In 1978, I was admitted to Harbin Institute of Technology

Chapter 234 Wedge-shaped turret, 125mm gun, this is Pakistan's dream tank!
"Xie Wei, their target is rocket launchers and sniper grenades. Our tanks are a classified project..."

Zhang Mingqiu became anxious.

He never expected that Xie Wei would reveal the school's secrets to foreigners as soon as he appeared.

The other side came for rocket launchers and sniper grenades. At most, they would send international students to the school for training. The tank project is still under research and progress is slow.

If Pakistan finds out, wouldn't it be easy for this information to leak internationally and threaten national defense security?
"President Zhang, we hope to send students to China. Only after fully understanding your school can we propose that you help us train them."

Imhan Farouk was afraid that Zhang Mingqiu would disagree, as they would not be able to see what level Harbin Institute of Technology's tanks were at.

To be honest, they still didn't believe that Harbin Institute of Technology could provide advanced tanks that meet Pakistan's defense needs. However, their understanding over the past few days, especially today's visit, has overturned their perception.

What if the school can give them a surprise?

“Principal Zhang, before we came, Principal Li said that the school is fully open to us. We have already had preliminary discussions with Principal Li about sending international students. If we don’t even know the real situation of your school, it’s hard to arrange which types of international students to send!”

Murita Zalidak looked at Zhang Mingqiu with a stern face.

Remind him that this involves diplomatic relations.

"Principal, it's alright."

Xie Wei grinned, "The military has abandoned the WZ-122 project. Now the university is responsible for its continued development, but there's no funding. If some international friends take a liking to it, they might invest in continuing the project... The country wouldn't object to developing an export tank, would it?"

As long as there is funding, developing weapons and equipment specifically for the foreign trade market, without involving strategic deterrence weapons, is not a problem.

Historically, after the WZ-122 tank project was terminated, some sub-projects continued. Whether Harbin Institute of Technology (HIT) ever obtained samples of the WZ-122 tank or related technologies is unknown.

However, Xie Wei knew that without external funding, the school's tank project simply couldn't proceed.

Even in the field of vehicle engineering, there aren't many people.

Third-generation tanks involve extremely complex technologies, and existing technologies in various aspects cannot meet the requirements.

"Xie Wei, this is against the rules..."

"Regulations are set in stone. If Pakistan takes a liking to it, they will definitely invest. The country will have foreign exchange reserves, and we will have funding to continue the research. The university has projects, and they will definitely mobilize their best resources in this area... Besides, we can develop a special export model to reduce the cost of using advanced technology, so that the military can have more affordable advanced tanks..."

Looking at Xie Wei, Zhang Mingqiu was at a loss for words: Xie Wei's words made a lot of sense.

"All right……"

Left with no other choice, Zhang Mingqiu had to give in.

So the group headed toward the factory outside the school that had no sign.

Unlike before, there is still no sign at the factory gate. Instead of just a gatekeeper, there are now armed guards with guns.

"This is?"

The distance was very short, and Xie Wei's energy was focused on the program-controlled switchboard, or he was busy with other things.

They had no idea when the military had intervened in the school's experimental workshop.

"The military arranged for military representatives to be stationed at our school a few days ago. These representatives haven't arrived yet, but the workshops are now under military security. The military has also assigned a guard platoon to the school's related projects..."

Seeing Xie Wei notice the armed guards standing at the door, Zhang Mingqiu explained in a low voice.

Military representative?
"The school has set up a military representative office?"

Xie Wei asked in surprise.

"That's right... These projects will all be under the supervision of the military from now on..."

Zhang Mingqiu looked at Xie Wei and sighed.

With the military involved, neither Principal Li nor Xie Wei would dare to recklessly sell the country's most advanced weapons and equipment abroad anymore, right?

"Did it result from selling rocket launchers and sniper grenades?"

Xie Wei looked at Zhang Mingqiu and saw him nod slightly, his thoughts became complicated.

It's unclear whether it was because the military leaders couldn't stand Principal Li's reckless actions, or for some other reason, that these military projects were brought under supervision.

"do you have any opinion?"

Zhang Mingqiu was afraid that Xie Wei would cause trouble.

Nobody wants to be subject to oversight, especially when the military sets up a representative office in a school.

"No! We'd love to! The establishment of a military representative office by the military shows that they've begun to value the military-related projects at the university..."

