Rebirth of the 1980s: The Military Industry Empire

"Hmph, the fly-by-wire system for a canard layout isn't that easy to crack. With our domestic electronic technology level, it's absolutely impossible to complete the development of a fly-by-wire flight control system. Old Song and his team are just blowing smoke!"

The Northern Institute team, having lost the bid, walked out while grumbling.

"That's right, they're just deceiving everyone. First flight within five years? What a joke! Back then, we were just making a twin-engine enlarged version of the J-7, and it still took us four years and ten months to achieve the first flight. They're developing this kind of modern third-generation fighter, starting from scratch. There's absolutely no way they can achieve a first flight within five years!"

Everyone was very unconvinced, like defeated roosters.

"What's the use of talking here? Let's just go to the leaders and report the situation!"

"That's right, let's go find General Zhang!"

Although people like Elder Zou were also in charge of national defense construction, the one with the most say was General Zhang. This scholarly general in the military had always been in charge of military industrial construction, and now he was the top leader in the army.

Go complain to General Zhang!

Old Li clenched his fist: "That's right, let's go find General Zhang!"

The group waited outside General Zhang's office, who was always swamped with work, for more than an hour. Finally, General Zhang's secretary came over: "General Zhang has five minutes to see you. Engineer Li, please come with me."

The others were just there to support Old Li. The one who actually went in to meet General Zhang was still Old Li.

Old Li took a deep breath, then stood up and strode inside.

"General Zhang, we've come this time to..." Old Li hadn't finished speaking when General Zhang interrupted him.

"Engineer Li, your timing is perfect. The higher-ups have just decided on a major matter that needs to be specifically notified to you. Since you're here, I'll tell you in person."

A major matter that General Zhang needed to tell him personally?

A surge of excitement welled up in Old Li's heart: "General Zhang, please speak. No matter what it is, we guarantee we'll complete it!"

"Next year is a special year. We've decided to hold a grand military parade to showcase the spirit of our army. Various units have sent in many requests to be inspected, especially land weapons. It's simply a riot of color, dazzling us, and we don't know how to choose."

General Zhang said with great emotion: "With Factory 960, our ground weapons development is like riding a rocket. However, in terms of air weapons, we've only just begun. Your J-8 fighter is our independently developed advanced fighter, especially the improved J-8II with side air intakes. Therefore, we hope that your J-8II fighters can form a formation and accept the review of the motherland!"

Old Li's heart sank instantly.

The J-8II, accept the review? What a joke!

We haven't even had our first flight yet, and we're going to participate in the military parade next year. And it definitely won't be just one aircraft. This is simply an impossible mission!

But, can we refuse now?

Of course not, this is their last hope!

"Report, because the Air Force doesn't favor us, the development of our J-8II fighter is already at a standstill. If we want to accept the review of the motherland, we need at least three aircraft to form a formation. We request the higher-ups to allocate funds to us to complete the construction of the J-8II fighter!"

This was a good opportunity to ask for money!

"Of course, the state has prepared special funding for these parades. Is thirty million enough?"

With a twist of fate, the higher-level leaders carefully considered and decided to pull out the J-8II for a spin at the military parade.

"Report, General Zhang, the J-8II is an advanced high-altitude, high-speed fighter that uses many materials, and the price is relatively expensive. According to our estimates, each production cost is around twenty million."

"Twenty million?" General Zhang frowned: "Currently, the most advanced J-11 fighter in the country is undergoing flight testing. Their estimated price is only twenty-five million. Your second-generation aircraft actually costs twenty million?"

In 1983, the exchange rate between RMB and USD was 1.97. The price of the J-11 was 25 million, which translates to about 12.5 million USD. This price is very reasonable. Abroad, this price would buy at most an F-16 with a J79 engine.

The J-8II is just a second-generation aircraft, but the price is so expensive? Only five million less, but the performance is worlds apart. Who to buy is obvious, right?

"The J-11 is a copy, we developed it ourselves, of course it's different." Old Li originally wanted another forty million in R\u0026D funding, but looking at General Zhang's expression, he knew that R\u0026D funding was out of the question. But the sixty million for three aircraft couldn't be changed, he had to get the money!

"That's right, it's not easy for us to develop our own aircraft. Alright, sixty million it is. But, you must guarantee the progress. In the 1984 military parade, fly the J-8II fighter over our capital's square!"

"Yes!"

Old Li's heart was full of excitement. The five minutes passed in a flash. It wasn't until he came out that he realized: he hadn't even mentioned the third-generation fighter bidding project.

However, they couldn't care about that now. They had to solve the J-8II fighter project first. As long as they could fly over the square and accept the review, the Air Force would have to purchase these aircraft!

Night fell. In the family compound near the aircraft building, Elder Lin and Qin Yang sat at a table under a large tree in their yard, eating and chatting.

"We have a heavy fighter, and a medium fighter project has been approved. Air-to-air missiles are also all set. Our Air Force is finally getting advanced equipment, Qin, you are the number one contributor, come, I'll toast you!"

"Elder Lin, I'm a junior, I'll toast you. It's our duty as military industrialists to provide the army with advanced equipment," Qin Yang said.

"Well said, it's a pity that some people who have been in the military industry for a long time just want to be the boss. They have no real ability and just know how to brag all day long. Hmph, if the Northern Institute had won the project this time, it would definitely be like the J-8, some so-called 'aircraft of pride'. Hmph, we wouldn't dare to use it."

"I believe in Elder Song. If Elder Song says it can have its first flight within five years, then it definitely can," Qin Yang said: "It's a pity we didn't invite Elder Song over so we could all have a drink together."

"If I called him, who would write the materials? Who would drink with me?" Elder Lin raised his glass, then suddenly thought of something: "By the way, the higher-level leaders intend to have the J-8II participate in next year's military parade. There was a meeting today to discuss it, and it's estimated that it will be approved. What do you think?"

The J-8II participating in the military parade? In his memory, the 1984 parade didn't have this thing.

Qin Yang shook his head: "I don't have any opinion. However, what about our J-11? There's still a year until next year. We're still continuing to build the prototype. It shouldn't be a problem to have three prototypes to display."

"The higher-ups always feel that this aircraft is a copy of the Tomcat, and they're afraid of being gossiped about. It's better to have a self-developed fighter like the J-8."

"What copy? That's our twin-engine Q-6," Qin Yang said: "Elder Lin, please keep an eye on things for us. When the J-8II can't go up, get this opportunity for us."

Can't go up? Elder Lin immediately understood: "Okay, then you guys should also be prepared. When I get the opportunity for you, you have to guarantee that you can go up, otherwise it will be embarrassing."

"I guarantee it."