Chapter 720 For the Z-20 Project
Chapter 720 For the Z-20 Project
Boguslayev certainly would not trust the Europeans unconditionally. They have been deceived more than once. This time, it is very likely that the Europeans are here to sow discord between them and the East. However, it would be a pity to ask them to give up, so they just need a good solution.
Now, President Qin has given this good solution!
As for whether the Europeans will find out in the future, let's put this aside first. At least they can't offend the Orientals now, otherwise, if this project is terminated, will they still have the face to come back to the Orientals?
They can distinguish the interests. If the Europeans fool them and they are fooled, that would be stupid.
Qin Tao is also very satisfied that the other party can make such a choice. This shows that Ermao has not been fooled by Europe. They still know who their real friends are. If this project can continue, it will still be more beneficial than harmful to the country.
Various domestic projects based on D-227 can also continue to be pre-researched.
"Mr. Qin, after the D-227 engine project is officially put into production, have you ever thought about continuing to cooperate with us in other engine fields?" Boguslayev said, "For example, helicopter engines?"
The domestic aviation engine industry is still relatively weak. In addition to the backward large engines used in transport aircraft, the engines used in helicopters are also backward.
At present, China can only produce the Z-9 engine. Even some parts of the Z-8 engine have to be imported. The Z-8 has not yet achieved 100% localization.
Motor Sich is an engine manufacturer. Their production line also has helicopter engines. Among them, the most famous is the D-136 engine. The output power of this engine is 8,500 kilowatts. It is the most powerful turboshaft engine in the world. You can compare it and you will know: the largest CH-53 Super Stallion helicopter in the United States uses the latest GE38 engine, which has a power of only 5,600 kilowatts. Therefore, three engines must be installed to be sufficient, and the maximum take-off weight is only 38 tons. What about the old Russian Mi-26? The maximum take-off weight reaches 56 tons!
However, heavy helicopters are not widely used, so after the collapse of the Red Empire, the Mi-26 helicopter has never been produced. Motor Sich just refurbished this engine. Motor Sich has no orders for new D-136 engines.
Now, they can't wait to sell all of these to the East. The market in the East is too big! As long as it is produced in the East, the East will definitely use it.
"For us, what we need most is an engine with a maximum output power of about 1,600 kilowatts." Qin Tao said: "If this engine can be successfully developed, the market is absolutely vast. According to my estimate, our domestic orders will exceed a thousand, not to mention the export model."
Boguslayev originally planned to sell the D-136 engine to the East. The technology of this engine is ready and can be exported to the production line at any time. However, the use of this level of turboshaft engine is too narrow, the procurement cost of heavy helicopters is high, and the scope of use is narrow, so the number is not high.
And the engine of this level mentioned by Qin Tao is very useful. This engine can be said to be a panacea. Because it is the most suitable engine choice for ten-ton helicopters!
Let's take the United States as an example. The Apache and Black Hawk of the United States are the most common and widely used helicopters. The former is an armed helicopter and the latter is a general-purpose helicopter. They both use the 1450-kilowatt T-700GE-701 engine. So far, only the batch of Black Hawk helicopters imported in the 1980s can go to the plateau in the East, because the engine is powerful.
The Russians are similar. The TV3-117 engine used in their 10-ton Mi-28 is also of this level, with a power of 1454 kilowatts. At the same time, the TV3-117 is also the engine of the Mi-171 and Ka-52 helicopters.
There must be similar engines in China!
"Mr. Qin, can the power of the turboshaft engine you mentioned be reduced? The power of the TV3-117 engine we produce is less than 1500 kilowatts, which is still a certain distance from your requirements." Boguslayev said.
Speaking of turboshaft engines, Boguslayev always thinks of the D-136 engine first. In fact, they also have TV3-117 engines on their production line!
This engine is a turboshaft engine developed by the Klimov Engine Design Bureau based on the TV2-117A engine. It was developed in the 1970s and then put into mass production at the Zaporizhia Aviation Engine Manufacturing Plant.
Yes, it is the current Motor Sich company led by Boguslayev! In the era of the Red Empire, the old Russians really had no selfishness. The production of various products was based on what was appropriate, and never considered which republic it was.
After the collapse of the Red Empire, the demand for this engine has also greatly decreased. In recent years, only maintenance work has been left. Anyway, the Klimov Design Bureau was originally in Russia, so Russia can completely put this engine into production in its own country, just like AI-222.
