Chapter 429 F110
When Fang Xiang was ready to take out the F-35 design drawings, it was already mid-88.
The scope of the Peace Model agreement also gradually spread from the modification of fifty J-8IIs to every corner of the aviation level.
The first to arrive was the General Dynamics F110.
That’s right, it was the improved F100 engine that later won the competition with the Pratt & Whitney F110.
In fact, Pratt & Whitney's F100 was originally a new engine designed for the F14. However, after the birth of the F100, the F14, the most beautiful fighter jet in history, is no longer as popular as it used to be, and has been replaced by the more advanced F15 and F16.
In fact, comprehensively speaking, the F100 engine is a very innovative engine that uses a large number of new materials and technologies, such as the use of a large amount of titanium alloys to reduce weight, and a large amount of high-temperature nickel-based alloys to increase the temperature before the turbine.
发动机包括3级风扇、10级高压压气机、环形燃烧室、定向凝固涡轮叶片的2级高压涡轮和2级低压涡轮,其增压比为24.8，空气流量为超过100公斤每秒，中间推力达到6.6吨，最大推力超过了十吨。
However, although the data of Pratt & Whitney's F100 looks good, after the American Air Force accepted and used it, it began to reveal various minor problems.
The Air Force is troubled by the compressor surge during acceleration from slow speed, the fan stall caused by pressure pulsation during afterburner ignition, and the oscillating combustion caused by full afterburner.
Although Pratt & Whitney invested a lot of money and energy to fix most of the problems in the late 70s, the problem of engine surge was not eradicated. It would occur from time to time like a seizure. This quickly led pilots to resist this new engine and refused to fly the F100 equipped with the F15.
Finally, the Air Force, having had enough, reported the matter to Congress, hoping to use the power of Congress to force Pratt & Whitney to comply. However, some members of Congress who had close ties with Pratt & Whitney responded to the Air Force's accusations by repeatedly asking the Air Force questions with obvious bias. For a time, Congress had no sincerity in solving the problem, which put the Air Force in a very passive position.
This incident immediately attracted the attention of General Dynamics.
You know, F100 got the order by defeating General Dynamics. Now that it sees its old rival being humiliated, General Dynamics is laughing like a pig.
He immediately began to privately contact senior Air Force officials with whom he had a good relationship, and expressed that he could provide a replacement for the F100.
The Air Force top brass, who were troubled by the situation, and General Dynamics of course hit it off immediately, but the friendly boat with Pratt & Whitney was directly drilled with a hole in the bottom by General Dynamics and overturned.
Not long after, General Dynamics came out with the F110. The technical standards of most data were almost the same as those of the F100, but because it used more mature technology and enhanced the strength and materials of parts, the service life, production cost and maintenance cost of most components were greatly reduced by one to two levels, and it did not have the same problems as the F100.
After testing and trial driving, it was found to be a perfect replacement for the F100.
Moreover, not only has the reliability been improved, but its total pressure ratio, pre-turbine temperature and air flow rate have also performed better. Of course, the bypass ratio has also been improved accordingly.
When the Air Force saw it, they were like, wow, General Dynamics' engine technical indicators are the same as your Pratt & Whitney's, but the price is lower, the cost is lower, and while the maintenance cost is reduced, the maintenance time is also much longer. So why do they still need your Pratt & Whitney?
This gave rise to the idea of kicking Pratt & Whitney out.
But Pratt & Whitney is the largest engine manufacturer in North America after all, and has a very good relationship with the leaders in Congress.
After giving out large amounts of greenbacks, Congress just won’t approve your Air Force’s request. What can you do?
Thus, the first North American engine war began.
The time when Fang Xiang proposed to purchase the engine happened to be the most intense and tense period of the battle between Pratt & Whitney and General Dynamics.
Originally, Pratt & Whitney wanted to use the F100 engine to fool the military purchase here, and seek another big order in addition to the American Air Force as a customer to reap profits.
But who was Fang Xiang? He clearly remembered the man who had been written into the textbook about the North American Engine War.
They immediately took the F110 order and would not accept any orders from anyone other than General Motors.
Just like the US Air Force, it kicked Pratt & Whitney out of its cooperation list.
At this time, General Dynamics naturally returned the favor and sent the F110's technical drawings, production lines and a full set of authorization letters to Factory 132 at an unimaginably low price and with sincerity.
This transaction also alarmed the US Congress. When they saw that even Lao Zhong bought your F110 instead of F100, they were shocked. Although they did not think that the number F110 was ten greater than F100, it showed that they were really not stupid and knew to use the good ones instead of your ones with many problems.
Do our fighter jets have to continue using this troublesome engine?
When Pratt & Whitney lost Lao Zhong as a customer, it learned from its mistakes and invested hundreds of millions of US dollars again to make drastic upgrades and modifications to the F100. In addition, the greenback offensive finally forced the U.S. Air Force to purchase both the F100 and F110 engines for the F15 and F16.
In this way, the battle between Pratt & Whitney and General Dynamics resulted in Zhong picking up the most advanced third-generation high-thrust turbofan engine that was used for decades in later generations.
“Wow, this data...
It’s even stronger than our Taihang…
Lao Mi is selling it to us just like that?"
During the more than one month of checking the technical data to see if there were any errors or omissions, Engineers Tu and Song were in high spirits almost every day.
Looking at the precious technical information is like finding a treasure.
"It was bought with over a dozen US dollars in real money."
Fang Xiang was so happy that he couldn't even see.
"For the past month, I have been feeling like I am picking cabbages every day. I am always so excited that I can't sleep at night."
Engineer Song has been talking for more than half a month. Whenever he sees exquisite designs and material data, he has to copy a copy.
"Our 132nd Factory cost hundreds of millions to build in the 132s. This deal will allow us to build as many nd Factories as we want.
Still want cabbage?
If you say so, then aren't we even worse than cabbages?"
The butcher was also in a good mood and was joking at this time.
"If I could get this kind of bargain every day, I wouldn't mind if people said I'm not as good as cabbage, right?!"
Faced with the butcher's ridicule, Mr. Song didn't care at all.
It would be best if this kind of bargain could be had every day!
"Soon, you will see the entire set of technologies being bought back one by one."
Fang Xiang, who was sitting on the side, spoke again.
"besides?
What's the good stuff this time?"
Workers Butcher and Song immediately stopped what they were doing and looked up at Fang Xiang.
“The next batch will be radars and missiles.
We are now making final arrangements with Lei Sheng and the contract will be signed soon.
It’s hard to say when it can be delivered to China.”
Thinking of the thunder, Fang Xiang also stopped the work in his hands.
Founded in 1922, this company has gradually stood out and carved out a path among the many arms suppliers in North America, becoming the second largest arms supplier to the Pentagon.
What they are best at is radar systems, missile systems, sensors, submarine sonar systems, trainer aircraft and drones.
Especially radar and missile technology, which can basically be said to be at the top level in the world today.
The thought of designing the F-16 and F-35 that cut off America's subsequent designs while also digging out America's most advanced technology made him feel proud.
Fang Xiang couldn't help but want to laugh.
This is the last chance this year.
During the honeymoon period of less than three years from 86 to 89, Lao Zhong gained countless good things from Lao Mi.
It's a pity that if Shunzong hadn't been willing to visit China and interrupt the honeymoon period, Lao Zhong might have gained more...
PS: I haven't recovered from my cold yet, so I'm taking a day off. I'll only update once.
