"Turning a profit?"

Wells was secretly taken aback.

With the orders of the US Navy alone, the huge loss of Grumman's Tomcat fighter project is already a sure thing. The number of deliveries agreed in the first batch of contracts is already more than 430 aircraft. Based on the calculation that each aircraft carrier is equipped with three squadrons, that is, 36 Tomcat fighters, plus the necessary redundancy, in fact, the contract signed in 1969 has basically met the requirements of the US Navy for a comprehensive rearmament.

To complete this contract, Grumman will lose hundreds of millions of dollars.

Even in 1973, Grumman was given the opportunity to renegotiate the price, but only after the delivery of 135 production units. This will take at least another three years.

And to turn the Tomcat fighter project into a profit, there is only one way out, to sell to users other than the US Navy, and according to estimates, more than 50 must be sold to fill the hole.

You know, 12 years have passed since 1969.

The Yom Kippur War of 1973 began, which directly dragged the United States into a period of economic crisis.

Every time the Middle East starts, the oil crisis is always there. In 1973, during the Yom Kippur War, international oil prices soared from $3 to $10, and in 1979, the year before that, the Iranian Revolution, followed by the Iran-Iraq War, the second oil crisis came, and the national oil price soared to $30. In other words, the Iranian crude oil that Li Lu obtained at a price of fifteen dollars was double the profit when he sold it.

For the United States, the oil crisis means an economic crisis. The United States, which is making great strides in industry, needs cheap oil. The inflation brought about by the economic crisis has directly dragged the Tomcat fighter project into the abyss.

The deep-seated reason for the gorgeous honeymoon, in addition to a bipolar confrontation, is also very important at the economic level. Under the pressure of the economic crisis, domestic companies in the United States need a large dumping market. Another level of pressure comes from Japan. If it weren't for the United States, Japan would have entered the Chinese market more urgently. Therefore, it can be seen that when the ideological problems are solved, Japanese companies will run faster than American companies. Another country that has benefited from its honeymoon is South Korea, where two decades of rapid industrial development began in the late seventies and lasted until the end of the twentieth century.

In this context, Wells easily thought of something, and he said, "Mr. Li, do you have a way to persuade the Huaxia Air Force to purchase our Tomcat fighters?" ”

"I can't help it." Li Lu said, "Haven't you already talked to them, no money, no way." ”

Wells's eyes dimmed suddenly, in his opinion, the more than 4,000 backward fighters owned by the Huaxia Air Force, even if they were only refitted, were enough for Grumman to eat a fat brain.

"Mr. Wells, the Huaxia Air Force will not have the ability to massively renew their fleet for at least ten years, and in this regard, you should not use your brains again. Now that you and Shen Huoyi Company have started to make a few second-type improvements, and do a solid job, you won't make less money. Li Ludao.

Wade couldn't help it and asked, "Lu, what can you do to turn a profit?" ”

Li Lu knocked on the cigarette ash and said, "The Tomcat fighter is not profitable, because of the soaring costs caused by inflation. This is the root knot. Then, prescribe the right medicine and reduce the cost, and everything can be solved. ”

Smiling, he said, "Mr. Wells, you're not worried about sales, are you?" ”

"No, don't worry, with you, Mr. Li, this problem has obviously been solved." Wells said.

In the raging Iran-Iraq war, the warring parties are the best buyers, and the customers in this case don't even pick anything.

"It's not feasible to reduce costs, and we've done a lot of things that haven't worked." Wells shook his head.

Wade looked thoughtful and said, "You don't want Grumman to move the production line here, do you?" ”

Wells was shocked.

