Chapter 918 Falcon Z

In cross-border cooperation projects like this, especially those involving sensitive models, what really consumes the most time and energy is often not technical issues.

Therefore, after the overall upgrade plan of the M88-3 was confirmed by both parties involved in the project, the next thing was actually simple.

The Snecma engineers who had just evacuated recently returned to No. 606.

Relevant funds were also paid from Dassault's accounts to Snecma and Aerodynamics respectively.

Of course, there is also Thales Group——

The M88-3, including the subsequent M88-4 package upgrade contracts, were all proposed under the framework of the "Falcon NG" business jet program.

This includes the transfer of technologies related to the "Damocles" photoelectric targeting pod.

Thales doesn't care about technology transfer, after all, it's not the first time, but it is impossible to contribute to others in vain, so the transfer payment naturally falls on Dassault's head.

But then again, for Dassault, this money is entirely additional expenditure incurred to meet China's needs.

Even from a purely accounting perspective, it is not easy to settle down...

"boss."

The day after Ian Vista and Liu Yongquan finalized the contract, Ed Steiner came to Serge Dassault with a financial expenditure statement:

"The amount we spend on the Falcon NG project this year will most likely exceed the standard."

"I know that."

Dassault nodded naturally:

"There will be no problem if you overspend a little. I will let the finance department handle the whereabouts of the funds."

He didn't even turn to the financial statement.

As president and CEO, Dassault can ignore other details, but finance and personnel must be firmly in hand.

Ed Steiner is actually the technical leader and is not responsible for business management.

Therefore, Dassault must have known about the cost overruns of the Falcon NG project earlier and in more detail.

After all, it was just a shell project.

If it only involves three or two small amounts of funds, it can also be interpreted as feasibility demonstration and early project research.

But as more and more capital flows are involved, overspending is inevitable.

Dassault didn't take it seriously at all.

Spending so much money to support so many financial experts, isn’t this when it comes into play?

However, Ed Steiner did not give up there.

Since he came here specifically for this matter that was not within his jurisdiction, he must have a deeper purpose.

All the previous steps are just foreshadowing:

"Actually, I have a better solution."

This is the real purpose.

Dassault finally stopped writing in his hand and raised his head to look at the old man who had been his partner for many years.

After a few seconds, he gestured to the other party to continue.

"How about we... really develop this Falcon NG?"

Ed Steiner simply said something shocking:

"I have read the report submitted by the civil aviation department before. Of course I know it is just to deal with investors, but there is actually nothing wrong with the content."

"Large business jets with ultra-long range are indeed the future development direction. Although we have several paper plans in this field, we are still blank in terms of products, completely lagging behind Gulfstream and Bombardier."

"Furthermore, as long as the Falcon NG project turns from an empty shell to a real implementation, even if there are some additional expenditures, it will not seem so abrupt."

Ed Steiner worked in the civil aviation sector before rising to executive positions at group level.

These things are considered old skills.

"But now that Rafale's R&D expenditures have not been fully recovered, it would be risky to directly launch a large-scale project..."

Naturally, a very large group like Dassault cannot be like a self-employed person, where all expenses and income are settled in cash.

At the same time, if the stall is too large, the capital chain will become more fragile.

"Bring them together..."

Ed Steiner obviously had plans:

"Anyway, Thales, Snecma, and of course China, have all tied up with us on the Falcon NG project..."

Hearing this, Dassault suddenly sat up straight...

…

In short, in just a few days, a project research and development project document involving four participants and far longer than previously expected was placed on Chang Haonan's desk.

"Mr. Chang, this is a new cooperation proposal that Dassault Group suddenly proposed to us. Please take a look."

Zhang Liangping, deputy director of the Second Comprehensive Office, handed the document to Chang Haonan, then withdrew and said nothing.

In fact, the chief planner of the group, or in other words, any leader of the group, cannot make decisions on such major foreign-related cooperation matters alone.

It must be done after a collective vote.

But considering that the entire project starting from Turbofan 10 was directly or indirectly handled by Chang Haonan, if he made a statement at the meeting, it would naturally carry considerable weight.

"Falcon NG..."

