Chapter 324 Tupolev and MiG decided to sell themselves.
Although it was difficult to understand how the Chinese did it, a photocopy of the last page of the agreement signed by both parties was posted on the display board.
Considering that Paris is also the territory of a core member state of the EU, the possibility of using EU resolutions to swindle here is still not very high, which is why Klimov does not believe it.
This is a big deal for Tupolev Company, which is almost going crazy.
So he jogged all the way back to his country's exhibition area and pulled Vladimir Kravchenko, the somewhat idle head of MiG's commercial department, in front of the MA-60.
After the disintegration of the alliance, the Sukhoi Company, which had lost its restrictions, opened up its supply of heavy-duty Su-27 fighter jets to almost all countries willing to pay, directly seizing almost all of the blue ocean market, and MiG's corresponding product MiG Although the price of Ge 29 can be a little cheaper, it is far from its big brother in terms of performance and potential.
As long as these two types of aircraft are placed together, even a layman who knows nothing about aviation will know which one to choose.
In the end, only a very small number of users who really couldn't afford it, or who thought there was no need to use a heavy fighter, chose the MiG-29.
Sukhoi, who made money, quickly invested the funds in improving its leading products, launching a series of new sub-models such as the multifunctional Su 30 and the improved Su 27SM. This left MiG unable to catch up.
Su 37, who is flying freely in the sky at this moment and attracting many eyeballs, is also one of them.
Few people know that the aircraft numbered 711 is not actually a mass-produced model, but a demonstrator in a high-mobility technology demonstration project, used to test the application of vector engines with increased thrust and three-wing static stability. After adding all the technologies that can be used, such as the stable design and cockpit side bars, to what level can the maneuverability of an aircraft be improved?
But this is not important anymore.
By this time in 1997, MiG itself had lost all hope. It realized that it had no future by continuing to export fighter jets, and began to consider transitioning to other tracks.
The commercial machine department that Kravchenko is responsible for is an unfortunate product of this idea.
MiG had almost no experience in designing passenger aircraft or transport aircraft. With the alliance disbanded and no investment left, it was a complete fantasy to create a commercial model from scratch.
Therefore, we can only choose to stay together with Tupolev Company, a fellow sufferer.
It was during this process that Kravchenko and Klimov met.
To put it simply, the content of the cooperation between the two parties is the transformation of MiG's Nizhny Novgorod factory into the production of Tupolev passenger aircraft.
Unlike the situation of Sukhoi and MiG, Tupolev did not obtain a factory belonging to his own group during a series of reorganizations in the early 1990s.
Aviation Star SP in Ulyanovsk and the Kazan Aircraft Manufacturing Association in Kazan are independent units and are not subject to Tupolev's control.
To make matters worse, after China showed its willingness to purchase the new Ilyushin 76MF/78MF in bulk a few days ago, anyone with a discerning eye can already see that Ilyushin Company will definitely move the production line originally located in Tashkent back to China.
So the two young men began to flirt with Ilyushin at the speed of light, which made Tupolev, who had no orders for the time being, panicked and angry but had no solution.
In order to win over at least one of the manufacturing plants, Klimov finally signaled that he could export the Tu-22M3 bomber to "friendly countries".
About a few years ago, the Chinese Air Force delegation showed some interest in this model.
At first they thought this operation would have immediate results.
However, in the past, you ignored Huaxia, but today's China is too high for you. The other party actually said that they have no interest in medium bombers. If they can sell the Tu-160, they can consider it.
Laughing to death, let alone the fact that this thing cannot obtain a federal export license, even if Yeltsin doesn't care, Tupolev will not be able to build a new aircraft at all now.
So after what he thought was his trump card failed, Tupolev also panicked——
If complete aircraft design and manufacturing capabilities can be maintained, it may not be possible to make a comeback in the future. .
But if it degenerates from an aviation production complex into a mere design institute, it will basically be finished.
Therefore, the two companies, which were on the verge of despair, hit it off and decided to move Tupolev's passenger aircraft production line to Nizhny Novgorod, so as to maintain a relatively stable production capacity.
The idea was great and the execution was smooth. The only problem is, still no orders.
A few scattered orders from China can barely keep us alive, and we are still far from being able to come back to life.
After losing the relatively closed market of the Economic Cooperation and Development, although Tupolev's several new models of passenger aircraft are not far behind in terms of performance, they are obviously no longer able to form a system with Boeing and Airbus. The model series competed.
Not to mention the barrier of airworthiness certification.
With the disintegration of the alliance, Russia's reputation among many third world countries has plummeted, but few countries are willing to purchase a passenger aircraft model that lacks European and American endorsement.
Therefore, seeing Klimov carrying out mutual recognition of airworthiness between China and Europe is basically equivalent to a person who is about to drown suddenly having an oxygen bottle thrust into his face.
On the other hand, Kravchenko, who was pulled over by him, was calmer.
“Vasha (Valentin’s nickname), I understand you are anxious, but it has been clearly stated above that the scope of mutual recognition of airworthiness only includes regional aircraft, and they must be within the scope of mainland China. The company designs and produces, we can’t take advantage of this loophole..."
"Why not?"
Klimov turned around and looked at Kravchenko with a determined expression,
"Actually, China went to Tashkent to inspect the Il-76 During the production line, China had private contact with one of our representatives and expressed their willingness to produce Tu-204 series passenger aircraft in their country based on the form of the Su-27. "
"The other party's requirements include. A full set of technology property rights transfer, as well as aircraft improvements according to Chinese standards, so the company was still hesitant..."
"No wait..."
Kravchenko was stunned when he heard this:
“Aren’t we partners in the field of commercial aircraft? How come I don’t know about this at all?”
“ In addition, if you move the passenger aircraft production line to China, what will happen to our company’s factory in Nizhny Novgorod?”
“Also, if even the design standards are modified in accordance with China’s requirements, what will happen to your aircraft? Can we still call it Figure 204? Isn’t it completely sold to them?”
Faced with such a one-click triple, Klimov knew that he was in the wrong and was not very good at answering, so he skipped it. The first question.
"Ahem... There is a saying in our hometown that since you have decided to sell aircraft, you should enjoy the process."
"Now our company is about to go bankrupt. We are just selling a few aircraft models. I believe that even if Comrade Tupolev is still alive, he will not have any objections..."
"Don't worry about MiGs. First of all, with the level of China's aviation industry, it is impossible to achieve complete domestic production right away. At most, the final assembly process is over first. You can continue to produce parts and subsystems for at least the next ten years. There is no way out."
"Besides, as long as the sales of the model are opened, the domestic market will still be there. If you want to purchase it, won't it have to be produced in Nizhny Novgorod? No matter what, you have to survive first..."
Klimov's eloquent words are a pity. He does not know Mr. Yan Baichuan, the master of Chinese existentialism, otherwise he would have to say "Existence is everything, everything is for existence."
Kravchenko opened his mouth.
He subconsciously wanted to refute the other party's statement, but found that there was no way to do so.
After briefly going through Klimov’s logic line in my brain, it even makes sense.
So Kravchenko took a few seconds to excuse himself.
“I understand, you are right.”
(End of this chapter)