Chapter 918 Falcon Z
In cross-border cooperation projects like this, especially those involving sensitive models, what really consumes the most time and energy is often not technical issues.
Therefore, after the overall upgrade plan of M88-3 was confirmed by both parties involved in the project, the next thing became simple.
The Snecma engineers who had just evacuated moved back into Institute 606.
The relevant funds were also paid from Dassault's account to Snecma and Aero Dynamics respectively.
And of course, there is Thales Group -
The M88-3, including the subsequent M88-4 package upgrade contract, was proposed under the framework of the "Falcon NG" business jet program.
This includes the transfer of technologies related to the Damocles optoelectronic targeting pod.
Thales doesn't care about technology transfer, after all, it is not the first time, but it is impossible to make contributions to others for free, so this transfer payment naturally falls on Dassault.
But then again, for Dassault, this money is entirely additional expenditure incurred to meet China's needs.
Even from the perspective of accounting, it is not easy to balance...
"boss."
The day after Ian Vesta and Liu Yongquan finalized the contract, Edsteiner approached Serge Dassault with a financial expense report:
"The amount we spend on the Falcon NG project this year is likely to exceed the budget."
"I know that."
Dassault nodded as a matter of course:
"It won't be a problem if we overspend a little. I'll ask the finance department to sort out the whereabouts of the funds."
He didn't even open the financial statement.
As the president and CEO, Dassault may not care about other details, but he must keep a firm grip on finance and personnel.
Ed Steiner is actually a technical leader and is not responsible for business management.
Therefore, Dassault must have known about the cost overruns of the Falcon NG project earlier and in more detail.
After all, it was just a shell project.
If only three or two small sums of money are involved, it can also be explained as feasibility study and early project research.
But as more and more capital flows are involved, overspending is inevitable.
Dassault didn't take it seriously at all.
Isn't it time for all those financial experts to come into play after spending so much money on them?
However, Edsteiner did not stop there.
Since he came here specifically for this matter that was not under his jurisdiction, he must have a deeper purpose.
The above is just a prelude:
"Actually, I have a better solution."
This is the real purpose.
Dassault finally put down his writing and looked up at this old friend who had been his partner for many years.
After a few seconds, he gestured to the other person to continue.
"Why don't we... actually develop this Falcon NG?"
Ed Steiner made a shocking statement:
"I have read the report submitted by the Civil Aviation Administration. Of course, I know that it was just to satisfy investors, but there is actually nothing wrong with the content."
"Large business jets with ultra-long range are indeed the future development direction. Although we have several plans on paper in this field, we still have no products and are completely behind Gulfstream and Bombardier."
"Moreover, as long as the Falcon NG project is transformed from an empty shell into a real implementation, even if there are some additional expenses, it will not seem so abrupt."
Ed Steiner worked in the civil aviation sector before rising to group-level executive leadership.
These things are old-fashioned.
"But the research and development expenses of the Rafale have not been fully recovered yet. If we start a large-scale project directly, the risk is..."
It is impossible for a super large group like Dassault to be like an individual business owner, with all its expenses and income settled in cash.
At the same time, if you spread your business too wide, your capital chain will become more fragile.
"Bring them along..."
Ed Steiner obviously had a plan:
"Anyway, Thales, Snecma, and of course China, have already tied up with us on the Falcon NG project..."
Hearing this, Dassault suddenly sat up straight...
……
In short, it only took a few days for a project development proposal involving four parties and far longer than previously expected to be placed on Chang Haonan's desk.
"Mr. Chang, this is a new cooperation proposal that Dassault Group has suddenly proposed to us. Please take a look."
Zhang Liangping, deputy director of the Second Comprehensive Department, handed the document to Chang Haonan, then stepped aside without saying anything else.
In fact, the group's chief planner, or any leader of the group, cannot make decisions alone on such major foreign-related cooperation matters.
It must be done after a collective vote.
But considering that the entire project starting from WS-10 was handled directly or indirectly by Chang Haonan, if he made a statement at the meeting, it would naturally carry considerable weight.
"Falcon NG..."
