The rise of great powers: starting from military industry

Spring Festival Gala.

This year's Spring Festival Gala featured a special segment: the official debut of the C939 to the people of the nation.

Following the successful development of the C919 and C929, the C939, a domestically-produced wide-body long-range airliner, has finally been officially unveiled.

Although it is only being unveiled now, there will be flight tests to follow. These flight tests will be divided into multiple stages, gradually testing the aircraft's various performance metrics under different flight conditions. From the initial taxiing tests and low-speed test flights to the later high-speed and high-altitude test flights, each stage will be filled with challenges.

During the flight tests, test pilots will operate the C939 to complete various complex flight maneuvers, collecting a large amount of flight data. This data will be carefully analyzed by engineers to further optimize and improve the aircraft's design. Only through repeated testing and improvements can the safety, reliability, and comfort of the C929 be ultimately ensured, making it an excellent airliner.

The C939's target is the ultra-large wide-body airliner segment, the most competitive in the international aviation market, with its sights set on star models such as the Boeing 777 and Airbus A350.

As a latecomer, the C939 must meet or even exceed these competitors in terms of technical performance, economic efficiency, and comfort to win market recognition.

The C939 aircraft has three models, with seating capacities of 280, 320, and 390 seats respectively!

As for range, the full-load range reaches 15,000 kilometers, fully capable of intercontinental flights.

Everyone watching this special segment of the Spring Festival Gala couldn't help but feel excited and thrilled.

Growing up in this environment, they have access to things that others do not.

They understand better what it means to share in glory and share in loss.

They can imagine what the unveiling of the C939 represents better than ordinary people.

Liu Ziyu even said that she would definitely place an order to purchase a C939 as a private jet.

Converting a long-range wide-body airliner into a private jet is the prerogative of the super-rich. There are always super-rich people around the world who choose to order long-range wide-body airliners and convert them into the private jets they want.

For Liu Ziyu, the world's richest person, buying a C939 and converting it into a private jet is like buying a toy.

"You, you need to be low-key. Being too high-profile will be detrimental!" Liu Zhenbang scolded Liu Ziyu good-naturedly.

Liu Ziyu made a face at Liu Zhenbang like a young girl.

There's no way around it, sometimes generational gaps do exist.

Liu Ziyu didn't say much. Liu Zhenbang and his generation had a hard life and had long developed a frugal style. Even after retiring, they didn't live luxuriously but were quite simple. A significant portion of their monthly pension and the money given by their children was used by Liu Zhenbang to sponsor outstanding but impoverished students.

For that generation, their ideological awareness was high, and they practiced what they preached. Many of them are admirable.

Liu Ziyu is different. When Liu Ziyu was in middle school, Liu Tao was already working, and the family's living conditions had greatly improved. They had meat with every meal, and she had a bicycle early on. The later the period, the better the living conditions became. Liu Ziyu never suffered after middle school. Her high school and university life were considered excellent. When she was studying for her master's degree, her monthly allowance was much more than that of most employees. After graduation, her entrepreneurship was even smoother.

This also made Liu Ziyu, like many wealthy people, unwilling to compromise on material conditions.

At this time, the people of the whole country were watching the Spring Festival Gala because of this special segment, which made the ratings of the Spring Festival Gala reach a peak, higher than the ratings of any celebrity singing or skit in this Spring Festival Gala.

From this, it can be seen that what receives the most attention in China is definitely not entertainment, but matters related to the country's comprehensive national strength.

On the Internet, people are celebrating the launch of the C939, after all, it is too exciting.

Although the special segment of the Spring Festival Gala did not reveal many details about the C939, the 100% domestic production rate is enough to make people understand many things.

It can be said that the birth of the C939 represents a series of breakthrough advancements that China has made in the fields of aviation engines, composite materials, and avionics systems in recent years.

For example, the use of a new generation of aluminum-lithium alloy materials. The strength and toughness of this material are higher than traditional aluminum alloy materials, and it is lighter, which can effectively improve the aircraft's performance and fuel efficiency.

