Great Power Industry: You're a private company building an aircraft carrier?

"Really?"

Babbage's breathing became rapid.

The only major reason that allowed him to stay with Er Mao and was unwilling to leave was the Varyag!

The Kuznetsov has already sailed away, while the Riga remains on the outfitting dock, watching the changing times, and has itself been renamed the Varyag.

Babbage had witnessed the construction of the warship and watched it gradually take shape, and had developed an emotional attachment to it.

Even though the Red Empire was gone, and even though life was difficult, he still chose to stay in Ermao because he wanted to watch the Varyag every day. He shared the same ideal as Makarov!

Upon hearing Qin Chuan say he wanted to buy the aircraft carrier back, he was immediately tempted.

After all, Makarov knew that the Varyag could not be built; after all, that powerful empire no longer existed, but…

Then, as if struck by a sudden thought, he became frustrated again: "It's impossible. They won't allow the Varyag to be sold."

"But they don't have any money!"

Qin Chuan said, "The Varyag is the property of the Russians. If the Russians want to buy it, they need to pay the full amount. But the Russians only want to pay the remaining 30%. In fact, the Russians don't even have the funds for the remaining 30%!"

"How did you know?"

Qin Chuan smiled and said, "If this matter drags on, both sides will become disheartened. When that time comes, the Varyag will be handed over to the shipyard for disposal, and I, the scrap metal dealer, will have my chance."

Qin Jiantai and Pan Lao remained silent, listening intently to Qin Chuan's performance. The more they listened, the more shocked and excited they became.

If we can buy back that warship, then our country's aircraft carrier program will enter a new era!

Over the years, relevant personnel have made unremitting efforts to develop aircraft carriers, starting with Project 707 and then Project 891.

However, these are all arguments. After all, a PowerPoint presentation doesn't cost too much money. If the project were to actually start, the annual military budget of one or two hundred billion yuan would simply not be enough.

However, it would be different if there were an existing one available for conversion.

Displacement and catapults are all unimportant; let's solve the problem of having them first!

"Are you sure?" Babich's face lit up with excitement.

“Mr. Babich, oaths and promises are meaningless and have no effect. I can transfer two million US dollars to your account as a deposit for the purchase of the Varyag. If we do not proceed with the purchase within five years, then this money is yours.”

"The deposit is for the shipyard, not for me."

Babich said, "I don't need the money, but Qin, I trust you, and I'm willing to stay!"

Shouting slogans or giving out certificates of honor is meaningless; the most direct approach is to give money! Qin Chuan was willing to use two million to show his sincerity, and Babbich had no reason not to believe him.

Qin Jiantai and Old Pan were both excited.

"Come, let's raise a glass together and welcome Mr. Babich to stay in our East!"

Old Pan stopped hiding his intentions: "Mr. Babich, we are currently carrying out Project 891 in China. On behalf of the project team, I welcome you to join us!"

"Gentlemen, an aircraft carrier is a massive system engineering project. Is the East prepared for it?"

Once Babbage decided to join, he began to plan: "Without technological reserves, it is very difficult to build an aircraft carrier. Only a few countries in the world can build the steel needed for an aircraft carrier. Even a small arresting cable is a test of a country's industrial base."

Old Pan frowned. From Project 707 to Project 891, China has been discussing these projects for a long time, but it hasn't actually come to fruition yet. There are indeed many shortcomings now.

Take warship steel as an example. Back then, they directly copied the steel from the Russians and manufactured the 907 and 921 series of nickel-chromium alloy steels. However, China lacks these rare metals.

After the conflict with the Russians, China developed the 901 series steel with silicon and manganese elements, with a yield strength of only three to four hundred MPa.

In order to build the 112 destroyer, 945 steel was developed, with a yield strength of only 441 MPa. The pass rate of the steel was only 60%, and each piece had to be inspected.

What about building an aircraft carrier?

Take the Russian ship Varyag as an example. The main body of the warship is made of 590 MPa AK-25 steel, while the deck is made of 700 MPa AK-27 steel.

We don't even have any steel in China! How can we possibly manufacture it?!

If there's no such thing, can Babbage trust his own aircraft carrier project? Or will he just walk away?

“What’s so difficult about that, Mr. Babich? We already have the technology. Even our small Laiyang Steel Plant can manufacture arresting cables.”

"Can you build it?" This time, all three of them spoke up in unison.

After they finished speaking, Mr. Pan and Qin Jiantai realized that it was inappropriate and quickly stopped.

"Yes, arresting cables aren't anything fancy. All you need is equipment like wire drawing machines and braiding machines, and some raw materials."

"Qin, are these the ones you're talking about that manufacture steel wire rope?"

Babbage began, "The arresting cable is not a simple steel wire rope."

At land-based airports, fighter jets need to travel 400 to 500 meters or even 1,000 meters to take off and land. Runways are generally 2,000 meters long. The world's most advanced Nimitz-class aircraft carriers are only about 300 meters long and are divided into takeoff, landing, and parking areas.

The runway is only about 100 meters long, and only a catapult can launch carrier-based aircraft weighing 20 to 30 tons.

The landing area is only about 100 meters long, and the carrier-based aircraft needs to hook the arresting cable and forcefully pull the aircraft to a stop. It's all a technical job.

The requirements for the steel cable used to hold the carrier-based aircraft are very high; it cannot be too thick.

After all, in addition to the 20 to 30 meters of arresting cables on the aircraft carrier deck, there is a long section below the deck, which is more than 100 meters long. If it is too thick, it cannot be replaced by manpower.

According to the US Navy's standards, the aircraft carrier should be replaced after completing one hundred arresting missions. If the aircraft carrier is engaged in high-intensity combat, it may need to be replaced almost every one or two days.

The requirements are high, and the price is also high. The price for Americans to use it themselves is over a million dollars, while the price sold to the French is directly soaring to two or three million dollars.

As for other countries, they can't buy it even if they want to.

"Of course I know it's not just a simple steel wire rope."

Qin Chuan said, "The yield strength needs to reach more than 1500 MPa, and the impact toughness requirement is also greater than 150 joules per square centimeter. For our private enterprises, this is not a difficult task."

Babich's eyes widened: "Alright, then I'll stay at your Laiyang Steel Plant and see how you manage to manufacture this kind of steel wire rope!"

Alright, we've finally achieved our goal!

We finally managed to lure Babbage over, and we'd be reluctant to let him go and benefit someone else. Let's just keep Babbage at our steel mill!