Dominate South Asia

"Are there any difficulties if we continue to develop this helicopter now?" Mhamad asked.

"Pakistan's basic industry is good. We can continue to improve this helicopter based on Pakistan's industrial level. However, there is one thing we do not have." John said: "If we want to mass-produce this helicopter, we need to A turboshaft engine with excellent performance.”

engine! No matter what kind of aircraft it is, the key is the engine, and helicopters now use turboshaft engines, which are similar to aero engines, except that the exhaust does not provide thrust, but is converted into rotational energy of the output shaft.

In later generations, China's armed helicopters were limited by their engines. For example, among the Chinese army, only the early imported Black Hawk helicopters could take off and land on plateaus because the engines of other helicopters had insufficient plateau starting performance. The Wuzhi-10 newly developed by China can only be regarded as a medium-sized armed helicopter at best, not a heavy-duty helicopter like the Apache. This is because of the performance problem of the engine, which does not provide enough power to carry more ammunition.

Now, the focus of this imitation CSH-2 helicopter is also the engine!

"What engine are we using now?" Mhammad asked.

"We are currently conducting test flights, equipped with Turbomeca's Makira 1K2 turboshaft engine. This engine can provide more than 1,500 horsepower, which is enough to support the flight of our armed helicopters. If you plan to mass-produce it, you need to do so in advance. Negotiate the import of this engine," John said.

Turbomeca is a world-class turboshaft engine manufacturer. The Makira series engines they produce are widely used in the SA.330 "Puma", AS.332 "Super Puma", and AS.532 "Puma". It is an excellent general-purpose engine used on helicopters such as "Leopard"/EC225, EC725 "Super Puma", and IAR 330.

Negotiating with this French engine company requires skills. Moreover, we need the cooperation of the French government! Mhammad had already made up his mind. He already had an idea. The card that had been hidden for a long time could just be used. It would kill two birds with one stone!

"No problem, we will negotiate and introduce this excellent engine." Mhamad said: "However, the introduction is only temporary. We need to fully understand the technology of this engine and eventually imitate this engine ourselves."

In terms of technical difficulty, the turbofan engine used in fighter jets is the most difficult. Pakistan already has an advanced F110 production line, which can also be used to manufacture Makira turboshaft engines!

"That's the best!" John replied happily.

After seeing John off, Mhamad said to his assistant: "Please come over to the French ambassador."

In Pakistan, the French ambassador is not very popular. The main reason is that France is too close to India. India is equipped with a large number of French advanced weapons, including aircraft. submarine equipment. Therefore, in order to take care of the mood of its major customer India, France sometimes plays tricks on Pakistan. For example, in the hereafter. A contract for the export of submarines has obviously been signed, but due to strong protests from India, France canceled the contract. After all, India is France's big financier. It purchased a large number of legal weapons and the amount was very high. Indians love to be slaughtered.

But now, due to Mhammad's crossing, Pakistan has beaten India to the ground. India's national strength is weak and it has not purchased any advanced weapons in a few years. Under this circumstance, France also began to change its relationship with Pakistan, hoping that the two sides would become closer. Pakistan has also imported some equipment from France. However, such a big business as the introduction of an entire fighter jet has nothing to do with France. Pakistan's defense industry. It has been able to produce a large amount of equipment. So, Pakistan now. The relationship with France is just ordinary international relations.

French Ambassador Francis soon arrived at the presidential palace. He was a tall Frenchman with a unique French arrogance all over his body.

"Nice to see you." Francis said to Mhamad: "Mr. President, why did you summon me?"

"Our previous transactions have been very good," said Mhamad. "This time, Pakistan also wants to purchase a batch of components from your country. We hope that your country can export them to us at a suitable price."

French things have always been very expensive, and the card that Mhamad holds is also used to keep prices down.

"No problem. Our French products have always been advanced in performance and affordable. Moreover, we are not restricted by NATO and can export any equipment to your country." Francis said: "What do you want?"

"Turbomeca's Makira 1K2 turboshaft engine." Mhammad said: "We hope to introduce about a hundred units."

