Back in 1978, I was admitted to Northwestern Polytechnical University.

Chapter 245 We're rich! We're rich!
"The sudden outbreak of war between Iraq and Langkawi has shocked us greatly. In this war, the Iraqi Air Force has performed exceptionally bravely, especially the combination of J-8 and Super-7 fighter jets. Two air raids completely destroyed the Tomcat fighter base. The Eastern fighter jets seem to have become powerful overnight. Both of these fighter jets are equipped with engines from Europe... Viewers in front of the television, this is the latest report from Reuters. We will continue to follow the situation on the battlefield."

Extra! Extra! Two camels clash, and the Eastern fighter jets emerge victorious!

"Langtuo's defeat was not because the Tomcat fighter jet was too bad, nor because American equipment was inferior to Chinese equipment. It was entirely due to human factors! Since the internal strife broke out in Langtuo last year, their air force has been crippled. A large number of experienced pilots and ground crew have either deserted or been imprisoned. Even propeller planes from World War II could blow Langtuo's planes to smithereens!"

Radio stations, newspapers, and media outlets around the world sprang into action, beginning to report on this sudden war. Whether it was positive praise or sour excuses, the J-8 and Super-7 became infamous!

East, the airplane building.

"Distinguished leaders, high-altitude and high-speed operations will never be outdated! The J-8's impressive results in the Battle of Ilhamo are enough to prove that this aircraft is indispensable. Therefore, the Air Force should also equip itself with a batch!"

Old Gu was overjoyed.

The victory on Pakistan's side was just a drop in the ocean, after all, they only took down one MiG-25. Now, the J-8 is getting off to a good start on Iraq's side!
But... the air force leaders still seem... uninterested?

"Liangzi, tell everyone, is there anything about the J-8 that could be improved?" Old Lin asked.

Why it’s me again!
Qin Liang glanced helplessly at Elder Lin and then said, "Elder Lin, the problem exposed on the battlefield this time is that the single-seat version of the J-8 can no longer meet the dual needs of command and combat. When the J-8 is performing air interception missions, it is unable to guide other formations."

"Yes, that's true, Lao Gu, have you noticed this problem?"

Old Gu pondered for a moment: "So?"

"On the one hand, we need to convert the single-seat version of the J-8 into a two-seat version, adding a second seat in the back to serve as an air commander. This way, one J-8 can continue to command four Super-7s in combat while conducting air-to-air interception. On the other hand, we need to install our latest data link system on the Super-7s and J-8s."

Voice communication is the least efficient method of communication. The Russian A-50 early warning aircraft can only command a dozen or so fighter jets at a time because it relies solely on voice guidance. Meanwhile, the American E-3 early warning aircraft of the same era can command hundreds of aircraft. The radar officer mainly operates a keyboard and transmits commands in rapid succession. The efficiency difference is dozens of times!
Eastern fighter jets also need data links, especially for the development of early warning aircraft. Therefore, the Department of Electronic Engineering at Northwestern Polytechnical University has been researching data link technology for the past six months.

"Data link?"

"Yes, without data links, it is impossible to win modern high-tech wars. Since the 1950s, the Americans have been developing related technologies, from Link-1 to Link-4. Now they use the standard Link-11 data link, which is already very powerful, and they are continuing to develop the Link-16 data link. In this field, we must catch up as soon as possible. Our first-generation product is not very mature yet, so we can sell it at a high price and let it be tested on the battlefield."

The theory that "immature products will be sold to make money, and mature products will be used by oneself" is something that Old Gu thought to himself.

"Okay, we understand. As long as Northwestern Polytechnical University develops and produces it, we will equip it. As for the second cockpit, we will also improve it as soon as possible."

The J-8 has a slender fuselage, and the space behind the pilot is the fuel tank. By reducing the fuel load, a second seat can be easily inserted. As for the specific arrangement, we can find inspiration from the J-7 trainer aircraft we obtained domestically, which can save on the modification costs.

After answering, Elder Gu looked at the Air Force leaders again: "Leaders, shouldn't the Air Force purchase a batch of our J-8 fighter jets?"

"Well... cough cough cough, Qin Liang, could you tell us about the difficulties in developing this data link?"

