USSR 1991

Page 265

Pavlov and Ryzhkov expressed no objection to Yanayev's decision. Pulling Japan into the water is the goal that the Soviet Union has always wanted to achieve. In this regard, the entire Soviet high-level is working hard for this aspect.

"The trap has been set, but Keizo Obuchi doesn't seem too cold. Do we need to add another bargaining chip to stimulate or force Japan?" Pavlov asked.

Yanayev waved his hand, indicating that there is no need to waste so much trouble, "For us, Japan is just a giant with a weak economy. Although it looks like a huge structure, in fact the most critical core has begun to slowly decline. His Pride is based on economic achievements. Once the building blocks collapse, a series of chain reactions will cause Japan to seek emergency treatment. At that time, besides joining our Far East development strategy, will Japan have other options?"

"I'm just a little curious, why did you choose Japan instead of China?" Pavlov's original suggestion was to pull China into the water, but Yanayev refused to do so.

Yanayev shook his head, "Japan still has money, even if it is a collapsed financial behemoth, it can get a big share from them. China is not a fool. It is now in a period of rapid domestic economic development, and its huge market is How can I still have the extra energy to think about the Soviet Union if I haven't digested it yet?"

His words refuted Pavlov's suggestion. The issue of economic cooperation between China and the Soviet Union should be handed over to the next leader.What Yanayev is trying to do now is to ensure economic and political cooperation in various aspects, and to suppress the interference of Moscow's political hawks.

There are not many people like Marshal Ogarkov who think about attacking China after their strength is restored, but there are also many.It's just that Yanayev pushed them all out of the political core.

If the Soviet Union and China are at odds, Americans will be able to laugh out loud in their dreams.

"One more thing. The Far East development project has already attracted some annoying flies. Before they interfere with the Far East development plan, it is best to expel them all."

The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries seems to be aware of the Soviet Union's ambition to develop natural gas and oil, so it officially announced an increase in oil production this week to depress international oil prices.This is not a good thing for the Soviet Union. The reduction in oil prices will mean that the initiative of oil pipelines will advance to China and Japan, because they have better options.

If OPEC is impossible without the Americans fanning the flames, the worst Yanayev can foresee is that the United States borrows money from the Japanese government to help them tide over their current economic woes.In this way, it is possible that the Far East development plan can only be postponed or canceled in the end.

To overwhelm the Soviets on this issue would be Mario's greatest achievement.

"It's a series of interlocking rounds. I really don't know if that guy Mario is also starting to worry? Maybe he wants to get me in the last two years?" Yanayev said to Ryzhkov, "If the U.S. Using economic aid as an excuse to ask Japan to cut off its cooperation with the Soviet Union, what should we do? Or what preparations should we make in advance?"

Ryzhkov's answer is very simple, "Then take the lead in provoking the relationship between Japan and the United States, so that the United States will have a grudge against Japan. Although it cannot 100% guarantee the smooth progress of the Far East project, it can cut off the economic assistance of the United States to Japan. .The United States will not aid a country they don't trust."

"Then I know what to do." Yanayev roughly formed a plan in his mind.

A program dedicated to small movements in the United States.

Chapter 589 Ilyushin's Spring

In addition to the consideration of the general policy and strategy, Yanayev will not let go of the details.Sometimes an inadvertent turning point will directly affect the subsequent series of changes and developments.The results of the butterfly effect are astonishing, and all Yanayev had to do was make that butterfly flap its wings.

Yanayev once laughed at himself as the general secretary of the Soviet Union with the widest management in this session. From the satellite launch plan to the Red Navy's warship equipment update, from foreign arms sales projects to domestic economic development issues, he has experienced historical changes and times. With great changes, he can always find the most critical point in a lot of intricate environments.And the long-term development path of various industries in the Soviet Union may be a sentence that Yanayev said casually.

Although it was a little late, Yanayev wanted his Ilyushin Design Bureau to also seize a market before Boeing and Empty Shell split the world's civil aviation market.After all, the huge profits brought by civil aviation airliners are no less than the Soviet Union's sales of tanks and fighter jets all over the world.

As for this kind of task, it was handed over to Noorzhilov, the director of the Ilyushin Design Bureau. After 2010, when China and Russia realized the importance of the civil aviation market, it was already too late.Boeing and empty shells have divided up most of the civil aviation market in the world, and have customers who have been in business for many years.It has become difficult for new civil aviation airliners to seize market share.Although China's concept of civil aviation airliners is still at a level where it is better to buy than to build.