Li Lu smiled and nodded slightly, "Yes." You see, we have a huge labor cost advantage here, and the most important thing is that we have a complete military industrial system, and we only need to provide technology to become a qualified parts supplier in a short time. ”

Wade's expression gradually cheered up, and he said, "Lu, you are really a genius. There's nothing wrong with that. Before the Asian Tiger Tank project, we made an estimate that if it were placed in the United States, the unit price of the Asian Tiger Tank would exceed $3 million, almost 1.5 times the current one. ”

He looked at Wells and said, "Orson, I have to say, you have met a good partner. Huaxia has a very complete industrial system, and their shortcomings lie in backward technology. When I was working on the Asian Tiger tank project, I worked with the technicians and workers in Huaxia for a long time, and they were very smart people. I believe that as long as they are trained, they can fully reach the technical level of domestic blue-collar workers. ”

Li Ludao, "I just said that forty-eight Tomcat fighters were purchased, and twenty-four of them needed to be produced in the Red Star Factory. I would love to have a joint venture with Grumman to specialize in the production of Tomcat fighters. Of course, when it comes to sales, I'll give it my all. ”

Wells was moved, very strongly moved.

Isn't that the best way to solve a financial crisis once and for all?

Not to mention the calculation according to the proportion of Asian Tiger tanks, after all, such as AMG9 pulse Doppler radar, AIM54 "Immortal Bird" long-range air-to-air missile, these key accessories need to be imported from the United States, even if it can only reduce the cost by 30 percent, the Tomcat fighter project will usher in a bright era of big profits.

The advantages of cheap skilled labor should not be underestimated.

Li Lu was probably confident, he swung out the last punch, and said, "Besides, if the Tomcat fighter produced in Huaxia is delivered to your largest customer, the US Navy, you not only don't have to post money, but you will also have high profit margins." And I believe that this kind of cooperation is also in line with some of the demands of higher levels. ”

Suddenly fell into a very strange silence, Wells fell into a state of rapid and concentrated thought, and even Wade, who was equivalent to an intermediary and a companion, looked solemn and thoughtful. Wade's reaction was unexpected, and he could see that Wade seemed to be thinking about something important.

Sure enough, Wade ended thinking before Wells, and said to Li Lu very seriously, "Lu, do you think it is feasible for our Chrysler Defense Company to establish a factory in Huaxia, specifically speaking, in a dry port?" ”

Li Lu smiled and asked casually, "Do you produce Abrams?" ”

"Yes." Wade Road.

This time, it was Li Lu's turn to be stunned for a moment.

Wade is different from Wells, in Chrysler Defense, Wade is a very important person who has a lot of right to speak, and his family brings him the bonus of more power to speak. Much of Red Star's foreign trade, including the Asian Tiger tank, was eventually able to obtain MTU's power system and more advanced tank fire control systems, largely because of Wade's strong support.

In other words, as long as Li Lu nodded, this matter was at least half. At home, it is absolutely welcome, and the problem is only on the side of the US Congress. If Wade had launched a resource lobby, the Abrams plant would have been settled even earlier.

"Working with Red Star Defense?" Li Lu asked.

Wade nodded, then thought for a moment and said, "Or do you have a better proposal?" ”

He knew that the control of Red Star Defense was not in Li Lu's hands, and Li Lu was only the smallest shareholder. Of course, Li Lu did not regret refusing the equity transfer request of the emerging company. Everything he does is for the dream of a strong army in his heart.

"Red Star Defense Company has the technical precipitation of the Asian Tiger tank, and the team has also undergone training, and cooperating with Red Star Defense is naturally the best, and I will support it." Li Lu didn't think too much about it and agreed.

"Very well, I have made this a number one priority for my future work." Wade Road.

At this time, Wells, who was stunned and stunned, was very surprised that Chrysler Defense had decided to make Congress quarrel with each other? What the hell is going on here?

In terms of international politics, Wells is not enough to be veteran, and he has not yet been able to fully see the current environment In order to fight against the Red Soviet Union, Oh Meiken even greatly reduced his support for Xiao Yuben and turned to China, almost even selling.

Wells said, "Mr. Lee, I'm going to get in touch with the top management of the company right away. ”

Nodding slowly, Li Lu said, "Two, I mean, it's best to determine it within half a year, the sooner the better." Because it's about the sales of the product, it's very crucial. I'm sure you all understand what I'm referring to. ”

Wade and Wells nodded solemnly.

Although Wells still has some fog in front of him, he has a strong sense that he must seize this opportunity.

Note: Stay up late to come to a chapter, it's the weekend, I wish the brothers a happy weekend, and at the same time I hope the brothers can vote for some monthly tickets, let's pull out and make an appearance, thank you!