Rebirth of the Flying Era

"What do you want to drink?" Bu Shi asked while bending down to open the refrigerator hidden inside the dark red solid wood furniture.

"Coke." Du Fei sat down on the chair by the window and went straight to the topic: "You've heard about it~"

Bu Shi held two bottles of Coke, handed one to Du Fei, nodded and said, "I heard that, I'm very sorry."

Du Fei took a sip, and his mouth was instantly filled with exploding bubbles, which brought a slight soreness and tingling sensation to his mouth: "Regret? Correction, now is not the time to talk about this. This time, Sulian provided thirty aircraft MiG-25, we must take countermeasures, otherwise we will completely lose air superiority. The J-8 improved by our cooperation alone is no match for the MiG-25."

Bu Shi sipped his Coke. He knew what Du Fei said and understood the purpose of Du Fei's visit.

But the problem is that there are currently very big differences between the parties in this regard.

Huaguo is just a friend who travels with her, and America has never regarded Huaguo as an ally.

Or strictly speaking, America's allies can't be called allies, but his henchmen.

Regardless of whether it is Britain, France, Japan or South Korea, they are all dodder flowers attached to America.

Huaguo is different. Although Huaguo's strength is far inferior to America's, they essentially have equal status.

Because of this, America is mentally wary of Huaguo, and Du Fei is the spokesperson of Huaguo in Nanyang.

Once you give Du Fei a fighter jet that can compete with the MiG-25, you are giving flowers and fruits.

Although Huaguo can restrain Su Lian's energy more, it will inevitably create huge resistance within them.

"What are your plans?" Bu Shi asked. He wanted to know Du Fei's demands before weighing them.

Du Fei said: "If you want to suppress the MiG-25, you must have more advanced fighters than them."

Bu Shi didn't respond. He knew that Du Fei came here to get a fighter jet.

Du Fei continued: "If it is an F-15, it will definitely be the best."

Bu Shi frowned.

Du Fei just pretended not to see it, and continued: "Of course, I understand that the F-15 is unlikely. It is your trump card and cannot be easily taken out. So the next best thing is the F-14, which can also be exported. There is a precedent for exporting it. , there shouldn’t be that much resistance.”

Bu Shi smiled bitterly and said: "Du, please stop joking, okay? Let's talk about something realistic. You are making it difficult for me."

Du Fei frowned seriously: "Can't the F-14 also work? That would be more difficult. If we don't have an evenly matched fighter, we will be very passive on the battlefield. Once we fail in Chenla, don't worry. Cisco will ask Huaguo to head north. Facing the powerful MiG fighters, Huaguo will also have no means to deal with it. If there is no way, we can only seek more pragmatic methods to relieve the huge pressure from the north and the south."

Although Du Fei's words were very obscure, it was not difficult for Bu Shi to understand the meaning.

Even if you don't give me a plane, I won't be able to fight my best here. If I'm pushed too hard, it's not impossible to jump back to Sulian.

Bu Shi's heart trembled. Although Du Fei hinted at a rather extreme situation, in his opinion, major powers would not change their strategies easily unless it was a last resort.

What's more, if they could get along, Huaguo and Su Lian wouldn't have been unhappy.

But having said that, if things get really urgent, it is not impossible. After all, the two sides have a common language in terms of system and ideology.

Faced with Du Fei's remarks, Bu Shi had to be cautious.

He said in a deep voice: "Du, this matter is very complicated. We must be cautious, but I have to remind you that it is very difficult to obtain an F-14."

Du Fei nodded silently. Of course he knew it was difficult. Although it appeared the earliest, the F-14 was America's most carefully crafted first third-generation fighter.

Using a lot of advanced technology, it is simply impossible to sell it to Du Fei.

The reason why Du Fei is like this is that, to put it bluntly, he still pays back the money while asking for high prices.

Set the goal a little higher, and then you can bargain later.

Asked: "Then what do you think we should do now?"

Bu Shi thought for a while and said: "This... I can find a way to help you get a batch of F-5 fighter jets."

"F-5?" Du Fei raised his eyebrows, searching for information about this aircraft in his mind.

He had made a lot of preparations for this time and knew that the F-5 was a fighter jet equipped by America in the early s.

This aircraft is also made by Northrop, and its appearance is somewhat similar to the YF-17.