Yanayev didn't want to wait until that time to regret it. In fact, changing a world is just one person's will.

Fortunately, Yanayev is from the future.

The 90s happened to be a big gamble for Boeing to upgrade. If the sales of Boeing 777 passenger planes fail, then Boeing is likely to go bankrupt completely.If the Soviet Union can design a new type of civil aviation airliner to seize the market at this time, it will deal a huge blow to Boeing.And once Boeing goes bankrupt, the scope of the impact is not as simple as the US aviation industry. A series of chain reactions and the economic weakness in the 90s are simply putting President Mario on fire for barbecue.The bankruptcy and reorganization of a century-old brand is enough to trigger a financial tsunami on Wall Street.

In the office of the Ilyushin Design Bureau, Yanayev explained his views to the Ilyushin designers as their reference.

"The performance of civil aviation airliners designed by the Soviet Union should be similar to that of the Boeing 777, or even superior to the Boeing 777. If the design of the Il-96 is used as the basis, it is equipped with a 40-ton economical new engine, coupled with modern avionics and Comfortable internal facilities. And our aircraft has always been cheap and durable, and it will always be a very good choice to develop the world civil aviation market. The 737 has come to an end of life, and now is an opportunity for a blank market.”

This is what Yanayev told Onozhilov when he visited the Ilyushin Design Bureau.Of course, in addition to seizing the world market, the Soviet Union also had another hidden political purpose.

After listening to Yanayev's suggestion, the people around felt a little unbelievable, because what Yanayev said happened to coincide with their research.

Il-96 was originally a four-engine long-range wide-body airliner designed by Russia's Ilyushin Design Bureau. It is the first Soviet wide-body airliner Il-86 to shorten the length of the body, increase the range and increase the improvement of high-tech equipment. .After the maximum passenger capacity of 235 people, the maximum range of Il-96 can reach 7 nautical miles, that is to say, it can complete the cross-water route flight, direct flight from Moscow to the west coast of the United States, and can compete with Airbus A000 and Boeing The 340 competes with airliners of the same class.And its pricing is more than 777% cheaper than Western airliners of the same level.

If the newly designed airliner is better than the Il-96, then it will not be a problem to seize most of the market.

In history, Il-96 was also selected by Russian President Vladimir Putin as his VIP plane.It’s just that the glory of Il-96 was only a flash in the pan. Later, after the disintegration of the Soviet Union, the Ilyushin Design Bureau was unable to carry out new model research and development, and was finally merged and reorganized in a state of operating difficulties.The legendary model that could have become the biggest competitor of Boeing and Airbus was later sealed up because of substandard materials.

Yanayev's plan coincides with the plan that the designer Onozhilov has been preparing for three years ago. Since the Il 96 interview, he has been trying to improve it. The first is to cancel the four-engine engine and replace it with twin engine.

"To be honest, General Secretary Yanayev, we started this project three years ago. Due to insufficient financial preparations, the development of the new Il-96 model has been slow, and we are only now completing it. Three-quarters of it has been completed, and the rest has been temporarily terminated due to lack of funds."

Onozhilov moved out a large stack of papers from a cabinet, on which was the project plan for the transformation of the Il-96 airliner. From the smallest parts to the structural adjustment of the entire civil aircraft, Onozhilov described very detailed.It was only six months ago that Ilyushin terminated the research on the new model due to funding problems, which was undoubtedly the heaviest blow to him at the time.

Yanayev touched the dusty manuscript paper, feeling a little overwhelmed.If the coup d'état failed and the Soviet Union disintegrated, then these precious blueprints would also be littered as garbage, and may eventually become burned waste paper.How many precious efforts of the designers have been included in this, and it will make everyone feel distressed if it is burned like that.

Thinking of this, Yanayev felt lucky.He prevented a hopeless fool and a villain with ulterior motives from bringing down the empire his father had spent generations building.

As long as he is still there, the Soviet Union will not fall.

Onozhilov scratched his head. As the leader of the Ilyushin Design Bureau, he has been committed to completing this plan for these years, but the plan ran out of funds at the last step. Onozhilov, who originally wanted to seal up the design drawings, did not expect Actually ushered in a turning point.

Or the general secretary himself.

Yanayev said, "As long as we can develop a civil aviation airliner that is as good as Boeing and Airbus but more affordable, we will strongly support your development plan. Including follow-up promotion and a series of plans. Ono Day Comrade Love, there is no more effective advertisement than the Il-96 as the special plane of the Soviet supreme leader?"

