In 1978, I was admitted to Harbin Institute of Technology

Chapter 392 Air defense systems that intercept ballistic missiles, firepower coverage of 300 kilometers—the prince wanted it all.
"Your Highness, could they be scammers? Are China's air defense missile systems really that advanced? They were even prepared to buy air-to-air missiles from the 'spoiler' at a high price. China's technology is already lagging behind, and its industrial level is also poor..."

The prince looked at his assistant Farahleman with a worried expression.

In their view, Xie Wei's words had no credibility whatsoever.

Does China have such an advanced air defense missile system?

Especially capable of intercepting ballistic missiles.

"Yes, Your Highness, it's universally acknowledged that they possess ballistic missiles and nuclear weapons, but in terms of conventional weapons, they still lag far behind the world's advanced levels..."

"No matter what they say, it's definitely bragging. China's weapons and equipment are synonymous with backwardness internationally, and they're sold by the kilogram! If we really had advanced air defense weapon systems, Iran and Iraq would have bought quite a few."

"Even the Bayang and the Pharaoh haven't purchased air defense missile systems from China..."

Many of his subordinates expressed their opinions.

Nobody believes that China really has advanced weapons, otherwise it wouldn't be synonymous with backwardness in international weaponry.

Being able to manufacture something and being able to develop something that is world-class are two different things.

"Their nuclear weapons and long-range ballistic missiles are due to a group of the world's top scientists who returned to China after the founding of the People's Republic. Putting aside everything else, if we had top talents like Qian Zhongshu, with the full support of the country, we could also possess nuclear weapons and long-range ballistic missiles..."

Garcia Abdullah, deputy head of the negotiating team, said dismissively, "But they can't even compare to the Soviet Union in terms of electronics and computer technology."

This is not because he looks down on China's technological level.

As a key figure in the negotiation team, yet not a member of the royal family, he naturally needed to have sufficient strength to prove that he was suitable to stay in the negotiation team—intelligence and problem analysis were his main roles in the team.

Before arriving, Garcia Abdullah had collected a large amount of information about China through various channels.

When I arrived in China, I took a tour and found that even the capital city didn't have many high-rise buildings, there weren't many cars on the streets, and even the supply of household appliances such as televisions and refrigerators was insufficient. They were importing color TV production lines from abroad in large quantities.

If we really had such advanced technology, why would we be unable to supply even industrial products like color TVs, which don't involve much technology, and instead waste the country's already limited and precious foreign exchange reserves to import production lines and technology?
"They have a large number of the world's top scientists!"

Even Farahleman, who also suspected he might have encountered a scammer, was unhappy.

This is the place he envies the most.

As a young member of the royal family, he knew better than anyone that economic wealth alone was not enough.

The country has amassed enormous wealth through oil exports, but in order to ensure international security, it cannot afford to be wealthy yet incapable of protecting itself. Instead, it has to spend large amounts of foreign exchange every year to purchase advanced Western weapons and invite the countries that sell these weapons to station their troops—isn't that just paying money to have these militarily powerful armies protect them?

If they had as many top scientists as China, coupled with their economic strength far exceeding that of China, let alone spending exorbitant amounts to purchase weapons and hire foreign armies for protection, it wouldn't be impossible for them to unify the Arab world and become the world's sixth largest rogue state.

"An air defense missile system is a country's most advanced technological integration, with very high requirements for the electronics industry and other sectors... Although China has developed rapidly in the field of technology, its development time is ultimately too short. Even with the world's top technology research and development team, it's all for naught if the supporting infrastructure can't keep up!"

Garcia Abdullah retorted to Farahleman.

The prince listened silently without expressing his own opinion.

Seeing that the argument was getting increasingly absurd, he knew that his subordinates would no longer be able to offer any constructive suggestions, so he immediately spoke up: "Gentlemen, regardless of whether the other side has it or not, or whether it is as advanced as they say, why don't we just spend a little more time to see for ourselves? If it really does exist, I think everyone knows better than anyone how much it will affect our national defense and security!"

Everyone was silent.

What else can they say at this point?
"Medium-range ballistic missiles will be the most powerful guarantee of our national defense security, and also the most effective means of deterring enemies! Medium-range ballistic missiles exist to launch nuclear warheads. Even if the other party doesn't sell nuclear warheads, with such a high price, would they believe that our missiles with a range of 3000 kilometers don't carry nuclear warheads?"

This was something no one expected.

No wonder the King put the Prince in charge, and when the other party offered $2 million per coin, the Prince didn't even try to bargain!
If the price is too low, people probably won't believe it if it really contains nuclear weapons.

Sometimes, it's the high price that's most intimidating!

