Chapter 331 exposes the dark side of arms procurement

"Hi everyone, this is Defense Watch. Our last program, Kiev Aircraft Carrier Park, was well received after it was broadcast." The host in military uniform looked so handsome: "Today, we invited another Teacher Zhang is our guest, everyone welcomes you!"

   "Hi everyone, I'm Zhang Zhong. Today, we're going to talk about a new topic, which is the Lavent-class frigate."

   Lafitte-class frigate!

  When the audience in front of the TV saw this, the domestic audience familiar with the inside story had already clenched their fists. They knew what this frigate represented, but the expressions of some foreign audiences changed, not knowing what Zhang Zhong was about to say.

"Let's first introduce this name. French warships are customarily named after people, such as the most famous Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier. As for this Lavent, he is a major general of the 18th century French American Continental Army, a hero of the American War of Independence, and a former French national. Army, National Guard Commander-in-Chief, Marquis de Lavent, leader of the French constitutionalists." Zhang Zhong looked knowledgeable.

   "That is to say, the French warship has an American name?" The host followed up.

"Yes, you can say that." Zhang Zhong had a consistent smile on his face: "That's the end of the introduction of the name, and we will continue to introduce this warship. According to the French propaganda, this warship is the number one in the world. A warship designed with stealth in mind.”

   "Mr. Zhang, is there a problem with this?"

"This is not a big problem. After all, the Lafitte-class frigate has been brewing since 1981 and was officially designed in 1984. It is indeed the world's first frigate considering stealth design, but... like other French weapons, this warship So far, the troops have not been formally equipped." Zhang Zhong said: "If you want to say that the world's first warship with a stealth design and is still in service, it should be our 022-class missile boat. In fact, even if it is Our current No. 115 destroyer will probably enter service earlier than the Lafayette-class frigate."

"That is to say, this warship of the French has not been in service since 1981 until now, 1993? We all say that it takes ten years to sharpen a sword, but this Lavent-class frigate has been used for more than ten years. It is unbelievable. ah!"

"Yes, but this has always been very French, not to mention frigates, even aircraft carriers, such as the French Charles de Gaulle, military fans should all know." Zhang Zhong continued to introduce: "This warship, from The plan started in the 1970s, and the project was formally established in 1980, but the first steel plate was not cut until 1987. Now, in 1993, six years have passed, but this aircraft carrier has not yet been launched. I guess it will have to wait One or two years. Compared with the aircraft carrier we made for Siam and the modification of our Kiev aircraft carrier park, you can see how procrastinated the French are."

"It seems that a country full of romantic spirit has never considered the progress of building warships." The host suddenly thought of something when he said this: "That is to say, the Lavant, which has already received an order, is still waiting No finished product?"

"Yes." Zhang Zhong nodded: "This arms sales project has many special features. The buyer gave up the Ulsan-class light frigate in the mature South Kimchi Kingdom, and instead purchased such a warship that has not yet entered service. People are confused. Moreover, there are many problems that normal people cannot understand."

   "Really? Then take this opportunity today, please give us an analysis?"

  Zhang Zhong's analysis is very thorough.

"In 1988, after the purchaser had decided to purchase the Ulsan-class frigate, he suddenly decided to give up and purchase the Lafitte class instead. In 1988, the Lafitte class at that time was still on the drawing board. This was the situation. Now, the French dare to use it to bid, and the buyer actually took a fancy to it, isn’t it strange?” Zhang Zhong said: “Even if you go to the vegetable market to buy a Chinese cabbage, you have to pick and choose. ? Who can buy it from a vegetable vendor just by seeing a picture of Chinese cabbage, what if it is a rotten cabbage?"

   "At that time, there must be a suitable reason, right?"

"Yes, according to what was said at the time, the reason was that the price was cheap. They first quoted 1.225 billion francs per warship. If you look at it according to our standards, the price is still quite expensive. After all, we built two 052-class destroyers , and didn’t spend so much money, but for the purchaser, this is already a pie in the sky. But what?”

Zhang Zhong faced the camera with a meaningful smile: "By this year, when they formally signed the contract, the price of each warship had risen to 2.64 billion francs, that is to say, the price had more than doubled. Six ships The price of the warship, plus some supporting ammunition, has reached a sky-high price of 16 billion francs. Even if we take inflation into account, the price increase should not exceed 10%, which makes us curious. The purchaser did not have any doubts, and agreed to all of them. What is this equivalent to? We bought Chinese cabbage for 20 cents a piece in the vegetable market, but we bought it for 1 yuan, and we didn’t feel cheated.”

   "Yeah, it's a bit strange to say that."

"Then, let's take a look at the configuration of this Lavent frigate." Zhang Zhong continued to talk eloquently: "Its displacement is close to 4,000 tons, and it does not use gas turbines, but directly uses four diesel engines. Its maximum speed , which is about 25 knots, which is a big difference from the international mainstream speed of 30 knots."

