Chapter 339: The Twin-Engine MiG-23!

"The MiG-23 that is conducting confrontation exercises in our country is not bad either." Mr. Tang said, "I think what General Andre said today makes a lot of sense. If we import the prototype MiG-23, we can introduce technology to produce engines ourselves, and the cost will be greatly reduced. Now, if we import this twin-engine version, the engine will be extremely expensive, and we can't equip too many of them. Moreover, the size of our Spey engine is not compatible, so we can't replace it with the Spey engine."

If they can produce engines themselves, they will not be controlled by others. China gritted its teeth and squeezed out a sum of money from its foreign exchange reserves to import the Spey engine from the UK. Therefore, they all know how expensive it is to import advanced turbofan engines. Under the current circumstances, importing the entire aircraft technology of the MiG-23 will already put a heavy burden on the country, and there is absolutely no money to import engine technology. Moreover, even if they had money, the Soviets would not necessarily export engine technology to China.

Every fighter plane produced by our side needs to be equipped with engines imported from the Soviet Union, which will bring serious national defense security problems! Mr. Tang's concerns are also justified.

However, these concerns cannot prevent the Air Force from rejecting the temptation of the MiG-23. The powerful power of more than 160 kilonewtons will give the MiG-23 powerful performance! Moreover, this is a heavy fighter! The potential for modification is also huge.

"As for the engine issue, we may need to import it in the initial stage, but we can carry out surveying and imitation domestically. Using the production technology of the Spey engine we have mastered, we will be able to imitate the engine in five to ten years. Moreover, this fighter is the first carrier-based fighter developed by the Soviets. Many of the technologies on it are worth introducing. Doesn't China also have plans to develop aircraft carriers? If we have carrier-based fighters at the same time, our aircraft carrier plan will be easier to carry out." said Mr. Song.

Aircraft carrier! As a big country with a long coastline, aircraft carrier is the best choice. Although China's national strength is still weak and it is not capable of equipping aircraft carriers, when the national economic strength is strengthened and objective conditions allow, China will definitely have its own aircraft carrier! Now the introduction of MiG-23 has solved the problem of aircraft carrier-based aircraft at the same time, which is undoubtedly a better choice!

Who says carrier-based aircraft can't be used on land? Didn't Iran introduce Tomcat as their fighter?

"Turbofan engines are the mainstream of the future. Since we have decided to introduce advanced technology from around the world, we must introduce turbofan engines." Zhang Tingfa continued, "The United States is unwilling to sell us fighters with turbofan engines, and so are the Soviets. We must be more resolute in our belief in turbofan engines! For the future of our air force, and to catch up with the world's advanced level, we must have fighters with turbofan engines!"

The transition from a turbofan to a turbojet may seem as simple as adding an external duct, but in fact, the greatly reduced fuel consumption rate increases the fighter's cruising radius exponentially, reduces consumption during use, and its entire lifespan may not necessarily be more expensive than that of a turbojet.

"Okay, then we will propose to the Soviet Union to import the MiG-23K that we see now and have detailed discussions with them!" General Xu finally made the decision.

In fact, before coming here, he received news from China that a twin-engine version of the MiG-23 was discovered in the Soviet MiG manufacturing plant. So he led the team and went straight to the MiG Design Bureau to prevent the Soviets from hiding it. Now that they have seen it, they must be firm in their belief and identify the MiG-23K, and nothing else!

Carrier-based aircraft, China also needs this kind of aircraft! This is really the most suitable choice for China!

Kremlin.

"The Chinese have taken a fancy to our MiG-23K?" Andropov raised his head after hearing Ustinov's report. What he had originally planned to export to China was the single-engine MiG-23, but now, by some strange coincidence, the Chinese had actually discovered this twin-engine fighter of theirs!

"Yes, we mean that we don't plan to export this fighter. After all, it is our carrier-based fighter, and its performance is much more advanced than the single-engine MiG-23. If it flows into China, it may let the Americans know the performance of our fighter." Ustinov said: "However, judging from the Chinese, it seems that they have identified our twin-engine fighter and are determined to buy it."

MiG-23K, the current carrier-based fighter of the Red Navy! The first ship of the Kiev-class aircraft carrier, Kiev, and the second ship, Minsk, have now been built, carrying this advanced carrier-based fighter! The performance is more than one level higher than the original Yak-38, and the third ship is a major modification of the aircraft carrier, which will make it easier to operate the MiG-23K.

At the same time, the next level of aircraft carrier with a larger displacement is also under planning. As a warship for the Soviet Union to compete with the United States for maritime rights, its displacement is scheduled to exceed 60,000 tons.

"Andrei, what do you think?" Andropov asked Andrei beside him.

"I feel very lucky today." Andrei said, "Fortunately, the MiG-29 fighters of our MiG Design Bureau are now at the Zhukovsky Flight Test Center. If the Chinese see our MiG-29, maybe they will change their minds."

MiG-29! Andre's words were of course full of meaning.

After all, the MiG-23 is an old model that has been equipped to the troops since the 1970s. Although it has now undergone a twin-engine improvement and its combat effectiveness has been greatly increased, it is only an emergency measure taken by the Soviet Union before the delivery of advanced fighters. Now, the MiG-29 is undergoing the final test flight and finalization stage. Soon, the MiG-29 will be equipped in large quantities by the Soviet front-line air force and air defense force, and the MiG-23 will gradually be on the verge of being eliminated.

Even the twin-engine MiG-23K will be replaced by the MiG-29K. Even now, when the prototype of the MiG-29 is ready to be finalized, the trial production of the MiG-29K has begun. Using the technology of the MiG-23K to improve the MiG-29K has been the focus of the Mikoyan Design Bureau for some time.

Since this is just a transitional model and will be soon replaced by the MiG-29K, there will not be much danger in selling it to China. Even if the United States takes a close look at it and even masters its parameters, there will be a replacement model soon.

"We can use the export of MiG-23K to demand more conditions from China," Andre said. "For example, we can ask China to exchange their nuclear bomb miniaturization technology or basic research on quantum communication! Both sides can benefit from it."