It's only been a little over ten years now, and the main combat target is the SLA MiG-21. Its overall combat effectiveness is similar to that of the J-8, and compared with the MiG-25...

"Can the F-5 stop the MiG-25?" Du Fei asked bluntly.

Bu Shi was slightly embarrassed. Although lying was a necessary skill to become a regular guest in America, there was a big difference between telling someone in person and behind his back, telling one person and telling a group of people.

If it were in the parliament, Bushi could speak impassionedly and make people pee for half an hour, but in private, face to face, he could just say those unreliable things.

f-5肯定挡不住米格-25，更何况如果要f-5，杜飞来找他干什么？花果有现成的米格-21，还有基于米格-21仿制的歼-7和歼-8。

Bu Shi was so calm that he said, "Du, I can only try my best, but... you know, and the commander's words may not be effective now."

Du Fei understands that Nico's term is running out. Although he is a strong leader, at this time, everyone has Xiao Jiujiu, and Nico can no longer control the overall situation.

Du Fei said: "I understand, but no matter what, being able to drag Yue Guo to Zhenla is a good thing for me and you."

……

Du Fei stayed in Bu Shi's manor that night.

The conversation with Bu Shi during the day did not have much impact on Du Fei. This situation was expected.

It is definitely not easy to get a third-generation aircraft from America. Even if you try your best, you may not succeed in the end.

Du Fei also had the attitude of doing his best to obey fate.

At the same time, in the master bedroom of the manor.

After Bu Shi took a shower, he changed into pajamas and lay down on the bed.

Barbara was leaning on the bedside reading a book. When she heard the noise, she put down the book, took off her reading glasses, and looked at her husband beside her: "Correction, what do you think of Du's request?"

Bu Shi got on the bed, leaned on the head of the bed, and took a deep breath and said: "What I think is not important. What is important is what those people think. Some people are eager to see the rivers of blood they killed in Nanyang."

Barbara frowned and said, "If you don't add more wood to the fire, it will never burn brightly."

Bu Shi said: "But they don't think that those guys think that everyone else is a fool."

Then he sighed again: "Now it depends on the commander-in-chief's choice."

Barbara nodded slowly, worry in her eyes.

This time can be said to be America's most difficult moment. For twenty consecutive years, more than 200 billion US dollars have been invested, and tens of thousands of people have died. The final result is that they left in despair. For the first time, Sulian saw hope of defeating them.

At this time, there are many pessimists within America who believe that capitalism will completely fail in future competition.

Although the Bushi couple are not pessimists, they understand that the current situation is serious.

If Du Fei hadn't stepped forward at the critical moment, taken over the war with Yue Guo, and left them with some dignity, the current situation would have been even worse.

The next day, Dufy left Los Angeles and took a plane across America to Virginia.

Here I met John Northrop, the founder of Northrop Corporation.

"John, this is our chance." Du Fei leaned on the brown leather sofa and stared at the gray-haired man in front of him.

This person is the key to whether we can get the third-generation machine this time.

John Northrop's experience is quite legendary and he has strong connections in the industry.

John lowered his head, filled his pipe with tobacco, lit it with a match and took a puff slowly, raised his head and said: "Du, I understand what you mean, but you should know that this is very difficult. Although yf-17 We failed in the competition with the F-16, but we cannot deny that our design is also excellent."

Du Fei said: "Of course, I have never doubted the excellence of Northrop. But John... we are all businessmen, and businessmen never have trouble with money. You know better than me how much money has been invested in the YF-17 , if this investment is wasted, how will you explain it to the shareholders?"

John frowned, took another deep drag on his pipe, and said nothing.

Du Fei said with a faint smile: "Don't think about the navy's orders..."

John's heart trembled, and although he tried hard to control his expression, he was still slightly moved.

Du Fei only said half a sentence, but it contained a lot of meaning.

First of all, Du Fei knew his plan. It was not difficult to guess. He had been busy with this matter recently.

But Du Fei, a foreigner, could know so firmly and tell him not to think about it. What does this mean?

"Could it be..." Thinking of this, John Northrop's heart tightened and he couldn't help but ask: "What news do you have?"

He knew that Du Fei had a close relationship with the Nico family, and he took it for granted that Du Fei might have some secret channel to obtain information that he didn't know yet.