"Its weapons and equipment are also pitiful. Except for the radar equipment and naval guns on it, nothing else is installed. That is to say, what the purchaser bought is almost an empty shell. Think about it, it costs I bought Chinese cabbage for one dollar, and what happened? What I bought was just a Chinese cabbage gang, with the most delicious cabbage heart in it!"

   "No other equipment?"

   "Yes, the Exocet anti-ship missiles and Sea Sidewinder air defense missiles that the French are most proud of have not been installed. That's it, 2.64 billion francs for one. I think the price of 640 million francs is high enough."

   "Yes, but is there really no shortage of bullying in this world? Or is there an inside story?"

Zhang Zhong smiled again: "There must be some inside stories, but it's not convenient for us to talk about them on the show. Arms deals are never upright, and there will inevitably be a lot of shady things involved. However, the truth It is the truth, and there will be a day when the truth will be revealed."

  After this episode of the program was broadcast, it immediately became a shocking event in the global arms sales field, and attracted the attention of countless people. Other military commentators saw that this topic was hot, and they also joined in one after another.

  For the ratings of the show and for themselves to become more famous, they must seize the focus event.

   In this way, the vigorous Lavent frigate bribery case appeared in many newspapers and magazines.

   Those formal media dare not speak too bluntly, for fear of being implicated, but the third-rate media is different. Their reporters can give full play to their imagination and continue to dig out the things behind the appearance.

some where.

"There must be an inside story about this procurement. There are many unreasonable procurement items in it. The price is too high, which is the biggest problem. Even if we are subject to many restrictions in external procurement, the price is still not suitable. After all, France is short of funds, and there are only five Lavent frigates to purchase, and they can only make money by selling them."

   One person faced the tape recorder and began to record his own analysis.

Snapped! The recording button of the tape recorder was flicked, and the tape was already full of memory.

  He was about to turn around and continue recording when the phone rang.

   "Hello? Neihu Soybean Milk Shop? Okay, I'll go there right away!"

   This man walked out of the room, got into a car, and the next day, his body was on the beach.

   Click, click!

  The reporter's camera kept taking pictures of this person's body, which made some people who heard the news feel a headache. How did this corpse float back? Moreover, where did these reporters get the news?

  They took control of the scene, took the body away, and then announced to the public that this person fell into the water by mistake!

   But then, he was slapped in the face by countless newspapers.

   There are photos taken, and there are even forensic doctors in them. They can conclude that this person was hit hard before his death!

  Huating.

  Qin Tao was sitting in the car, looking at the latest issue of the newspaper and looking at the photo of that person, he couldn't help shaking his head.

   "Cutting people's money, killing their parents, alas, can you meddle in such things as a mere director?"

  Hearing Qin Tao's emotion like a cat crying like a mouse, Xu Zhengyang took over the conversation: "We have already got that tape, and there are a lot of sensational news in it. When will we release those news?"

"Have you got the tape?" Qin Tao said with a smile on his face, "Then what else can I say, send it out quickly, by the way, I still have a list here, let's publish it in the newspaper, I, the most hated person Killed, publish the list of these people, let them escape quickly."

  Xu Zhengyang's mouth twitched a few times, what did you say? Publish the list of these people and let them escape? This is to make them all the same as the person who committed suicide!

  Hmph, do those guys know the price of discrediting Mingzhou Shipbuilding Industry Group? Speaking of playing this game, they are obviously at the kindergarten level! President Qin is ruthless!

   "Understood. Mr. Qin, we are here."

  The car stopped in front of a white building with green windows and large red characters: Mechanical and Electrical Building, this is an early building in the Everbright business district, quite famous.

  Qin Tao took Xu Zhengyang to the inside of the building, and took the elevator to the eighteenth floor.

   "This kind of floor can only be rented out by foreigners who don't mind. If the merchants in our country hear the name of the 18th floor, they will have to curse." Xu Zhengyang said with emotion.

   "What's wrong with Shiba, what a great name, it's going to be published, those guys don't understand this, no wonder they can't do big business."

   This is a special business building. After entering, there are signs everywhere, most of which are in foreign languages ​​on the 18th floor.

   "That's SNR Bearing Company over there." Xu Zhengyang pointed to one of the signs and said.

Qin Tao said he was going to buy bearings, so he followed. In fact, he was also curious in his heart. If he just bought a few bearings, it would not be Qin Tao's turn to do it himself, even if it was the most important day. The bearings used on the Whale are not enough!

   "Is your manager here? We want to buy your most expensive bearing." After entering the door, Qin Tao directly explained his purpose, and was soon taken into the manager's room inside.

