Chapter 965: Let’s Seek the Opinions of the Chinese People on This Matter

All said and done, although the "cooperative relationship" between Stan Aeronautics and Dassault has been around for a long time, the last interaction between the two parties was already a waste of money and goods. Now they want to find another partner to join the MK1A upgrade. Then you will definitely have to go through the process again.

As we all know, in India, the efficiency of the process... is still a bit low.

Even though everyone knew that hiring foreign aid was the only feasible way in front of them, let alone the final decision, just deciding to send a letter of inquiry to Dassault to confirm the intention to cooperate took almost half a month of wrangling. time.

When this inquiry letter was actually sent out, 2001 had already passed.

And this time coincides with Christmas, and the French are naturally enjoying the 14-day Christmas-New Year's Day holiday.

It was impossible to go to work.

Therefore, it was not until the end of the first week of 2002, on January 7, that the Professional Client Division of Dassault Group finally reported this inquiry letter to the headquarters.

In fact, generally speaking, this kind of thing is a written process, which is roughly equivalent to "call and ask before visiting an old friend's house."

It's almost impossible to get a no reply.

Especially something like LCA, which is said to be joint research and development, but in fact it is entirely Indians who pay for it and Dassault comes up with the solution, and the execution is no different from a normal supplier contract.

And due to India's special national conditions, they are often a very weak party.

Therefore, while waiting for confirmation from the group's senior management, Cornell Bass, the head of the professional customer division, had already ordered his subordinates to dig out the technical data of the LCA MK1 model from the pile of old papers and regroup to participate. I have passed the manpower for this project——

You know, they just completed the design work on the upgraded model of Mirage 2000-9 before the Christmas holiday.

It’s also a tailless delta wing, it’s a single-engine light aircraft, it’s an air superiority model that has been greatly modified to be multi-purpose, and it also involves structural changes…

It is difficult for Stanair to draw inferences from three cases, but it is not difficult for Dassault to draw inferences from one case.

It's time to apply the same experience to LCA while your hands are still hot, and then cheat...and make a big sum of money back.

However, no matter how hard they geared up, there was still no reply from the headquarters.

You know, Bass has already decided on the team leadership positions that are going to be sent to India.

This is equivalent to promising a benefit.

But now that even the most basic confirmation of intention is being delayed, he feels a lot of pressure.

Therefore, a few days later, Bass, who was impatient to wait, began to wonder whether the previous email failed to be delivered due to some technical reasons.

Therefore, a second inquiry letter was forwarded repeatedly.

However, it still fell into disgrace.

After receiving no response for two consecutive times, he finally realized that the wind direction seemed to be wrong——

In this case, it is impossible that the above did not receive it.

It's more like preparing for cold treatment...

In fact, what Cornell Bass thought was a bit complicated.

The headquarters has no intention of treating it coldly.

It's just that I haven't made a decision yet.

In fact, the secretary's office reported the news to Ed Steiner as usual on the day it received the first email.

Under normal circumstances, for this level of business, as long as he gives an approval opinion, it will be fine.

But this time, Ed Steiner specifically found Serge Dassault and briefly introduced the situation to the latter.

"LCA..."

Dassault frowned slightly and flipped through a document in front of him.

The last time the two companies cooperated, his main focus was almost entirely on the municipal elections in Corbeil-Essonne, and he didn't particularly understand the ins and outs of it.

Therefore, when he saw that the first demonstrator of this model rolled off the production line in 1995, but did not make its first flight until 2001, the nearly 80-year-old man shook his hands and almost dropped the document on the table.

"This aircraft...were really involved in the design?"

Dassault confirmed a little nervously.

"That's not entirely true..."

Ed Steiner considered his words:

"We have provided certain technical support in the aerodynamic and structural design of the tailless delta wing. The three-stage leading edge slat is actually a modified plan that was designed for the Chinese people about ten years ago... "

"As for the aircraft itself, uh... overall... probably... it should be considered that it was designed by the Indians themselves..."

Hearing this explanation, Dassault was slightly relieved.

"Since their second prototype has not yet flown for the first time, why are they in such a hurry to come to us for upgrades?"

He closed the document, put it aside, and took a sip of coffee to calm down:

"I don't even understand the basic type..."

Dassault originally wanted to criticize a few more words, but then he remembered that his own Rafale seemed to have skipped the F1 stage and was preparing to mass-produce F2 directly, so he suppressed the second half of his words.

"Although our Rafale F1 is manufactured in small quantities, the technology is still very mature..."

He repeated it silently in his mind several times and warned himself never to make analogies with Indians.

"The official statement given in the application letter is that the old model cannot meet the current tactical needs."

Edsteiner shrugged with a playful look on his face:

"But I guess the actual reason is probably... stimulated by the improved J-10 that the Chinese suddenly put into service a month ago."

"You know, many people... especially the media, are willing to compare the two countries together. They are both third world countries, both have a population of about one billion, are both Asian countries, and are neighbors..."

"Forget it... They are not countries on the same level."

Dassault almost choked on the coffee in his mouth:

"We and the Chinese... That's a real technical cooperation..."

After a pause, he even emphasized it again:

"Equal cooperation."

Now, of the two core models of the Dassault Group, one is being jointly developed with others, and the other's key engine technology is in the hands of others.

To be honest, it's still quite embarrassing.

And the only way to save face is to strongly praise the technical strength of Chinese partners.

It can be said that Dassault now hopes that China can catch up with the UK and the US faster than Chang Haonan.

"So, this is also what I am worried about."

Edsteiner took the opportunity to state his purpose-

Indians are a fat sheep.

This has been verified by the Russians.

According to information from multiple sources, the Su-30MKI sold by Sukhoi to the Indian Army is much more expensive than the Su-27SM/UBM sold to Algeria when it cannot use the new generation of enhanced fuselage.

The price difference here is nominally "technical guidance fee".

Because the Indians require part of the final assembly work to be completed in their own country.

However, judging from the past performance of Stan Airlines, it is still a question whether it can provide guidance.

So according to this inference, the LCA upgrade project must be more profitable.

But Dassault is currently tied to China a bit too deeply, and it is still necessary to consider clearly which is more important.

Dassault on the other side could naturally understand the hidden meaning:

"Are you worried that the Chinese and Indians don't get along? If we provide technical support to the latter on LCA, it is likely to affect our cooperation with China?"

Edelsteiner nodded, then shook his head:

"Not just that..."

"I'm also worried that if we really get deeply involved in this upgrade project, will we destroy our own brand..."

The second half of this sentence is obviously mostly a joke.

However, it is very important.

Whether it is a person or a company, it always has to save face.

If the project is rejected just because "the Chinese oppose it", wouldn't it make Dassault Group look cheap?

And it would also hurt morale to explain it internally.

So, at this time, you need a face-saving reason to deceive yourself...

Sure enough, after hearing Edsteiner's second concern, Dassault's originally frowned brows also relaxed a lot.

"Let's do this."

He put the coffee cup back on the table:

"Don't go through official channels, let someone confirm China's attitude towards this matter privately."

"Partners should still be respected."

"Also..."

When Edsteiner was about to get up and leave, Dassault suddenly stopped him:

"After you go back, do an expected assessment of this project to see if it is possible to damage the reputation of our company."

"If the risk is really too great... then we must also consider it carefully."