Because Yeltsin did not become president as before, Yanayev's special plane is still a slightly shabby Il-62 instead of the luxurious and refitted Il-96.It happened to take advantage of the opportunity of changing the model to help the Ilyushin Design Bureau open the way to the world civil aviation market.

Onozhilov's eyes widened, and he couldn't believe what Yanayev said. The president took the lead in taking the Il-96 airliner, which means that the research and development of Il-96 has risen to the level of national politics.For the Ilyushin Design Bureau, this was simply a surprise.

After experiencing short-term financial difficulties in the mid-90s, the Ilyushin Design Bureau finally ushered in spring.Even if Yanayev does nothing, just announcing that the Il-96 will be turned into a presidential plane is equivalent to injecting adrenaline into the Ilyushin Design Bureau.

"Of course there is no problem, General Secretary Yanayev." Onozhilov wiped his eyes with the back of his hand a little out of composure, and said with sobs, "I'm just too excited, really, I didn't expect to see The plan is back in action."

Yanayev patted him on the shoulder and comforted him, "It has been difficult for you these past few years. Not only Ilyushin, Sukhoi, Antonov, and Mikoyan are all facing the same predicament of insufficient funds. But it’s good to survive these few years. I believe your spring is coming.”

Yanayev's words gave Onozhilov confidence. He believed that the leader who led the Soviet Union to revival was just as persistent in the development of the new Il model as before.

This is different from Boeing's gamble. This is the belief of the Ilyushin Design Bureau and the dream of Onozhilov.

The civil aviation airliner of the Soviet Union will one day occupy the civil aviation market all over the world.

Chapter 5: The Butterfly Effect

The Ilyushin Design Bureau is preparing to restart the new Ilyushin aircraft project. After receiving Yanayev's support, Onozhilov is ambitious to make this new Ilyushin model into the Ilyushin design. The game's most successful one.Become the product of competing with Boeing and Airbus on the same stage.

With the support of Yanayev, the Ilyushin Design Bureau quickly obtained sufficient funds, and Yanayev is also preparing a plan to replace the "Kremlin in the Air", the Il-62 special plane.Replacing it with a brand new Il-96 represents the Kremlin's vigorous development of the Soviet aircraft and aviation industry.

When Onozhilov asked Yanayev in private what special attention should be paid to the special plane, Yanayev's opinion was that the new presidential plane needs to be built into the Kremlin in the air.The wall panels are all made of wood, with a deep and solemn tone.The facilities in the plane are luxurious, and it needs to be equipped with the most advanced communication system so that Yanayev can contact the situation in various regions as soon as possible on the presidential plane.Moreover, Il-96 is not only a tool for the president to travel, but also a place for office tasks.

In many cases, Yanayev's travels do not represent himself, but represent a country, symbolizing the national image of the Soviet Union.Therefore, we should not be sloppy when it comes to private planes. Safety is the first priority, followed by comfort.For him, it is absolutely intolerable for him to have frequent accidents due to material quality problems in the history of Il-96.

So this time the development of the Il Airliner has put all of Onozhilov's efforts.

The improvement plan of the Ilyushin Design Bureau is carried out quietly, like a snake lurking in the grass, and when the time is right, it will bite the opponent hard, catching the enemy off guard.Boeing's bet on the 777 is all they have in it.

But some people still noticed the movement of the Ilyushin Design Bureau, especially when Onozhilov announced the improvement of the current Il-96, Boeing realized that something was wrong.Since the commercial flight in 1993, Il-96 has not posed a substantial threat to Boeing's market. To a large extent, it has lost the support of the country, and the path of the Ilyushin Design Bureau is somewhat difficult.

But it is different now. Since Yanayev proposed to change the special plane model to Il-96, Boeing has realized that this is an unusual political signal.

Yanayev is standing inside the aircraft factory, where the final assembly of the Il-96 will be carried out. The Il-96, which has completed the fuselage manufacturing, is undergoing final testing. For the presidential plane, there is nothing that can be done. Sloppy.Even a small screw may cause an accident if it is not handled properly.

Yanayev stands in front of the huge engine of Il-96, which is a finished product and will be assembled into the wing part to form the soul of an airliner.Yanayev said with some pride, "Compared to Il-62, Il-96 is more like the Soviet version of 'Air Force One'."

Yanayev's betting energy on the Il Airliner far exceeded Pavlov's expectations.He asked, "I just don't quite understand why the general secretary pays so much attention to the development of the Il Airliner? Is there any special secret in it?"