Now, since Qin Tao said he wanted a turboshaft engine, of course he could bring this level of engine to the East, but the power could not meet Mr. Qin's requirements!
"The engines you are currently producing are still at the level of the 1970s." Qin Tao said: "This engine is outdated. My friend, I have just said that we must successfully develop this engine."
Develop?
Boguslayev understood: "Qin, you mean, we want to develop a new engine?"
"Yes, we need to develop a new engine. You will provide some technical personnel, and we will provide some technical personnel to form a joint research and development organization. Our turboshaft engine has a normal output power of 1,600 kilowatts. The maximum power must reach 2,000 kilowatts. You know the reason."
Ten-ton helicopters use two engines. Under normal circumstances, a single engine outputs a certain power. However, if one of them fails, the other engine will have to output emergency power. Even if the engine is burned out, it must provide as much power as possible to meet the needs of single-engine flight.
Therefore, turboshaft engines must have this kind of explosive power.
Since the other party has this idea, Qin Tao has to follow his own goals. He didn't ask about armed helicopters, but the navy, air force, and even the army need ten-ton general-purpose helicopters. This project called Z-20 has already begun research and development. In the navy, this ten-ton general-purpose helicopter is to be the main ship-borne helicopter in the future.
What China lacks is still the engine. Since there is this opportunity, we must tinker with this project.
The power of the TV3-117 engine is actually barely enough, but its technology is too backward!
After the Mi-171 was available in China, it would be involuntarily compared with the Black Hawk. This comparison can reveal how backward the Mi-171 is: looking at the fuse alone, the number of fuses on the Mi-171 is huge. If one of them burns, just look for them one by one, but the Black Hawk has only one fuse, and even the modified version has cancelled the fuse! (This joke comes from the Internet, I don't know if it's true or not)
The engine developed in the 1970s is definitely backward by now, in the late 1990s, with insufficient power and a poor power-to-weight ratio.
There is a saying about thrust-to-weight ratio in jet engines, which is the ratio of thrust to weight. The larger this ratio is, the greater the thrust is at the same weight, which means the more advanced the engine is. The second-generation engine is about 5, the third-generation engine is about 7 to 8, and the fourth-generation engine is about 10.
Turboshaft engines use shaft power to measure power output, so there is a power-to-weight ratio, which is the ratio of output power to its own weight. Take the old Russian TV3-117 as an example. The power-to-weight ratio is about 5, but the domestic advanced turboshaft 10 has a power-to-weight ratio of 7.
"In addition to power, we also have weight requirements. Its weight should be about 200 kilograms and cannot exceed too much."
"Qin, this requirement you put forward is too difficult!" Boguslayev shook his head immediately.
Their TV3-117 engine weighs more than 300 kilograms. Now, Qin Tao has reduced the weight to more than 200 kilograms, and the output power has to increase by 100 to 200 kilowatts. How is this possible?
"Only with such requirements can the power-to-weight ratio exceed 7." Qin Tao said: "Modern advanced turboshaft engines must meet this indicator. What we want to develop is an aviation turboshaft engine with world-leading level. Of course, considering our industrial foundation, the fuel consumption rate can be slightly relaxed."
The TV3-117VM turboshaft engine has a fuel consumption of 0.319 kg/kWh, and the fuel consumption rate of the domestic turboshaft 10 in later generations is 0.28 kg/kWh. The data is already good, but if compared with the latest French Aneto 1K data, it is much worse, which is 0.228 kg/kWh. In other words, it is more fuel-efficient, and with the same fuel tank capacity, it can fly farther.
Domestic engines have always had the problem of high fuel consumption, which cannot be solved overnight. There are trade-offs among various functions. The power and power-to-weight ratio problems are solved first, and fuel consumption is left for later.
"The fuel consumption can be relaxed to 0.28 kg/kWh, but the old engine control system must not be used anymore. We need a brand new bilingual full authority digital control system." Qin Tao continued to make demands. If he wanted the engine to have more advanced performance, he would have to improve the control system so that it could be more perfectly integrated with the flight control.
The dual-redundant full authority digital control system, or FADEC for short, can fine-tune a series of parameters such as the engine's throttle, speed, and stator blade inclination through various sensors, fuel metering components, and compressor control components to achieve control. It is completely digital.
These requirements raised by Qin Tao made Boguslayev very helpless: "Mr. Qin, you have proposed the latest turboshaft engine technology. I'm afraid we don't have the ability to do it!"
