Chapter 1333 I have a lot of wool in Britain (Third update, please subscribe)
Cooperation is always a two-way street, otherwise it is not called cooperation, it is called being sentimental.
The cooperation between Nanyang and the United Kingdom is undoubtedly a two-way street. After all, to a certain extent, the scientific and technological cooperation between the United Kingdom and Nanyang is complementary to a large extent.
As the birthplace of the Industrial Revolution, Britain still has a very strong foundation in aviation, shipbuilding, metallurgy, chemistry and other fields.
In contrast, although Nanyang has made breakthroughs in many technical and scientific fields by relying on German engineers and science, it has also achieved considerable development.
However, this does not change the reality that Nanyang has a weak foundation in some technical fields. Cooperation with the United Kingdom can help make up for this shortcoming.
On the other hand, the economic difficulties in Britain after the war made British companies and universities willing to cooperate with Nanyang companies and schools to obtain financial support for more in-depth research. .
In the past ten years, the cooperation between the two parties has been deepening day by day and involves all aspects.
Of course, in this process, the promotion of the government plays a big role. Compared with the private sector, in fact, for Downing Street, they need to cooperate with Nanyang more. After all, in many fields , Britain is actually lagging behind.
For this reason, just after the New Year of 1963, British Prime Minister Macmillan flew to Nanyang. This visit was not so much a visit as a visit to Nanyang to seek help.
A British Overseas Airways VC10 passenger plane flies over the South Asian subcontinent. Because all four engines are installed in the tail, its cabin is relatively quiet.
“The jet plane is really a miracle. With it, it only takes more than ten hours to travel from Britain to Asia, but how come we missed this market?”
Macmillan The reason for such emotion is because of the "Comet", because the British invented the jet airliner, but the successive crashes of the "Comet" even sent Wang Husband away together, which not only led to the failure of the "Comet" , even the British aviation industry suffered heavy losses.
Although Vickers-Armstrong Aircraft Company launched the VC10 passenger aircraft two years ago, the sales of this four-engine long-range passenger aircraft in the market are not satisfactory. Although dozens of them have been exported, But it is far from comparable to C707 and B407, or even compared to Figure 114.
A few years ago, the accident that sent the Duke out made British aircraft infamous overnight.
Even now, MacMillan couldn't help but worry about whether the plane would crash. Of course, he was just thinking secretly in his mind.
In fact, the performance of the VC10 passenger aircraft is still very good, and there is still a certain overseas market. Just over a month ago, the Dongda Agency in the UK contacted Vickers. Vickers Company, which was struggling to sell the CV-10, was naturally very willing to receive the purchase intention. The two parties hit it off and the negotiation went very smoothly, and they soon reached an agreement to sell CV-10 to Dongda Civil Aviation. A contract of intent to build the VC-10 standard model.
However, Macmillan was still very conflicted about whether to approve this contract. After all, Eastern University had given moral and material support to the colonies in their struggle for independence, which had a serious conflict with British interests. However, Vickers, on the other hand, needs this big order.
So, Macmillan is still considering it.
“Just a few passenger planes...”
With this thought in mind, Macmillan looked towards the direction of the snow-capped mountains. The conflict there had ended, but the confrontation was long-term. At this time, would selling aircraft to them cause dissatisfaction in India?
While Macmillan was thinking about these issues, the plane quickly flew over the South Asian subcontinent, entered Southeast Asia, and flew towards the destination of the trip. A few hours later, the plane arrived Chang'an.
As the Spring Festival of 1963 was approaching, Macmillan began his visit to Nanyang. As soon as the plane entered Chang'an airspace, Li Yian and his party arrived at Chang'an International Airport.
When the VC10 passenger plane landed, Li Yian smiled and said:
"The "VC-10 Sky" has arrived."
