For a moment, the scene fell into inexplicable silence. No one spoke, and everyone's eyes were focused on the fire support vehicle.
Accompanied by the roar of the engine, after a few seconds of quiet "appreciation", Commander Song looked at Wang Ye, pointed at the fire support vehicle not far away and asked:
"So, Wang Ye, how much are you going to sell this thing for?"
Regarding this question, Wang Ye smiled and said without thinking:
"Since our 59 tank can sell for more than one million dollars, then selling our fire support vehicle for $800,000 is not too much, right?"
"After all, the turret is gone, and all the irrelevant equipment inside has been basically emptied out, and it has been transformed into a space for storing artillery shells. The cost can also be reduced a lot. I think we can still make a small profit with US$800,000!"
Hearing what Wang Ye said, Commander Song was suddenly stunned. The next second he couldn't help but laugh and curse:
"You're kidding! Eight hundred thousand dollars? You call this a small profit?"
"The chassis is only worth a few dollars, but the bulk of it is the turret and various equipment inside. Besides, what you sell is completely different from what the country sells. You also have foreign exchange subsidies!"
In fact, Commander Song is right. For the 59 tank, the chassis is the cheapest part, with the lowest manufacturing difficulty and the lowest average cost. The cost of the turret and barrel cast in one piece is very high, not to mention the internal parts. of various equipment.
But for fire support vehicles, these problems essentially do not exist. The turret is welded. The reason why the welded turret is used is not because the welded turret is stronger than the cast one, but because the Second Steel Factory does not have the ability to cast the turret at all. Technology, directly sandwich asbestos fiber and glass fiber between multiple layers of steel plates, and then weld them together. It is cheap and easy to use. It is almost enough anyway. This is not a tank, and the defense performance requirements are not that high.
In addition, the shooting accuracy of fire support vehicles is not as high as that of tanks. The simple fire control system, laser ranging system, and even the dual-axis artillery stabilization system have all been removed, which saves a lot of cost and can also To make room for ammunition, if you can install a thousand more machine gun grenades, you can use them to attack infantry and lightly armored targets, which will be better than any aiming and stabilization system.
In the end, it is just an empty chassis. According to Wang Ye's estimate, the total price of purchasing it directly from Baotou No. 2 Machinery is 180,000 to 200,000. Including the weapons station produced by the consortium, the total mass production price No more than 230,000 to 250,000.
If you use a second-hand tank chassis retired by the military, the price will be even lower. However, based on the concept of honest management, you must explain it to the customer and give a certain degree of discount.
But no matter what, the profit margin is actually pretty good. After all, it looks like a big guy, and customers are willing to pay. Just like in a department store, customers like floor fans but don’t like table fans.
Coupled with the foreign exchange subsidies, the profit margin is even more terrifying.
But the state's selling of tanks is completely different. The production cost of tanks is originally higher, at least around 500,000 to 700,000. In addition, the current official exchange rate is only about 1 to 1.2, so the profit is actually very small.
After all, the Ministry of National Defense and the Ministry of 5th Machinery sell their own goods, but there is no such thing as a foreign exchange subsidy. Even the money is estimated to be a small amount, and most of it will only be converted into various production tasks and planned supplies.
"What about the cost? If we buy it ourselves, how much will it cost?"
Although he was short of money, Commander Song still asked this question while looking at the majestic fire support vehicle not far away, while Wang Ye smiled and waved his hand and said:
"As you said, if we buy it ourselves, just give us the labor cost and transportation cost."
"I can't decide the price of the chassis. The price of the weapon station above, the final mass production cost should not exceed 50,000, plus the cost of transporting the chassis and installing the labor hours, that's the final cost."
"It actually doesn't cost much, it's very simple."
"I wouldn't mind even if other third-tier military factories want to produce similar products."
"But we still have the old rules. Before we complete our first foreign exchange transaction, you have to keep it secret from us!"
Finally, Wang Ye said this in a very gentlemanly manner. Anyway, even if he didn't say this, other military factories would soon imitate and modify it. After all, since Red Star Machinery made huge amounts of foreign exchange at the Canton Fair, the gas tank matter I couldn't cover it up at all.
Then the Ministry of 5th Machinery and the Ministry of National Defense directly held an internal meeting, with the theme of "Let your imagination run wild, work hard on scientific research, develop new products, sell independently, increase revenue for the factory, and earn foreign exchange for the country."
It is said that the meeting was quite successful. Once the information about the Red Star Machinery Factory was revealed, the people in charge were so excited that their faces turned red and veins popped up on their foreheads. One of the bosses was anxious to get back to work on new products.