The Russians can't do anything else, except archaeology. They can't get involved in these new technologies at all.
"We have it." Qin Tao said: "You have the foundation and we have advanced technology, so we cooperate in research and development." Qin Tao said: "Over the years, we have developed many advanced materials and processes, such as the overall engine Blisks, such as ceramic matrix composites, single crystal turbine blades, etc. By applying these technologies, we can greatly improve the performance of the engine. In this way, with our joint efforts, we can complete the development of this new turboshaft engine. Although it is difficult, it is within our acceptable range.”
Originally, Qin Tao said joint research and development, but Boguslayev didn't take it seriously. Now he finally understands that joint research and development is really necessary!
Motor Siqi Company has mass production capabilities and they have rich experience. What Qin Tao needs is their experience. Coupled with Dongfang's breakthroughs in advanced technology over the years, the two parties jointly developed and solved the problem of helicopter engines!
As long as there is no problem with the engine, the Z-20 will be born!
Nowadays, Navy ships have to worry about the hangar at the back when designing them. The domestically produced Z-9 is too small and the imported Ka-27 is too tall. You have to plan it well during the design to determine what kind of helicopter it will carry. After the -20 is successfully developed, there is no need to worry about this. Just design it according to the hangar of the Z-20. This is the most suitable carrier-based helicopter for the navy.
Not only can it serve the navy, but the air force and army aviation are also in need, especially on plateaus. Such professional plateau helicopters are needed. With abundant power, they can fly stably on plateaus.
Unconsciously, Mingzhou Group is involved in more and more aviation projects, but these projects are still related to naval equipment. As a group that manufactures warships, of course, it must also consider the needs of carrier-based aircraft.
Qin Tao is looking forward to it.
"Okay, Mr. Qin, we will carefully consider these requests you have made. I hope we can jointly develop the most advanced helicopter engine in the world." Boguslaev said. He is also full of expectations. After all, the market for medium-sized utility helicopters is indeed huge.
This joint research and development cannot be a matter of just saying a word. There is still a lot of work to be done in the follow-up, a lot of negotiations to be carried out, and various interests must be distributed before it can be carried out, but Qin Tao can afford to wait.
This matter came to an end, Qin Tao took Zhao Ling and left the Friendship Hotel.
"Er Mao's choice should be the best for us." Zhao Ling said: "The Europeans want to disrupt our project, but they still overestimate their own weight."
"Yes, if the Red Empire had just collapsed and the Europeans did this, Ermao would definitely put his hot face on his cold ass. However, after so many years, the Europeans have not given them anything except deceiving them. The good thing is, of course they won’t completely believe the Europeans.” Qin Tao said.
I always cry wolf, but no one believes it. I still remember how the Europeans tricked me into dismantling the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier. At this time, if they directly placed the order and paid the down payment, maybe Bogusla Yev can make up his mind to sell to European engines even if he breaks the contract with Dongfang. However, it is just a bidding, and we don’t know whether it will succeed or not. Of course, we cannot bet all our money on the Europeans.
"Next, let's inspect the domestic automobile industry, see which automobile factory is about to become obsolete, and buy back their production qualification certificates," Qin Tao said.
Electric cars are an emerging industry. Whoever enters the industry first will be the boss. The profits of this thing are not low. After all, cars are going to enter thousands of households. There are also policy supports. Qin Tao must promote it. Ma Ming is a go-getter. Technically, it's not very suitable to engage in this kind of business.
However, I am also engaged in technology, but now I have almost completely become a businessman.
At this moment, Xu Zhengyang answered the phone and reported to Qin Tao: "Mr. Qin, someone from the Antonov Design Bureau is here and wants to talk to you."
Antonov Design Bureau?
Qin Tao helplessly put his hand on his forehead. He, a shipbuilder, is really about to become an airplane builder!
The other party must be here for the An-70 transport aircraft. After all, the D-227 engine will be produced here, and the Antonov Design Bureau will definitely look forward to selling the An-70 transport aircraft.
Does the East need such an aircraft?
Now Dongfang is short of large transport aircraft, so that the Air Police-2000 modified with an IL-76 body cannot be modified without restrictions, and can only use a few. However, since Dongfang already has plans to independently develop large transport aircraft, It is definitely not possible to purchase transport aircraft from the Antonov Design Bureau.
