"So, the Ministry of Aviation Industry, together with Chengdu Aircraft Corporation and China National Aviation Technology Corporation, are planning to do it on their own without me?" Qi Yiming couldn't help but say after learning the cause and effect from Liao Huairen.
Liao Huairen chuckled and said, "I can't tell you to get rid of me. I still have to come to you for help."
Qi Yiming complained: "You came to me to ask for two prototypes, and it was free. Then there must be some technical problems, and you came to me directly to ask for something. The money did not go through my pocket, and I was not the person in charge. , just get rid of me."
Liao Huairen patted him on the shoulder and said: "You also invested money in the F-14 case. I didn't see you making money, so you didn't do these things just to make money. What's more, the technology, talents and equipment in Chengfei's hands are all You got it, I¡¯m afraid you¡¯ve long wanted to train them to master these things and then make money yourself.¡±
Qi Yiming said: "That's true, hey, but I also understand that some people don't like me and want to run against me."
"You don't have to be acquainted with them. Besides, with your status, who can push you? Besides, you can take care of all the messy things about the F-14 and the Navy. You've been busy these past two months." You have to keep your feet on the ground. Your little girlfriend was complaining to me last time she saw me. She was taking that foreign girl named Morgan to visit the great places in the motherland. "
Qi Yiming patted his forehead and said: "I forgot to mention this. Alas, it is true that a few days later, Mr. Ping asked me to discuss things like military reform and disarmament. I Tiandu is preparing how to arrange the placement of this large number of demobilized soldiers. Economic matters also have to be sorted out. I really can't get too involved in the FC-1 matter. "
He thought for a while and made a decision: "Let's do this. I will deploy a team of 160 engineers, all of whom are related to the Xiaolong project, and immediately go to Chengdu Aircraft to help them set up a complete production line. For some parts that they cannot complete, we will I'll pick it up here, and then go to them to assemble it. Oh, I heard that Luoyang has already made a copy of the PL-12A, which is very good. This can be regarded as a little less work.
As for the prototypes, I can send them to Chengdu Huangtianba (Chengdu Aircraft Company¡¯s test airfield) for the four previously tested by the Iranians. I will also send all the test pilots there. Chengdu Aircraft has generally put up a front and can deceive them. Just let those people live in the minibus, and then just allow them to go on a test flight.
Another thing is that if the Ministry of Aviation Industry and China National Aviation Technology Corporation negotiate this project, don¡¯t expect me to provide them with parts for free. I will give them a quotation for whatever they want, and it will definitely not be expensive. As for how they plan to set the price of the complete machine, that is their business. The equipment and technology are all made by me. Just counting the cost of labor and materials, personnel salaries, etc., the cost of this aircraft is estimated to be only two to three million US dollars, or even more than one million US dollars. I suggest that they don¡¯t The price is set too low. Those people in 617 know how to bid double the price, especially for airplanes. It's one thing to have a good relationship with Minibus, but another thing to do business with.
The 6 million US dollars that Pakistan hopes for is absolutely impossible. My suggested base price is 8 million, and the maximum price should not exceed 10 million. That would not be very attractive. The F-16 is only between 14 million and 18 million. "
Liao Huairen breathed a sigh of relief when he saw Qi Yiming relenting. He was afraid that if Qi Yiming was unhappy and continued to be unreasonable, nothing could be discussed.
Qi Yiming's specific operations of Xiaolong were outsourced, but he had other things on his mind. Not long after talking to Liao Huairen, he was told that the president of Grumman's international department had come to China in person. .
After all, Grumman is now China's partner. Although Qi Yiming really looks down on them, he still has to pretend to smile and talk about cooperation together.
Qi Yiming soon visited Pellehak, the president of Grumman¡¯s International Department, who even got permission to stay in the State Guesthouse. In the quiet little building of the State Guesthouse, the waiter placed the West Lake Longjing, which was newly ordered this year, so that a few people could enjoy a little peace and quiet away from the stressful business.
"Mr. Qi, you are our largest and most important partner of Grumman. We extremely value our cooperative relationship and hope to collaborate in more and broader fields." Pellehak paved the way.
Qi Yiming smiled slightly and said: "We have already carried out in-depth cooperation on the F-14 project. Haha, I have been busy these days and have not paid attention to the progress there. Mr. Pelehak just returned from Shenyang What do you think about coming back?¡±
Pelehak pondered for a moment, and then said: "China has skilled, standardized and talented technical personnel, which is a valuable asset. Our engineering staff believe that they are no less than the backbone of any aviation manufacturing company in the United States. Technical staff."
"That's an award, haha." Qi Yiming saidBut with a bright face, he believed that the group of red alert engineers had greatly frightened this group of Grumman people who originally had their eyes in the clouds.