For example, in terms of aviation engines, China was able to independently develop high-thrust turbofan engines early on and apply them in the aviation field. On the C939, there are obviously even greater breakthroughs in aviation engines.

For example, like the C919 and C929, the C939 has also put a lot of effort into environmental protection and energy saving. With the increasing global emphasis on environmental protection, the aviation industry is also facing increasing pressure to reduce emissions. The C939, C919, and C929 use a series of advanced environmental protection technologies. The application of these environmental protection technologies can not only enhance the market competitiveness of domestic aircraft, but also demonstrate China's commitment to actively assume international environmental responsibilities and promote the sustainable development of the aviation industry.

The successful development of the C939 is a concentrated embodiment of China's scientific and technological strength and comprehensive national strength, and also points the way for the future development of China's aviation industry.

Not only in China, but the birth of the C939 has also caused a great response around the world, prompting people from all countries to discuss it.

The industrial pearls that were once touted are being picked off one by one by China, and there are very few left to date.

China's development in the past three decades can be described as a world miracle. Looking at the world, there is only one such case. China is also the only country in the world that has been able to grow into an industrialized country in these three decades.

And many former industrial countries have gradually degenerated into non-industrial countries.

In the whole of Europe, only France and Germany can still be truly called modern industrial countries. As for other European countries, they can no longer be called modern industrial countries.

The former British Empire, the world's number one industrial country, the first country to start industrialization, even started 'de-industrialization' earlier than the United States. Now, the biggest source of revenue should not be other industries, but the financial services industry. The United Kingdom is the only country in the world that blatantly attracts national gray income, and relies on this characteristic industry to maintain a barely decent life.

However, British Prime Minister Cameron has publicly promised that if he wins the 2015 general election, he will hold a comprehensive referendum on the UK's membership of the European Union before the end of 2017, causing an uproar around the world.

This is not the first time the UK has wanted to leave the EU. The UK has repeatedly wavered on Brexit, and it happens every few years, always causing a stir.

The relationship between the United Kingdom and the European Union has always been complex. Due to various factors such as politics, economics, history, religion, and geography, the UK has long been independent of the European continent. Even after joining the EU, Euroscepticism has persisted in the UK. In 1975, the UK held its first referendum on leaving the EU, and the majority of the public supported remaining in the EU.

After the turn of the millennium, the British public's skepticism towards European integration continued to rise. The UK hoped to advance integration only on the economic level and opposed integration in the political sphere. The UK is neither part of the Schengen Area nor does it use the Euro, and its development with the EU can be described as 'sleeping in the same bed but dreaming different dreams'.

Especially after the Franco-German alliance, the constant marginalization of the UK made it appear awkward in the EU.

The establishment and development of the UK Independence Party further led to the fermentation of Euroscepticism in the UK. The party opposed immigration and advocated for 'Britain's withdrawal from the EU'. Against the backdrop of increasing immigration and European terrorist attacks, more and more voters began to support the party. At the same time, the approval ratings of mainstream parties continued to decline. In order to win the support of more voters and balance the divisions within the Conservative Party on European issues, British Prime Minister Cameron chose to play the 'Europe card' and re-raised the topic of Brexit.

The emergence of the C939 news had a very big impact on the UK.

The 'deindustrialization' of the UK does not mean that the UK has no industry at all. If that were the case, the UK would be truly finished.

For example, in the aerospace industry, the UK is not weak.

British Aerospace (BAC) is the largest aerospace company and the largest missile manufacturer in the UK, and also the largest aircraft manufacturer in Western Europe. BAC's military aircraft development has reached world-class levels, and it has almost monopolized the development and production of British military aircraft, spacecraft, and tactical missiles. Its most famous Harrier fighter is one of the world's leading short take-off/vertical landing fighters, and improved versions of this aircraft even serve in the United States Marine Corps. In terms of civil aircraft, BAC participated in the development of Airbus's A300, A310, and A320 aircraft in Western Europe.