At the same time, the rules and regulations for future export earnings were also determined at the conference.
For example: before the products of the Red Star Consortium are exported to earn foreign exchange, the Ministry of National Defense and the Ministry of Machinery will not disclose them. After exporting to earn foreign exchange, other manufacturers are absolutely prohibited from copying the original version. They must at least make their own improvements, and similar products, both The ministry will authorize up to three manufacturers to export on a first-come, first-served basis, unless there is a huge gap in the international market, and the quotations must be reviewed by the ministry. Mutual price reductions are strictly prohibited, and will be supervised by the two ministries. If secret price reductions, or even If it is a gray price reduction through kickbacks or other methods, you will be punished at the maximum price.
The most critical point is that all foreign exchange-earning products need to find customers independently!
"That's natural!"
After receiving the cost of this fire support vehicle, Commander Song seemed relieved, nodded and said without hesitation, and then waved his hand with a smile and said:
"In that case, let's go to the testing ground?"
"You have to demonstrate it, right?"
Of course Wang Ye has no objection to this. This was originally one of the scheduled processes and one of the test projects.
After a while.
The fire support vehicle and everyone arrived at the test site, and many relevant staff in white coats were already in place, headed by the slightly bald project committee member. It was obvious that they wanted to conduct detailed tests.
Different from Wang Ye's random wild test before, the process-based testing of military products is much more complicated and not very entertaining.
The main test content is nothing more than the degree of integration between the weapon station and the tank, ease of operation, working stability, performance under various extreme working conditions, and even waterproofing, sandproofing, shockproofing, etc., which are very complex.
Even so, Commander Song watched it with great interest.
Especially when testing weapons, I saw the fire support vehicle bumping and running in the wilderness while firing at the forest on the hillside next to it. Under the terrifying machine gun barrage and grenade raindrops, the trees as thick as a bowl turned into Debris, the scene was a mess, and there were small craters everywhere on the ground. You can imagine that if there were enemies here, they would have been in pieces, and there would be no survivors!
"Okay! Great! What a weapon!"
Then Commander Song began to applaud to himself, and at the same time couldn't help but praise excitedly.
Finally, after the round of shooting was over, Commander Song turned around and asked:
"Not bad! Not bad! If Tanzania can get this kind of fire support vehicle, I think their war situation will be greatly improved!"
"But for them, the price is still a bit expensive. I estimate they will buy 20 or 30 units at most."
"And there is a problem. This thing is not cheap. You must see the goods on the other side. It is impossible to blindly order it like you did with the fire rockets before. If you see the goods, it may take a long time to go back and forth."
"It takes at least two months!"
"The best way is actually to invite their military attaches from the embassy to come and observe, and then let them negotiate internally. However, if you do this, it will be a big move. You have to contact the Fifth Machinery Department and the Ministry of National Defense to ask the leaders to give Please contact the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for coordination."
The military attache of the consulate in Commander Song's words refers to the military personnel supporting the consulate in addition to the civilian diplomatic staff. After all, the consulate is called "the country's land", so it naturally must have security and defense capabilities. This is the international rule.
Hearing what Commander Song said, Wang Ye waved his hands with a smile and said:
"It's not necessary. Moreover, since everyone has to rely on their own ability to earn foreign exchange through exports, I can't ask for help from above."
"Although Tanzania is definitely short of such weapons, on the one hand I can't compete with the ministry, and on the other hand they have no money now. The latest batch of orders will be enough for them to use for a long time."
"So I am not going to sell this weapon to them for the time being."
As soon as these words came out, everyone except Commander Song was surprised. After all, everyone knew that Tanzania was a major customer of the Red Star Alliance. Now that Wang Ye is not planning to sell to a major customer, then who will he sell to?
As for what Wang Ye said about competing with ministries and commissions, it is even simpler to say. Among the 80 million orders from Tanzania this time, there are tanks included. If the consortium exports fire support vehicles again, it will definitely affect the subsequent orders of ministries and commissions.
Of course, competition is nothing.
After all, the Red Star Consortium is also half a military factory. Although it is possible, it is not necessary because they have no money in Tanzania. The ministries and commissions can accept the delivery of gold and ore, and even accept mortgage loans, but the current consortium cannot!
On the contrary, the old factory director who had been silent nodded and said:
"Wang Ye is right, rules are rules."
"Everyone is good based on their own abilities. Don't make such a bad start, otherwise it will break the rules!"
Regarding Wang Ye’s statement, Commander Song gave a thumbs up and said:
"Okay, you have principles!"
