The rise of great powers: starting from military industry

Yangcheng Shipyard.

A dry dock is holding a grand opening ceremony.

The first '039-type' conventional submarine to be built this time is the first one!

With a transfer order from the 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 representatives of the navy came to the opening ceremony.

After all, this is a milestone in naval equipment.

Just based on Liu Tao's introduction, they know how advanced the '039-type' submarine is, far exceeding the previous conventional submarines, and leading the world.

Like that special steel, the strength is so terrifying that the previous cutting machine can't cut it at all.

It has to be cut by a special cutting machine.

The opening ceremony was very grand, and the navy representatives smiled from ear to ear.

I just feel that the recent days have been so luxurious and comfortable.

Advanced missile boats, advanced torpedo boats, and advanced minesweepers are also available.

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

Now, even advanced submarines have started construction.

Although they are conventional submarines, not nuclear submarines, for the navy, having advanced conventional submarines has made everyone happy.

It's happier than the Chinese New Year.

Although the navy is also short of technical personnel, as long as there is equipment, it is only a matter of time to train technical personnel.

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 soldiers to train them in new skills.

The same is true for the "Type 039" submarine this time. A 35-person team has been trained at the Dalian Naval Command College, and they are only waiting for the completion of the "Type 039" submarine before they can board the boat.

"Comrade Liu Tao, when do you think our navy can be equipped with an aircraft carrier?" A naval leader looked expectantly.

Aircraft carriers are the national treasures of a great country, representing the identity symbol of a powerful 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 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 thought that the navy had been overwhelmed by the successive surprises recently, and dared to dream of aircraft carriers?

Liu Tao could build an aircraft carrier if he spent some time.

The problem is that if he built an aircraft carrier, could the navy afford it?

Even if the navy gritted its teeth and bought it shamelessly, could the navy afford it?

There is no doubt that it could not afford it at all!

An aircraft carrier is not just an aircraft carrier. To exert the combat effectiveness of an aircraft carrier, an aircraft carrier fleet must be formed. In addition to the core aircraft carrier, an aircraft carrier fleet must also have various types of carrier-based aircraft, frigates, destroyers, supply ships, submarines, etc.

The annual use and maintenance costs of an aircraft carrier fleet may not be enough even if the annual military expenditure of the navy is invested.

Many of the navy's equipment now is not purchased by the navy itself with military expenditure, but by the state with taxes.

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

Otherwise, I am afraid that the country's military budget will have to increase a lot.

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

"Twenty years later? Alas, I don't 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 it is built, the navy cannot afford it."

"Now the country's top priority is to develop the economy. When the economy develops, there will be money and sufficient military funds. If you want to build an aircraft carrier, you can build an aircraft carrier. If one aircraft carrier is not enough, then two, and if two are not enough, then three!" Liu Tao knew very well that the country's current focus is on economic construction, which is mentioned at every meeting.

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

This spring breeze is more violent than in previous years.

In order to develop the economy, all places have racked their brains.

Even in many places, the economy is directly in charge. Whoever can develop the economy well will go up. When the leaders of various cities go to the provincial meeting, the city with good economic development sits in the front, and the city with poor economic development sits in the back.

After the country streamlined the one million troops, the military budget did not rise sharply. What Liu Tao knew was that this year's military expenditure was 19.2 billion, a slight increase from the previous year, 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.

Liu Tao is an expert and naturally knows how much it costs to produce weapons and equipment and how much it costs to develop weapons and equipment.

In recent years, China's military products have been endless, making China's military industry reach the world's leading level in many aspects, but that is because Liu Tao has a golden finger, saving the country a lot of R\u0026D time and R\u0026D cost investment.

From 1950 to now, China's total military expenditure has exceeded 400 billion yuan, which is a very large number for a new republic that is poor and blank.

Part of it is used to develop weapons and equipment. In order to cope with the huge threat of war, China has to focus on the development of military first, and the development of ships, fighters, missiles, nuclear weapons and other weapons and equipment are all very expensive projects.

For example, the development of atomic bombs is a huge expense. China's first atomic bomb directly cost 2.8 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 10 billion yuan.

As long as these weapons are not used, they will form huge sunken 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%~1.5% of GDP.

Therefore, it is almost impossible for the navy to want an aircraft carrier.

Liu Tao chose to develop conventional submarines first because the navy's military expenditure was limited. Conventional submarines were barely usable. If nuclear submarines were built, the navy would not be able to afford them, and it would be difficult to afford them.

Now the higher authorities agree to update some of the navy's equipment. First, many of the navy's equipment is very old and lagging behind the world; second, the defense mission at sea is indeed very heavy. There is 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 advanced equipment, and the air force is constantly purchasing helicopters and fighters from the United States. 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.