In 1999, British Aerospace and Marconi Electronic Systems merged to form BAE Systems, and subsequently, BAE Systems has consistently ranked among the top five in the world's 100 largest military companies.

There is also Rolls-Royce, which is also known as Rolls-Royce.

The name Rolls-Royce may not be familiar to everyone, but its other name must be well-known—Rolls-Royce. It used to be in the same group as Rolls-Royce, but later Rolls-Royce went bankrupt and was acquired, and the aero engine company became independent. Rolls-Royce is a famous British aero engine company and the largest aero engine company in Europe. The various aero engines it develops are widely used in civil and military aircraft around the world. Rolls-Royce's main product is the Trent series of engines, which is a high-bypass turbofan engine. The thrust range of this series can cover 24 tons to 42 tons, and Airbus and Boeing's main models use the Trent series.

In addition, the UK also has many aerospace materials companies, such as GKN Aerospace and Meggitt. Among them, GKN Aerospace has a global center of excellence in the UK. They are currently developing some unique manufacturing processes, from metal powder products of its GKN Powder Metallurgy division to aerospace components. In other words, GKN Aerospace has taken practical steps towards 3D-printed aerospace. Meggitt is dedicated to the design and manufacture of high-precision sensing components for aerospace, medical, electronics, transportation and defense systems, as well as advanced sensors for aerospace, medical, power and transportation.

With the development of China's aviation industry, for example, in the fields of civil airliners and transport aircraft, China basically has a 100% domestic production rate, and it will not import what it can use itself. However, China's aircraft are very competitive in the international market, which makes it difficult for Europe and the United States to compete, and sales decline. Naturally, the orders that the UK's aviation industry can get will also decrease accordingly.

But the British can't say anything, because this is international competition. If you can't compete and fall behind, what can you say?

After the Second Falklands War, the UK maintained a distant relationship with the United States because the UK is now very dependent on the international secondary financial market and unique financial services. Once it falls out with the United States, it will be a major blow to the secondary financial market, and the UK simply cannot withstand this blow.

The biggest feeling in the UK upon the advent of the C939 is that models such as the Boeing 777 and Airbus A350 will face strong competition, and sales will be greatly reduced. Their own aviation materials and aero engines will encounter further declines.

Coupled with the impact from continental Europe, the Franco-German alliance is gradually evolving into a Franco-German-Russian alliance, which undoubtedly makes the UK feel a huge crisis and a great sense of insecurity.

If the Franco-German-Russian alliance is truly realized, then continental Europe will inevitably achieve integration. By then, the UK, isolated overseas, will be completely marginalized and will have no good outcome.

The UK constantly acts as a troublemaker in Europe, stirring up the situation in Europe, because the UK is very clear that once Europe becomes unified, then the UK will be completely weakened.

At this moment, the UK couldn't help but look at Ukraine.

As the second largest successor to the Soviet Union, Ukraine inherited a land area of 603,700 square kilometers, making it the second largest country in Europe in terms of land area, second only to Russia. Ukraine now has a population of 45 million. Back then, inheriting the Soviet Union's huge industrial and military power, Ukraine was the third largest country in terms of military strength and the third largest country in terms of military potential. Unfortunately, Ukraine chose to abandon its military capabilities, and it also failed to develop well, becoming a developing country. Agriculture has been developed well, but industry, especially manufacturing, has regressed significantly. In terms of IT services, it is the largest software development, programming, and IT outsourcing service market in Central and Eastern Europe.

Today's Ukraine is known as the 'womb of Europe'! An important reason for this is that Ukraine's surrogacy industry is very developed and enjoys a very high reputation internationally. This is not only because of its mature market atmosphere, but also because related services are very adequate. There are also Ukrainian girls who choose to go to Europe and the East to work as models or waitresses.

It can be said that Ukraine is not doing well.

Now, Ukraine is turbulent, and the Americans are constantly provoking. If they add fuel to the fire and allow Russia to launch military action against Ukraine, then the entire European continent will change dramatically, and the Franco-German-Russian alliance will no longer be mentioned. (End of this chapter)