In the context that the country has taken the aviation industry as a key development area, aircraft exports are naturally a major event.

In particular, the Sudanese Air Force purchased 12 aircraft at one time, as well as the corresponding various types of ammunition and other consumables, with a total value of more than $150 million.

Although the transaction is in the form of deductions for oil exploitation rights contracts, in any case, spending less is making more money.

In the context of the late nineties, it was always a lot of money.

As a result, the aircraft, which did not make much of a splash on its maiden flight, received a decent amount of media publicity in the middle of the test flight.

Of course, in addition to the Jianjiao 9 model itself, the focus of propaganda is also on Guihang Industry, which actively carries out self-help and solves business difficulties.

Originally, after the automobile industry went downhill, it was difficult for them to continue to maintain normal production and operation.

Only a few orders for Jianjiao 7 every year are simply not enough to support such a huge enterprise.

At the same time, for the Aviation Industry Corporation, which is about to face restructuring, it is also not a cost-effective transaction to keep a second-tier enterprise for a model that is highly similar to the J-7.

Therefore, the fate of Guihang Industry was already a little stormy.

And the success of the Jianjiao 9 model, even if it can't be rejuvenated, at least it can continue to live.

It is better to wait for change to delay than to close the business directly.

It can be regarded as giving some hope to some old state-owned enterprises that are also in trouble.

Although many of them are indeed behind the times and will inevitably go bankrupt after all, there are also many companies that just do not adapt to the market environment, or are simply run out.

There's some hope.

And some of the more active minds are already contacting Guihang, ready to see if they can send someone to learn from the experience.

After all, it's not hard to think of as long as you use your brain a little more.

Guihang's self-help in the past ten years has not improved, and now that the salted fish has suddenly turned over, there must be some unique way.

And it's not just domestic companies that are encouraged by the report......

……

South Korea, Gyeongsangnam-do, Sacheon.

Jung Woo-seok, head of Samsung's aviation industry division, is accompanying Industry Minister Kang Seung-jin to inspect the KF16 fighter assembly line.

For today's Samsung, a mere minister is certainly not an important person.

But Jiang Shengzhen's situation is more special.

After entering the 90s, with the development of the economy and industry, the aviation manufacturing industry naturally entered the field of vision of Koreans.

In fact, back in the early 80s, South Korea signed a contract with Northrop to build a production line for F5 fighters in the country.

But even at the time, this type of aircraft was already outdated.

The South Koreans, who were not reconciled, soon set their sights on the more advanced F16 fighters.

But for the production line that gives the F16, General Dynamics and Lockheed Martin still have more concerns.

And Jiang Shengzhen, who was born in the United States, relied on his extensive connections and played a very important role in it.

Under his mediation, Samsung Aviation completed the introduction of the final assembly line in 1994 and began production of the KF16 fighter.

Even earlier than the production of the J-11 in Huaxia.

Such a number one person can be said to indirectly control the lifeblood of the entire Korean aviation industry, and Samsung naturally still has to respect it.

"At present, a total of 42 KF16 fighters have rolled off the assembly line, and a total of 120 are expected to be produced by the end of 2000, and by the last batch, 78% of the parts will be produced by us in South Korea."

Zheng Yuxi introduced while taking Kang Seung-jin past the station where the final assembly steps of the aircraft were being carried out.

"So, after entering the 21st century, what are your plans for this production line?"

After all, the size of the South Korean Air Force was too limited to equip too many aircraft, and the Americans obviously could not allow them to export the F16 on their own, so after producing the quantities specified in the contract at the time, the plant was at risk of losing business.

This is what Jiang Shengzhen does not want to see.

"After the production of the KF16 is completed, we plan to switch to the new training aircraft developed in cooperation with Lockheed Martin."

"The 'Golden Eagle' project?"

Although Jiang Shengzhen has a wide range of contacts, he doesn't actually understand aviation, and he only has a general understanding of these projects:

"I remember it's been going on for 5 years, how is it going?"