Du Fei said: "Grumman has been developing a cheap version of the F-14 and will not easily let you get your hands on their cake."

John pursed his lips. Of course he knew this situation. The main opponent competing for the Navy's carrier-based aircraft order this time was Grumman.

Grumman has the F-14 to prove its technical strength and has taken the lead.

To turn defeat into victory, Northrop must be better.

Once it fails, Northrop will suffer a complete failure in the third-generation fighter project.

In the next ten or even twenty years, we will not be able to eat a bite of the main fighter aircraft.

For manufacturers like them, getting an order for fighter jets is only the first step. The real huge profits come from subsequent maintenance and improvements.

Once a company like Northrop loses money during the update cycle of its main fighter aircraft, it means that it will have a hard time in the future.

Or even more serious, being acquired directly.

Just like the world before Duffy's time travel, Grumman, which owns the F-14, even though it won the F14 cake, it just failed to follow up. Northrop came from behind and replaced their simplified version with the YF-17. The F-14 was eventually absorbed by Northrop a dozen years later.

America is so cruel.

Du Fei lost no time in throwing out his bargaining chip: "John, now is our best opportunity. SMU has come up with the MiG-25. We must have a fighter that can compete. The current F-14 and F-15 are impossible. It is easy to cause huge public pressure. Your YF-17 is the most suitable..."

Du Fei said blatantly, with only one purpose, which was to let Northrop use various connections and do his best to facilitate this matter.

John Northrop was silent, thinking.

Du Fei mentioned one of his pain points, that is, he was not sure about the naval orders.

For now, Grumman has a big advantage.

Once the bid fails, not only the company, but also he personally will face tremendous pressure.

But working with Du Fei also faces huge uncertainties, the first of which is funding.

The third-generation fighter aircraft is definitely a money-burning thing. According to America's purchase price, the price of an F-14 is US$3800 million.

The YF-17 is a medium-sized affordable fighter, one level lower than the F-14 and F-15, and the price is at least about US$2500 million.

He didn't know that in the world before Du Fei traveled through time, due to various factors, the price of the Navy's purchase of the YF-17, that is, the F-18, had risen to close to the price of the F-14.

But how much money can Du Fei spend?

Even if calculated at US$2500 million, one hundred aircraft would be US$25 billion.

Even if the cooperation is successful, how many aircraft can Du Fei buy?

John Northrop asked his question.

When Du Fei heard this, he doubted his strength!

But he was well prepared and said calmly: "Of course, this worry is very reasonable, but I must remind you, John~ The two of us sitting here are in a loser's alliance."

John Northrop frowned.

Du Fei chuckled: "Isn't it? If my motherland had advanced technology and could manufacture its own third-generation fighter jets, I wouldn't be here at all. Similarly, if you had won the previous competition with GM, you wouldn't have Will appear here."

John Northrop's face turned gloomy, and he smiled wryly at himself: "Du, you are right, it is indeed an alliance of losers."

Du Fei continued: "So, what we seek should be the bottom line, not the upper limit. Besides, there is a saying in my hometown that if you get fat first, you will not be fat, and if you get fat later, you will lose weight."

John Northrop was surprised and didn't quite understand Dufy's translation.

Du Fei explained: "Probably don't just look at the present, but look back. Although there are not many now, don't forget that there are flowers and fruits behind me. In the future, there will be more powerful third-generation fighters from SLA. At that time, in order to ensure safety, Huaguo will definitely update the aircraft, and that will be our opportunity."

John Northrop raised an eyebrow.

Du Fei continued: "Sulian has about three thousand long-term fighter jets deployed in Xianbelia. In the future, the number of third-generation aircraft needed by Huaguo will only reach one-third of this number, which is also one thousand..."

John Northrop narrowed his eyes slightly. A thousand fighter jets cost US$2500 million each. That’s US$250 billion!

What a concept!

Even if these 50 aircraft are not entirely produced by his factory, he can still make at least US$ billion in profit from this order through cooperation between the two parties.

Thinking of this, he couldn't help but swallow with a "Gulu" sound.

As for Dufy's big pie, John Northrop is also an old fox, otherwise it would be impossible for the company to reach this scale.

To him, it didn't matter what Du Fei said. What mattered was that Huaguo's demand for fighters was real.