Chapter 888: It makes sense to install a laser targeting pod on a business jet, right?
Serge Dassault’s voice was not loud when he said this, but several people around him heard it clearly.
Everyone is generally open to this matter.
It’s good to make money, not shabby.
Although General Electric has now relaxed the conditions for cooperation, after such a round of repetition, both Dassault and Snecma will inevitably be bitten by a snake and be afraid of well ropes for ten years. mentality.
At least in the field of military models, we will have to think a lot before cooperating with Americans in the future.
Of course, more importantly, today's M88-2 engine already has a relatively obvious Chinese design style.
Even if General Electric can really change its past and turn around, it will definitely not be easy to continue to develop on the current basis.
As for rolling back to the previous version and starting from scratch...
The French are a little timid, but they are not stupid.
As we all know in the field of engineering, if a system is working properly, try not to touch it.
Although until now, Dassault still cannot figure out how the Chinese people managed to completely reborn the M88 engine in less than three quarters, but since the test results went well, it is best to let it continue to go smoothly. Go ahead...
The entire Rafale project has consumed too much energy and resources from Dassault himself and Dassault Company, and it cannot withstand another round of troubles.
Therefore, everyone turned their attention to Ian Vista.
As the technical representative of Snecma, he is the only one among everyone present who has had long-term contact and technical exchanges with China.
Vesta, who was stared at by several eyes, had long been mentally prepared to express his position, so he cleared his throat and said:
"From what I have learned and seen during this time, Judging from the situation, the Chinese aero-engine technology should have only been developed in recent years."
"Well...of course we know this"
Dassault showed a helpless expression. expression, interrupting Vesta's speech:
"And I also want to know the reason for their rapid progress, but at least for now, we should focus on more realistic issues."
The M88 engine is very important to Snecma Group, but it is not the most important.
After all, there is still the huge sales volume of CFM56.
Although after the farce of the past two years, everyone has basically seen through that this "jointly developed" model is basically completely dominated by General Electric, but no matter what, the money that should be allocated will always be divided. Quite a few.
However, Rafale is basically a lifeline project for Dassault, at least for the Dassault Aviation department.
Right now, the sales of Mirage 2000 are being crazily squeezed by the increasingly cheaper F16 and Su-27 series, while a new ultra-long-range business jet product line is under development, and the entire civil aviation business is in a state of crisis. In the stage of making ends meet.
Serge Dassault could not be in a hurry.
“I know, I know.”
Vestal raised his hand and pressed it down, signaling Dassault to be calm:
“I want to It is said that the Chinese people are indeed quite unique in the field of aerospace engineering, especially in the field of aviation engine design, but at least for now, their development is still quite unbalanced."
"Although the Chinese people retain their expertise. Many areas are not open to us, but it is not difficult to find that they are still producing several relatively backward models so far, such as the WS9 that imitates the British Spey MK202, the WJ6 that imitates the Soviet AI20M, the WP13 that imitates the Soviet P11F300, and the WP13 that imitates the Soviet P11F300. PD3M’s WP8…”
"Compared to the new turbofan engine used on the Su-27 produced in China, and the WP14 that appeared a few years earlier, these engines are completely products of the previous generation, or even the previous era, and are completely behind in technology. , but it has still not been completely eliminated.”
“The most likely reason for this situation is that they now have one...or several, in short, not many, very capable R&D teams. , so we can come up with several new products with first-class performance, but the level of the entire industry is still very low, and there are not enough capable and experienced engineers to apply the advanced technologies in these new products to other models in a short period of time... ..."
"..."
"So, we can seize this time difference, come up with something that they are interested in, and form a community of interests with them through cooperative projects... Just like the Russians did..."
It should be said that Vesta has almost touched the essence of the matter based on the limited things he has seen and heard in the past few months, and his level is indeed extraordinary.
The suggestions made are also very reasonable -
Compared to the simple form of buyer and seller paying for both sides of the coin, cooperation in which each takes what he needs is obviously a stronger relationship.
The typical example is Snecma himself.
Although they and General Electric had many conflicts over the M88 engine issue, in order to make money through cooperation, no one had ever thought of causing trouble on the CFM56 project.
The only problem is...
"So, Mr. Vesta."
Ed Steiner, who had been an audience member just now, frowned:
"You...of course you can also say it's us, what's the matter? The Chinese people will definitely be interested?”
“…”
This somewhat heart-wrenching question put the atmosphere in a cold mood for a while.