   "Our SNR bearing, born in 1916, is an old bearing manufacturer in Europe." Kingsley, the Frenchman opposite, had confidence and arrogance on his face: "It is the most sensible for you to choose our bearings."

  Qin Tao mentioned several types of bearings, and Kingsley became serious. He knew what these bearings meant.

   "What do you want these bearings for?"

"Isn't this a question that suppliers like you should ask?" Qin Tao said, "We can guarantee that it is used in civilian facilities. Moreover, we will pay enough remuneration, unlike some companies that have clearly I promised to give you enough profits, but in the end I will turn it down with an excuse.”

  When he heard Qin Tao's words, Kingsley's expression changed immediately: "What are you talking about? I didn't understand."

"Recently, there has been a lot of publicity about the Lavant frigate. So, Thomson used this reason to reject the commission it gave you? This kind of company is too disgusting. I think you only have You have to threaten them to go to court to get the commission."

  At this time, Kingsley was even more shocked: "What is your origin, how do you know this kind of thing?"

   "Us? We are your good friends!" Qin Tao stood up with a smile: "We have a sense of justice and support you spiritually. We must not let liars like Thomson succeed!"

  Kingsley sent Qin Tao and others to the elevator all the way, and when he got back, he immediately dialed the phone.

   "This SNR company is also related to this arms sale?"

"That's right, they were the pimps." Qin Tao said, "They brought people from Thomson to contact customers, and they also participated in subsequent negotiations. According to their previous agreement, Thomson The company has to pay them a lot of money, but..."

"This Thomson company is too dark, right?" Xu Zhengyang was a little puzzled: "Everyone earns money, especially this kind of project, hello, hello, hello, everyone, why do they do this? Are they not afraid of making things big? "

   "They can't help it, because they still have a lot of mouths to feed behind them. In the end, they can only wrong the SNR company."

   "How can this work? Something will happen if you do this."

"Yes, we just want to watch the progress of this matter. If they can't get the commission, they have to go to court. During the court hearing, they will testify to each other. This SNR company will disclose the whole inside story from."

   It's a pimp's revenge for being tricked! Since I can't get the money, no one else can have a good life!

   "Boss Qin, how do you know these inside stories? We haven't investigated them!" Xu Zhengyang said in surprise.

   "Me? Of course I knew about it through other arms dealers. I knew about it a few years ago. At that time, you were protecting the female witnesses in the Oriental Pearl Tower, right?"

   "What Oriental Pearl, what female witness? I have been working in the capital, okay?"

  The arms sales case of the Lavant frigate has been turbulent.

When a third-rate tabloid disclosed the relevant stakeholders, it caused a flurry of panic. Some people had already run away, some were still there, and some had died strangely. The reporters worked tirelessly , digging out a lot of secrets, tracking the people on the list, and even in the process, there were strange disappearances of reporters.

   After such a toss, even a shark in the Pacific Ocean knows that there must be something shady about this arms sale.

   Of course, this is not the most fatal blow.

  When the French SNR company took Thomson to court, more people were shocked. They absolutely did not expect such big news!

  The topic of the lawsuit between the two parties is that Thomson owes commission to SNR! What commission? It is the commission in the purchase case of the Lavent frigate this time!

  The actions of the French police are commendable. No witnesses disappeared. In the court, the two sides argued with each other and presented evidence to each other.

  The entire arms sales project is 16 billion francs, of which there are commissions of 5 billion francs! The real purchase cost is only 11 billion francs.

  Where did the rest of the money go?

  SNR asked for one-fifth of the commission, but Thomson refused. They could only give the whereabouts of various commissions. Therefore, after only one week of the court session, a larger-scale investigation began.

   Now, not only the third-rate tabloids, but even regular newspapers have started reporting.

  The case of the century!

   Shame on the civilized world!

  All kinds of headlines came out, many officials were dragged down, and the fig leaf was constantly torn off.

  The eyes of the whole world are on this arms sale. Even laymen will comment on it, lamenting the profits of this arms trade, and lamenting that so many people have been ruined under the attack of sugar-coated shells.

   This incident became the biggest news in 1993.

As for Qin Tao, who promoted the news with one hand, while hiding and eating melons, he felt a little emotional: "Oh, really, the limelight of our aircraft carrier park in Kiev has been overshadowed! The limelight of our aircraft carrier *field has also been overshadowed Oh, these people are really too much!"

   "President Qin, do you have any plans to go to the capital recently?" Xu Zhengyang interrupted Qin Tao who was feeling emotional.

   "Why are you going to the capital?"

   "In a few years, we will take back the Pearl of the Orient. Each branch of the military is determining its own weapons and equipment. Our navy also intends to display our most modern weapons in front of the citizens of the Pearl of the Orient."

   "Another weapon bid?"

  (end of this chapter)