"Yes, old chief!" Xue Weidong, holding the phone in his hand, nodded very pertinently: "Currently, the army is equipped with two tankers, one is the H-6 modified from the H-6, and the other is the oil-transporting -15.
However, whether it is the H-6 or the Y-15, the price/performance ratio is not as good as the more expensive Y-18nb transport aircraft. "
"oh?"
The military leader on the other end of the phone did not expect Xue Weidong to say that. The unit price of 850 million yuan was enough to buy 4 H-6s and 3 H-15s. However, Xue Weidong, the front-line air force commander, thought it was more Expensive transport - 18nb transport aircraft is more cost-effective.
This made the military leaders suddenly interested.
You must know that in the field of transport aircraft, China has always pursued a strategy of small steps and fast running, just like the navy's ships.
That is to say, the quantity of development, production and equipment of a model is not large, but it is used as a basis to train the talent team and accumulate development experience.
There is no other way. In the case of limited funds for the headquarters and insufficient comprehensive national strength of the country, first maintaining the basic situation in key areas and running in small steps can be regarded as a faster, more economical plan.
Because of this, Ascendas Group and Northwest Aviation Factory have either continuously withdrawn new models in recent years, or continued to improve on the basis of old models. The number of equipment in the army has always been limited, and the root is here.
When it comes to the Y-18nb transport aircraft, the above meaning is the same. Small batch equipment, sum up experience, and then lay a solid foundation for the next stage of large strategic transport aircraft.
So after Ascendas Group¡¯s Y-18nb transport aircraft was initially finalized, the headquarters purchased a total of 6 aircraft.
? Among them, a major transport aircraft equipment manufacturer, a certain unit of the Airborne Forces equipped 4 aircraft; the "Golden Helmet" unit as a test unit equipped 2 aircraft.
¡°Then¡there is no more.
Judging from the past experience of the Yun-15 and Yun-17 military equipment, the equipment volume of these 6 aircraft has almost reached the limit of small batch equipment. After all, the Yun-18nb transport aircraft is not cheap, not to mention that as a small-step fast-running aircraft, many One of the preparation plans, it is not necessary to have too much equipment.
After all, in a few years, Yun 19, Yun 20, and Yun 21 will come out, and a new generation will replace the old ones. Yun-18 nb transport plane. Don¡¯t look at the nb behind it, but when it comes to the origin, only the new people laugh. Who hears the old people crying? Even nb has to step aside.
¡°However, this set of established R&D and equipment strategies was shattered by a once-in-a-century flood.
The Y-18nb transport aircraft's robust posture, super carrying capacity, excellent short take-off and landing performance, and more importantly, its aerial refueling capabilities for helicopters demonstrated when rescuing travel companions, were transmitted through the live broadcast of CCTV. While spreading across the country, it also amazed many senior leaders.
You must know that sometimes, no matter how detailed the content of the document description is, it is not as good as recreating the real picture before your eyes.
What's more, there are many professionals around them who can consult, and asking questions on the live TV screen will imprint the excellent performance of the Y-18nb transport aircraft and its intuitive method in their minds.
Even though Xuan raised an extremely realistic question, since we already have a transport aircraft with a carrying capacity roughly equivalent to the IL-76MD, is it necessary to continue small steps in this field?
Faced with the growing demand in the field of domestic transport aircraft, can the achievements of many years be completely implemented in the form of transport-18nb transport aircraft?
So, the senior leaders gathered together, and after discussing the issue of flood relief and disaster relief, they added an issue, which was the strategic needs of the army, whether to equip the Y-18nb transport aircraft on a large scale.
The result of the discussion among senior leaders is actually the same as Ning Xiaodong¡¯s struggle over whether to purchase the civilian version of the Y-18nb transport aircraft, the TNB-18f, on a large scale. That is, the cost of the self-manufactured Y-18nb transport aircraft is too expensive. Compared with the previous The second-hand IL-76MD transport aircraft in the hands of the Soviet republics are not only more numerous, but also cheaper.
Because of this, some people feel that since the current overall national strength is not strong and funds are still tight, the small steps and fast running strategy can be continued, positioning the Y-18nb transport aircraft as a transitional model, and then purchase second-hand IL at a low price. The 76md transport aircraft serves as the main equipment for military air transportation.
But this idea has been opposed by other people. The reason is very simple, that is, the Y-18nb transport aircraft has the potential to be converted into a tanker, which is conducive to the diversified development of the Air Force.
In this regard, those who support the purchase of second-hand Il-76md transport aircraft also stated that the Il-76md transport aircraft can also be converted into an aerial tanker. The former Soviet Union's Il-78 aerial tanker was derived from the Il-76md transport aircraft.Modified based on it.
As the saying goes, the public is right and the mother-in-law is right. The two sides were at a stalemate for a while, so someone suggested that they contact the front-line commanders of the Air Force, preferably the composite commanders who have been in contact with both models, and listen to them. Views.
It happened that the confidential secretary of a certain senior leader used to be colleagues with Xue Weidong, and the two parties had contact information, so they made a direct call and started asking.
How did Xue Weidong know that behind the phone were not only the top leaders of the military, but also several larger leaders who were silently listening to his report? If he had known, he would probably have had to rush towards the plane and hit the plane with his head. .
Fortunately, the top leaders in the military didn't want Xue Weidong to know, so he looked up at the top leaders around him. Seeing that the others were motioning for him to continue asking, he said, "Then tell me specifically why the Yun-18nb transport aircraft is so cost-effective. ?¡±
"Yun-18nb transport function can be used as a dual-purpose machine." Xue Weidong did not hesitate.
"Are you talking about modifying the tanker? It seems that the Ilyushin 76md transport aircraft can also be used. Isn't the Ilyushin 78 aerial tanker modified on its basis?" the military leader asked with a frown.
"But the Il-76md transport aircraft can be converted into an Il-78 that can perform aerial refueling within an hour and a half? But the Y-18nb transport aircraft can!"
"Oh~~~Yun-18nb transport function NoComrade Weidong, can you say it again? How long does it take for the Yun-18nb transport aircraft to be converted into an aerial tanker?"
The senior leaders in the military did not respond at first and nodded in front of the phone. But the next moment they realized something was wrong. They looked at each other with several senior leaders around them and noticed an inexplicable surprise. They immediately opened their mouths to ask.
"One and a half hours, and it's still in field mode!" Xue Weidong replied without thinking: "At this moment, we are renovating the No. 6 airstrip temporarily opened in City J. If it is convenient for the old leader, he can take off through Yuhang¡¯s signal saw the scene.¡±
Hearing this, the senior leader in the army was startled, but before he could say anything, a senior leader on the other side immediately instructed the staff: "Quickly, connect the signal to Ascendas Aerospace, and ask for the No. 6 airstrip in City J."
The staff quickly connected the signal, and the large projection screen monitor in the conference room soon showed the scene of the No. 6 airstrip in J City. When the leaders put on their reading glasses, they saw the Y-18nb transport plane at the end of the runway. After that, he was immediately stunned.
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