The rise of a great power: starting with military industry

Time enters February.

Liu Tao went to Guifei Group.

However, the first two prototypes of the domestically-produced Y-20 strategic transport aircraft have finally completed final assembly and are about to roll off the production line.

Due to the important position of the Y-20 strategic transport aircraft, the ceremony of its roll-off was held very grandly, and the number of leaders who attended the ceremony was astonishing.

The entire Guizhou Aircraft Industry Group has made preparations to welcome the launch of the Y-20 strategic transport aircraft.

In the final assembly plant of the Y-20, propaganda slogans are hung everywhere.

In terms of aviation, Guizhou Aviation Group is undoubtedly the strongest in the country and is far ahead in a leading position that no other airline can compare to.

011 Aviation Base is also the largest aviation base in China.

Guizhou Aircraft Industry Corporation, Chengdu Aircraft Industry Corporation and Xi'an Aircraft Industry Corporation have formed the largest aerospace industry corridor in China.

This is based on national defense and security considerations, making this aerospace industry corridor far stronger than other regions combined.

For example, when it comes to factory construction and deployment, China Southwest Aerospace Group Corporation's military aircraft are all placed in the central and western regions, and only civilian aircraft manufacturing plants are deployed in the eastern coastal areas or southern China.

Some of the Y-10, Y-13 passenger aircraft and Y-10 transport aircraft are now assembled in three aircraft factories in Guangdong Province, Shanghai and Beijing. Military aircraft are assembled in aircraft factories in the central and western regions.

Similarly, some civilian helicopters are produced in the eastern coastal areas and southern China, while military helicopters are all produced in the central and western regions.

The Y-20 strategic transport aircraft was assembled at the headquarters of Guizhou Aircraft Industry Group.

The offline ceremony was very festive.

Liu Tao and other leaders walked into the offline ceremony together and then came to the VIP seats.

When the leaders saw two extremely huge Y-20 strategic transport aircraft parked in the middle of the factory, they were all moved.

The Y-90 strategic transport aircraft development team started the project in the 20s. After more than ten years of hard work, they finally had two prototypes, which was an extremely important step.

With a load capacity of 66 tons, it can transport a Type 80 main battle tank or a Type 80 self-propelled anti-aircraft gun!

The importance of such a Y-20 strategic transport aircraft to China is self-evident.

In the past, one could take the opportunity to buy a large number of Il-76 transport aircraft, but now it is not so easy to buy Il-76 transport aircraft, and the price is high.

Not only is the price high, but the discount on the Monkey Edition of the Il-76 transport aircraft exported by Russia is so deep that it will definitely make anyone who hears about it sad and anyone who sees it cry.

The weapons and equipment exported by China are often 70% to 80% of the quality of the versions for domestic use.

Russia is different. It is already a great kindness for Russia to have a version that is 50% of the standard for its own use.

In terms of medium-sized military transport aircraft, China has two domestically produced transport aircraft, the Y-8 and Y-9. Now, China is about to have its own domestically produced large military transport aircraft.

Although the Y-10 has a larger carrying capacity, its latest improved version can only transport 40 tons. Moreover, the Y-10 has been focused on the passenger aircraft field from the beginning and is ultimately not a dedicated military transport aircraft.

The Y-20 transport aircraft is different. From the beginning of the project, it was positioned as a large military transport aircraft.

The front line only needs a simple runway for the Y-20 transport aircraft to take off and land.

This capability is not possessed by the Y-10.

Everyone praised that Guizhou Fei Group was able to produce two Y-20 transport aircraft prototypes so quickly, which was unimaginable. You know, many large parts here need to be forged by China's largest 8-ton forging press.

You should know that China currently has only two 8-ton forging presses, two 7.5-ton forging presses, two 7-ton forging presses, two 6.5-ton forging presses, and two 6-ton forging presses.

Large forging machines like these are important national equipment and will never be exported.

The manufacturing of modern advanced military aircraft, large passenger aircraft, ships, high-speed railways, aircraft engines, etc. cannot be separated from forging machines. Through forging, not only the shape of mechanical parts can be obtained, but also the internal structure of the metal can be improved, and the mechanical and physical properties of the metal can be improved.

Therefore, forging machines are widely used in power generation, shipbuilding, petrochemicals, aviation, aerospace, and military industry.

Large forging machines are known as the jewel in the crown of metal processing and are an important symbol of a country's industrial strength and military capabilities.

For example, in modern aircraft manufacturing, the proportion of titanium alloys used is increasing. For example, the J-20 fighter jet uses a large amount of titanium alloys and high-strength and high-toughness alloy structural steel, and the weight of parts made of forgings accounts for about 40% of the weight of the entire aircraft!

Large die forging presses are an important symbol of a country's industrial strength. So far, only China, the United States, Russia and France have them, while the United Kingdom and Germany do not have them.

Many of the forgings of these two Y-20 strategic transport aircraft prototypes were made using large-scale die forging presses. For example, the main structural beams were forged using an 8-ton die forging press.

The ceremony of rolling off the production line officially began. Liu Tao and others delivered speeches in turn, and then they cut the ribbon for the two Y-20 strategic transport aircraft, marking their official rolling off the production line.

Then everyone boarded the cockpit and cargo hold of the Y-20 strategic transport aircraft to feel how big and advanced the interior of this behemoth is!

The cockpit, screens, and high degree of integration and automation make flying the Y-20 strategic transport aircraft much easier.

The cargo hold is very large. After all, the maximum transport weight here can reach 66 tons!
The military leaders all had smiles on their faces, grinning from ear to ear.

It’s not that China is short of military transport aircraft now. China already has enough military transport aircraft now!

However, those military transport aircraft are all Soviet-made transport aircraft and will be retired one after another in the future.

China must have its own large military transport aircraft produced domestically, as this is a matter of national defense security.

Only when you have more cards in your hand will you have enough confidence to speak on the international stage.

In this world, even now, everything comes down to strength and status!

China feels this deeply!

When a Chinese delegation visits the United States, the United States often welcomes the Chinese delegation with the highest etiquette and rules and gives the highest respect. However, when some countries go to the United States, they cannot even meet senior American officials.

"Comrade Liu Tao, you have made another contribution!" the leader said happily.

With the Y-20 strategic transport aircraft, China will not be short of large military transport aircraft and will not be strangled for at least the next years.

Born in adversity, die in comfort, this is the golden saying summed up by the Chinese for thousands of years.

Only by firmly grasping the destiny in the hands of the Chinese people can the Chinese people truly be the masters of their own destiny and control the destiny of China.

Although China is peaceful, the world has never been peaceful, and the flames of war have never ceased even for a moment.

Only by being ready to fight at any time can we truly stop the war and truly defend our country.

Advanced weapons and equipment are the sharp sword and strong shield of the army, and a multiplier of military strength! (End of this chapter)