"What ...... this?"

Speaking of this topic, Zheng Yuxi's face was a little stiff:

"We found that the previous plan was a bit too conservative, so we are re-evaluating it."

Obviously, progress is not very encouraging.

At this time, it is necessary to test his painting skills.

Sure enough, Jiang Shengzhen frowned:

"Re-evaluation?"

"In other words, the previous design plan will be invalidated?"

Zheng Yuxi nodded:

"The original design scheme was based on the British Eagle 100 trainer aircraft, but the performance could not meet the requirements of the originally planned combat trainer type."

"So we simply plan to reinvent the whole program and learn from the technology of the F16 to develop an advanced trainer with a performance level similar to that of the third-generation fighter for the international market in the 21st century."

"Of course, this will require more in-depth cooperation between Loma and General Dynamics......"

This is also the reason why Samsung Airlines specially invited Jiang Shengzhen to visit.

He needs to lobby further to gain support from the American side.

"Borrowing from the F16 ......"

Although Kang Seung-jin doesn't quite understand the specific differences between the two options, he can also hear that Samsung Airlines wants to make a more advanced model, and plans to not only equip the South Korean Air Force, but also export it to other countries:

"In this case, will there be a conflict with the F16 in terms of positioning?"

Exports belong to exports, but it is a matter of grabbing the market with American companies, and Jiang Shengzhen will never dare to do it.

The reason why the model was originally identified as a subsonic intermediate trainer model was to avoid this.

"No, it won't."

Zheng Yuxi, of course, is not stupid and understands what the other party is worried about:

"The new aircraft will be smaller and cheaper than the F16, mainly for third world countries that cannot afford a standard third-generation fighter, and can serve both as a trainer aircraft and for certain combat missions."

Having said that, Jiang Shengzhen was still a little hesitant.

For him, the focus is on the large number of votes available to those working in the aviation industry.

As long as the production line can be maintained, it will be able to maintain a sufficient position in the power layer.

As for what exactly is made, it doesn't really matter.

More advanced models do offer higher potential benefits, but they also come with risks.

In the unlikely event that R&D is hindered and the KF16 cannot be converted for a long time after the discontinuation of production, the scale of the entire industry may shrink, and its position will be difficult to guarantee.

Seeing that Jiang Shengzhen didn't reply, Zheng Yuxi continued to throw out heavy chips:

"This route has actually been verified in China, and in recent times, their aviation industry publicity newspapers have focused on a similar model."

The latter said as he pulled out a newspaper from his pocket.

Older Koreans can understand some Chinese.

So it's much easier for them to collect information on China.

Jiang Shengzhen grew up in the United States, but he didn't have this condition, but he could always see a plane printed on it.

At first glance, it looks a bit like a combination of F16 and F18.

"According to the above report, an African customer has purchased 12 aircraft, and Huaxia's domestic air force plans to buy more."

Zheng Yuxi knew that the other party did not understand Chinese, so he simply translated the core content above before continuing:

"The aircraft that Huaxia was able to produce before, that is, the improved MiG-21, and the enlarged version of the MiG-21 that they called the J-8, and we have been able to produce the third-generation KF16 fighter on our own since three years ago, which is much stronger in terms of manufacturing level."

"Now, since they can build such a multi-purpose supersonic advanced trainer aircraft, and we have the assistance of General Dynamics and Lockheed Martin in design, there is no reason why we can't build it!"

It should be said that Zheng Yuxi understands the method of agitation.

Since the 80s, South Korea in general has entered an era of extreme self-confidence.

Of course, no matter how explosive it is, it will definitely not have the courage to compare with the United States.

So they focused on Japan and China.

Specific to the aviation industry, considering that the former was authorized to assemble heavy F15J fighters more than a decade ago, in general......

And also don't have guts.

But in the face of the latter, the Koreans are still more confident.

I can't compare to Japan, can't I compare to your five permanent members?

(End of chapter)