You were asked to repeat your senior year of high school, and you took advantage of the opportunity

Chapter 636: The Weird UAE Air Force
Dhafra Air Base.

Jiang Chen raised his head and looked at the sun in the sky which was almost out of focus.

Complained, "These Middle Eastern princes are really messing around. It's so hot in the summer that it's almost melting people, and they actually chose this time to hold an air show."

Huang Zhiguo replied, "They have money and are willful. You can choose not to come, but if you come, you must abide by their rules."

"That's right." Li Daguo said with a smile, "Now we are the ones rushing to promote our products. We are the Party B and they are the Party A, and you are trying to pick their faults."

"Besides, the indoor air show has already been centrally air-conditioned, with a 24-hour constant temperature of around 20 degrees Celsius. People there will enjoy it much more than you think."

Jiang Chen said helplessly, "They enjoyed it, but we suffered."

"Stop talking." Huang Zhiguo wiped the sweat off his face with his hand.

He said unhappily, "Instead of complaining, you should go to the flight briefing room and take off your gear."

Done.

Led by the UAE military representative, several people walked towards the flight briefing room not far away.

Go to the door.

The military representative said to Huang Zhiguo in English, "Sir, this flight briefing room is exclusive to Dongda, so all your equipment can be placed in this flight briefing room in the next few days. If you want to enter and exit the flight briefing room, you must use facial recognition. This is a security system specially installed by your country, so please feel free to use it."

Done.

He smiled at Jiang Chen and others.

Turn around and leave.

But he only took two steps.

Then he suddenly turned around.

He said apologetically, "Because a few days ago, the Pakistan Air Force and the Indian military had a small unpleasant conflict. The Indian side claimed that the University of East Asia was also involved in this conflict. The Indian military also sent a flying squadron to participate in the exhibition, and there are many Indian expatriates in Dubai. So in order to avoid unpleasantness between the two countries, we ask you to exercise some restraint. Of course, we will also remind the Indian side to exercise restraint. This is not just unilaterally favoring any party, but to allow both sides to coexist peacefully in Dubai."

Huang Zhiguo nodded and said to the other party, "Don't worry, as long as India doesn't cause trouble for us, we will not easily provoke trouble."

"That's good."

Wait until the other person leaves.

Xie Mingwei said, "I've heard that the UAE is very experienced in 'fence-sitting' diplomacy. Seeing is believing. Today I finally saw it. A small major is well versed in the art of balance."

Huang Zhiguo laughed and scolded, "Shut your stinky mouth. We are still on someone else's territory. If you make fun of them on their territory, you will be disqualified from participating in the exhibition."

Xie Mingwei shrugged.

With a nonchalant expression, he said, "Even if he had a hundred guts, he wouldn't dare to do it."

Huang Zhiguo's expression also turned serious.

He said to Xie Mingwei, "Small countries have their own survival wisdom, especially a country as rich as the UAE. It's like a child carrying gold through a busy market. If they don't even understand the most basic diplomatic checks and balances, they would have been eaten up by the surrounding countries long ago."

"So you should stop looking down on others."

"They are not being humble to us, this is their way of survival."

"If you slander me with this arrogant attitude again next time, I will write down every word you say and do and hand it over to me."
Xie Mingwei saw that he was serious.

He nodded silently.

Yes.

Their exhibition team was formed on a temporary basis.

Five people from five completely different teams.

Although Huang Zhiguo was the temporary commander of the exhibition team, he did not have much authority to supervise the other people.

But Huang Zhiguo is not completely a vegetarian.

Because this delegation will not only go abroad to participate in the exhibition, but also stay in Pakistan.

Therefore, Huang Zhiguo has certain authority, and even has the power to report the team members' words and deeds to the Air Force Headquarters.

This is a killer feature.

It is just like the power of "secret report" held by the ancient provincial governors.

Li Daquan noticed that the atmosphere was a little subtle.

Then he smiled and said, "The UAE is indeed very wise in survival. Do you know the origin of this country's air force?"

The others looked up at him.

