The rise of a great power: starting with military industry

Chapter 147 The most touching thing is the air conditioner

A foreign trade version of a self-propelled anti-aircraft gun and a foreign trade version of a tank slowly drove towards them.

Then stop in an open space.

The crew came out.

Liu Tao and Prince Abdul climbed onto the self-propelled anti-aircraft gun, and others followed them.

Liu Tao introduced this self-propelled anti-aircraft gun.

With his own demonstration, if he introduces the self-propelled anti-aircraft gun now, no one will think he is bragging, but will accept Liu Tao's introduction 100%.

After all, seeing is believing and hearing is believing.

How could I not believe what I saw with my own eyes?

Computers, display panels, vehicle-mounted radars.
"Liu, you are such a genius. You can actually think of installing a refrigeration system." Prince Abdul was most interested in the refrigeration system rather than anything else.

In Prince Abdul's view, having a refrigeration system to provide soldiers with a good working environment is also an important way to improve combat effectiveness.

Prince Abdul said with emotion: "These self-propelled anti-aircraft guns and tanks are simply specially made for us Saudi Arabia! I believe the armored troops will like them very much."

Haller explained, "Liu, you know that the Middle East is rich in oil resources, and ordinary citizens can enjoy a good life without working. Soldiers who join the army to serve the country and even sacrifice their lives should be treated more preferentially. Providing adequate logistical support is the most basic requirement for our soldiers. Otherwise, we cannot keep them combat-ready, and many people are unwilling to join the army to serve the country."

Others don’t understand and find it incredible.

But Liu Tao understood something and nodded in understanding.

In oil-producing countries throughout the Middle East, the state will provide living security to all citizens.

Since the first oil crisis in 1973, oil prices have been rising. Previously, crude oil prices were artificially suppressed by the seven major companies, averaging about $1.80 per barrel, which was only about half the price of coal. In 1973, Europe and the United States actively fought for oil to rise to $1 per barrel in January. When the "Ramadan War" broke out, Arab countries decided to use oil as a weapon to teach Western powers a lesson, decided to raise oil prices, and decided to reduce oil production and impose an oil embargo on Europe and the United States. This caused the oil price to reach $2.95 per barrel in just two months, a 11.651-3 times increase in price, which eventually triggered the largest economic crisis in the post-war capitalist world from 4 to 1973.

Oil prices have continued to rise in recent years, and recently broke through $30 per barrel. There is no doubt that this has made major oil-producing countries earn a lot of money.

Even the Soviet Union, an oil-producing country, made a fortune by exporting oil and its economy prospered unprecedentedly. Every Soviet citizen had two houses, one in the city and one in the countryside. They lived in the city on weekdays and went to the countryside for vacation on weekends.

As the world's largest oil producer, Saudi Arabia naturally also benefited greatly.

With the surge in oil revenues, in addition to the luxurious life of the royal family, Saudi Arabia has also implemented high welfare benefits at home. Many of the benefits even surpass those in Europe and the United States, making them the envy of countless countries.

High welfare also means that people can live well even if they do not work. They can receive high subsidies from the government just by lying at home every day.

As for who does the work?
Of course they are foreign workers!
Under such circumstances, not many Saudi citizens are willing to join the army, and the treatment of soldiers is naturally very good. It is no exaggeration to say that it is unique in the world. After all, if the treatment is worse, no one will join the army.

As for national pride and fighting for the country, that doesn't exist at all!

Prince Abdul and others got on the car to experience it themselves.

At noon, a cocktail party was held at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse to entertain Prince Abdul and others.

In the afternoon, the contract negotiations went very smoothly. Prince Abdul directly threw out an unprecedented order.

枪械方面采购远不如伊拉克，2000支手枪、50000支步枪、机枪和重机枪及重狙枪各500挺、双联高射机枪500挺、80式自行高炮200辆、80式坦克500辆、前卫防空导弹发射装置2000具及各配5枚导弹，再加上子弹、炮弹以及零部件、发动机、培训费等，总合同高达55亿美元。

Such a large contract broke the record for the largest single weapons and equipment order in China's history, and it is also the largest military procurement order in Saudi Arabia's history.

Liu Tao and others were all stunned by this unprecedented order.

Liu Tao was mentally prepared for the lack of firearms. After all, Iraq had a million brave men with abundant martial virtues, while Saudi Arabia's armed forces were not large, only about one-tenth of Iraq's. Even if all the infantry were equipped, their purchases would certainly not be as good as Iraq's.

However, the direct purchase of 200 Type 80 self-propelled anti-aircraft guns and 500 Type 80 tanks was beyond Liu Tao's expectations. This meant that all the tank units of the army would be replaced.

"As expected of Prince Abdul, who holds the power to purchase weapons for Saudi Arabia, he is so simple and crude!" Liu Tao's eyes flashed.

This is the benefit of being friends with rich people!

There is no need to be stingy, but rather be generous and it will be easy to reach an agreement.

Then comes the delivery time. Such a large quantity will naturally be delivered in batches, and the delivery time must be negotiated.

What he is most concerned about here is the delivery time of the Type 80 self-propelled anti-aircraft gun and the Type 80 tank. As for the delivery time of the guns, there will be no problem with timely delivery as long as the time is not too short.

However, this is not the case with self-propelled anti-aircraft guns and tanks. They have to wait until the tank manufacturing plant is built before they can be mass-produced.

Like now, with so many people last month, we produced two self-propelled anti-aircraft guns and two tanks.

At the current rate, only 24 self-propelled anti-aircraft guns and 24 tanks can be produced each year, and the orders are not enough to deliver to Iraq, let alone Saudi Arabia.

Even if production efficiency is improved with the upgrading of CNC machine tools, especially the construction of five-axis machining centers, the output will not be able to be increased much.

Regarding the delivery time, the two sides quickly reached an agreement on the delivery of 10 self-propelled anti-aircraft guns and 10 tanks before October next year.

Subsequently, the number of deliveries continued to increase each year, and all self-propelled anti-aircraft guns and tanks were delivered within six years.

Liu Tao breathed a sigh of relief. If Saudi Arabia had taken a tough stance and demanded an average annual delivery within a short period of time, that would have been bad.

In a business like arms and equipment trading, customers will have very strong stickiness and it cannot be a one-time deal.

In the future, for example, the replenishment of weapons or the purchase of spare parts will be continuous, which is a long-term process.

Another thing is that when new weapons are developed, existing customers are most likely to be the first buyers.

If it becomes a system in the future, it will not be easy for customers to change buyers.

Because if the systems are incompatible, or if they are all international brands, it will put a lot of pressure on logistics, and it will also greatly affect the combat effectiveness of the troops.

(End of this chapter)