Chapter One Hundred and Seven: Project Report, Part Four

The term half second-generation is rather novel, and it does suit this new trainer concept quite well. In terms of technology, aerodynamics, control systems, and handling qualities, it can already meet some of the requirements of a third-generation fighter. Calling it half second-generation is truly deserved.

When the military representatives heard this, their own calculations had already begun. If things continued along these lines, this new trainer would end up utterly outclassing the old Jian-7.

A trainer with that kind of combat performance being used to train Jian-7 pilots was, frankly, a little much. No, once the project briefing was finished, they would have to sit down properly with Base 0011 and work this out.

Thinking of that, they nodded and listened even more carefully to Yang Hui’s presentation. If things went on like this, there might really be a big surprise.

“Go on. Continue with your briefing. From what we see now, your proposal is quite good. We are very optimistic about it. As long as the foreign party agrees, our military can absolutely stop the current old Jian-Jiao-7 project right away and support your new proposal.”

Seeing the positive reaction below, Yang Hui felt even more confident and continued introducing the design plan.

“In response to the foreign party’s request, we will also optimize the cockpit. To reduce risk and lower the procurement cost of the new aircraft, we will incorporate avionics from the Jian-7s exported to Jordan by Factory 0132 into the cockpit design.”

When it came to the avionics project for those aircraft exported to Jordan by Factory 0132, the Aviation Ministry knew it best. This had originally been a domestic Jian-7 variant for use at home, but later the domestic side no longer wanted it, and the deal with the British almost fell through. In the end, it happened to coincide with Jordan’s urgent need for an advanced Jian-7 fighter. Seizing the opportunity, they turned a domestic sale into an export order, and Factory 0132 finally turned itself around.

So for the avionics system of this new aircraft, the Aviation Ministry knew it better than anyone. Now, in order to secure the project funding, the ministry was squarely on board and promptly gave a detailed introduction to this avionics package.

“We have done extensive work on this batch of Jian-7M avionics. This is an avionics system developed in cooperation with Marconi in Britain. The system is about to be finalized on the British side as well. Since it is also a derivative of the Jian-7, transferring this system to the new aircraft is quite reliable, and it will also simplify the development process of the new avionics suite.”

Among all parties, Pakistan knew these Jian-7 variants exported to Jordan particularly well. At the time, the negotiations for this batch of Jian-7s had also been brokered by Pakistan.

Although Madad was not a staff member at the time, word of such a major matter spread quickly within Pakistan. He was still quite clear on the technology behind this avionics package.

“I know about this project. If you can transplant this batch of avionics onto the new aircraft, then of course we have nothing to object to. And I heard you also introduced the production line for this avionics package, is that right?”

So even this had gotten out. Still, that was fine; it would make the later discussion easier. The Aviation Ministry’s representative continued, explaining the matter of the production line.

“It is true that we once discussed introducing the production line for this avionics package. However, since we stopped domestic procurement of the new aircraft and shifted to Jordan, the matter of the subsequent production line was shelved. We only introduced licensed production for a few of the most urgently needed products. Now that there is a need for the new aircraft, we can reopen negotiations directly. With such a large demand for a new trainer, it should still be possible to negotiate the transfer of the production lines for several other components.”

Yang Hui had not known there was such a backstory to the Jian-7s exported to Jordan. If that was the case, then introducing production would naturally be best. Even if it was only production and not a full technology purchase, it was still a major step forward. Once they could produce it, the rest could be handled slowly later.

At that thought, Yang Hui felt that Marconi was indeed rather sincere. In fact, at this time, Marconi truly was quite sincere.

The batch of Jian-7s exported to Jordan had been the first shot in the Republic’s foreign cooperation in aviation technology. At the time, the Republic had issued tenders to Western Europe, but West Germany and France had not come. Only Marconi, in keeping with the adventurous spirit of Europeans, had come to the negotiations. Marconi had a longer-term vision back then, and so its sincerity had been quite evident.

It was now 1983. If an international tender were issued again, certainly it would not be Marconi alone. But for this new aircraft project, Marconi still had to be considered first: for convenience, and also to send a signal to the outside world that only companies that came to cooperate first would be given priority in subsequent partnerships.

Since that was the case, they might as well bundle the new aircraft’s radar project together with the avionics project and see whether Marconi had any response. British radar was quite reliable; as the pioneer of practical radar application, Britain certainly had deep expertise in the field. This was worth trying.

Yang Hui voiced his thoughts. Originally, the radar selection at the base had not yet been finalized, though the general preference had been for Britain, France, or Italy. They might as well start with Britain.

“If that is the case, then we can also send the radar tender to Marconi first. Our design proposal also includes a British option for the radar selection.”

Saudi Arabia was rather fond of British products. The Royal Saudi Air Force had in fact been built with British assistance, so the Saudis were quite loyal to British equipment. From the Tornado to the Typhoon, neither of those aircraft had been independently developed by Britain alone, but because Britain had participated in their development, both of those poor performers in export markets found a home in Saudi Arabia. That was certainly no accident; it was the result of deep and lasting influence.

Prince Sultan was now rather pleased as he said, “British products are very good. If British equipment is adopted, we in Saudi Arabia naturally support it very much.”

Who would have thought that using British products could have such an effect? What was one even supposed to call that? Say the Saudi tycoons were full of feeling and loyalty?

Enough of that. Since no one had any objections to the proposal, they could continue: “The major changes to the overall airframe design are basically these. We do not intend to make major changes elsewhere. What remains is the engine issue.”

An engine, again an engine.

The engine problem was absolutely one of the most prominent difficulties facing the entire new aircraft project. If the expected performance of the new aircraft was to be achieved, then none of the finished engines now available domestically could do the job. Everyone at the meeting understood that.

Even the Aviation Ministry had a headache when it came to engines. If this new aircraft did not have a suitable engine, then it would be in trouble. So many fighters in the Republic had been shelved simply because there was no appropriate engine. Now the new trainer faced the same problem.

“Very well. Tell us what you intend to do about the new engine, and how you plan to select it.”

Now that they had reached the core issue, Yang Hui knew that if the engine problem could not be solved, the new aircraft would be hard to discuss further. At worst, the whole project might come to nothing, and the military at home certainly would not support it.

“Our engine choice is to modify the developing Turbojet 13 engine and convert it into a turbofan. To reduce risk, we have chosen a design with a bypass ratio of 0.3. In this way, once the new engine’s thrust is increased, the total thrust will be sufficient for our new aircraft.”

Turning a Turbojet 13 into a turbofan was a major change indeed. The country had spent so many years on turbofan development and still had not produced one. Now they wanted to modify this new turbojet. They called it a modification, but the engine type itself would be completely changed. Could that still be considered a minor alteration?

The first to question this conversion was the Aviation Ministry. As a government body, it would never easily approve a project that consumed so much labor and resources.

“You intend to develop a turbofan engine? So many engine projects have already been canceled nationwide, and now you want to launch another one. Are you going against the current?”

To think the Aviation Ministry would react so strongly; this was just adding confusion to the mix. Yang Hui had already tried to describe the new engine improvements in the simplest possible way. He mentioned only one of the four improvement measures, merely to hint to the foreign investors that the engine would be relatively easy to modify and worth a try.

But now the Aviation Ministry had stirred things up, and that was a real nuisance. What a team of utterly useless allies. If there was a problem, why not bring it up privately?