In fact, in the late 1990s and the early new millennium, many people issued this kind of initiative: they hoped that Dongfang could introduce the An-70 transport aircraft and quickly change the current situation of the lack of large transport aircraft in the country.
However, there is a big gap between ideal and reality. This kind of transport aircraft will eventually have no chance with the East. No matter how advanced its technology is, there will always be many problems that cannot be solved. For example, if you always buy and buy, you will not have yourself. R&D strength, what will happen next? After all, it’s good if Lao Maozi can sustain himself through archeology for ten or twenty years, but what about the future? In the future, we will still have to conduct independent research and development. It is better to have independent research and development capabilities now. This step must always be taken.
Qin Tao had never been optimistic about the idea of buying an aircraft production line from Lao Maozi, but since the Antonov Design Bureau was here, of course he had to greet them warmly.
The meeting took place at the Air Force compound. Mr. Lin, who had retired and was at home, couldn't stay idle. He knew the other party, so he was the one who received them. He waited for Qin Tao and others to arrive while receiving them.
"Mr. Qin, I'm glad to meet you. I'm Victor, this is Jinchenko, we are both designers of the An-70 transport aircraft." Victor stretched out his hand first.
Victor? Qin Tao's mind inexplicably thought of the old man with a bruised face.
In 2019, Victor, who was already 81 years old, was still working at the Antonov Design Bureau, earning a meager salary to spend his old age. Who would have thought that on the way home, three men suddenly ran out, surrounded him, and beat him up.
The police arrived late and directly classified it as a fight. The three people who beat Victor were let go, and Victor was taken to the police station instead. After an investigation, it was found that Victor was the victim and the three men were the attackers. There was no grudge between the two sides, and the other party just recognized the wrong person.
Old experts like Victor are definitely national treasures, but in Ermao, no one cares about them, and the police did not give Victor justice, but just let him go.
Just this one thing shows how little attention is paid to these experts in Ermao. It would be a miracle if Ermao could develop.
Now, looking at this 60-year-old man who is running around for the An-70 project, Qin Tao suddenly felt a surge of sympathy in his heart.
It's too pitiful. I'd better keep them all. In the East, old experts are still more valued.
"Boss Qin, Boss Qin?"
Old Lin was curious. What happened to Qin Tao? Why did he suddenly stare at Victor? This is very rude!
"Well, sorry, I think you look like an old friend of mine in Damao." Qin Tao shook hands with the other party, and then looked at the second person.
Jinchenko is actually more famous than Victor. He is a senior expert of Antonov Design Bureau with rich practical experience. From the initial An-26 to the final super giant An-225, Jinchenko has participated in them. He is an expert in aerodynamic layout and wind tunnel experiments. Moreover, he has served as an academician of the Academy of Information Sciences and lectured at various universities. He has more than 30 years of teaching experience, and his students are all over the world. He has produced many professional theoretical and technical talents.
However, it is precisely because he mainly turned to teaching in the later period that Jinchenko did not participate much in the development of the An-70 transport aircraft. He is not the chief designer and has to be Victor's deputy.
"Mr. Qin, I heard that your Mingzhou Group purchased the An-225 transport aircraft. How is it operating now?" Jinchenko asked.
The relationship between Mingzhou Group and Antonov Design Bureau is still good. The world's first transport aircraft is in Mingzhou Group. The other party said this relationship, of course, to pave the way for the next negotiations.
"Well, in our words, it's half a year of not opening, and half a year of profit after opening." Qin Tao said.
The An-225 consumes too much fuel and has high requirements for airports, so there are too few employers who can afford to hire their aircraft, but as long as they hire, it is necessary.
For example, in some super-large special parts that have time requirements and cannot be shipped by sea, they can only be transported by it. The last time it accepted a commercial transportation mission was half a year ago, but the freight is also quite high.
"Yes, this transport aircraft is too big, and there are too few materials that need it to transport. However, our An-70 transport aircraft is different. It is a versatile role in the air." Jin Qinke said: "I hope you are interested in this transport aircraft."
"Do you regard me as a customer or a partner?" Qin Tao asked.
"Both." Jin Qinke is indeed rich in social experience and quickly introduced it, while Victor, who is engaged in technology, became a listener.
"You have already cooperated with Motor Sich to produce D-227 engines at Tianjiao Aviation. This engine is also the engine of our An-70 transport aircraft. So, you are a partner. However, our transport aircraft is very excellent, so you will definitely purchase a batch. This is another customer. Mr. Qin, what do you think?"