This is the nickname given to it by bad guys, because it is very similar to Figure 114, both of which have four engines installed at the tail. However, the special structure of the VC-10 passenger aircraft is as expected when it was designed. Colonial Airport takeoffs and landings coincide. The engine at a high position can avoid damaging the engine by inhaling foreign objects that were often found on low-grade runways in the former British colonies in tropical Asia and Africa during takeoff and landing. Moreover, the aircraft uses low-pressure tires to adapt to those low-grade runways that are not hardened. . In this regard, the Soviet Union is somewhat similar to it - the airport conditions in the Soviet Union are generally very poor, so it is at best a coincidence.
"You..."
Margaret smiled and said:
"Always looking like a joke, is it because it can't be sold? You will be happy and you can sell more C707s.”
“No,”
Shaking his head, Li Yian said:
"In fact, the performance of the VC-10 passenger plane is quite excellent. It is very fast, and its airborne avionics equipment and cockpit technology are also world-class and very advanced. , equipped with a quadruple automatic flight control system, also known as "super autopilot", which can assist pilots in achieving automatic landing in zero visibility. These sub-series are still very advanced. "
This is me British Airways. The proof of its strong technical foundation is also the most enviable thing. Even though the British aviation industry is continuing to decline, its technical foundation is still very strong.
Not only the United Kingdom, but also Canada, which is also a member of the Commonwealth, has a very good technical foundation. Just like the "fly-by-wire system" that is standard on third-generation aircraft, who would have thought that the world's first fighter jet using a fly-by-wire system was actually developed by Canada. This kind of fighter is the CF-105 "Arrow" interceptor that was stopped in 1959.
However, after the Canadian government ordered the cessation of research and development, Nanyang Aviation Industry introduced its fly-by-wire system. Although it has not been applied to fighter jets for the time being, research is continuing. All of this is enough to show how many treasures are hidden in this century-old British store, and what Nanyang needs is to take out these treasures.
Of course it is through cooperation. VC10 may be good, but its system is more valuable.
However, the biggest feature of post-war Britain, including aviation companies, in many industries was that it used a bunch of first-class subsystems to create inferior products.
The most amazing thing is...this phenomenon has lasted for decades.
I have to say that this is definitely a miracle for me.
But for Nanyang, these advanced subsystems are exactly what Nanyang needs to introduce.
When I was thinking about how to drain Britain dry, the plane landed. After Macmillan got off the plane, before shaking hands, he first saluted Margaret. He was the Prime Minister of Britain. Fake, but... Margaret is a princess.
After a simple welcoming ceremony at the airport, Macmillan went to the hotel. The next morning, the official meeting was held at the "Daming Palace". As soon as they met, Macmillan said straight to the point. :
“In December last year, Kennedy and I held talks in Nassau, Bahamas. At the meeting, the United States expressed its willingness to provide us with Polaris submarine missiles on the condition that the United Kingdom must support the United States’ multilateral nuclear force plan. The United States Britain's nuclear strike force can be used through NATO, and Britain is only allowed to use its own nuclear forces when Britain's supreme interests are seriously threatened."
Although Macmillan's words and expression seemed calm. , but Li Yian can still feel his dissatisfaction.
So Li Yian deliberately said:
"In other words, the British nuclear force will become a nuclear force subordinate to the United States."
In fact, in December last year, the British and American Nassau Li Yian had known the outcome of the meeting for a long time, and even a copy of the meeting contents was sent to him. Of course, it was not provided by Downing Street, but by people in Downing Street.
The Cambridge Five can turn Downing Street into a sieve, and Nanyang can also turn Downing Street into a public toilet. Come and leave as you please.
So, Li Yi'an didn't know much about Macmillan's trip to Southeast Asia, except for one thing... How does little MacMillan plan to convince himself?
This kind of thing involves the fundamental interests of the country, and even if Elizabeth comes to convince herself in person, she still won't be able to convince her!
Some things must be adhered to principles. Who would do anything that is not beneficial?
"This is obviously not in the interest of the United Kingdom! It is also not in the interest of the Commonwealth!"