Xie Wei genuinely doesn't object at all.

Not only did they not oppose it, they were very supportive.

He even felt that a guard platoon was too small and that it would be better to form a guard regiment or even a guard division. That would not only show that the military values ​​the school’s technical projects, but also demonstrate the school’s importance in the field of military technology.

Although armed guards were stationed in the workshop, the school leaders brought foreign clients into the workshop, and the armed guards did not stop them.

"Is this a model or a prototype?"

Upon entering the workshop and seeing the WZ-122 tank prototype, Murita Zaridak's eyes widened in surprise.

Low, wedge-shaped turret!
A thick and long cannon barrel!
More importantly, 1, 2, 3... 6!

6 pairs of road wheels!

This means that the tank in front of us has completely abandoned the Type 59 tank chassis and is now much heavier.

The heavier a tank is, the more powerful its engine, the stronger its firepower, and the thicker its armor. Combined, these translate to greater combat effectiveness!

"This is the tank we need!"

With just one glance, Colonel Murita Zaridak roared inwardly!
The appearance before us signifies advanced technology and greater firepower; "Made in China" means low cost.

Low cost and advanced performance—isn't that exactly what the Pakistani military has been striving for?

"Ladies and gentlemen, this is our school's most advanced tank project. According to technical standards and international classifications, it belongs to the third generation of tanks. Its combat weight is 45 tons, and its maximum road speed is 70 kilometers per hour... It is equipped with a 125mm smoothbore gun, uses multi-layer composite armor... and is equipped with a minimum 780 horsepower diesel engine..."

What you see in front of you is just a prototype.

It still needs design modifications.

Therefore, for Xie Wei, bragging is not illegal at all.

"Our rocket launchers have high armor-piercing capabilities because of this tank. According to theoretical calculations, through angled design and multi-layered composite armor, the armor protection thickness of the tank can reach 680 mm of homogeneous steel armor..."

Xie Wei didn't mention that, in fact, with the addition of explosive reactive armor, the entire tank's armor protection thickness would exceed 1000 millimeters.

The armor design specifications require a thickness of 720 mm.

It's for export.

Shouldn't we have to lower the performance level a bit?

Which country exports advanced weapons and equipment without cutting corners on their performance?

"..."

Those who knew the inside story, including Zhang Mingqiu, widened their eyes in surprise when they heard the parameters Xie Wei mentioned.

Is it really okay to brag like this?
These are international friends.

But they couldn't stop it.

I don't know how to stop Xie Wei from bragging.

"Thank you. For a 45-ton tank, is a 780-horsepower engine insufficient?"

Murita Zaridak frowned.

"It does have some shortcomings. With this weight, it would need an engine of at least 900 to 1000 horsepower to achieve greater maneuverability..."

Xie Wei did not deny it at all.

He patted the tank's heavy hull and calmly answered, "Then..."

Murita frowned even more deeply.

"That's the design specification. Currently, the most advanced engine we're researching is 780 horsepower..."

Not even 780 horsepower!
Xie Wei added a sentence.

Anyway, bragging is not taxable.

"Currently, this tank is in the development stage. The prototype in front of us is just an integration of the technologies that our country currently possesses... It is also for technology verification..."

"How much would such a tank cost to manufacture?"

Murita understood.

They went to 617 several times in order to acquire advanced tanks. There are reports that the neighboring Indians signed a new generation tank import agreement with the Soviet Union in 76, and the first batch of T-72 tanks will be deployed to the Indian army next year.

For Pakistan, whose main battle tank is still the Type 59, the pressure is immense.

The Air Force has advanced F-16s provided by the United States, so there shouldn't be any major problems.

The United States even agreed to provide M60A3 tanks to Pakistan. However, after seeing the Leopard 2 and learning that the United States had begun to deploy the new generation M1 tank, the Pakistani military was less interested in the M60A3 tank, which was priced as high as $180 million.

There's no other reason than that the tank gun caliber is too small.

The T-72 tanks sold by the Soviet Union to India were equipped with 125mm smoothbore guns, while the M60 tanks had 105mm rifled guns as their main guns.

Western third-generation tanks have all been equipped with 120mm smoothbore cannons!
Even just comparing tank gun caliber, it's inferior to its neighbor.

The Pakistani military, which has been dealing with Americans since the partition of India and Pakistan, is well aware that the equipment sold by the Americans is different from the equipment they use themselves.

