Chapter 501: Going to China, can I do it too?
In the context that the country has regarded the aviation industry as a key development area, aircraft export is naturally a big event.
Especially the 12 aircraft purchased at one time by the Sudanese Air Force, as well as the corresponding various types of ammunition and other consumables, with a total value of more than 150 million US dollars.
Although the transaction is conducted in the form of a deduction for the payment of the oil exploration rights contract, in any case, spending less means making more.
Putting it in the context of the late 1990s, it was a lot of money.
Hence, this aircraft, which caused little stir during its first flight, received some decent media publicity midway through its test flight.
Of course, the focus of publicity is not only the JJ-9 model itself, but also Guihang Industry, which is actively carrying out self-rescue and solving operating difficulties.
Originally, after the automobile industry went into decline, it was difficult for them to continue to maintain normal production and operations.
Just a few JJ-7 orders every year are simply not enough to support such a huge enterprise.
At the same time, for the Aviation Industry Corporation of China, which is about to face restructuring, it is also completely uneconomical to retain a secondary enterprise for a model that is highly similar to the J-7.
Hence, the fate of Guizhou Aviation Industry was already somewhat precarious.
Jiang Shengzhen, who was born in the United States, played a very important role in it relying on his extensive personal connections.
In fact, as early as the early 1980s, South Korea had signed a contract with Northrop to establish a domestic production line for F5 fighter jets.
But even at that time, this type of aircraft was already outdated.
However, General Dynamics and Lockheed Martin are still quite concerned about the production line for the F16.
After entering the 1990s, with the development of the economy and industrial level, the aviation manufacturing industry naturally entered the field of vision of Koreans.
It can be regarded as giving some hope to some old state-owned enterprises that are also in difficulties.
It is always better to delay and wait for changes than to close down the company directly.
As for the success of the JJ-9 model, even if it cannot achieve a rejuvenation, it can at least extend its life.
But the situation in Jiang Shengzhen is rather special.
Under his mediation, Samsung Airlines completed the introduction of the final assembly line in 1994 and began producing KF16 fighter jets.
Some people who are more proactive are already contacting Guizhou Airlines to see if they can send someone to get some advice.
Chung Woo-seok, head of Samsung's aviation industry department, is accompanying Industry Minister Kang Seung-jin to inspect the KF16 fighter final assembly line.
At last, there is some hope.
The Koreans were not reconciled and quickly focused on the more advanced F16 fighter jets.
For today's Samsung, a mere minister is certainly not an important figure.
Moreover, it is not just domestic companies that are encouraged by this report...
After all, it's not difficult to think of it as long as you use your brain a little more.
South Korea, Sacheon City, Gyeongsangnam-do.
Guihang has made little progress in self-rescue in the past decade or so. Now that it is suddenly turning around, there must be some unique way.
Although many of them are indeed lagging behind the times and will inevitably end up going bankrupt, there are also many companies that simply cannot adapt to the market environment or simply suffered a run.
Even earlier than China produced the J-11.
Such a number one figure can be said to indirectly control the lifeblood of the entire Korean aviation industry, so Samsung naturally has to respect it.
“At present, a total of 42 KF16 fighter jets have been rolled off the production line. It is expected that a total of 120 fighter jets can be produced before the end of 2000. By the last batch, 78% of the parts will be produced by South Korea.”
Zheng Yuxi introduced, while leading Jiang Shengzhen through the work station where the final assembly steps of the aircraft were being carried out.
“So, after entering the 21st century, what are your follow-up plans for this production line?”
After all, the scale of the South Korean Air Force is limited and it is impossible to equip too many aircraft, and it is obviously impossible for the Americans to allow them to export F16 alone. Therefore, after producing the quantity stipulated in the contract at the time, the factory will face the risk of losing business.
This is something Jiang Shengzhen doesn't want to see.
“After the production of the KF16 ends, we plan to transfer the production here to the new training aircraft developed in cooperation with Lockheed Martin.”
“That 'Golden Eagle' project?”
Although Jiang Shengzhen has a wide network of contacts, he doesn't actually understand aviation, and he only has a general understanding of these projects:
“I remember it has been going on for 5 years, how is the progress?”