"It's not that they're stupid! It's that they know how to ensure national security to the greatest extent possible... If it weren't for the special relationship between the troublemakers and the US, and the fact that the US would support them regardless of its own national interests during a war, they wouldn't be so worried, much less spend such a high price to purchase ballistic missiles..."

Xie Wei did not hide his views from leaders such as Long Yaohua.

"Ballistic missiles don't carry nuclear warheads, so they don't have much of a deterrent effect... Even with our improvements, a conventional warhead with a 1500-kilogram warhead would only have a yield of up to 3000 kilograms of TNT..."

One of the leaders said with a frown.

In their view, it is incomprehensible to spend $2 million per ballistic missile with a range of 3000 kilometers.

Moreover, the other party wanted 35 pieces at once.

In order to enable the other side to build a complete strategic missile brigade, China even gifted one missile, bringing the total to 36 missiles.

Nine launchers.

"Boss, even if we tell the world, along with the big players, that we haven't sold nuclear weapons, will they believe us?"

Xie Wei asked with a smile.

"what?"

His words left everyone with complicated expressions.

Long Yaohua sighed silently.

Only now did he truly understand why Xie Wei had demanded a minimum of $2 million per coin!
What a brilliant empty city stratagem!

"They're using us! This..."

The leader who had spoken first looked grim and was about to announce the termination of the transaction.

That's $70 billion!
With the country continuously cutting military spending, and the annual military expenditure for millions of troops being less than $60 billion, who would dare to give up the business of selling 36 medium-range strategic missiles with a production cost of less than 1000 million RMB?
If that were really the case, I'd probably be drowned in criticism.

"Otherwise, why would they offer such a high price? Big players aren't stupid... Over the years, they've rarely invested much effort in building up their military, but they spend huge sums of money every year purchasing various advanced weapons and equipment from the US or the West, and even inviting these countries that have sold them so much advanced equipment to station troops there..."

"This is their defense strategy!"

While the many bigwigs stared in disbelief, Xie Wei sighed, "They're allies with the West. Whoever attacks them, the West will have to retaliate. The only exception is the troublemakers; they buy ballistic missiles also for self-defense..."

How much business can we secure this time?

Long Yaohua silently looked at Xie Wei, quickly banishing the increasingly strong urge to dissect Xie Wei's head to see what was inside, and changed the subject.

"Who knows."

Xie Wei genuinely didn't know.

This time, when he faced the bigwigs, he needed to mobilize the troops' transportation capacity to quickly move the Counterattack-1 and Counterattack-2 air defense missiles, M7 short-range ballistic missiles, and 300 rocket launchers from the test range to the air force test range in the northwestern desert.

"Okay, we'll do our best to help you with the transportation."

Long Yaohua knew that Xie Wei was incredibly cunning when it came to ripping off foreign clients.

It's nonsense to say how many orders we can secure right now.

After all, these air defense missile systems are not bundled with the Dongfeng-3.

Without the outside world's knowledge, the military mobilized almost all available large military transport aircraft, but the number was too small, and it still took several trips to transport the various equipment to the depths of the northwestern desert.

"I visited the Forbidden City, climbed the Great Wall, and saw the giant pandas these past few days..."

Xie Wei hadn't been with the prince for the past few days, so on the way to the desert, he had to ride with the prince on his private plane. As soon as the prince saw him, he spoke to Xie Wei in a mocking tone.

These were all Xie Wei's suggestions.

Xie Wei had originally suggested that he leave first and come back when he was ready.

But the prince knew very well that Western spies were everywhere, and the purchase of air defense missile systems was irrelevant; what mattered was the ability to deter the Dongfeng-3 missiles within a 3000-kilometer radius, which was the guarantee of national security.

I hope you won't let me down!

"Don't worry, Your Highness. I can't guarantee how big the surprise will be, but it will definitely make you feel that the three-day wait was not worth it!"

Xie Wei said with a smile, "For this test, we'll start with ballistic missiles with a range of 200 kilometers and rocket artillery with a range of 300 kilometers. We've also prepared ballistic missiles with a range of 1300 kilometers for interception tests..."

"Really?"

Even the prince, who was used to seeing big scenes, was shocked by what Xie Wei had prepared for the experiment!
The testing of anti-aircraft missiles is not done with unmanned target drones, or even with slower and larger fighter jets; it's done with ballistic missiles!

"However, the cost this time..."

"How much is it?"

The prince frowned. "Your weapons testing also incurs costs."

Although oil can be found by digging a few shovels of sand, the money of wealthy families also comes from digging sand to make oil appear; it doesn't just fall from the sky.

"That's why, if His Highness is satisfied after the experiment and places enough orders, the expenses for this experiment will not need to be covered separately..."

Xie Wei paused here, observing that the prince's expression didn't show much reaction, before continuing, "If there are no orders, then Your Highness will need to pay 3000 million US dollars..."

