Rebirth of the 1980s: The Military Industry Empire

What was the purpose of this visit? Of course, to seize the leading role in the development of the Jaguar tank! Clark didn't expect that he wouldn't gain any advantage and would be completely suppressed by the other party!

"Since you guys are professionals, then tell me, how should it be improved?" Jack said from the side. He was good at turning the tables.

"Actually, modifying the turbocharger isn't difficult, but since you don't want to modify the engine, then let's modify the chassis. We can only raise the engine compartment a bit, which will solve the height problem. As for the length problem, there's no other way but to cut the chassis and lengthen it. Doing it this way will make it like your Western tanks, with a big butt."

All along, China has been following the old Soviet Union's approach, where the tank engine is compact in size, so the front and rear armor heights of the tank are the same.

But the West is different. Their tank engines have high power and large size, so they can only increase the height at the rear, resulting in a big butt.

Under normal circumstances, this isn't a problem, since tanks have to charge forward. But if enemies appear from the rear, and the turret turns around, the big butt will block the gun barrel, resulting in a limited depression angle. However, tank guns are usually raised, unless the butt is right on a slope, there's no need to depress it.

Depression angle is only useful in special situations. Not to mention the rear, the Soviet tanks don't have much depression angle in the front either. 'The Soviet Union never bows its head' isn't just a saying.

Now, our 59 tank can only be modified this way in order to fit the engine.

Hearing Qin Yang's words, Clark frowned: "Such a modification isn't small, do you have the confidence?"

This thing wasn't designed for Eastern tanks at all, and didn't follow the compact tank power compartment design of the T-54 series!

The technicians at the time were very troubled, but there was no other way. They could only cut open the butt of the tank and forcibly lengthen the power compartment to finally fit the engine in.

Of course, it can't be said that it wasn't designed according to the tank at all. After all, the transmission system of a car is longitudinal, while on a tank it's transverse. Therefore, Allison, who was responsible for the gearbox, specially designed a planetary side transmission device to output power to the drive wheels on both sides of the tracks.

So, if you want to improve the transmission system and change the drive object from a twenty-ton light tank to a forty-ton medium tank, the easiest way is to replace the planetary gears inside the side transmission device.

Although this is the first time Qin Yang has come into contact with this kind of power pack, he still knows how to improve it, so he can successfully complete this task!

"Okay, let's stop here with the power compartment, and let's talk about firepower," Clark continued: "In terms of tank guns, we plan to install an M68 tank gun, coupled with Marconi's fire control system, which can give it a very high first-round hit probability, and with our advanced low-light night vision device, it can hit enemies a thousand meters away even in night combat."

"M68 tank gun?" Qin Yang glanced at the other party: "We have already started licensed production of the L7 tank gun in China, why should we use your M68 tank gun?"

"President Qin, you don't know this, although our M68 tank gun technology comes from the L7, its performance has been greatly improved. After all, our American technology is more advanced than British technology," Jack said from the side: "The modification of the power system is left to you, and the firepower is left to us, how about it?"

The old empire isn't just for show. The British are still good at making guns. Their L7 tank gun was born out of nowhere, and its performance surpassed other tank guns by a large margin. In those years, the American mainstream M48 and M60 tanks were still using 90mm caliber tank guns, which were already outdated. Therefore, the American big brother easily obtained the British L7 tank gun production technology and manufactured it themselves, naming it the M68 tank gun.

If you look at it from the outside, it seems to be exactly the same, but, according to Jack, the performance of this tank gun is much higher. If you don't believe it, you can look at the penetration depth of our armor-piercing projectiles! Our M1 tanks are still using M68 now, because this tank gun has advanced performance.

"Advanced? The original L7 tank guns we imported from the UK have a barrel life of 700 rounds, and our own domestically produced Type 81 tank guns have a barrel life of 500 rounds. How many rounds is the barrel life of your advanced M68 tank gun?"

One sentence stumped the other party again.

Barrel life is the weakness of the M68 tank gun! Although they are all L7 tank gun technology, the American gun steel is somewhat different, using Ni-Cr-Mo-V, which is carbon nickel chromium platinum alloy steel. The alloy content of the European mainstream L7 guns is about 5%, while the American ones are less than 3.5%. Moreover, there are also differences in the subsequent heat treatment process.

Although the chamber pressure has been increased, the barrel life is very poor: the early M68 model had a barrel life of only 100 rounds, the M68A1 model was only increased to 430 rounds, and the M68A2 model was increased to 500 rounds.

If it is to be exported, it will definitely not be the latest M68A2 model, in this way, they will not be able to provide supporting firepower!

Then what role did they play in participating in this Jaguar project? Just making up the numbers?

"Jack, Clark, you probably overlooked a most critical issue, and that is the price," Qin Yang continued: "Our Jaguar tank, whether for self-use or export, price is the top priority. It is precisely because of cost considerations that the improvement of this tank should be done here, after all, we have the advantage of manpower. You only need to be the engine provider."

After arguing for so long, wasn't it just to determine who would take the lead? Now, Qin Yang has given the answer: of course we will carry out the research and development, you just need to provide the parts!

"President Qin, you are insulting us by saying that!" Clark was annoyed: "We are here for joint research and development, not to be suppliers!"

"Of course, we can announce to the outside world that it is jointly developed by both of us, which will also facilitate the sale of the product," Qin Yang said: "The entire R\u0026D investment cannot exceed ten million, and it is best to control it within five million. The selling price of the Jaguar after the modification cannot exceed one million US dollars. If you can control the cost to this level, then we are willing to hand over the leading role to you."

"One million US dollars? How is that possible?" Clark said: "Our engine and gearbox alone are worth one million US dollars! Adding the supporting fire control system, night vision system, and main gun, it's worth at least two million US dollars!"

"That is to say, the selling price of this improved tank will be close to three million US dollars. Everyone, have you inquired about how much the Soviet T-72 sells for?"