"The predecessor of the UAE Air Force was formed by merging the Abu Dhabi Air Force, the Joint Air Force and the Police Flying Wing, and was officially established in 1976. However, in 1984, the Emirate of Sharjah established its own air force wing, which is nominally part of the UAE Air Force, but has full autonomous management authority. In addition, the country's air force also has two completely independent commands in peacetime, one is the Western Air Force Command in Abu Dhabi, and the other is the Central Command in Dubai."

"In other words, the country's air force is actually composed of three completely independent armed forces."

“This is probably unique in the world.”

Jiang Chen was somewhat dumbfounded.

Although he is incredibly talented, he is relatively lacking in experience.

Especially the understanding of the air forces of various countries.

It is also his shortcoming.

This is not something that talent can make up for.

Instead, it requires accumulation over time.

So he immediately asked, "They are not subordinate to each other and are relatively independent. Is this still a country?"

"The UAE is not a country as we understand it." Wang Jiayuan said with a smile, "In fact, it is a country composed of seven emirates, which is looser than a federation or confederation."

"More than a thousand years ago, this place was part of the Arab Empire. After the fall of the Arabs, the city changed its flags, and the Turks and Mongols ruled it. A few hundred years ago, the area completely became the territory of the Ottoman Turks."

"After the First World War, the region was placed under British trusteeship. Although it was called trusteeship, it was actually a British colony."

"But whether it was the Turks, Mongols, Turks, or the British, they were only ruling indirectly. What does that mean? These rulers only ruled the nobles and upper classes in the region, and the nobles then ruled the lower classes."

"So after the end of World War II, the Third World launched a national independence movement, and several emirates in the UAE also gained independence from the British colonists and announced the establishment of their own emirates."

"But the UAE is surrounded by enemies, especially Iran, Saudi Arabia and Iraq, who are eyeing it covetously."

"In order to avoid being annexed by big countries, these emirates banded together to form an independent United Emirates." "Initially, nine emirates chose to join, but later for various reasons, Bahrain and Qatar withdrew. So the United Arab Emirates is left with only seven countries: Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Dubai, Ras Al Khaimah, Ajman, Fujairah, and Umm Al Quwain. Among them, Ras Al Khaimah withdrew first and then joined."

"That is, because several countries only banded together to resist the annexation of the big countries, they temporarily formed a loose country, so they usually act independently and do not govern each other."

Jiang Chen suddenly realized.

He nodded and said, "As expected, there are all kinds of things in this world."

"Moreover, you always criticized India's weapons for being made in many countries, but in fact, the UAE is not much worse." Wang Jiayuan said again.

Jiang Chen immediately looked at him.

Wang Jiayuan smiled and said, "I just said that the reason why this country came into being is to avoid being annexed by neighboring big countries. But even if it has formed a loose country, the country's national defense is still very weak."

"What should we do then?"

"Looking for a backer."

"Since its independence, the UAE has found a backer. First, it had its former colonizers, the British. Later, it found that the British empire was no longer in name only, so it found a stronger backer, the United States."

"Since independence in the last century, the UAE has paid at least tens of billions of dollars in protection fees to the United States every year, and has obtained all kinds of advanced weapons and equipment from the Pentagon."

"And the UAE also knows how to share the spoils equally. It pays tens of billions of dollars in tribute to the Americans every year, but it also doesn't neglect the old European aristocrats."

"Take the UAE Air Force for example. It is equipped with American F-15s and F-16s, French Mirage-2000s, Swedish Gripen, Airbus A330 aerial refueling aircraft, Hawk-MK102 advanced trainer aircraft, as well as military helicopters from various countries, reconnaissance and strike drones, etc."

"In addition, the UAE Air Force has signed a military procurement agreement with the United States to purchase F-35 Lightning, and has reached a cooperation intention with France to purchase Rafale fighter jets, and has reached a memorandum of understanding with Europe to purchase Typhoon fighter jets, etc.~~~"

"Although we have only reached a cooperation intention and a memorandum of understanding, the money has been paid in advance."

"Just tell me, where can we find such a party A?"

"The small UAE Air Force actually has at least ten world powers taking turns to serve it. This kind of treatment is probably unique in the world."