$3000!
Let's see just one interception experiment!
"it is good!"

Surprisingly, Prince Sultan didn't show any change in expression and agreed immediately.

very good!

The prince agreed without hesitation, which pleased Xie Wei greatly.

He originally wanted to continue introducing the Counterattack series of air defense missiles, the 300 long-range artillery, and the M7 tactical missile to the prince, but the prince had no intention of communicating with him much.

Anyone would be reluctant to accept a $3000 million fee just for a test.

Soon, the prince's private plane landed at an airport in a major city in the northwest.

The group then boarded a Z-5 helicopter waiting at the airport and flew into the depths of the desert.

"arrive?"

It was already evening when the helicopter landed.

"Let's get started!"

"Your Highness, this is just a transit airport. The air defense system being tested is still more than ten kilometers away..."

The prince suddenly felt an urge to curse.

He knew China had a large land area, but he didn't mean that planes would take several hours to fly, and then a helicopter would take two hours to reach the destination!
Come here.

Despite his exhaustion, the prince finally arrived at the anti-aircraft missile position that had been set up before nightfall.

"Mobile-launched?"

When the prince saw that the missile launch system was entirely composed of vehicles rather than fixed launch sites, his fatigue vanished instantly. Farahleman and Garcia Abdullah, who were following behind him, exchanged a glance.

interesting!
"Your Highness, the circular launch tubes in this area are equipped with Counterattack-2 medium-range air defense missiles, with a maximum range of 50 kilometers and a maximum interception altitude of 28000 meters... Counterattack-1 short-range air defense missile system has a maximum range of 30 kilometers and an interception altitude of 12000 meters... Both air defense systems are equipped with active phased array radars, with a maximum detection range of 240 kilometers..."

Xie Wei personally explained the situation to the prince and his entourage.

"Using such a missile to intercept rockets?"

Garcia Abdullah was furious.

What a prodigal son!

What a waste of resources.

A missile system with a range of 30 kilometers is called a short-range air defense missile system?
He really wanted to ask Xie Wei, if this is called short-range, what should those anti-aircraft missiles with a range of only ten or even a few kilometers be called?
The key is that this thing is used to intercept rockets!
Isn't China supposed to be very poor?
Is this something a poor country would do?

"Sir, although it's a rocket, it's a long-range rocket with a range of 300 kilometers!"

Xie Wei was unhappy.

A rocket with a range of 300 kilometers!
Moreover, the weight of the warhead is strictly controlled within 500 kilograms—480 kilograms—in accordance with the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty!

"If it can intercept rockets with a range of 300 kilometers, it's even easier to intercept ballistic missiles with the same range, right?"

Farahleman's eyes lit up.

Their neighbor, Saddam Hussein, possesses a large number of Scud-B short-range ballistic missiles from the Russian bear, with a range of 300 kilometers!

"Correct!"

It seems the prince does have some discerning people around him. Xie Wei cast an approving glance at the young man, Farahleman. "Due to the lack of a proper guidance system, and the fact that rocket artillery relies on saturation firepower, the trajectory is not very stable. At its maximum range of 300 kilometers, the circular error probable reaches 650 meters..."

When it came to accuracy, Xie Wei's face was full of dissatisfaction.

Even with a simplified inertial guidance system added, the production cost of a single long-range rocket with a range of 300 kilometers reached 68!
Although it's in RMB, and it's still the cost of small-batch production.

It's still too expensive.

Each launcher has 8 missiles, and with a battalion of 18 launchers, a single salvo would contain 144 missiles!
Total cost: 9792 million!
Nearly 1 million.

In other words, the PLA's current annual budget is only enough for 10 battalions to launch 20 salvos.

The military simply cannot afford to equip itself with such equipment.

The troops were unwilling to even procure a battalion for combat testing.

Otherwise, why would they need to go to such lengths to sell to large investors?
Rocket artillery is ultimately too expensive.

When will the testing begin?

Upon hearing Xie Wei's introduction, the prince was now eager to see the test results.

If we can really intercept them, we must buy anti-aircraft missiles!

We definitely need to buy rocket launchers with a range of 300 kilometers!

A ballistic missile with a range of 3000 kilometers, without a nuclear warhead, can only be used for deterrence. It is like the Sword of Damocles hanging over the enemy's head. If it is launched and people find out that it does not have a nuclear warhead, then it has little deterrent effect.

Rocket launchers are different.

300 kilometers, long-range coverage!
If Saddam Hussein dares to invade, just fire a volley when his troops are assembled, and his armored forces will be destroyed.
The more the prince thought about it, the more he felt that the weapons and equipment the other party had introduced were tailor-made for them—attacking the enemy from 300 kilometers away was exactly what their troops needed.
(End of this chapter)