After Tang Changhong gave the Russian technical team a warning, the progress of both the H-20 project and the PAKFA project jointly developed by both parties has obviously accelerated.
The airframe design was quickly finalized, the engine trial production work was accelerated, and the production of internal structural parts began.
If everything goes well, it is very likely that, as Chen Nian said, Xifei will be able to bring a major surprise to the people of the country after the New Year.
However, even under such smooth progress, a major problem gradually surfaced.
The reserves of T800L carbon fiber used in fuselage manufacturing are completely insufficient.
In fact, the formula and production method of the T800L carbon fiber material were originally provided by Chen Nian and were included in the H-20's technical package.
Laboratory trials of the material had already begun before the project started.
But the problem is that due to technical and equipment conditions, this material has not yet achieved large-scale mass production.
According to the initial plan, the T800L carbon fiber material required for the first H-20 will be supplied with laboratory products.
Originally, the output of small-scale production was enough to meet the first batch of usage needs.
But the problem is that in subsequent designs, H-20 introduced more and more complex designs.
Including variable swept wings, wing fuel tanks, quick opening and closing weapon bays, etc.
Under such circumstances, XAC had to arrange more experiments than expected, which caused the production of T800L to begin to be stretched.
In the office, Tang Changhong frowned and looked at the report in front of him, while Gao Yongyu on the side reported the latest project plan.
"Based on the current output of T800L, the speed of material preparation may not be able to keep up with the speed of our aircraft manufacturing."
"So far, the gap in carbon fiber materials has reached 2.6 tons. This number may decrease slightly in the future, but it is basically impossible to eventually level it out."
"If we have to wait until all the materials are ready before starting trial production, the project process may be delayed by more than three months."
"Although it is very fast, I doubt whether the Spark Team can accept it."
"After all, the technology is provided by them, and there are almost no difficulties that need to be solved in our hands."
"If we do this, it will be difficult for us to apply for subsequent budgets."
After hearing his words, Tang Changhong hummed and did not answer immediately.
In fact, he wasn't that worried about this issue.
Regardless of what is budgeted or not, although the performance and results of the project team must be assessed, in the final analysis, they still have to contribute to the development of national science and technology.
The development of the H-20 is the most important step in the development of the Air Force in recent years.
Only with the H-20 can we have a complete strategic deterrent force.
No matter how stingy Xinghuo was, he would not waste his budget on this kind of thing.
But the problem is, just because they don't have a budget, doesn't mean that this matter can go over like this.
Because if the H-20 wants to be mass-produced, it still needs the support of new materials.
This time we managed to solve it by stalling for time, but what about next time?
The laboratory's output will definitely not be able to support the H-20's combat effectiveness. If the aircraft is to be truly "manufactured," the problem of insufficient material output will eventually have to be resolved.
Thinking of this, he said:
"Have you contacted other brother units? Is there any way for this material to be put into industrial production lines in China?"
Gao Yongyu shook his head and replied:
"There is no way."
"The development of our domestic carbon fiber industry is too weak. Let alone T800L, even the T700 material that has become mature internationally, no factory can produce it."
"If we are planning to do it, we probably need to launch a special project like the chip project."
"That difficult?"
Tang Changhong said in surprise.
He knew that carbon fiber was difficult to make, but in fact, he didn't know much about this industry. He just subconsciously thought that this was a problem that could be completely solved by solving the material manufacturing method.
Gao Yongyu on the opposite side sighed and said:
"Yeah, I didn't expect it at first."
"But recently I checked a lot of information and consulted a lot of experts in the industry, and finally I figured this issue out."
“Actually, the carbon fiber industry originated from island countries.”
"In 1959, the island country invented a method of using polyacrylonitrile to tension and draw raw filaments to make carbon fiber. It began commercialization in the 1970s and was subsequently widely used in military and civilian fields."
"Our carbon fiber research actually started in the early 1960s. However, due to the harsh international environment at that time, the West implemented a high degree of technological blockade on us, and domestic resources were tight, so the progress of carbon fiber-related research work was very limited."