Pelehak added: "Actually, the fact that I came to see Mr. Qi this time is also related to my visit to the Shenyang Aircraft Factory. After more than two months, the engineers and workers of our cooperation project have already submitted the information you provided. The WS-10A engine is installed on a Tomcat. After preliminary testing, this engine is better than the TF30 engine we are using now in terms of thrust-to-weight ratio, thrust, reliability, maintainability, and price. . It is very amazing that China can achieve such technical achievements. In fact, I am one of the main persons in charge of the F-14 project, and now my company is working on the issue of F-14 replacement. Several candidates were selected, among which General Electric's F110 was the most promising, and the Navy was also preparing to promote a comprehensive replacement. However, after I witnessed the performance of the WS-10A, I felt that the F-14 used by the US Navy would be used. It would also be a good choice to replace it with a Chinese engine.¡±
Qi Yiming understood very well why it was almost certain that the F-14 engine would be replaced by the F110, but when Pelehak arrived, he suddenly changed his mind. The WS-10A engine he provided to Shenfei was produced in China, and no company has yet mastered the ability to produce engines of this level. From a performance perspective, the WS-10A is basically stronger than the 129 model of the F110, with a thrust-to-weight ratio of 8, a maximum thrust of 132 kN, comparable maintainability, and slightly better resistance to high salt and high humidity. Of course, the most important point is that Qi Yiming¡¯s quotation for this engine is only US$2 million, which is much cheaper than the F110.
The engine itself is a considerable part of the aircraft cost, and whatever can be saved is profit for Grumman. And now Grumman is somewhat greedy and will certainly not give up on this matter.
Qi Yiming smiled and said: "I'm afraid it's not that easy, Mr. Pelehak. As far as I know, your country has a special bill that prohibits parts not produced in the country from being used in weapons. Well, of course I know this has great significance. With a strong spirit of pragmatism, a breakthrough is just a matter of words. However, GE, which has already won the bid, or Pratt & Whitney, another giant in the power industry, will not be overtaken by overseas companies because of their share. Are you anxious about seizing the product? I¡¯m afraid they will make a big fuss over this.¡±
Pelehak sighed: "Sure enough, Mr. Qi is very familiar with the situation in our country. Yes, it may take a lot of effort to promote this matter, but in the end, Mr. Qi was able to obtain the F-14 from our country through his own means. Similarly, we at Grumman will use some methods to achieve our ideas. The key is, is Mr. Qi willing to transfer the technology of this engine and allow us to produce it?¡±
Qi Yiming smiled even brighter and said: "Sir, you have lost the point. First of all, I can't see any benefits of transferring technology to you, but it is harmful to myself and the country. We have spent a lot of money If money and energy are given to the United States to create such advanced things, I am afraid it will only cause a blow to our country's industry. However, I agree in principle that the WS-10A will be exported to the United States. You can think about it differently, if it is in the United States. In terms of manufacturing, your company has no related industries, so it may be difficult to absorb technology, and it will not be competitive with GE, PW and other companies. What's more, my country's cheap labor costs and other advantages will not be able to be used. Just because you can sell it for $2 million doesn¡¯t mean you can build a $2 million engine yourself.¡±
Grumman, like all American military-industrial enterprises, is arrogant and impatient, but it usually faces weak and incapable countries. Now Pelehak is facing the advantages of the national aviation industry rebuilt by Qi Yiming. , they can't think of any contempt or contempt, and they have no ability to force them to do things they don't want to do. Grumman doesn't have many cards in his hand, and it's unlikely that he can check and balance Qi Yiming. They need Qi Yiming to give them money, not use other means to make Qi Yiming fall out with them.
"Well, I understand the engine matter. We will further coordinate this issue and strive to get a result that is satisfactory to both parties." Pelehak said with a smile.
He paused, then took up the next topic, and said: "In addition, I saw the new radar tested by Chinese engineers during the project. Although it is a little immature compared to Hughes' AGW-9, China has great understanding of electronic components. The production and processing capabilities of the devices are amazing. If we bring Hughes into this project and use Chinese-produced electronic components to re-architecture and design the radar avionics system, I am afraid that the latest radar level will not exceed the AGW-9. few."
The corners of Qi Yiming's mouth rose slightly. This was a scene he had already expected. The most outstanding airborne radar in his hands is the active phased array radar, and the traditional air-scanning radar, whether it is the modified version of the Condor or the 1474 type, etc., has better performance than the American-made Doppler radar. Slightly worse. maybe flyThe radar used by the Leopard is more comprehensive and more practical than the AGW-9 in terms of downward vision capabilities and other multi-purpose capabilities, but there is still a gap in parameters such as power and detection range.
Although he does not have a good machine-scanning radar, he does have mature integrated circuit production capabilities. This industry is in the ascendant in the United States. He can use this as a breakthrough point to obtain a better machine-scanning radar and equip his own Tomcat.