Chang Haonan saw the title on the cover at a glance:

"Isn't this a shell project just for the purpose of developing the M88?"

As he thought about it, he opened the Chinese text of the document.

Soon, he understood what Dassault meant.

Anyway, the money has been spent, everyone's relationship is in place, and the conditions are relatively mature. Then Dongfeng can completely fake it and make this Falcon NG real.

If you calculate the time, this project started in 2001 is most likely the Falcon 7X ultra-long-range business jet in its previous life.

A model that continues Dassault's three-engine design habit.

But...

The past was before and the present is now.

Chang Haonan can't say what Falcon NG will eventually develop in this timeline.

Because in this project document, Dassault proposed a total of 3 types of design plans that are similar with some minor differences.

Each category is divided into 4 types with different sizes, and the maximum take-off weight ranges from 20 tons to 45 tons.

Apart from anything else, at least they all adopt the more common tail-slung double-release layout.

Including the avionics system, Honeywell did not continue to use Falcon 900 and Falcon 2000, but was handed over to Thales Avionics, a subsidiary of Thales.

As for power, it is even more earth-shaking.

This is also the main reason why the French must involve the Aerospace Power Group -

Dassault and Snecma plan to develop a series of medium-bypass-ratio low-thrust turbofan engines without afterburner and with thrust ranging from 3.5 tons to 6.5 tons based on the M88 core engine.

Chang Haonan is almost certain that the reason why Falcon NG was able to become a full-time official was to avoid wasting the dumplings made by M88 with vinegar...

Having said that, this plate of dumplings still tastes good——

On the one hand, from the perspective of a reborn person, ultra-long-range business jets do have a very broad space for development in the 21st century, and Dassault’s prediction is not wrong.

On the other hand, turbofan engines with low thrust actually have great potential.

However, the Aerospace Power Group is limited by personnel and capital scale, and cannot roll out such a large business alone for a while.

Borrowing French chickens to lay eggs seems like a good choice.

Of course, the other party probably thought so too.

Borrowing chickens from each other is a yes.

In any case, if these models can really be put on the ground, then if you want to build large drones like the Global Hawk in the future, at least you won't have to make do with a turbojet 7 without afterburner like in the previous life.

Thinking of this, Chang Haonan basically had an idea.

Although Dassault's sudden attack is a bit suspicious of putting other companies on a rack.

But while there is money to be made now, there will be other uses in the future.

There is really no reason to disagree.

Just control the risks appropriately.

"The plan is pretty good."

Chang Haonan closed the document and said to Zhang Liangping:

"That's the name... I suggest the French change it."

The former said, reaching out and lightly tapping the words "Falcon NG" on the cover.

NG, which is Next Generation, the next generation.

Affected by the indiscriminate bombardment of various abbreviations in his previous life, Chang Haonan has been allergic to elements such as "advanced", "next generation" and "future" until now.

Although he had tried a similar name before as a joke, the abbreviation was so long that he couldn't even remember it.

So later on, unless it was on official documents, everyone started to use shorter abbreviations.

Of course, Falcon NG does not involve this aspect. Anyone who has seen it will never forget it.

However, according to Chang Haonan's experience, for any project with these elements, nine out of ten will die suddenly midway.

In other words, the Gripen NG and Boeing 737NG are relatively normal.

If the project is completely controlled by him, then this little bit of mystery doesn't matter.

But the French were involved after all.

Still too unlucky.

"Um……"

Although Zhang Liangping didn't understand why Chang Haonan cared about such details, he still nodded:

"Dassault will probably not reject such a small problem. What do you suggest changing it to?"

Chang Haonan really didn't think about it for a while, so he lowered his head and fell into thinking.

Seeing that his leader was silent, Zhang Liangping thought that the other party wanted to hear his opinion, so he tentatively asked:

"Our business jet model is expected to be world-class in terms of economy, safety and comfort. Otherwise, how about calling it Falcon MAX?"

This name immediately made Chang Haonan's eyelids jump.

Laughing to death.

Your suggestion is very good, don’t suggest it again in the future.

"I remember that Dassault's last business jet project seemed to be called Falcon X."

He directly ignored the even more unlucky name of Falcon MAX:

"Then let's call him Falcon Z..."