Rebirth of the 1980s: The Military Industry Empire

Side transmission?

Dr. Wright's gaze went to the edge of the vehicle. Sure enough, he saw the drive shaft there. He had never seen this kind of transmission before.

America's proudest tank is the M1, and its proudest infantry fighting vehicle is the M2. Both are tracked, because only tracked vehicles have the same off-road capability. The M2, a battlefield taxi, is very reliable.

However, the United States also has a need for wheeled infantry fighting vehicles. Entering the 1980s, the U.S. military decided to develop a brand new wheeled infantry fighting vehicle to enable rapid deployment of troops. In 1981, seven companies began bidding. After comparison, the U.S. military selected the proposal from the Diesel Division of General Motors of Canada, and the related vehicles were named LAV-25 wheeled armored vehicles.

Originally, according to the plan, the total purchase quantity of this vehicle was nearly a thousand, but after the Army used it for a while, it felt that this vehicle was not suitable for itself, so the total output was contracted by the Marine Corps.

Regardless of whether the Army wants it or not, this vehicle is an advanced vehicle of the U.S. military. However, it still uses the central transmission system, but the East has abandoned this structure and used a more advanced solution!

"The central transmission system will reduce the vehicle's passability and reduce the vehicle's internal space," Qin Yang began to list the shortcomings of the old design: "Therefore, we spent huge sums of money to develop this side transmission system. It is the most advanced layout for infantry fighting vehicles in the world!"

"Yes, the most advanced in the world," Dr. Wright said, "I have indeed never heard of other manufacturers using this layout. In these fields, you have already reached a world-leading position!"

Qin Yang smiled: "Come on, let me take you over to take a look."

Is this the most advanced wheeled infantry fighting vehicle in the East? Can it be shown to foreigners?

Of course, no problem. What they see is only the appearance. For this system, what is important is the inside, that is, the design of the gears inside the drive shaft and the axle housing connected to each wheel, how to achieve self-locking and locking, and how to achieve the differential function on both sides. These most critical things cannot be seen from the outside.

Last time I went to Institute 201, I tested the chassis and the effect was good. So the next step is to mount the upper part, weld the shell together, and the overall vehicle will come out, and then it can be delivered to the troops for testing.

The front has just been welded, and the sides have not yet been welded. The chassis structure can be clearly displayed.

"There is no bulge in the middle, which can reduce the floor height, thereby reducing the overall height of the vehicle. This design is indeed good!" Dr. Wright praised: "Your design is really advanced! If you sell the design drawings to us... it's worth at least five million US dollars!"

This is not a simple schematic diagram, this is the overall design drawing of the prototype that has been built. Five million US dollars is not too much at all.

"Sorry, our design is too advanced to be sold for the time being. If you want it, you can purchase it from us. The price of each vehicle is 700,000 US dollars, which is definitely cost-effective for you."

I haven't used it myself yet, so I'll sell it first! This is also very common for the Eastern military industry in the 1980s.

After all, advanced also means immature. Therefore, selling advanced things, getting feedback from customers after use, improving and upgrading, and then using them yourself after the performance is reliable is both safe and cost-effective.

After the Americans developed the LAV-25 wheeled infantry fighting vehicle, it was originally used by the Army and the Marine Corps together. The initial total purchase volume was 969 vehicles, of which the Army accounted for 680, which was the majority.

However, by 1984, the Army had only received 36 vehicles and decided not to use them. The remaining orders were given to the Marine Corps.

Different services have different needs. The Marine Corps wanted to be able to transport this vehicle in a transport plane, so they strictly limited the size. As a result, the interior space was small. After installing 3 crew members, only four people could sit in the back. Even if you squeeze, you can only seat 6 people.

However, an infantry squad has ten people. Where does the remaining one person sit? As a target outside?

This wheeled infantry fighting vehicle is a product of compromise with the Marine Corps' needs. The Army doesn't want it!

However, the Army also has a need for this kind of infantry fighting vehicle after all, so let's buy it from abroad, let's buy it from our East! Advanced technology and cheap price!

The mediocre LAV-25 costs 745,000 US dollars per vehicle, while the spacious wheeled infantry fighting vehicle in the East is only priced at 700,000 US dollars, which is definitely value for money.

Even if you buy a thousand vehicles, it will only cost 700 million US dollars, which the wealthy Americans can afford.

"If the Army purchases it, then you need to bring the vehicle to our country to bid," Dr. Wright said, "Moreover, the Army's large-scale purchases never order foreign goods."

Except for occasionally buying something from the UK, the military equipment of the Americans is of course produced and sold by themselves. The Americans will definitely not send money to foreign arms dealers.

Qin Yang frowned: "Yes, it is indeed a problem, but we don't want to leak the technology of this product, so let's forget it. Come on, I'll take you to see other places."

Dr. Wright hadn't seen enough yet, but Qin Yang was about to pull him away. He said a little embarrassedly: "President Qin, can you wait a moment? I want to take another look."

"Of course."

Up and down, inside and out, Dr. Wright looked at it several times, and then made up his mind: "President Qin, you can take this vehicle to bid. If the Army chooses it, you can authorize our General Dynamics Land Systems to produce it, so that the problem can be solved."

As long as it is made in America!

"Okay, then we will authorize you to produce it. In order to give you more benefits, we can also replace the engine and gearbox with your products!"

Our own engine has insufficient power, and the gearbox does not have an automatic transmission. We can just use mature American products, which will make it easier to pass the bidding. When the time comes, we can authorize General Dynamics Land Systems to produce it, and we can also share the profits with them. Everyone makes money.

Anyway, it's still early before 1989. In the next few years, it will be no problem to get two or three hundred million US dollars from the Americans.

After the country opened its doors, the domestic market saw the gap and began to import various equipment from abroad. When can we export it? Or authorize others to produce it. It's so prestigious to spread the word!

As long as the other party likes it, they have to pay obediently. Since Dr. Wright has come once, he must leave enough sincerity!

That's all for the wheeled infantry fighting vehicle project. Where to take him next?

It's almost time, it's time to eat!

"Dr. Wright, come on, let's go to our cafeteria and taste our authentic Eastern cuisine," Qin Yang said, "The chef in our cafeteria is no worse than those in big hotels."