Rebirth of the 1980s: The Military Industry Empire

Old Lin was so shocked by Qin Yang's words that he couldn't speak.

"That's right, our country is poor, but it's not as if we can't even afford a few fighter jets, right?" After a long while, Old Lin said, "This is related to the modernization of our air force. We're still relying on J-7s and J-8s to defend our skies. Foreign countries have already entered the era of third-generation aircraft. If we want to catch up, purchasing from abroad is the most suitable option."

"If the French ask for 50 to 60 million US dollars per plane, how many can we buy?"

"Fifty to sixty million? How is that possible? Twenty million US dollars per plane is already very expensive." Old Lin said, "How could they ask for such a high price?"

The American-made F-15, a twin-engine heavy fighter, only cost 30 million US dollars per plane when the US sold it to its allies. The F-16, which is in the same class of medium-sized aircraft as the Mirage 2000, only cost a little over 10 million US dollars.

In the early 1990s, the first batch of Su-27s that China purchased from the Soviets cost just over 30 million US dollars, which was the same as the F-15, a twin-engine heavy fighter.

In the 1980s, the French Mirage 2000, which had not yet completed its research and development, was still using a single-rotor engine. How much did they ask for?

Sixty million US dollars per plane!

This was simply treating the East as a sucker to be taken advantage of. Moreover, when the East tried to bargain, the price only went higher! Therefore, this project ultimately did not succeed. Then, the French sold the planes to Taiwan. In this way, the East equipped itself with the Mirage 2000 in another way.

Now, Qin Yang doesn't have any good feelings about this project. Going to inspect is one thing, purchasing is another. The two cannot be equated.

"Okay, even if it costs 60 million US dollars, we'll accept it. We'll buy ten or eight planes, and then introduce the production line so we can produce them ourselves. The price will come down then," Old Lin continued.

In recent years, with the French weapons they purchased, whether it was helicopters or naval guns and Crotale missiles, they could get the production line by buying just a few. Old Lin was still clinging to that hope.

"The French won't sell us the production line unless we buy a hundred or eighty jets. Fighter jets are different from Crotale missiles. Dassault is very greedy," Qin Yang said, "Let's go out and inspect, broaden our horizons, and then come back and work hard to develop our own."

"Ourselves? With the level of our domestic aviation industry…" Old Lin sighed helplessly, with a look of disappointment.

The air force focuses on future needs, requiring aircraft to have various performance indicators. After these were proposed, the technical personnel of the aviation industry could only shake their heads, saying it couldn't be done, it couldn't be developed, and the standards had to be lowered!

"If your 960 Factory could get involved in the aviation industry and carry forward your spirit in military research and development, our domestic aviation industry would be saved!" Old Lin said.

In the past year or so, the 960 Factory had developed so much advanced equipment! Their research and development capabilities were impressive. It was a pity that they were all weapons and equipment used by the army. It would be great if they could develop some for the air force!

"The aviation industry is too difficult," Qin Yang said, "But we are working hard. In the future, we'll take care of the airborne radar for the air force. We guarantee you'll be satisfied!"

"Well, we are also full of expectations. We can purchase advanced radar without the air force spending a single penny. However, radar alone is not enough. Our fighter jets also lack air-to-air missiles!"

Currently, the air force only has domestically produced short-range air-to-air missiles, and only the PL-2 model, which only has tail-chase attack capabilities. The technology is backward, so for a long time, the main content of air force pilot training was machine guns, which were more reliable.

It's already the 1980s, and the West has a large number of advanced air-to-air missiles, not only for close-range combat, but also for medium-range interception and even long-range attacks. Among them, the most powerful Tomcat fighter, carrying Phoenix missiles, can attack targets up to 100 kilometers away!

"Air-to-air missiles? That's not impossible either," Qin Yang said to himself, "It's just that if our 960 Factory gets involved in the air force business again, I don't know how many people will scold us!"

"As long as you can develop it, then go ahead and do it boldly. I want to see who dares to scold you!" Old Lin patted his chest, "Whoever dares to speak ill of you behind your back, I'll go to their door and curse them until they're covered in blood!"

"By the way, when we go to Europe to inspect the Mirage 2000, save three spots for us," Qin Yang said.

"Of course, no problem," Old Lin nodded, "I'll arrange it as soon as possible!"

Qin Yang looked up at the sky. The Q-5, which had dropped its bombs, had already begun its return flight. The air force's fighter technology was twenty years behind foreign countries, and they had to catch up as soon as possible!

As early as when he was preparing for the airborne radar project, Qin Yang had already made subsequent preparations. With radar, there must also be missiles. The problem of missiles needs to be solved from Italy. The 1980s is really a wonderful era. Many things can be bought!

Only if he makes these preparations can he avoid the occurrence of the Peace Pearl project. For all military industrialists, that is a shame.

If you want to avoid this shame, then you have to solve the radar and missile problems yourself. If the relevant domestic institutions are not capable, then Qin Yang can only do it himself. Therefore, he, a gun maker, not to mention interfering in the making of cannons, but also interfering in the aviation industry, this is really not his business, but for the motherland, for the military industry, for this wonderful era.

"General Manager Qin, General Manager Qin!" At this moment, an anxious voice came from a distance.

Like yesterday, Qin Yang was still watching from the rear of the exercise. He originally wanted to feel the atmosphere of the battlefield alone, but he didn't expect Old Lin to come, so he chatted and watched while asking for three spots. He had to travel abroad every now and then. Work and entertainment cannot be delayed.

But now, unexpectedly, someone else came looking for him.

"I'm here, who's looking for me? What's the matter?" Qin Yang stood up and shouted over there.

The other party ran over, panting: "Reporting to General Manager Qin, something happened at the 618 Factory, and they are asking you to come over and help solve it."

618 Factory?

This factory is also in the capital, producing armored vehicles. Qin Yang has brought them some business, and they should be in orderly production. What could have happened to them?

"What happened? If it's a trivial matter, don't bother me."

"They're fighting!"

"Who and who?"

"The clients, they didn't say in detail when they called, but they said they need you to help solve it, it's urgent."

The clients are fighting? Qin Yang suddenly thought of something, and his expression changed: "Okay, take me there immediately! They're really something, how did they arrange it? How could they let two groups of people be together?"

Who is fighting? Of course, it's the Iranians and the Iraqis!