One hundred units! Equipping two helicopters with one helicopter, and leaving one part as a spare, can produce the first batch of about forty armed helicopters. In this process, our own reverse mapping and imitation will also gradually proceed. Therefore, Mhama Germany's plan is to introduce a hundred units in the first batch.

"I'm sorry, as far as I know, the main force of your equipment is American-made Black Hawk helicopters, and they don't need our engine." Francis immediately discovered the problem. Why does Pakistan suddenly need this kind of helicopter engine at this time? Already? He was very sensitive and immediately realized that Pakistan might want to build its own helicopters. What to make? Just think of what Pakistan lacks in its military.

"We want to develop an armed helicopter ourselves." Mhamad said: "If the research and development goes well, in addition to our own equipment, we will also sell it to the Middle East, China and other countries. Therefore, your engine will also With sales to many countries, you can earn more profits.”

Mhamad did not hide it. The armed helicopter was not a nuclear weapon. It was developed by Pakistan. There was nothing confidential about it.

"If you just add weapons to a helicopter, it is very simple. If you develop a professional armed helicopter, the technical difficulty is very high." Francis said: "You can simply join our Tiger armed helicopter project and invest in research and development funds. When it is produced, you can receive it at the lowest price. What do you think?”

Tiger helicopter! Now, France and Germany are also jointly developing a professional armed helicopter, which is the Tiger!

In the past, Europe did not have professional armed helicopters. They all used general-purpose helicopters equipped with anti-tank missile systems. For example, the United Kingdom used Bobcat general-purpose helicopters with TOW anti-tank missiles, and France used Oryx helicopters with Hult anti-tank missiles. For tank missiles, Germany uses the MBB Bo-105 helicopter combined with the HOT anti-tank missile to become the PAH-1.

However, this kind of general-purpose helicopter cannot completely replace the role of professional armed helicopters. Its flight performance, reliability, crash resistance, weapon mounting capabilities, pilot vision, etc. are not as good as professional armed helicopters. The first helicopter has been developed in the United States. After the second-generation Apache helicopter, Europeans are also anxious.

In 1983, France and Germany jointly decided to develop a new armed helicopter, which was expected to enter service around 1992. Unfortunately, like other joint cooperation projects in Europe, as the project progresses, costs rise and progress is slow. Up to now, the first prototype of the Tiger helicopter has just made its test flight, and it is still too early to officially equip the army. Moreover, we are also facing serious funding shortages!

At this time, when he heard that Pakistan was also going to develop armed helicopters, Francis was immediately tempted and tricked Pakistan into joining the development!

Hamad smiled: "We believe in our ability. We have already established the project and a professional department has been established. After careful study, we have decided to purchase your engine."

Of course, Mhamad will not be fooled. If Pakistan really joins this kind of project, there will be only one outcome, only providing funds. As for the technology, don’t even think about it!

In later generations, China wanted to develop a global positioning system. After being fooled by the Europeans, it joined the Galileo navigation satellite project. As a result, it did not get any technology. The Europeans only wanted China to provide funds! As a result, China was furious and began to embark on the path of independent research and development. From the dual-star regional positioning of Beidou Generation 1 to the global positioning of Beidou Generation 2, China took one step at a time and got to where it is now, while the Europeans are still struggling because of the Galileo system. They are arguing with each other about investment, and the launch of the first satellite is still far away.

Mhammad's attitude is very firm. In fact, his own armed helicopter is about to be successfully developed, and the equipment is just short of finalization. At this time, he will join the project of France and Germany? It’s just asking for trouble!

Seeing that Mhamad was very determined, Francis said: "Okay, I can contact the domestic Turbomeca company. One hundred engines, this is a big project of 300 million US dollars."

Three hundred million dollars! This guy insisted on the amount, and Mhamad sneered in his heart and said: "Did you calculate it wrong? The total amount is 30 million US dollars."

In later generations, in 2000, the unit prices of the "Makira" 1A1 and 1A2 were only about US$525,000 and US$560,000 respectively. But now, it's only 1991, and an engine only costs 300,000 US dollars. Therefore, Mhamad directly stated the amount, 30 million US dollars! Much cheaper than self-developed engines. (To be continued ~^~)