Rebirth of the 1980s: The Military Industry Empire

The contract negotiations stretched from a dozen pages to over three hundred, and after more than a year, even the higher-ups were dissatisfied, believing Director Tu was dragging his feet. Director Tu had his own difficulties, as he thought they were close to an agreement, but many aspects were still not considered!

After the country opened its doors, Factory 132 began engaging in foreign trade. Director Tu had gained some experience in this area, but when facing the veteran capitalists of established capitalist countries, the cunning and seasoned British, he still lacked sufficient experience.

He was almost tricked by these people!

The J-7's nose cone was small, and what they were importing wasn't an advanced pulse-Doppler radar, but merely a radar rangefinder used to replace the previous laser rangefinder, providing target distance information for air-to-air missiles and cannons. The originally discussed performance wasn't very advanced, only about twenty kilometers. If it was reduced by another thirty percent, what use would it be?

"The performance must include a radome!" Director Tu said, "This is a matter of principle and cannot be changed in any way!"

"No, we can't do that." Malina said, standing up. "It seems we have a fundamental disagreement, and it's difficult to continue the discussion. Let's end it here for today!"

Whenever there was a dispute, the British liked to throw in the towel, trying to force the Easterners to compromise. Seeing Malina and the others stand up to leave, Director Tu's expression became even more unpleasant.

Silence fell in the meeting room.

"Everyone, have I completed my task?" After a long while, Qin Yang spoke.

"Oh, young man, thanks to you today, we didn't fall into the pit they dug." Director Tu said, "If we had signed the contract and only discovered a thirty percent performance reduction during the formal installation and testing, then the project we imported with precious foreign exchange would have been a complete waste, and we would all have become sinners in history."

Director Tu was very emotional.

Someone next to him also asked, "Young man, what's your name? Are you here specifically to be our translator?"

"My name is Qin Yang, from Factory 960. I came here to ask for your help in producing a batch of parts." Qin Yang said, "I happened to see Section Chief Zhao looking for a translator at the factory gate, so I temporarily came over to help you."

"From Factory 960? Thank you, brother factory!" Director Tu said, "Engineer Qin, how are you so knowledgeable about aircraft engineering?"

Of course, Qin Yang knew, because he had read Director Tu's memoirs, which detailed the arduous process of importing Marconi products, including ten rounds of negotiations and various detailed issues. What Qin Yang had just said were actually the considerations that Director Tu had in mind in his later years.

However, bringing them up earlier now would also be beneficial, as it could help avoid pitfalls.

"We work in the military industry, and we often have to cross disciplines. Don't think that just because Factory 960 makes guns, we don't understand other things." Qin Yang said, "Director Tu, since we've met by chance today, there are some things I don't know if I should say."

"Go ahead, Engineer Qin, don't be a stranger." Director Tu said, "Based on the suggestions you made today, we admire you. We will seriously consider anything you say."

"Well, Director Tu, using foreign avionics equipment to improve the J-7 fighter jet and help our air force improve its performance is very forward-looking. However, have you considered that our national economy is currently undergoing adjustments? Our third-tier military factories have started to convert to civilian production. Will the country be willing to invest heavily in improving the J-7 in the future?"

Qin Yang looked at the elderly man in front of him, with his gray hair, and his heart was filled with respect.

Director Tu was a veteran of the aviation industry!

Director Tu was born in Shaoxing in 1927. As a child, he witnessed Japanese planes flying "swaggeringly" in the skies over China. This memory constantly spurred Director Tu, leading him to establish the ideals of saving the country through aviation and serving the country through aviation.

In 1946, Director Tu entered the Department of Aeronautics at Jiaotong University. After graduating, he was assigned to work at Factory 112. From then on, he began to take on major responsibilities. In 1956, Director Tu became the head of the fuselage group in the aircraft design office of Factory 112, responsible for the design of the Jiao-1 fuselage. In just one year and nine months, the Jiao-1 successfully completed its first flight.

Afterward, Director Tu took over several other projects. In 1960, Director Tu came to Factory 132, which was under construction, dedicating the rest of his life to Chengdu Aircraft Industry Corporation (CAC) and the J-7 fighter jet.

Currently, Director Tu is the director of the design office of Factory 132. Although it's just the design office of an aircraft factory, their technical strength is quite strong. Director Tu is an even greater technical expert. Last year, when the chief designer of Institute 611, Director Wang, fell ill, he even took on the main responsibility at Institute 611 for a period of time.

Director Tu's later life was almost entirely spent on the modification of the J-7. Later, the famous JF-17 fighter jet was born from the ultimate modification of the J-7, the Super-7 project.

Now, with the country opening its doors, Director Tu began to import Western avionics to improve the J-7. However, this project also experienced twists and turns. At the end of this year, when the contract had already been signed and the project was about to begin, the higher-ups suddenly spoke up: we don't want it anymore!

Marconi, of course, wouldn't agree. After so much negotiation, you're suddenly backing out at the end? According to the contract, you have to pay compensation of 100 million!

The higher-ups were unwilling to pay, and Marconi wanted compensation. Seeing that the matter was about to become unmanageable, Director Tu ran around everywhere and finally found a customer, Jordan, and secured the order, ultimately making everyone happy.

However, thinking of Director Tu's hard work and exhaustion at that time, Qin Yang felt heartache, so he spoke up to remind him now. Moreover, this was also related to the purpose of his visit.

"That's impossible, right? This is a key project that the higher-ups are paying close attention to." Hearing Qin Yang say this, the person next to Director Tu said, "Some time ago, the higher-ups even lost their temper and criticized us for negotiating too slowly."

Qin Yang was also helpless. Yes, from Little Sweetie to Madam Niu, it was only half a year. At the end of this year, Factory 132 would receive a bolt from the blue!

"Everyone, we are in an era full of tremendous changes. Nothing is impossible, and nothing is certain." Qin Yang said, "Factory 132 has made great efforts in this import project. If the national economy is adjusted and the higher-ups don't want this project anymore, do you have alternative plans?"

Qin Yang didn't mention Plan A and Plan B, after all, this era hadn't popularized them yet.

"Engineer Qin, please continue!" Director Tu said seriously.

"I suggest that you find a third-party buyer to talk to, so that if the higher-ups don't want it, you won't be caught off guard."

"A third party, are you talking about Pakistan?"

Qin Yang shook his head: "A cloth on the head, I'm the richest in the world. Have you all heard of it? Of course, you have to go to the tycoons to sell airplanes."

These words were all terms from later generations. Qin Yang spoke them fluently, but it wasn't so easy for everyone to understand.

Director Tu was the first to think of it: "Engineer Qin, are you talking about the Middle East?"