Chang Haonan saw the title on the cover at a glance:
"Isn't this just a shell project created for the development of M88?"
As he thought about it, he opened the Chinese text of the document.
Soon, he understood what Dassault meant.
Anyway, the money has been spent, the relationship between everyone is in place, and the conditions are relatively mature, so we can take advantage of the situation and make this Falcon NG real.
If we calculate the time, this project launched in 2001 is most likely the Falcon 7X ultra-long-range business jet in its previous life.
A model that continues Dassault's tradition of three-engine design.
But...
The past was before and the present is now.
On this timeline, Chang Haonan is really hard to say what Falcon NG will eventually develop into.
Because in this project book, Dassault proposed a total of three similar design plans.
Each category is divided into four different sizes, with maximum take-off weight ranging from 4 tons to 20 tons.
Apart from anything else, at least all of them have chosen the more common tail-hung double-engine layout.
For the avionics system, Honeywell was no longer chosen for the Falcon 900 and Falcon 2000, but was handed over to Thales Avionics, a subsidiary of Thales.
As for power, it is even more earth-shaking.
This is also the main reason why the French must involve the Aviation Power Group.
Dassault and Snecma plan to develop a series of medium bypass ratio, low thrust turbofan engines without afterburner and with thrust ranging from 88 tons to 3.5 tons based on the M6.5 core engine.
Chang Haonan was almost certain that the reason why Falcon NG was able to become a regular employee was to avoid wasting the dumplings made with M88's vinegar...
Having said that, this plate of dumplings tastes pretty good -
On the one hand, from his perspective as a reborn person, ultra-long-range business jets do have a very broad space for development in the 21st century, and Dassault's estimate on this point is not wrong.
On the other hand, low-thrust turbofan engines actually have great potential.
However, due to the limitations of personnel and financial scale, Aviation Power Group was unable to set up such a large business on its own for the time being.
Borrowing the French's chickens to lay eggs seems like a good choice.
Of course, the other party probably thought so too.
Borrowing chickens from each other is a kind of thing.
In any case, if these models can really be put into use, then in the future when we want to develop large drones like the Global Hawk, at least we won't be forced to make do with the WP-7 without afterburner as in the past.
Thinking of this, Chang Haonan had a basic idea in his mind.
Although Dassault's sudden attack seems to be an attempt to set up a fire under the other companies.
But you can make money now, and it will have other uses in the long run.
There is really no reason to disagree.
Just control the risks appropriately.
"It's a good plan."
Chang Haonan closed the file and said to Zhang Liangping:
"That's the name... I suggest the French change it."
The former said, reaching out and gently tapping the words "Falcon NG" on the cover.
NG, which means Next Generation.
Influenced by the bombardment of various abbreviations in his previous life, Chang Haonan is still allergic to elements such as "advanced", "next generation" and "future".
Although he had tried similar naming before for fun, the abbreviation was so long that he couldn't even remember it.
So later on, unless in official documents, everyone started to use shorter abbreviations.
Of course, Falcon NG does not involve this problem, and anyone who has seen it will never forget it.
However, according to Chang Haonan's experience, nine out of ten projects with these elements will fail midway.
Only the Gripen NG and Boeing 737NG are relatively normal.
If the project was completely controlled by him, this kind of metaphysics wouldn't matter.
But after all, there were French people involved.
It's still too unlucky.
"Um……"
Although Zhang Liangping didn't understand why Chang Haonan cared about such details, he still nodded:
"I don't think Dassault would refuse such a small question. What do you suggest changing it to?"
Chang Haonan really couldn't think it through for a moment, so he lowered his head and fell into thought.
Seeing that his leader remained silent, Zhang Liangping thought that he wanted to hear his opinion, so he asked tentatively:
"We expect this business jet model to be world-class in terms of economy, safety and comfort. How about calling it Falcon MAX?"
This name made Chang Haonan's eyelids jump.
Laugh to death.
Your suggestion is very good, please don’t make it again in the future.
"I remember that Dassault's last business jet project seemed to be called Falcon X."
He simply ignored the more ominous name of the Falcon MAX:
"Then let's call it Falcon Z..."