"It wasn't until 1975, under the deployment of Zhang Aiping, that we united more than 20 units to tackle key problems, and finally solved the problem of 'have or not'."
"But it was also at this stage that the blind worship of Western technology began."
"Under the impact of mature Western products, our fledgling industry was simply unable to withstand the impact. For 20 years, we can almost say that we have made no progress in the field of carbon fiber."
"There are two main problems. On the one hand, we don't want to do it ourselves and feel that the investment is too high."
"On the other hand, even if it is introduced, it cannot be introduced."
"You know, under the Batumi Treaty, companies with excellent technology are unwilling to transfer technology to us, and even obtaining equipment is extremely difficult."
"So, under this circumstance, our carbon fiber industry eventually developed into the abnormal situation it is now."
"In a word, the principle is very familiar and the technology is very strong - even advanced materials like T800L can be quickly understood and mastered."
"But the problem is that industrial mass production is almost impossible."
After finishing speaking, Gao Yongyu shook his head subconsciously, and then added:
"Even now, it is still impossible for us to introduce technology and equipment."
"The top companies in the world don't even consider cooperating with us, and second- and third-tier companies, such as RK in the UK, have an ambiguous attitude towards us."
"If we really want to cooperate with them, I'm afraid we will suffer even more losses."
Tang Changhong nodded silently and then asked:
"What about similar products internationally? Is there a way to directly introduce products?"
"Whether production can be solved or not, at least the urgent needs must be solved first."
"It can't be introduced."
Gao Yongyu replied decisively:
"T800L is already one of the most excellent-performing 48K large wire harness carbon fibers. Even in island countries, although they have such products, their output is as small as ours."
"However, unlike us, their equipment is complete. The main difference lies in their workmanship."
"What about exchanging technology for equipment?"
Tang Changhong spoke subconsciously, but then he realized something was wrong.
T800L is a truly strategic material, and it is not cost-effective to exchange it for production equipment.
Neither Xinghuo nor the superior department would agree.
So, he quickly said:
"This is definitely not possible, but is there really no other way for us to get the equipment we need?"
"For now, as long as we solve the problem of core equipment, we can solve the problem of T800L output, right?"
"That's right."
Gao Yongyu nodded, but then said:
"The problem is, it's not that easy to get the equipment."
"The core equipment from the pre-oxidation furnace to the high and low temperature carbonization furnace to the wire retracting and unwinding system will almost never be sold separately."
"If you want to buy it, just buy a production line."
"What do we have to pay for them to sell this to us?"
"After all, by selling these devices, they face not only 'competitive risk', but also political risk."
"Understood."
Tang Changhong sighed.
"But we're going to give it a try anyway."
"Go and sort out the list of relevant companies and prioritize them."
"Then, submit the difficulties we are encountering to Chen Guo and see if he can find a solution."
"The Civil Development Office under the Spark Group has been established for some time, and the network has begun to operate. Maybe it will give us unexpected surprises."
"Okay, I'll do it right away."
With that said, Gao Yongyu turned and left the office.
Tang Changhong, who stayed in the office, frowned, staring at the number of "2.6 tons" gap, not knowing what he was thinking.
On the other side, NPU.
Chen Guo soon received a request for help from Institute 603. His first reaction was to find Chen Nian to discuss it, but he soon came to his senses:
This is not a problem that Chen Nian can solve.
Of course, if you call him, he is likely to design a series of equipment required for T800L material manufacturing in a short period of time, just like the hot isostatic pressing furnace and single crystal furnace he designed.
But the problem is that even with these technologies, the plight of the 603 Institute cannot be completely solved in a short time.
Mature supporting production lines require a lot of time to manufacture and debug, not to mention the H-20 project, etc. This kind of development method that wants to grasp all the technologies in hand regardless of priority is originally uneconomical. .
The best solution is actually to find a way to introduce a set of advanced equipment from abroad, as Tang Changhong suggested.