In fact, there is indeed a lot of technical cooperation between China and France.
But France is France, and Dassault is Dassault.
They do not have a platform like the Aviation Industry Group or the Import and Export Corporation that can coordinate the interests of different domestic enterprises.
Companies such as Dassault, Snecma, and Thales have a lot of historical connections and have been cooperating for almost half a century, so they can sit down and talk together and coordinate a little bit. mutual interests.
But companies like Eurocopter and Airbus obviously cannot take chestnuts from the fire for the benefit of Dassault.
And this involves another, more macro issue.
The size of France as a whole is still too small after all.
An area of 550,000 square kilometers and a population of 60 million. And there is also a higher education enrollment rate that is not outstanding among developed countries.
Against this background, France has neither given up its efforts to build a relatively complete industrial system, but also wants to become a leader in the European integration process.
As a result, there are many things that appear to be French.
But it’s actually European.
Or the world.
Even American ones.
Normally, the difference may not seem big, but when it comes to critical situations, it is often inevitable to be at a loss.
The CFM56 is certainly more advanced than the PS90A.
But when the latter is in a hurry, they can use their wealth to make transactions.
No matter how urgent the former is, it’s useless.
Snecma’s words don’t count at all.
"I remember..."
In the end, it was Dassault who broke the silence first:
“Many years ago, China should have introduced the production license for the Arriel series turboshaft engines?”
He looked at Wei Star:
“Can you work hard in this area?”
Turbomeca, which develops the Arriel engine, is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Snecma and is in the same group. It is naturally better to do things within the framework.
"You mean Ahaye 1C?"
Vestal nodded:
"This has indeed happened, but on the one hand, they have been able to independently produce most of the parts. , On the other hand... due to the impact of competing products, the importance of this project in China seems to be gradually decreasing..."
Originally, Zhi 9 was China's only "domestic and "Usable" helicopter models still have a certain status within the aviation industry system.
However, the good times did not last long.
Driven by someone, Bingfei Group has successively launched two new projects in the past two years, the 7-ton AC139 and the 10-ton NH90/Zhi-12, which were jointly developed.
The former is about to deliver its first product to customers, while the latter has also entered the finalization and appraisal process.
Especially straight 12.
After the temporary replacement of TV3-117VM, although the appearance is top-heavy due to the enlarged engine size, which looks quite weird compared to the original NH90, and the range has also been reduced, it is still a 10-ton helicopter after all.
The operating habits of the front three-point landing gear and side doors + tail hatch are similar to those of the Mi 8 series, which is already equipped with a lot of equipment.
Even with great efforts, there is still a certain potential for plateau deployment.
I immediately became the new Xiao Tiantian.
The Navy has even made new requirements for the hangar and helicopter deck area of next-generation combat ships.
Although the army has no money for the time being, like a girl who has been to a big city, after she has set her sights high, she no longer values the honest people in the village
Re-arm the straight 9 There was little interest in the helicopter project.
In this way, even if the Zhi-9, which has become Mrs. Niu, has not completely lost its value, at least it no longer needs to use its 4-ton body to undertake the tasks of 6-ton or even 10-ton helicopters as planned in the past.
The urgency is naturally not that high...
"Speaking of cooperative research and development..."
After another period of silence, Ed Steiner suddenly raised his head :
“I remember that the contact between us and China last year started in the name of jointly developing business jets?”
"Yes...but what's the point?"
This matter was just a pretext. After officially establishing a bridge with the Aviation Development Group, no one mentioned it.
"What if...we give up some interests in the Rafale or Falcon projects and bring Thales Group in?"
Ed Steiner's thoughts suddenly opened:
“The two Russian-made passenger aircraft currently produced by the Chinese have three-person cockpits, and more advanced cockpit equipment will definitely be needed in the future...”
"Even if it is not needed... Thales' photoelectric system is certainly attractive enough..."
"Optoelectric system?"
Dassault was a little confused for a moment:
“Why do business jets need this kind of thing?”
“Let’s borrow a name...”
Ed Steiner replied nonchalantly:
“If you have to find a reason...”
He raised his head and thought for a few seconds:
“In order to ensure VIP For the safety of passengers taking off and landing in bad weather, it is reasonable for business jets to carry a day and night targeting pod to observe runway conditions, or a low-altitude navigation pod to avoid obstacles to avoid accidents like Air France 296... right? ”
(End of this chapter)