Jiang Chen listened.

He said with emotion, "Oh, this is really a rich country."

"That's not right." Jiang Chen asked again in confusion, "Didn't Lao Li just say that the UAE is a 'fence-sitter' country, and is very good at playing diplomatic balance? Why do they always pay tribute to Western countries, but never to us... ahem, to the Russians? They look down on us, ahem, they look down on the Russians, right?"

"Haha~~~" Xie Mingwei pointed at the flight briefing room and said calmly, "Sixty to seventy percent of the projects in this country are contracted by us. Where do you think the dozens of central air conditioners at the air show came from? Aren't they bought from us?"

Jiang Chen curled his lips, "These are just petty profits, how can they be compared to the profits from arms sales."

"We have equal trade with the UAE, not to collect protection fees from them." Huang Zhiguo coughed lightly before speaking.

Jiang Chen immediately said happily, "In other words, we are also the target of UAE's military purchases?"

"That's about right." Huang Zhiguo said, "We only sold a regiment of howitzers, dozens of reconnaissance and strike drones, several battalions of air defense missile systems, and more than 15 L- Falcon advanced training aircraft to the UAE."

"It doesn't add up to that much, just a few billion."

"But the cost of subsequent maintenance is quite high, estimated to be around 2 billion per year."

"As you know, the biggest cost of advanced weapons is maintenance."

"However, we are completely different from the exploitation of Western imperialist countries. All our trade with the UAE is based on equality, mutual benefit and reciprocity, not on plunder. So you must make a clear distinction on this point."

Jiang Chen looked at him sideways.

He said calmly, "Commander, there are no outsiders here, you don't need to be so subtle."

"So what if we collected protection money? We didn't collect much, only one-fifth of what the Americans collected. Why should we be embarrassed about it?"

"I find that our country is just like you old people, more reserved than enterprising."

Huang Zhiguo said with a dark face, "Get lost. I have already said that we reached the cooperation intention on the basis of equality. It is not as shameless as you say."

"Besides, we have a great reputation in the Middle East. Don't mess around and ruin our reputation."

Jiang Chen rolled his eyes.

The reputation is indeed good.

During the Iran-Iraq War, we sold weapons to both sides of the war. We traded with Iran on January 3, 2011, and with Iraq on February 4, 2012.

Moreover, the quantity is large and the quality is guaranteed.

Don't have too good a reputation.

"To be honest, we do have a good reputation in the Middle East, especially in Saudi Arabia, which regards our Dongfeng-5 as a national shield." Xie Mingwei continued, "So Saudi Arabia has always maintained its tradition of purchasing military equipment from my country, especially reconnaissance and strike drones, such as the Rainbow series, which are simply the favorite 'big toys' of those princes."

Huang Zhiguo reached out and patted Jiang Chen on the shoulder.

He said earnestly, "Our predecessors overcame many difficulties and finally created the current international environment. But the road ahead will be up to you young people."

Jiang Chen looked up at him.

He said seriously, "I have another question."

"explain."

"Although the UAE Air Force's weapons are made in many countries, it has never purchased any fighter jets from my country except for trainer aircraft. So this time we have the J-10C Raptor and the Xiaolong-3. What is the purpose?"

"It's impossible for the UAE Air Force to change its allegiance and buy our military aircraft just because we join the war."

Huang Zhiguo shook his head and said, "The large-scale arms trade is not as simple as you say."

"We came to the exhibition to give face to the UAE Air Force and let the country's military know that UTNU attaches great importance to the traditional friendship with them."

"Second, we are here to help the UAE and let neighboring countries know that we have contributed partly to the peace and stability of the UAE."

"Boy, it's actually very difficult to gain a foothold in the turbulent Middle East."

"Our Zhuhai Air Show is like building a shopping mall for ourselves, putting all our products on the shelves for the whole world, especially third world countries, to choose from."

"But their air show is like building a shopping mall, where products made all over the world are placed on the shelves for people to choose from."

“It means something completely different.”

“But the message is crystal clear.”

"That's my big brother. You'd better consider the consequences when you touch me!"

(End of this chapter)