With the equipment, combined with the complete technology and process, T800L - not only T800L, but also various other types of carbon fiber materials can be mass-produced.
More importantly, reverse engineering of these devices may also solve problems with the devices themselves and lay the foundation for long-term development.
Isn’t this better than leaving all problems to Chen Nianqiang?
But the question is, how to do it?
What the country has been trying for nearly 30 years but still failed in the end, can we really have good results here?
He took a look at the list submitted by Tang Changhong. The companies on it were either island countries or Europeans, and many of them belonged to the Five Eyes Alliance countries.
Wanting them to provide production lines is just wishful thinking
Chen Guo shook her head while reading, picked up a pen and crossed out the companies on the list one by one.
At the end of the row, the remaining four companies were all island companies!
It seems that this time, we will inevitably have to discuss business with them.
Fortunately, due to the previous problems with the THAAD system, the tense relationship between China and the island countries has been loosened. In addition, the United States' behavior of exporting the financial crisis has made the island countries extremely dissatisfied. Amid the ebb and flow of one another, will they still abide by Batumi? The treaty is also unknown.
A person will not have too many principles and bottom lines in extremely difficult times.
The same is true for a country.
I heard that the quarterly financial reports of several pillar companies in the island country are so bad that they cannot be read. Their income has been cut in half, their bones have been broken, and their official fiscal revenue has hit rock bottom.
In this case, it shouldn't be too difficult to let them sell some of their belongings, right?
Thinking of this, Chen Guo suddenly felt confident.
Perhaps, technical problems do not necessarily need to be solved entirely by technical means.
However, before formally contacting them, you still need to prepare a strategy in advance.
We cannot let them see our urgency, lest they sit back and raise the price.
This part of the work will be left to the monkeys in the Civil Development Office.
A few days later, all the companies on the list received the same inquiry email.
The content of the email is very simple, it is a request to purchase the most advanced carbon fiber production lines from each company.
Regardless of the technical strength of each company, regardless of whether there is a comparison of the pros and cons of each company's products, all are treated equally.
This time, the Office of Civil Development has taken an attitude of not rejecting anyone who comes.
As long as you are willing to give it, then I dare to take it.
Moreover, in the inquiry email, the Office of Civil Development also vaguely revealed a meaning:
“Prices are favorable, first come first served.”
In other words, whoever is willing to be the first to make contact will have priority in obtaining the preferential conditions provided by Huaxia.
Of course, that's assuming the negotiations can continue.
This email caused quite a stir in the circle of carbon fiber equipment manufacturers. However, this does not mean that all manufacturers will buy into Huaxia’s account.
In Germany, ScholzAutoclaves responded to the email first.
They politely expressed their gratitude to Huaxia for the inquiry, but at the same time, they regretfully explained that their products could not meet Huaxia's requirements and they could only refuse this cooperation.
Subsequently, Italy's MillerItalia, France's FOREST-LINE, and the United States' Electroimpact companies successively replied refusing to cooperate.
Their attitude was very firm, without any politeness or any room for leeway.
Of course, the most determined one is the American MAGCincinnati.
They were not even willing to go through the normal reply process and simply ignored the inquiry email.
After a round of screening, in addition to second-tier companies like KR in the UK, only three companies from the island country remained that expressed their willingness to cooperate.
Kawasaki, Mitsubishi, Hanyuta.
The three companies expressed a positive desire for cooperation and were even willing to send representatives to China for interviews.
This result was not at all unexpected by Chen Guo.
After all, those companies in Europe are all serious old money companies, and they are somewhat "aristocratic" and will not switch sides regardless of a financial crisis.
USA?
They had refused to cooperate before, but this time, it was just a routine inquiry.
Only an island country, a nation with no sense of propriety, justice or shame, would abandon its master without hesitation after his death.
They can't control what chain reactions will happen after carbon fiber technology is given to China.
As long as you give them enough money, they will even dare to bite their master.
