The military-industrial scientific research system of the academic master.

That being said, although the "cooperative relationship" between Stan Aeronautics and Dassault has a long history, the last interaction between the two parties was a transaction of money and goods. If they want to ask the other party to join the upgrade of MK1A, they must go through the process again.

As we all know, in India, the efficiency of following procedures is still a little low.

Even though everyone knew that seeking external assistance was the only viable option, it took almost half a month just to decide to send a letter of inquiry to Dassault to confirm the intention of cooperation, let alone make the final decision.

By the time the inquiry letter was actually sent out, 2001 had already passed.

And it is Christmas at this time, so the French are naturally enjoying the 14-day Christmas-New Year's Day holiday.

It was impossible to go to work.

Therefore, it was not until the end of the first week of 2002, on January 1, that Dassault Group's Professional Customer Division finally reported the inquiry letter to the headquarters.

In fact, generally speaking, this kind of thing is just a written process, which is probably equivalent to "call and ask before visiting an old friend."

It is almost impossible to get a negative response.

Especially for something like LCA, which is said to be a joint research and development, but in fact it is entirely the Indians who pay and Dassault who come up with the plan, and the execution is no different from a normal supplier contract.

Moreover, due to India's special national conditions, they are often a very weak party A.

Therefore, in fact, during the period of waiting for the confirmation from the group's top management, Cornell Bass, the head of the Professional Customer Division, had already instructed his subordinates to dig out the technical data of the LCA MK1 from the old papers and reassemble the people who had participated in this project in the past.

You know, they had just completed the design work on the upgraded model of Mirage 2000-9 before the Christmas holiday.

It is also a tailless delta wing, a single-engine light aircraft, an air superiority aircraft with a major modification for multi-purposes, and also involves structural changes...

For Stan Airlines, it is difficult to draw inferences from three to one, but for Dassault, it is not difficult to draw inferences from one to three.

While the experience is still fresh, I can apply the same experience to LCA and cheat again... and make another big profit.

However, no matter how hard they tried, there was no response from headquarters.

You know, Bass has already internally decided on the leadership positions of the team to be sent to India.

This is equivalent to promising a benefit.

And now even the most basic confirmation of intention has been delayed, and he feels a lot of pressure.

So, a few days later, Bass, who was getting a little impatient, began to suspect that the previous email had not been delivered due to some technical reason.

Therefore, the second inquiry letter was forwarded again.

However, it still fell on deaf ears.

After two consecutive times without receiving a response, he finally realized, still immersed in the holiday, that the wind direction seemed to be wrong.

In this case, it is impossible that the higher-ups did not receive it.

It's more like preparing for cold treatment...

In fact, Cornell Bass's thoughts were a little more complicated.

The headquarters has no intention of giving the matter a cold shoulder.

It's just that I haven't made a decision yet.

In fact, the secretary's office reported the news to Ed Steiner as usual on the same day it received the first email.

Generally speaking, for business of this level, he only needs to give his approval.

But this time, Edelsteiner specifically found Serge Dassault and briefly introduced the situation to him.

"LCA..."

Dassault frowned slightly as he flipped through a document in front of him.

The last time the two companies worked together, his main focus was almost entirely on the municipal elections in Corbeil-Essonne, and he didn't particularly understand the ins and outs of it.

Therefore, when he saw that the first verification aircraft of this model rolled off the production line in 1995 but did not make its first flight until 2001, the nearly 80-year-old man's hands shook and he almost dropped the documents on the table.

"Did we really help design this plane?"

Dassault confirmed with a little bit of hesitation.

"That's not entirely true..."

Ed Steiner considered his words:

"We provided certain technical support in the aerodynamic and structural design of the tailless delta wing. The three-section leading edge slats are actually a modification of the design given to the Chinese about ten years ago..."

"As for the plane itself, uh... overall... probably... it should be considered designed by the Indians themselves..."

Hearing this explanation, Dassault was slightly relieved.

"Since their second prototype has not yet made its maiden flight, why are they in such a hurry to come to us for upgrades?"

He closed the document, put it aside, and drank a sip of coffee to calm his nerves:

"I don't even understand the basics..."

Dassault wanted to make a further criticism, but then he remembered that his own Rafale seemed to have skipped the F1 stage and was preparing to go directly into F2 mass production, so he held back the second half of his words.

"Although we have produced very few Rafale F1s, the technology is still very mature..."

He repeated this several times in his mind and reminded himself not to draw any analogies with the Indians.

"The official statement given in the application letter is that the old model cannot meet current tactical needs."

Ed Steiner shrugged playfully:

"But I guess the actual reason is probably... that they were stimulated by the improved J-10 that the Chinese suddenly put into service a month ago."

"You know, many people... especially the media, are willing to compare the two countries. They are both third world countries, both have a population of about one billion, both are Asian countries, and they are neighbors..."

"Forget it...they are not countries on the same level."

Dassault almost choked on his coffee:

"We and the Chinese... that's real technical cooperation..."

After a brief pause, he even emphasized it once more:

“Equal cooperation.”

Today, of Dassault Group's two core models, one is being jointly developed with others, while the other's key engine technology is in the hands of others.

To be honest, it's quite embarrassing.

The only way to save face is to strongly praise the technical strength of the Chinese partners.

It can be said that Dassault now hopes that China can catch up with the UK and the US faster than Chang Haonan.

“So, that’s what I’m worried about.”

Ed Steiner took the opportunity to state his intentions:

Indians are a fat sheep.

This has been verified by the Russians.

According to information from multiple sources, the Su-30MKI sold by Sukhoi to the Indian Army is much more expensive than the Su-27SM/UBM sold to Algeria, as it is unable to use the new generation of enhanced aircraft.

The price difference here is nominally called "technical guidance fee".

Because the Indians require that part of the final assembly work be completed in their own country.

However, judging from Stan Airlines' past performance, it remains to be seen whether it can come up with any results.

Therefore, it can be inferred that the LCA upgrade project will definitely be very profitable.

But Dassault is currently too deeply tied to China, so they still have to consider carefully which is more important.

Dassault on the other side could naturally understand the hidden meaning:

"Are you worried that the Chinese and Indians are not getting along? If we provide technical support to the latter on LCA, it is very likely to affect our cooperative relationship with China?"

Ed Steiner nodded, then shook his head:

"It's not just that..."

"I'm also worried that if we really get deeply involved in this upgrade project, we might end up destroying our own reputation..."

The second half of this sentence was obviously meant as a joke.

However, it is very important.

Whether it is a person or a company, they all have to maintain their dignity.

If the Dassault Group rejects a project simply because "the Chinese are opposed", wouldn't that make it look like they have lost value?

And explaining it internally would also hurt morale.

Therefore, at this time, I need a face-saving reason to deceive myself...

Sure enough, after hearing Edsteiner's second concern, Dassault's originally frowned brows relaxed a lot.

"How about this."

He put the coffee cup back on the table:

"Don't go through official channels. Let someone privately confirm China's attitude towards this matter."

"As partners, we still have to respect them."

"in addition……"

When Edsteiner was about to get up and leave, Dassault suddenly called him:

"After you return, please also conduct a prospective assessment of this project to see if it has the potential to damage the reputation of our company."

“If the risk is really too great… then we have to consider it carefully.”