Rebirth of the Military Industrial Overlord

"It's very simple. When Mellon got Daukras, he already had a deadly weapon against Grumman."

"What kind of deadly weapon?" Jacob failed to control his curiosity.

"F/A-18, Bumblebee."

The F/A-18 combat attack aircraft, nicknamed "Hornet", is a third-generation jet fighter equipped by the U.S. Navy.

The research and development plan for this fighter aircraft started in 1974 and was formally established in 1975. The original goal of developing it was to replace the F-4 "Ghost", A-4 "Skyhawk", and A-7 "Pirate II" F -14 "Panda" and a series of aircraft carrier fighter wing composed of a series of different purpose fighters to reduce the logistics pressure on the aircraft carrier.

Therefore, the proposed goal is advanced, cheap, easy to maintain, and versatile.

McDonnell Douglas won the order in 1975. In 1978, the first prototype was tested. In 1982, the mass production model entered the low-speed production stage. In 1983, the U.S. Navy began to officially accept the fighter.

And Tan Zhenhua also knows that in the history of his previous life, this fighter, which was contemptuously called the "Plastic Bug" by China Cyber ​​Army fans, will dominate the country with the retirement of the last F-14 "Panda" in 2006. The deck of the aircraft carrier became the only carrier-based fixed-wing fighter.

Whether it is called "Bumblebee" or "Plastic Worm", these are not the reasons for Tan Zhenhua to push it into service as soon as possible. Even at this time, he has no time to consider the combat effectiveness of this fighter and whether China has dealt with it. The means, because he knows, that is still a very remote problem.

He did this for only one purpose-for one person.

As a Briton, Jacob Rothschild didn’t know much about the products of the U.S. military industry. Recently, he had to take the time to make up for it because he had to prepare a few major cases, but he still failed in the first time. He understood Tan Zhenhua's meaning, and Tan Zhenhua didn't intend to let him guess the riddle, so he started to explain.

"According to the original plan, Boeing will annex the civil aircraft part of McDonnell Douglas in order to complete its industry monopoly in the United States, and Mellon will obtain the military part of McDonnell Douglas and will originally belong to Rockwell's military products. Part of it was spun off and injected to form a new Douglas company. The new Douglas company will focus on the defense field. Isn't this okay?"

Jacob nodded. This is the benefit distribution plan that was negotiated at the beginning of the plan. In this plan, Boeing completed the dream industry monopoly, and Mellon got a new, large-scale defense company. I have accepted these large-scale company splits and mergers. Both family interests and personal reputation will be rewarded tremendously. It can be said that the three parties have achieved their goals and made a lot of money.

Of course, this is also the original driving force for the few parties to use unconventional means to achieve this goal.

Tan Zhenhua continued to explain: “Among McDonnell Douglas’ existing defense products, the most important ones are the F-15 Eagle and the F/A-18 Hornet. Among them, the F-15 is already a mature one. The main order comes from the US Air Force, but the F/A-18 "Hornet" has just completed the research and development, and will gradually enter the US Navy from this year."

"U.S. Navy? You mean?"

"Yes, the F/A-18 Hornet was originally developed for the U.S. Navy. In other words, it is the only current and future rival of the F-14 "Panda" fighter that currently dominates the U.S. Navy's aircraft carrier deck.

Jacob understood that since Tan Zhenhua mentioned the Grumman company to him last time, he has spent time studying the company’s products, knowing that the most important source of orders for this company is the US Navy, and if If the F/A-18 "Hornet" can obtain the full support of the Navy to replace the current position of the F-14...

Then, there is no doubt that Grumman's prospects will be gloomy!

This is what Tan Zhenhua just said, destroying Grumman's hope, right?

"So Eric, do you think Mr. Mellon will support your plan?"

"Yes, in fact, when I first met with Mr. Skeff Mellon, I mentioned it to him, and he agreed, because once he successfully swallowed New Douglas, in the Navy The competitors of the fighter plane are left with Grumman, and let the opponent fall and die completely. Isn’t this the thing that capitalists are most willing to do? And now, I just emphasize again and ask you to take this inevitable The things that need to be done will be executed earlier."

"Eric, I understand. I will convey your opinion to Mr. Mellon. However, it may take a long time to defeat a company of Grumman's size through market means. They have no civilian aircraft. , And the military aircraft’s tolerance to accidents is much higher. We cannot launch an all-round offensive like this time and must focus more on the upper-level competition. Therefore, even if we use all the available forces, we certainly won’t. It may cause Grumman to die immediately. In my opinion, their decline will be slow, and it will continue for a long time. It may take ten years. After all, Grumman who has been engaged in military aircraft for so many years must have enough. Powerful upper-level people speak for it."

Tan Zhenhua had to admire Jacob’s keen and long-term vision, because he knew that in the history of his last life, although with the service of the F/A-18, the U.S. Navy slowly replaced the fighters on the deck of its aircraft carrier. However, this process was not smooth. McDonnell Douglas and Grumman played a game in all dimensions. It was not until 1994 that Grumman exhausted the last drop of blood. Srop’s acquisition, of course, did not make the last laugh with McDonnell, an old rival that had been entangled with it for more than ten years. It fell into the warm embrace of Boeing at the end of 1996.

"You can ask Mr. Skeff not to worry too much. Grumman's demise is doomed. Since I asked him to take action as soon as possible, of course I will not stand idly by." Tan Zhenhua pulled the corner of his mouth and put a touch on his face. Smile: "Of course, making military products will not face public opinion issues in the usual sense, but it also has its fatal weaknesses, especially in the United States."

San Francisco in June has entered the summer, but for no reason, Jacob suddenly fought a cold war. What he read from the smile that appeared on Tan Zhenhua's face just now was a gloomy touch.

This young man must have planned some terrific conspiracy secretly. Maybe this is what he said just now, the first step to transform from a successful businessman to a qualified capitalist?

The little lion is finally about to show his fangs, Jacob thought to himself, this should be Eric to declare his power to everyone, he wants to tell the beasts who are walking in the dark forest of Blue Star , Don’t easily try to break into his territory and try to infringe on his interests, because that will surely usher in the fiercest counterattack and revenge, and he has enough ability to retaliate.

Just as the Wuchang has the power to destroy the blue star, so the world can obtain peace under terror, the dark forest law in the capital world is no more than this. Only by having the power to destroy each other can you ensure your own safety, Jacob Bu knows this well, and today Eric seems to have fully understood it.

He will eventually become a top capitalist, Jacob came to the conclusion.

"I will tell the truth." He said.