The rise of a great power: starting with military industry

Chapter 411 The Navy is Floating

Yangcheng Shipyard.

A grand groundbreaking ceremony is being held at a dry dock.

The submarine to be built this time is the first Type 039 conventional submarine!
With a transfer order from the China State Shipbuilding Corporation, a large number of technical personnel were mobilized to the Yangcheng Shipyard to support the Yangcheng Shipyard.

This also fully demonstrates the advantage of concentrating resources to accomplish major tasks.

No bargaining!
Many naval representatives attended the groundbreaking ceremony.

After all, this is a milestone in naval equipment.

Just based on Liu Tao's introduction, they knew how advanced the 'Type 039' submarine was. It was far superior to previous conventional submarines and was at the leading level in the world.

Special steel, for example, is so strong that previous cutting machines simply couldn't cut it.

All of them need to be cut with a special cutting machine.

The groundbreaking ceremony was very grand and the navy representatives were grinning from ear to ear.

I just feel that I have been living a luxurious and comfortable life recently.

We have advanced missile boats, advanced torpedo boats, and advanced minesweepers.

Advanced frigates have also been put into service, and advanced destroyers will be launched by the end of the year.

Now, even advanced submarines have started construction.

Although it is a conventional submarine, not a nuclear submarine, for the navy, having advanced conventional submarines is enough to make everyone happy.

It’s happier than the Chinese New Year.

Although there is a shortage of naval technicians now, as long as there is equipment, it is only a matter of time to train technicians.

When the construction of the first Type 054 frigate started, the Navy formed a team of highly educated officers and soldiers for special training.

Similarly, when the construction of the first Type 052 destroyer started, the Navy mobilized elite troops to train them in new skills.

The same is true for the '039-type' submarine. A 35-person team has been trained at the Dalian Naval Command College and is just waiting for the '039-type' submarine to be completed so that they can board the boat.

"Comrade Liu Tao, when do you think our navy can be equipped with aircraft carriers?" A naval leader asked with anticipation in his eyes.

Aircraft carriers are the national treasures of a great power and represent the powerful identity of the navy.

There is no country in the world that does not want to own an aircraft carrier.

Even the Outer Mongolian Navy probably dreams of owning an aircraft carrier.

China also has its own aircraft carrier dream, because China has a long coastline and a large sea area, and it needs aircraft carriers to guard the sea area and protect China's maritime rights and interests.

"When will the aircraft carrier be equipped?" Liu Tao took a look and rolled his eyes: "At least 20 years later!"

He just wondered if the navy had been overwhelmed by the series of surprises recently and even dared to dream of building an aircraft carrier?

Liu Tao can build an aircraft carrier if he spends some time.

The question is, if he builds an aircraft carrier, can the navy afford it?

Even if the Navy grits its teeth and shamelessly buys it, can it afford it?
Without a doubt, it is unaffordable!
An aircraft carrier is not just an aircraft carrier. To exert its combat effectiveness, an aircraft carrier formation must be formed. In addition to the core aircraft carrier, an aircraft carrier formation must also have various types of carrier-based aircraft, frigates, destroyers, supply ships, submarines, etc. The annual investment in the use and maintenance costs of an aircraft carrier formation may not be enough even if the annual military expenditure of the navy is invested.

Many of the navy’s current equipment are not purchased by the navy itself with military funds, but are purchased by the state with taxes.

To put it bluntly, it is supported by the profits and taxes paid by Panshan Group.

Otherwise, I'm afraid the country's military budget will have to increase significantly.

Without strong comprehensive national strength, it is impossible to support an aircraft carrier fleet.

"Twenty years later? Alas, I don't even know if I can live to that time!" The man sighed. He already had white hair on his head and he himself had no confidence that he could live to that time.

Liu Tao said: "There is no way. Even if we build it, the navy can't afford it."

"The country's top priority now is to develop the economy. Once the economy develops and we have money and sufficient military spending, we can build aircraft carriers if we want. If one aircraft carrier is not enough, then we can build two. If two are not enough, then we can build three!" Liu Tao is very clear that the country's current focus is on economic development, which is mentioned at every annual meeting.

The spring breeze of reform has blown across the land of China.

This spring breeze comes stronger than in previous years.

All regions are racking their brains to develop the economy.

Even in many places, the economy is directly in charge, and whoever can develop the economy well will be promoted. When leaders of various cities go to the provincial government for meetings, cities with good economic development sit in the front, and cities with poor economic development sit in the back.

After the country streamlined its troops by one million, the military budget did not see a significant increase. All Liu Tao knew was that this year's military expenditure was 192 billion yuan, a slight increase from the previous year, which was mainly used to resettle retired soldiers, streamlined soldiers, and increase soldiers' allowances.

The annual military expenditure is less than 2% of GDP.

It is far lower than that of ordinary military powers, not to mention the United States and the Soviet Union.

As an expert, Liu Tao naturally knows how much weapons and equipment cost, and how much it costs to develop weapons and equipment.

In recent years, China's military products have been continuously developed, making China's military industry reach the world's leading level in many aspects. However, that was because Liu Tao had a golden finger, which saved the country a lot of R&D time and R&D cost investment.

From 1950 to the present, China's total military expenditure has exceeded 4000 billion yuan, which is a very large number for a new republic that was impoverished.

Part of it is used to develop weapons and equipment. In order to cope with the huge threat of war, China has to concentrate its national strength to give priority to military development. The development of ships, fighter jets, missiles, nuclear weapons and other weapons and equipment are all very expensive projects.

For example, the development of the atomic bomb is a huge expense. The first atomic bomb in China directly cost 28 billion yuan. If the cost of building a nuclear industrial system and developing nuclear carriers such as nuclear submarines and missiles is added, the total investment directly exceeds billion yuan.

As long as these weapons are not used, they will become huge sunk capital.

Liu Tao can predict that in the next few years or even ten years, the country's military budget will not be too much, and will generally remain at 1% to 1.5% of GDP.

So, if the navy wants an aircraft carrier, it's almost impossible.

Liu Tao chose to give priority to the development of conventional submarines because he took into account the limited military expenditure of the navy. Conventional submarines can be used just as they should. If nuclear submarines were to be built, not only would the navy not be able to afford them, it would be difficult to even afford to use them.

Now the higher-ups have agreed to let the navy update some of its equipment. First, much of the navy's equipment is very old and lags behind the rest of the world. Second, the maritime defense mission is indeed very heavy, with the Soviet Pacific Fleet in the north and the Pacific Squadron stationed in Cam Ranh Bay in the south. Third, the army is constantly updating its advanced equipment, and the air force is constantly purchasing helicopters and fighter jets from the United States, so the navy cannot be treated too badly.

But this does not mean that the Navy can replace equipment as it pleases.

Because the navy’s weapons and equipment are notoriously expensive.

(End of this chapter)