Soon, the time came to noon. Commander Song, Director Liang and others left in a hurry after lunch. As for Director Li, he had already left yesterday evening and did not stay overnight. After all, it was closer for him to return to Yuntai.
Subsequently.
The next half month.
The Red Star Machinery and Steel Complex has finally entered normal and orderly working condition.
The No. 1 Machinery Factory and the No. 2 Steel Factory were working in the third shift to rush for orders. After all, Tanzania was really in a hurry and they were already burning their butts. Wang Ye didn't want to lose this important customer, so he could only interrupt the queue for them a little bit. Extrusion point output delivery.
The factory office is dividing the production tasks, compiling the less important ones into data and submitting it to two departments, who then distribute it to the third-tier factories for planning and OEM.
Not to mention the research institute. Although Wang Ye can't be called "tyrannical", the R&D funds allocated to them are relatively sufficient, and everyone is very motivated.
The installation and commissioning of two heavy-duty diesel engine production lines, as well as the commissioning and commissioning of other equipment, are progressing in an orderly manner, and it is estimated that they will be fully ready in October.
Finally, there is the technical secondary school. The children are still in military training. It is said that they are performing very well, which makes Wang Ye very pleased.
In the office, Wang Ye ate dried prawns and frowned in thought.
At present, all projects are advancing in an orderly manner, and the one that is most likely to produce results the fastest during this period is actually the motorcycle engine project. With the participation of Wang Ye's staff and many scientific researchers, the progress is very fast. , currently several derivative engine models with cylinder reduction, cylinder expansion, cylinder increase, and cylinder reduction have begun to be finalized and trial production will begin soon.
Therefore, issues related to corresponding products need to be put on the agenda, that is, small three-wheeled and small pickup trucks.
Besides.
Wang Ye is also preparing to start a new project! That is the rocket launcher project!
Although the consortium currently has a rocket project, and it is a rocket launcher when it is launched from a bomb nest, in Wang Ye's view, this kind of rocket is not enough and the caliber is too small!
"Large-caliber medium- and long-range rocket launcher project."
Then Wang Ye held the dried prawns in his left hand and wrote the title in his notebook with his right hand.
The reason why Wang Ye suddenly proposed this plan is actually related to the 59 chassis, fire support vehicle project, and multi-purpose infantry fighting vehicle project. Let’s not mention those that are still in progress. Let’s just say that the fire support vehicle project has actually been finalized. , as long as you find customers and get orders, you can produce and deliver, and then earn green dollars again.
But the question is, where do customers find them?
Tanzania has even mortgaged its underwear to the Ministry of Defense. They have no money!
Under such circumstances, Wang Ye could only target the big dogs in the desert and other "tycoons" in the surrounding areas. But the biggest problem at the moment is that China has no diplomatic relations with the big dogs, and Wang Ye can't contact them at all!
Therefore, the plan to go abroad has been put on Wang Ye's agenda.
Since you are going abroad to negotiate business and attract orders, it is best to confirm more orders at one time. In this case, just relying on the gadgets and fire support vehicles before is not enough. After all, the big dog is the regular army and is very large. , very rich, people may look down on wild things.
Then Wang Ye must create a new product, a flagship product!
"Long-range rocket launchers are great."
"Their level of exposure to combat is really worrying, and their fighting will is also frighteningly weak. That being the case."
"Then let's engage in 'non-contact' warfare. Anyway, we have plenty of money. When fighting a war, it's just a matter of indiscriminate bombing. It would be best if the enemy can't even see it and wipes out the opponent on the way forward. That would be the best." "
"As for the caliber, due to propellant issues, it must be at least 300 mm, right?"
"The length of the projectile must be between six and seven meters. If you do it this way, you can still use the chassis of the 59 to pull it away, and it will be a super large weapons station, tsk!"
Sitting on the chair, Wang Ye quickly wrote down a series of data on the paper. A smile appeared on his face involuntarily, looking quite proud and happy.
"Ah sneeze!"
Eight thousand kilometers away, Sattler Mohammed suddenly sneezed in his office.
"Oh, the weather is starting to get colder."
"I haven't seen my mother and sister for several days. Do you want to go have dinner today?"
Just when Sattler was sitting next to his desk and couldn't help but talking to himself, suddenly there was a knock on the door outside, and then he shouted to come in, and saw a staff member in a suit walking in. said:
"Your Highness, we have completed the order you gave earlier."
"We have found samples of several products from Huaxia Hongxing Machinery Factory through various channels!"
Suddenly, Sattler's face showed a hint of joy!
