For a mont, Zhang Gangchuan was extrely embarrassed. The bold characters of "Kunlun Model 2" were strong evidence of "stealing other’s achievents."
He felt his face burning hot and barely dared to look at Zhao Yi. All he could do was muster a forced smile to explain, "It wasn’t my decision to use this na; it was the leaders’. I initially refused, but there was nothing I could do."
The explanation seed rather pale, everything was blad on the leaders.
Zhao Yi, however, nodded in understanding. On his way over, he had heard the higher-ups talk about the production issues of the Warhawk-1. Their optimal solution was to sell related low-end products to offset the exorbitant costs.
The WZ-A2 engine was indeed suitable as an export product. Compared to the WZ-A1 engine, the WZ-A2’s performance was inferior, but it forwent most of the bold design choices, sticking primarily to traditional internals.
Even if the design and technology were completely compromised, it wasn’t a big deal at all.
The WZ-A1 engine was the core, the key. With the WZ-A1, the WZ-A2 beca rather insignificant.
If the WZ-A2 could beco the main export, mass production would definitely reduce manufacturing costs and quickly mature the manufacturing technology. Thanks to many similarities with the WZ-A1, there were plenty of advantages.
The most direct benefit was, of course, the revenue. Aviation engines, especially military aviation engines, were highly profitable. On the international market, the price for high-end aviation engines was ’sky-high’ because only a handful of countries were capable of producing them.
Given the performance of the WZ-A2 engine, there was a scarcity of competitors internationally.
Even Country E couldn’t be considered a competitor, as their high-end aviation engines exported to the international market couldn’t match the WZ-A2’s performance. Unless they were willing to export their top-end engines, which was clearly impossible due to national security concerns.
Of course, the most important factor was the demand from buyers.
If it was just for fitting out low-end fighters, such as third or third-and-a-half generation jets, there was no need for the WZ-A2. But that was not a concern, for military aviation engines are not everyday consur products. They didn’t need many buyers or mass sales. Perhaps just one suitable buyer would be enough to support the mass production of the WZ-A2.
A few orders would be more than sufficient.
Zhao Yi pondered and nodded, his face full of understanding for Zhang Gangchuan and the Kunlun team. Seeing Zhang appear sowhat embarrassed, he felt he should offer so agreent and recognition. He hurriedly said, "Chief Designer Zhang, I truly didn’t expect the Model 2 engine to already be viable for export. That’s really amazing!"
"Your work efficiency is so high, honestly, from the bottom of my heart..."
Zhao Yi said, while also giving a thumbs up.
Zhang Gangchuan imdiately felt embarrassed again, because the WZ-A2 hadn’t reached the stage where it could be exported. They had only completed test flights and there were still many issues that needed correcting.
This ti the engine was much stronger than the Kunlun engine, but conservatively, it would take at least two more years to reach formal production.
Attending the aviation exhibition with the WZ-A2 engine was also a superior command. He needed to give off the impression that the WZ-A2 was ready for mass production. Securing the orders was the priority; with the orders in hand, they could increase research manpower and funding, and even delay the delivery ti if necessary.
In any case, with confird orders, everything else would be easy to resolve.
Zhang Gangchuan didn’t provide a detailed explanation; after all, the matter was of confidential nature, and certainly couldn’t be leaked.
Zhao Yi noticed Zhang Gangchuan’s odd expression, just standing there not saying anything, unsure if it was a smile or sothing else.
He looked at the performance paraters posted next to the prototype and thought he should express so more admiration. He said, "The performance paraters are quite impressive! They are more than enough to support fighters above the fourth and a half generation. There should be aircraft using Model 2 at this exhibition, right?"
"Ah?"
Zhang Gangchuan’s mouth split open in an exaggerated manner as he shook his head full of embarrassnt, "Not..."
"Not?"
Zhang Gangchuan suddenly nodded and said, "No, wait, there is~~"
"Ah?"
This ti, it was Zhao Yi’s turn to be stunned.
Zhang Gangchuan took a deep breath; the embarrassnt welling inside him was almost turning into anger. He simply turned and walked away, saying over his shoulder, "Academician Zhao, I have so matters to attend to. I’ll be leaving for a bit. Please feel free to look around."
"What’s going on? So strange!"
Zhao Yi shook his head in bewildernt.
Just then, Liu Jiankun happened to walk by and promptly greeted Zhao Yi, "Academician Zhao, welco! Have a look at Model 2, pretty good, isn’t it? After this exhibition, I’ll have to discuss with you, we’ll need your guidance on the work for Model 2." He whispered to Zhao Yi, conspiratorially, "You probably already know, right? Model 2 isn’t perfected yet, it still needs so ti; we’re just putting it on early display hoping to attract international orders."
"Not perfected yet?"
Zhao Yi was imdiately startled. He glanced in the direction of Zhang Gangchuan and saw that he too was looking back, before quickly turning his head away in embarrassnt. Zhao Yi turned back to Liu Jiankun and asked in a low voice, "Not perfected...I an, that’s not a problem, but isn’t there no aircraft using it?"
If the engine hadn’t been fitted to an aircraft and there were no onsite performance tests, it would be too difficult to attract orders.
"There is one fitted to an aircraft!"
Liu Jiankun assured, "Of course, there is. Whether it’s perfected or not is one thing, that’s our concern. But fitting it to an aircraft? Definitely."
"How can it be fitted to an aircraft if it’s not perfected?" Zhao Yi was even more puzzled.
"The J-40!"
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