help it, just make do with it.
However, this power system must not be left at the dock for modification, as this can easily lead to dangers. For example, if the transmission shaft suddenly leaks during the modification process, the warship will sink.
Lao Maozi's navy can't stand the trouble.
The boss nodded, this matter is considered finalized, and the next step is to deal with the gas turbine.
"The technology of the Tu-160 bomber? They really take it for granted. If they have this kind of bomber, they can fly to Moscow!" The boss was not angry, but his tone was already very cold.
Although the Maoist Army has declined, it still has dignity. It still has reservations about many principled things, such as the bombers we are talking about now, which are advanced technologies that the Maoist Army will never export.
It is good that Mao can provide Su-30 level fighter-bombers to Dongfang. When it provided Su-27 to Dongfang, it was agreed that such fighters can only be deployed in the south and absolutely not in the northeast.
Tu-160 is a strategic bomber, how can it be exported to the East?
“If this is the case, then we can only suspend the introduction of technology in the gas turbine project. For now, directly purchasing gas turbines from the East to meet our current needs is also a temporary emergency method.” Nikola said.
The boss frowned: "How did they develop their 40-megawatt gas turbine?"
“There is no definite evidence yet, but there are rumors that this gas turbine is improved based on the D-18T engine production technology owned by Ermao Motor Company.” Nikola said that this is no longer a secret.
The Red Empire collapsed, and Ermao got a lot of good things. The D-18T engine was one of them. However, since this engine is for large aircraft, there is currently no similar large aircraft in the East, so the engine cannot be used. However, the East Obviously they will not give up. Based on this engine, they improved the ship gas turbine. The 40-megawatt gas turbine came out and solved the power problems of many large warships, whether it is an aircraft carrier or a cruiser. In order to obtain reliable power, even Lao Maozi's warship renovation had to purchase relevant gas turbines from the East.
"Since they can change it, we can also change it." The boss said: "Although we don't have the D-18T, we do have the NK-32. On the basis of this high-thrust engine, can we ourselves also improve it? Related gas turbine?”
The technical route of the boss is correct. After all, in the East, a group of people are trying to develop naval gas turbines in this way. Mr. Qin originally agreed, but later went against his promise and turned around to support the D-18T project.
However, it later turned out that the D-18T was more suitable. After all, this engine is a high-thrust transport aircraft turbofan engine and is most suitable for modification. The NK-32 is a bomber engine. After removing the afterburner, the thrust is not that much.
Nikola frowned: "The production line of this engine has been closed."
NK-32 is the engine used by Tu-22M and Tu-160 bombers, but these bombers currently have no production plans. What Lao Maozi has on hand is nothing more than the legacy of the Red Empire. They have not produced brand-new bombers at all, and They already have a batch of backup engines on hand, so the production line has been shut down long ago.
“It can be restarted after shutting down.” The boss said: “Or we can use the existing aero-engine to modify it first. In short, we cannot be controlled by others on key projects.”
Nikolai frowned. If we want to improve, what they urgently need most now is a 20-megawatt gas turbine to power the current 22350 frigate. But now that the boss has spoken, he can't say anything more. What's the matter, and he knows that big guys also like big guys.
It was already late at night when he left the boss's place, but Nicholas still came to Qin Tao in the dust. He wanted to convey the boss's intention to Qin Tao so that he could make preparations.
"Your leadership is wise. The power system of a warship belongs to the heart. It is always risky to be controlled by others on this kind of project. No matter what I promise, it will not reduce their worries." Qin Tao said: "You have to It is very far-sighted to develop your own naval power system based on bomber engines, and I wish you success!"
"Qin, I know you mean well, but you should know that our demand for 40-megawatt gas turbines is only for those three cruisers. We even plan to abandon one and rebuild two. We only need four gas turbines, which is completely We can purchase it from you. If we really need independent research and development, what we need to develop now should be a 20-megawatt gas turbine to equip our 22350 frigate. This requires a large amount of construction. We should build it on the basis of existing aero engines. It’s a modified one.”
Qin Tao nodded: "Your idea is very good, but if you develop a 40-megawatt gas turbine and use it on the 22350 frigate, then only one will be enough."
“How can one work? Our frigate is a twin-shaft sculler!” Nikolai was speechless. Qin, you are a professional and you don’t even understand this?
Generally, warships have twin shafts, twin propellers and twin rudders. This is of course for insurance. If one of the power outputs is interrupted, the other set of power can be used to continue using it. Take the current 22350 frigate as an example. At high speed, a diesel engine each drives a propeller, which are independent. At high speed, a gas turbine drives a propeller that should be driven by a diesel engine through a reducer.
Now, how can we drive two propellers with only one gas turbine?
"Nicholas, don't forget, we also encountered power transmission problems during the modification of the cruiser, but we easily solved the problem by using all-electric propulsion. Now, a 40-megawatt gas turbine replaces it. It’s not a big deal to have two diesel engines. You can just drive the generator directly, and there will be no parallel problems.” Qin Tao said: “At low speeds, the diesel engine generates electricity, and at high speeds, the diesel engine and gas turbine generate electricity together. This is enough for use, and all-electric propulsion has this advantage.”
Nicola's eyes lit up, yes, why didn't he think of it? Sure enough, I am still too behind!
In the world, navies from various countries have begun to study the integrated power system of the whole ship. Only Damao has been resting on its laurels. There is no plan for research and development, and no funds for research and development, so they are falling behind. If it were not for the help of the Orientals, they would It will stay at a low level for a long time!
(End of this chapter)