Chapter 324 Tupolev and MiG decide to sell themselves

Although it is difficult to understand how the Chinese did it, a photocopy of the last page of the agreement signed by both parties was posted on the display board.

Considering that Paris is also the territory of a core member state of the EU, the possibility of using EU resolutions to swindle here is still not very high, which is why Klimov does not believe it.

This is a big deal for Tupolev Company, which is already going crazy.

So he jogged all the way back to his country's exhibition area and pulled Vladimir Kravchenko, the somewhat idle head of MiG's commercial department, in front of the MA-60.

After the disintegration of the alliance, the Sukhoi Company, which had lost its restrictions, opened up its supply of heavy-duty Su-27 fighter jets to almost all countries willing to pay, directly seizing almost all of the blue ocean market, and MiG's corresponding product MiG Although the price of Ge 29 can be a little cheaper, it is far from its big brother in terms of performance and potential.

As long as these two types of aircraft are put together, even a layman who knows nothing about aviation will know which one to choose.

In the end, only a very small number of users who really couldn't afford it, or who thought there was no need to use heavy fighter jets, chose the MiG-29.

Having made money, Sukhoi quickly invested the funds into improving its leading products and launched a series of new sub-models such as the multi-functional Su 30 and the improved Su 27SM, which made it impossible for MiG to catch up. .

Su 37, who was flying freely in the sky at this moment and attracting many eyeballs, was also one of them.

Few people know that the aircraft numbered 711 is not actually a mass-produced model, but a demonstrator in a high-mobility technology demonstration project, used to test the application of vector engines with increased thrust and three-wing static stability. After adding all the technologies that can be used, such as the stable design and cockpit side bars, to what level can the maneuverability of an aircraft be improved?

But that doesn't matter anymore.

By 1997, the MiG company itself had lost all hope. It realized that it had no future by continuing to export fighter jets, and began to consider transitioning to other tracks.

The commercial machine department that Kravchenko is responsible for is an unfortunate product of this idea.

MiG had almost no experience in designing passenger aircraft or transport aircraft. With the alliance disbanded and no investment left, it was a complete fantasy to create a commercial model from scratch.

Therefore, we can only choose to stay together with Tupolev Company, a fellow sufferer.

Kravchenko and Klimov met during this process.

To put it simply, the content of the cooperation between the two parties is the transformation of MiG's Nizhny Novgorod factory into the production of Tupolev passenger aircraft.

Unlike the situation of Sukhoi and MiG, Tupolev did not obtain a factory belonging to his own group during a series of reorganizations in the early 90s.

Aerostar SP in Ulyanovsk and the Kazan Aircraft Manufacturing Association in Kazan are independent units and are not subject to Tupolev's control.

To make matters worse, after China showed its willingness to purchase the new Ilyushin 76MF/78MF in bulk a few days ago, anyone with a discerning eye can already see that Ilyushin Company will definitely move the production line originally located in Tashkent back to China.

So these two young men began to flirt with Ilyushin at the speed of light, which made Tupolev, who had no orders for the time being, panicked but helpless.

In order to win over at least one of the manufacturing plants, Klimov finally signaled that he could export the Tu-22M3 bomber to "friendly countries".

About a few years ago, the Chinese Air Force delegation showed some interest in this model.

They initially thought the operation would have immediate results.

However, in the past, you ignored Huaxia, but today's China is too high for you. The other party actually said that they have no interest in medium bombers. If they can sell the Tu-160, they can consider it.

Laughing to death, let’s not mention that it is impossible for this thing to obtain a federal export license. Even if Yeltsin doesn’t care, Tupolev will not be able to build a new aircraft at all now.

So after what he thought was his trump card failed, Tupolev also panicked——

If it can maintain complete aircraft design and manufacturing capabilities, it may not be possible to make a comeback in the future.

But if it degenerates from an aviation production complex into a mere design institute, it will basically be finished.

Therefore, the two companies, which were on the verge of despair, hit it off and decided to move Tupolev's passenger aircraft production line to Nizhny Novgorod, so as to maintain a relatively stable production capacity.

The idea was great and the execution was smooth.

The only problem is, still no orders.

A few scattered orders from China can barely sustain the company's life, and it is still far from being able to come back to life.

After losing the relatively closed market of the Economic Cooperation and Development, although Tupolev's several new models of passenger aircraft are not far behind in terms of single performance, they are obviously no longer able to compete with Boeing and Airbus' model series.

Not to mention the barrier of airworthiness certification.

With the disintegration of the alliance, Russia's reputation among many third world countries has plummeted, but few countries are willing to purchase a passenger aircraft model that lacks European and American endorsement.

Therefore, seeing Klimov carrying out mutual recognition of airworthiness between China and Europe is basically equivalent to a person who is about to drown suddenly having an oxygen bottle thrust into his face.

But Kravchenko, who was pulled over by him next to him, was calmer.

"Vasha (Valentin's nickname), I understand that you are anxious, but it has been clearly stated above that the scope of mutual airworthiness recognition only includes regional aircraft, and they must be designed and produced by companies within mainland China. , we can’t take advantage of this loophole..."

"Why not?"

Klimov turned back and looked at Kravchenko with a determined expression.

"In fact, when China went to Tashkent to inspect the IL-76 production line, China had private contact with one of our representatives and expressed its willingness to produce Tu-27 series passenger aircraft in their country based on the form of the Su-204."

"The other party's requirements include the transfer of a full set of technology property rights and the improvement of the aircraft in accordance with Chinese standards, so the company was still hesitant..."

"No wait..."

Kravchenko was stunned when he heard this:

"Aren't we partners in the field of commercial aircraft? How come I don't know about this at all?"

"Also, if you move the passenger aircraft production line to China, what will happen to our company's factory in Nizhny Novgorod?"

"Also, if even the design standards are modified in accordance with China's requirements, can your aircraft still be called Tu-204? Wouldn't it be completely sold to them?"

Faced with such a one-click triple sequence, Klimov knew that he was in the wrong and was not easy to answer, so he skipped the first question.

"Ahem... There is a saying in our hometown that once you have decided to sell your business, you should enjoy the process."

"Now our company is about to go bankrupt. We are just selling a few aircraft models. I believe that even if Comrade Tupolev is still alive, he will not have any objections..."

"Don't worry MiGs. First of all, with the level of China's aviation industry, it is impossible to achieve complete domestic production right away. At most, the final assembly process should be completed first. You can continue to produce parts and subsystems for at least the next ten years. It is not impossible. A way out.”

"Besides, as long as the sales of the model are opened, the domestic market will still have to purchase it. Will it not have to be produced in Nizhny Novgorod? No matter what, you have to survive first..."

Klimov was eloquent, but it was a pity that he did not know Mr. Yan Baichuan, the Chinese master of existentialism, otherwise he would have had to say "Existence is everything, everything is for existence."

Kravchenko opened his mouth.

He subconsciously wanted to refute the other party's statement, but found that there was no way to do so.

After briefly running through Klimov's logic line in my mind, it even felt a bit reasonable.

So it took Kravchenko a few seconds to excuse himself.

"I understand, you're right."