Compared to the M60 tank, the Pakistani military actually prefers to acquire the most advanced third-generation tanks such as the Leopard 2 and M1. Putting aside whether the West would sell them to them, the price alone is prohibitive for them.

The Leopard 2 tank costs over $280 million.

Although the M1 is not exported, the price that Pakistan has learned of has reached $320 million.

can not afford!
I simply can't afford it.

The Soviet T-72 was much cheaper, costing only around $240 million per vehicle, but the key point is that they simply wouldn't sell it to Pakistan.

"Based on our current R&D costs and analysis of various technical costs, if the theoretical performance standards are met, the cost of each tank will not exceed $200 million..."

Xie Wei calmly boasted.

Upon hearing his words, Zhang Mingqiu and the others couldn't help but gasp.

200 million!
Knife!

How dare Xie Wei quote such an exorbitant price?

Good heavens! The most advanced Type 69-II tank only costs $50 to export.

Xie Wei directly quadrupled the price?
Why are they all theories?

Lieutenant Colonel Imokhan, whose eyes were shining as he stared at the tank prototype, suddenly spoke up.

"The tank in front of us has armor that is only 580 millimeters thick, and its tank gun is only 120 millimeters in caliber..."

Xie Wei didn't hide anything, "Moreover, this tank is not yet equipped with a stabilized fire control system..."

"This……"

Upon hearing Xie Wei's explanation, Murita and Imohan exchanged a glance.

What the hell!
Now they understood that Xie Wei's parameters were all theoretical; in reality, the technology had not yet been successfully developed!
"If it weren't for the adjustment of national policies, which meant everything had to give way to economic development, coupled with the continuous cuts to military spending in the past two years leading to insufficient funding, our project would have been a success... Currently, the 125mm smoothbore gun is undergoing prototype production... and the new composite armor has also undergone several rounds of testing..."

Zhang Mingqiu wanted to remind Xie Wei not to exaggerate.

Otherwise, things will get complicated.

Although Principal Li has invested millions of yuan in the tank project using school funds over the past two years, it has absolutely nothing to do with what Xie Wei said.

The Pakistanis fell silent.

"Actually, our troops have already abandoned this project; they need tanks with better performance..."

"So, you mean funding is needed?"

Murita squinted at Xie Wei.

Especially his translator, who was also squinting as he translated these words, felt that Xie Wei was exaggerating.

Even if he knew nothing about tank technology.

"Yes! With sufficient funding, the new prototype can be completed in three years at most."

How much funding is needed?

Immohan frowned and asked Sheve, now he understood why Sheve insisted on bringing them to visit the tank factory, disregarding secrecy.

"8000 dollars!"

Xie Wei immediately said a number.

"Suck~"

Zhang Mingqiu's loud gasp drew everyone's attention.

Xie Wei's skin was darker than he had ever known, and even more than he had ever imagined!
Xie Wei took a discarded tank project from the military and asked the Pakistanis for 8000 million dollars without even asking.

"Principal Zhang, do you have a toothache?"

Xie Wei was unhappy.

What's going on with Zhang Mingqiu?

Wasn't I doing it for the school too?

If it weren't made according to the technical standards of the Type 99 tank, it really wouldn't need this many.

The Type 99 tank cost 10 billion yuan to develop.

One billion in the 1990s.

At that time, the exchange rate of RMB to USD exceeded 8:1.

"The costs you mentioned at the beginning did not include research and development costs?"

Murita frowned and stared at Xie Wei with an unfriendly expression.

"No, it's included. The total cost is no more than $200 million, spread across the production of 400 tanks, meaning $20 in R&D costs per tank..."

"Wait, you mean, if we have the funding now, the improvements can be completed within three years?"

Imokhan interrupted Shewe.

He gleaned what he wanted from Xie Wei's words: the other party wanted a comprehensive upgrade and transformation of the current design to achieve higher performance specifications. This meant that once a cooperation agreement was reached, a large number of engineering and technical personnel could be selected from within Pakistan to participate in the project, thereby cultivating Pakistan's own tank design and development talent!

Tanks, the kings of land warfare.

No army in any country can avoid tanks.

"Correct!"

Xie Wei nodded.

"If we cooperate, can we provide funding and have our personnel involved in all aspects?"

Immohan couldn't wait to ask what was on his mind.

(End of this chapter)