"This..." Talking about this topic, Zheng Yuxi's face became a little stiff:
“We found that the previous plan was too conservative, so we are re-evaluating the plan.”
Obviously, the progress is not very optimistic.
At this time, his painting skills need to be tested.
As expected, Jiang Shengzhen frowned:
"Reassess?"
“In other words, all previous design plans will be invalidated?”
Zheng Yuxi nodded:
“The original design plan was based on the British Eagle 100 trainer aircraft, but the performance could not meet the requirements of the originally planned combat training aircraft.”
“So we simply plan to overthrow the entire plan and start over, learn from F16 technology, and develop an advanced trainer aircraft with a performance level close to that of the third-generation fighter jet for the international market in the 21st century.”
“Of course, this requires more in-depth cooperation between Lockheed Martin and General Dynamics...”
This is why Samsung Airlines specially invited Jiang Shengzhen to visit.
He needs to lobby further to gain support from the United States.
“Learning from F16's technology…”
Although Jiang Shengzhen doesn't quite understand the specific differences between the two solutions, he can tell that Samsung Airlines hopes to develop a more advanced model, and plans to not only equip the South Korean Air Force, but also export it To other countries:
“In this case, will there be any conflict with F16 in terms of positioning?”
Exporting is exporting, but competing with American companies for the market is a matter of course, and Jiang Shengzhen would definitely not dare to do it.
The reason why the model was originally determined as a subsonic intermediate trainer model was to avoid this.
"Won't."
Zheng Yuxi is certainly not stupid and understands what the other party is worried about:
“The new aircraft will be smaller and cheaper than the F16. It is mainly aimed at third-world countries that cannot afford standard third-generation fighter jets. It can serve as a trainer aircraft and also undertake certain combat missions.”
Having said that, Jiang Shengzhen still hesitated.
For him, the point is that those working in the aviation industry can provide a lot of votes.
As long as the production line can be maintained, it can maintain a sufficient position in the power hierarchy.
As for what to build specifically, it is not very important.
More advanced models do bring higher potential benefits, but they also bring corresponding risks.
In the event that R&D is blocked and KF16 cannot be converted to production for a long time after it is discontinued, the scale of the entire industry may shrink, and its status will be difficult to guarantee.
Seeing that Jiang Shengzhen did not reply, Zheng Wooxi continued to throw out heavy chips:
“This route has actually been verified by China. Recently, their aviation industry promotional newspapers and periodicals have focused on a similar model.”
The latter said taking out a newspaper from his pocket.
Older Koreans can understand more or less Chinese.
So it is much more convenient for them to collect information on China.
Jiang Shengzhen grew up in the United States and did not have this condition, but he could always see the plane printed on it.
At first glance, it looks a bit like a combination of F16 and F18.
“According to the report here, an African customer has purchased 12 aircraft, and the Chinese Air Force plans to purchase more.”
Zheng Yuxi knew that the other party did not understand Chinese, so he briefly translated the core content above, and then continued:
"The aircraft that China was able to produce before were the improved MiG-21 and the enlarged version of the MiG-21 they called the J-8. But we have been able to produce the third-generation KF16 fighter jet by ourselves three years ago. The manufacturing level is much better.”
“Now, since they can build such a multi-purpose supersonic advanced trainer aircraft, and we also have the design assistance from General Dynamics and Lockheed Martin, there is absolutely no reason why they can't build it!”
It should be said that Zheng Yuxi knows how to stimulate generals.
Since the 1980s, South Korea has generally entered an era of extremely high self-confidence.
Of course, no matter how popular it is, it will definitely not have the courage to compete with the United States.
So their key comparison objects are Japan and China.
Specifically speaking about the aviation manufacturing industry, considering that the former was authorized to assemble heavy-duty F15J fighter jets more than ten years ago, so in general...
Nor have the courage.
But facing the latter, Koreans are still relatively confident.
I can't compare to Japan, so why can't I compare to you, the Five Permanent People's Political Consultative Conference?
(End of this chapter)
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