Chapter 421 Il-76 Transport Aircraft
The purpose of Andre's visit this time was to discuss the issue of Iran with China! Throughout the 1980s, China's military industry exported a large number of weapons to Iran. These weapons supported Iran to end the Iran-Iraq War, drive Iraq out of its territory, and spread the war to Iraqi territory.
Now, Iran's continued strength is not in the interests of the Soviet Union. The Soviet army does not want to fight with the Iranian army equipped with Chinese weapons! Therefore, the most important step now is to negotiate with China to stop exporting weapons to Iran!
This is not suppression. Andre certainly knows that China will not bow to any external pressure and will even hate power.
This is just an exchange, an exchange of interests! China will lose foreign exchange expenses because it does not export weapons to Iran, and the Soviet Union will bring new business opportunities to China. The investment of these island countries' enterprises can be said to be compensation given by the Soviet Union.
The development of China's domestic economy is inseparable from attracting foreign investment. As China's relationship with the Soviet Union became closer, the West began to boycott China. At this time, only Western countries such as the island countries could enable China to obtain world-class production technology.
The exports from the island country alone can greatly promote China's economic development. What's more, the Soviet Union's cooperation with China this time is not limited to the export of civilian products.
"As one aspect of cooperation, as long as you stop exporting weapons to Iran, we will export 20 Il-76 transport aircraft to you at cost price. If your foreign exchange reserves are insufficient, you can offset them with agricultural products as in the previous contract." Andre said: "Your air force is in urgent need of modernization, especially transport aircraft, which is a strategic air transport capability that must be possessed in modern warfare. In particular, you are now facing a series of problems in Taiwan."
Export transport aircraft! Now, as a transport aircraft with a take-off weight of 200 tons put into production in 1975, the Il-76 plays an absolute backbone in the Soviet Union's air transport force. In later generations, when other transport aircraft have been discontinued, only the Il-76 continues to soar in the blue sky and is exported to many countries.
With the export of F-16s from the United States to Taiwan, China will no longer have the threat from the north and will focus more on Taiwan. A strait will make China, which has a strong land force, feel powerless. Therefore, China needs to have various strategic delivery capabilities, and the Il-76 transport aircraft is a good choice!
Now, China has several types of transport aircraft, all of which were mapped and copied from Soviet transport aircraft.
The Y-5 is an old piston-engine propeller transport aircraft from the 1950s. It has backward technical performance and low transport capacity. The Y-6 has already been difficult to produce, the Y-7 is still in the test flight, and only the Y-8 will not be finalized until next year. Even if it is finalized, the take-off weight of the Y-8 is only 60 tons, which is an order of magnitude lower than the IL-76 with a take-off weight of 200 tons!
This is another olive branch thrown out by the Soviet Union, which can be regarded as a compensation for China's cessation of arms exports to Iran. You must know that this is not the future. The current production of this transport aircraft is almost all for the Soviet Union's own use.
In the future, if China wants to retake Taiwan, it can use the same method that the Soviet Union used to land on the island. Transport planes can pretend to be civil airliners and land directly on the Taiwan airport. Soldiers with weapons can quickly occupy the entire airport. The following planes can transport more personnel and equipment to end the battle cleanly and neatly!
This type of transport aircraft capable of taking off and landing in the field is extremely important to China!
Sure enough, when they heard Andrei's proposal to export the Il-76 transport aircraft to China, Air Force Commander General Zhang and others were instantly interested.
"Okay, let's discuss this matter further." Lord Deng said, "Now, let's go to the banquet first."
It doesn't seem appropriate to let the Prime Minister of the island country wait in the banquet hall. This state banquet is to entertain guests from the Soviet Union and the island country.
Andre knew that it was impossible for the Chinese leaders to make the decision on such a matter right away. The Chinese top leaders would definitely have to consider it carefully. If the other party agreed right away, Andre would have to wonder if these people were trying to fool him.
After walking through the corridor and the aisle, we arrived at the banquet hall. The atmosphere here was already very lively.
As important figures, they all sat at the same table. Andre looked at Fusako Shigenobu, who was sitting across the table. He was raising his glass elegantly and toasting the person next to him.
Fusako Shigenobu, who once liked to use force to solve problems, has naturally learned everything about politics after gaining national power and has become a qualified politician. Moreover, under the leadership of Fusako Shigenobu, the island country is gradually getting out of its decline and continuing to demonstrate its position in the international community with its strong economic capabilities.
"General Andrei, I toast you a glass." Shigenobu Fusako said to Andrei. She held the glass and came to Andrei's side: "I wish the friendship between our island country and the Soviet Union will last forever."
"Our friendship will last forever." Andre also raised his glass.
This kind of occasion is for friendship, don't expect any substantial progress. As for drinking, Andre, an old Russian, is not afraid of his health at all.
"General Andre, may I invite you to dance?" Listening to the relaxing and cheerful music, the rhythm of which was like a dance music, Shigenobu Fusako couldn't help but say.
Here? Andre frowned. This was a formal occasion after all. Dancing was not appropriate, right?
However, looking at Fusako Shigenobu who had put down her wine glass, she had already stretched out her hand, obviously waiting for a dance partner. Moreover, Fusako Shigenobu had changed into a black long skirt and high-heeled dance shoes, looking dignified and elegant, as if she had already anticipated dancing.
"Everyone, relax and dance," Deng said. "With our reform and opening up, these Western social behaviors are no longer the dregs of capitalism."
Following Mr. Deng's invitation, some people had already entered the dance floor, so Andre had no choice but to hold Shigenobu Fusako's hand and enter the dance floor as well.
Fusako Shigenobu, who was in her thirties, exuded the charm of a mature woman. She placed her hand on Andre's neck, blinked her eyelashes, and danced to the music. She whispered in Andre's ear in a soft voice, "General Andre, just tell us what you need our island government to do."