"For radio communication, the most important thing is how to allow everyone to use it together within the same frequency band without causing interference. As everyone knows, there are too many restrictions on the use of radio stations. On the battlefield, if many people shout at the same time, it will become chaotic. At this time, advanced multiple access technology is needed. Currently, the internationally popular technologies are frequency division multiple access and time division multiple access..."

A small frequency band can be further subdivided so that it can be used by different users. At the same time, electromagnetic waves can be cut into small segments and evenly distributed to each user within the same time period. This is time division multiple access.

Both of these technologies are already very difficult to achieve nowadays.

In fact, this is the GSM technology used in early 2G mobile phones in civilian communications, which is TDMA, or Time Division Multiple Access. When it came to 3G, it became CDMA, or Code Division Multiple Access. The latter technology is the most difficult. Qualcomm almost went bankrupt because of its research on it.

This is why the Americans have been eyeing a certain country with covetousness and have been constantly creating all sorts of trouble. After all, the development of civilian mobile communication technology will significantly promote the development of military data link technology.

When the US's main data link, Link 16, was still using the most basic time division multiple access and half-duplex mode, the transmission speed was only a little over 100 kilobytes per second. For text transmission, it was only a little over 6,000 kilobytes per second, and it couldn't transmit images. It could only accommodate 200 users at the same time. Even in the most advanced beyond-visual-range combat, it could only fire from A and guide from B. For example, a naval warship would launch a Standard Missile 6 and then leave it to the E-2 early warning aircraft for guidance.

Only one is allowed, no more!
Looking at the data link technology in the East, it can accommodate tens of thousands of drones at the same time without any problem. Cellular drones can swarm everywhere, like bees. Dozens of missiles launched by the J-10 can be guided by early warning aircraft.

It's no longer A-guided by B; it's A, B, C... all 26 letters can be used without any problem, and then it's handed over to an early warning aircraft for guidance!

In later generations, Eastern technology far surpassed that of the West and the United States. Only those "50-cent party members" continue to spread rumors online and try to confuse right and wrong in order to earn their 50 cents. Unfortunately, no one listens to them anymore.

The motherland of later generations was so powerful!

As for our motherland now... it also needs to become strong as soon as possible, and we need to develop data links!

"Currently, the products we are developing can only meet the Link 11 standard, which is too outdated. Even the Link 16 technology that the US military is developing is very outdated. We need to develop more advanced CDMA technology..."

All mobile networks and mobile phone users in the future will have to pay patent fees to Qualcomm. Even if 5G is developed, the underlying technology still uses CDMA, so patent fees still have to be paid!
Let's get started now. The so-called patent rights of the West are just because they acted first. If we act early and register all the patents, at most they can refuse to give them to us, but at least they can't ask us for them!

Electronic technology was indeed immature, so the terminals were made larger. If a mobile phone size wasn't enough, then a lunchbox size would be used. If a lunchbox wasn't enough, then a backpack size would be used. Back when Motorola was developing mobile phones, they started with military radios the size of a backpack.

At this moment, Qin Liang was speaking fluently and passionately, spitting as he spoke.

"Ahem, it's almost time. Let's go to the cafeteria. Liangzi, our plane had a great success today. You're the hero, so you should have a few more drinks!"

"it is good."

Old Gu stood awkwardly to the side, "Old Lin, we haven't even gotten to the important matter yet! Why hasn't the Air Force purchased our aircraft yet?"

Never mind, let's talk about it at the dinner table.

At the dinner table, Old Lin raised his glass: "Today, let's just celebrate, not talk about any other work! Cheers!"

Okay, the Air Force still doesn't like the J-8!
Just as he finished his drink, someone came running in from outside.

"Elder Lin, leaders, we just received news from Langtuo that they want to order a batch of our twin-engine Q-6 fighter jets!"

"Great, let's go. This twin-engine Q-6 can definitely meet their needs! It can intercept and attack ground targets, making it an all-rounder in the air. Our air force will also purchase a batch."

Old Gu finally understood that the J-8 was completely cut off from the Air Force, even if it made a contribution! After all, the J-8 could only intercept in the air, and its high-altitude and high-speed capabilities were not as good as the twin-engine Q-6, while the twin-engine Q-6 could do other things besides interception.