When mentioning the "Commonwealth", Li Yian deliberately emphasized his tone, the Commonwealth... ...It is still very useful now. Although there is the "General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade", is it as good as the zero tariff of the "Imperial System of Preferences"?
The British Empire didn’t have much wool, but there were still a few!
This time when he came to Nanyang, Macmillan was already prepared, or in other words, the cabinet had reached a consensus, and was ready to pull out another wool to Nanyang. Wool, although the British Empire cannot compare with the past, it still has a few wools on it. !
McMillan nodded and said:
“Yes, so after much consideration, we still rejected it, but the UK needs submarine-launched missiles, especially after the Cuban Missile Crisis, the UK needs submarine-launched missiles even more. Launch ballistic missiles as a countermeasure! "
The United Kingdom has missiles. At that time, the United Kingdom spent tens of millions of pounds to purchase dozens of "Wanhu Type 4" missiles from Nanyang, with a range of 4,500 kilometers. The Hu-4 missile can cover the European areas of the Soviet Union, which is enough to deter the Soviet Union. It is also the only country in Europe that has long-range nuclear deterrence.
But after the Kennedy administration came to power, the United States began to oppose Britain's independent nuclear power because the United States was worried that Britain might use nuclear weapons in a situation similar to the Suez Canal crisis. Conservative MPs, however, are demanding that the UK have an independent nuclear force.
In fact, Macmillan preferred to rely on American assistance because the British economy was relatively lagging and unable to support the development of new missiles. Purchasing the United States' Polaris missiles became Macmillan's option, but the United States insisted on integrating Britain's nuclear weapons into the "Multinational Forces". This was based on the precondition that Britain gave up its nuclear weapons autonomy and handed over its nuclear weapons to the command of the United States in exchange for missile technology. of.
This is obviously contrary to the "independent nuclear force" demanded by the majority of the Conservative Party. Therefore, in this case, seeking help from Nanyang is the most realistic option.
After all, Nanyang is not inferior to the United States in terms of submarine-launched missiles and even nuclear submarine technology - Nanyang is the only country in the free world other than the United States that independently develops nuclear submarines. The British Dreadnought-class nuclear submarine uses the S5W pressure The water nuclear reactor and the entire mechanical system were imported from the United States, while Nanyang was independently developed.
However, relying on the technology imported from the United States and its own technical foundation, the UK has developed its own submarine nuclear reactor and transmission machinery. It must be said that the British Empire still has a very strong technological foundation.
"So, I came here, hoping to buy your "Breaking Waves" submarine-launched missiles from Nanyang. We plan to order 4-5 7,000-ton ballistic missile nuclear submarines, each carrying 16 ballistic missiles missiles, so the number of missiles purchased will not be less than 70.”
Why direct purchasing?
Because it’s cheap!
Although the current economic conditions in Britain are much better than those in the other world, nevertheless, various expenditures are still very large, especially the improvement of the economic situation, which has made Britain more determined on colonial issues. ——After all, now relying on the Indian Ocean Bank and the "Ocean Pound", the UK can obtain huge returns from the colonies every year. In order to maintain this blood transfusion mechanism, the UK naturally needs to increase its spending on colonial affairs.
The United Kingdom has been facing financial challenges since the war, and its economic growth is far less than that of France and Germany. A penny can stump a hero. Now Britain is short of money and short of breath, which makes it difficult for the UK to independently develop missiles. Direct purchase of spot missiles from foreign countries has become an inevitable choice.
Wanhusi bought it directly, and now of course submarine-launched missiles are also inclined to buy it!
Seeing Li Yian's silence, Macmillan directly offered another of his "baits" and said:
"In order to facilitate this deal, taking into account the current strength and needs of the Royal Navy, in order to ensure that the entire British Commonwealth We will lease the Diego Garcia Island in the Indian Ocean to Nanyang!”
(End of this chapter)