A sense of crisis resurfaced in Mr. Gu's mind: if the Air Force doesn't want it and we only export it, it will never be enough!
In their first encounter, Langtuo's Tomcat squadron was wiped out on the ground, a humiliating defeat for Langtuo!
Minuspel was filled with guilt. He had already resigned and even planned to go to prison, but... the leader forgave him and decided to continue buying planes from the East so that he could atone for his sins.

This moved Minuspel to tears, and he immediately made preparations, flying to the East the next day.

AVIC (China National Aero-Technology Import & Export Corporation). "I really didn't expect Yituo to suddenly launch an attack. We've repeatedly tried to persuade them, but unfortunately, they won't listen." Manager Liu's face was full of sighs. "Now, we're in a difficult position too. Seeing Langtuo being attacked, we wanted to cut off all supplies to both of you, but..."

Langtuo was attacked, by Eastern fighter jets! So, how should Langtuo face the East?

Langtuo reacted in two ways: he strongly protested to the East and demanded that the East stop supplying goods to Yituo!
However, if that's the case... then the East will treat everyone equally, and if it doesn't supply Yituo, it will also not supply Langtuo! After all, the East has always been the most impartial.

But... if Yituo can't buy products from the East, he can still buy from the Soviet Union or France. What about Lang Tuo? Lang Tuo cursed Satan the Great and Satan the Little, and he felt good about it, but it's impossible for him to continue buying equipment from these two countries.

The only supplier left for Langtuo is Dongfang.

"We understand your difficulties, so we will not protest your sale of weapons to Iraq. However, we hope to purchase advanced twin-engine Q-6 fighter jets from you as soon as possible!"

"As soon as possible? That's probably not easy!" Manager Liu frowned. "After all, the current twin-engine Q-6 fighters are all ordered by the Air Force. They ordered a total of eighty, and the first batch of forty is currently being produced, with the remaining forty... According to the production capacity of Factory 320, it is estimated that they will not be assembled until next year. If you place an order now, delivery will not be until at least the year after next..."

Military aircraft production has never been a matter of simply buying goods with money. In such cases, the other party's products are likely unsold. Placing an order and waiting two or three years for delivery is a common practice, even for countries with strong production capabilities like the United States.

Take Langtuo's Tomcat as an example. In 1974, a purchase contract for the first batch of 30 aircraft was signed, and another 50 were added the following year. In 1976, two years later, the first Tomcat fighter jet was delivered to Langtuo. The entire order of 1980s was not fully delivered until 1978.

The air force of Langtuo knew this principle, of course, but... they simply didn't have time to wait!
"Then we hope that your air force can transfer these fighter jets to us. We are willing to pay the same price as the Tomcat fighter jets!"

If you want to get ready-made goods, you have to buy them from others, which means you'll have to spend more money! However, for customers who don't want to wait for production, price increases are the norm!

How much did Lang Tuo spend to buy the male cat back then?
The Tomcat, a variable-sweep wing fighter jet, was extremely expensive! The price for a single aircraft used by the US military was as high as $38 million, and that was in the 1970s!
Exports were even more extravagant. In 1974, Langtu signed a contract with Grumman for the total purchase price of the first batch of thirty Tomcat fighter jets and 424 missiles, which was $2 billion! If the Phoenix missiles were valued at one million dollars each, that would be about 400 million dollars. Therefore, each Tomcat fighter jet would cost as much as 50 million dollars!
As for the later additional contracts, totaling eighty Tomcat fighter jets and 714 missiles, plus ten years' worth of spare parts for the aircraft, the total contract amount reached a staggering $15 billion! That's $15 billion in the 1970s!

Even if we buy 40 Tomcat fighter jets from the Air Force at the price of $50 million each, that would still be a $2 billion deal!
Manager Liu's heart was in turmoil, but his face remained calm and composed: "Well, I'll have to ask the Air Force. Please wait patiently."

Airplane terminal.

"Hahaha, hahaha, two billion, two billion US dollars! Our air force has struck it rich this time!" Old Lin's hearty laughter echoed throughout the entire aircraft building: "Liangzi, our air force will purchase five hundred of those cruise missiles!"

The Air Force did indeed place an order for forty J-82s from Factory 320, with each aircraft costing 20 million RMB. This price is even cheaper than the price quoted by Shenyang for the J-82!

So, anyone with a brain like that in the Air Force should know what to choose! How brain-dead would someone have to be to buy the J-2! This plane is better off being exported!

Moreover, the effort has now yielded tremendous rewards!

The Air Force is not afraid of waiting; receiving the fighter jets a year later is fine. The 20 million has directly become 50 million US dollars!

The price difference was all pocketed by the Air Force, and they made a killing!

The Air Force is finally not short of money and can make purchases on a lavish scale!
I’m rich, I’m rich!
Qin Liang rolled his eyes at Old Lin: "Old Lin, the Air Force made a windfall of two billion US dollars, and they only bought five hundred missiles? What can that do?"

"Hey kid, don't act all innocent after getting a good deal! Five hundred is a lot, the Air Force still has a lot to do! Are we still going to develop the early warning aircraft? Are we still going to develop the J-10? Are we still going to conduct preliminary research on the fourth-generation stealth heavy fighter? Transport aircraft? Electronic warfare aircraft?"

Old Lin spoke in rapid succession, leaving Qin Liang with no choice but to nod helplessly.

They've got the money, but they've really expanded their operations too much!

"Alright," Qin Liang nodded. "Five hundred it is. Once Langtuo's money arrives, we need to transfer it to Northwestern Polytechnical University immediately. We originally planned to export them to earn foreign exchange, but your Air Force is blocking us from selling them, so we really have no choice..."

"You still can't figure it out? This time, you went to Yituo to modify the Flying Legion and made tens of millions. I heard that your Northwestern Polytechnical University's Aerospace Engineering Department is rolling in money..."

"Does the Air Force want navigation satellites? Should we invest some money in them?"

Now it was Old Lin's turn to be embarrassed: "Alright, let's not expose each other's shortcomings. As for the missile with a range of 1,000 kilometers, you can take it if you want, but you have to agree on the name."

"Hmm, that's more like it. The name is simple: range of 300 kilometers, error of 700 kilometers." Qin Liang smiled.

Old Lin was taken aback, then his expression became complicated. "There's nothing you can't do, kid!"
"Old Lin, we can't be too greedy this time. Although Lang Tuo is willing to pay 50 million US dollars per aircraft, we have to make a concession and sell it to them for only 40 million US dollars to show our friendship."

Old Lin's brows furrowed immediately. "What did you say, kid? This is cutting into the Air Force's flesh! This $50 million per aircraft isn't what we wanted; it was Lang Tuo who offered this price... Our Air Force is in a hurry. A year's delay in equipment purchases—isn't that money?"

"The fighter jets only cost 40 million US dollars each, which is the normal export price for a twin-engine Q-6. That's how friendly we in the East are. Of course, after buying these fighter jets, you'll need to buy some spare parts, such as engines and missiles, so the total price will still be 50 million US dollars. But once you buy them, they're ready to use right away, with no additional expenses..."

It's still the same amount of money, just with a few more things, but it will improve Lang Tuo's favor and let Lang Tuo know the warmth of Easterners!
Old Lin nodded: "Okay!"

The total amount is quite a lot, so please give me some extra gifts... consider it a gift. How can I not give something when good friends come to visit?
CATIC.

Minuseper, who was anxiously waiting, immediately asked nervously when he saw Manager Liu return: "How did it go? How did it go?"

"The Air Force said that since our Langtuo friends want it, of course we can give you priority in delivering the aircraft! Even if it takes a year, the Air Force can't delay our Langtuo friends!"

"Thank you, Air Force! Thank you, East! You are our true friends, Langtuo!"

"Furthermore, the Air Force won't ask for a high price. The original export price for a twin-engine Q-6 is $40 million per aircraft, so we'll give it to you at that price!"

Minusepel's eyes instantly welled up with tears. Friend, this is a true friend!
"No, fifty million US dollars, this plane is worth that price! The extra amount is compensation for the time given to our friends in the East!"

"How can that be? The Air Force can't charge you more money!"

"Absolutely! We absolutely cannot let our friends down!"

"Okay, I'll go ask again."

When Manager Liu returned, his face was full of smiles: "The Air Force said they can't let our friends in Langtuo suffer losses, so we will provide another batch of spare parts and missiles..."

My friend, my true friend!
　PS: Link-16 data link.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)