The escort team split into two groups and boarded trucks. After leaving the airport with two trucks, they headed towards the Wierpant Exhibition Center in the northern suburbs of Bali.
This year's Satterley Defence Show was even more vibrant than the previous one, bringing together 1,802 exhibitors from 63 countries around the world.
No, it's 1803!
Xia Yu transformed from an audience member into a business owner, bringing with him an ambitious project: Ji Huo Defense.
After the USS Fisher landed, the group hitched a ride on an NH-90 from the Army Air Forces to reach the scene.
Because the defense exhibition doesn't officially open until tomorrow, the exhibition center is full of exhibitors setting up their booths.
Looking down from the sky, there were hundreds of armored vehicles parked outdoors alone.
According to Xia Yu's understanding, including their company's Weasel S3 and S30, a total of 260 tanks and armored vehicles will be exhibited at this defense exhibition.
If they hadn't been carrying no live ammunition, this force could have swept through an entire country.
The problem is that the logistics team is driven to despair. They have to support hundreds of different types of armored vehicles, and only a player with cheat codes like Xia Yu could handle it.
The helicopter landed on the helipad, and everyone quickly jumped out of the cargo hold, arriving at the venue before the convoy stuck in traffic.
As the host country, the exhibitors from the country enjoyed the best locations, with the outdoor dynamic exhibition area further enhanced by the presence of the National Gendarmerie Intervention Group (GIG) and the Army.
Professionals demonstrated that the individual protective equipment and vehicle equipment were quite effective, but the light weapons, from pistols and rifles to machine guns, were all foreign-made. Only the ordinary troops who couldn't attend the defense exhibition were still using FAMAS.
Watching them rehearse for tomorrow's exhibition performance, Xia Yu acknowledged their professionalism, but what about Leclerc?
The strongest firepower he saw was a VBCI surrounded by flexible shielding armor.
Xia Yu didn't particularly like the eight-wheeled vehicles and 25mm autocannons, but this kind of shielding armor that used wire to make the grid armor flexible was still very attractive, and it was much lighter than those steel grids.
The weight per square meter of coverage has been reduced from 200 kg to 20 kg, which is equivalent to reducing the slat armor packs of tanks and infantry fighting vehicles, which start at 3 tons, to 0.3 tons.
Furthermore, it is easier to replace on the battlefield. When armored units equipped with active defense systems run out of all their interceptor missiles and have to passively take damage, the damaged metal slat armor cannot be replaced immediately.
In such situations, finding a safe location allows the accompanying digital team to complete the replacement of a flexible shield armor in just a few minutes, effectively preventing the breached area from being repeatedly targeted by concentrated fire.
It's definitely a good product. My hometown has been doing related research for a while now, and this batch of blue helmets in Nansuan will be able to use it this year. As for concentrated fire defense, we'll have to wait for the next deployment.
For attacking the Tuareg, who lack that fierce spirit, ordinary metal slat armor is sufficient.
However, they didn't even have a tank; the Germans' fighting spirit wasn't what it used to be, and besides, the Leclerc was really hard to sell.
The ones that can be sold are the UAE models using the Leopard 2 European power pack; it's just a very real issue of price.
Apart from a few major buyers, the only way to sell a Leclerc is like with the Rafale: the Air Force buys it first, uses it to their heart's content, and then refurbishes it before selling it secondhand.
The advertising effect that Jihuo Defense's Leclerc UAE can have is to boost future sales of used AMX-56s.
Well, that's how it is with domestically produced goods; even luxury items in the weapons and equipment industry are very popular in the second-hand market.
Once York completely phases out their M60 Phoenix, they might buy a batch of old Leclercs from Germany and do some extensive modifications themselves!
Or he thought of using the established solutions of concentrated fire defense, as he arrived at Rheinmetall's exhibition hall, which was well-located and connected to the outside world.
Outdoors, Krauss Maffei Wegmann's Leopard 2A7+ is parked right across from Rheinmetall's Leopard 2RI, and diagonally opposite yesterday's yellow-flowered KF-31 Lynx.
Next to it is an EMBT, a joint German-French development project known as the European Main Battle Tank. However, the tank is completely covered by a protective cover, and its true appearance will not be officially revealed until tomorrow.
However, I heard that it's based on the Leopard 2 chassis with a Leclerc turret. Xia Yu himself could modify one of these vehicles, but it's almost impossible to sell one. It's a concept vehicle similar to the KF-51 Black Panther.
But Xia Yu didn't expect that Rheinmetall would also bring the old Leopard 2ri.
As is well known, they are only a subsystem supplier for the Leopard 2, and the so-called Rhein Leopards are all old cars that have been fitted with upgrade kits.
A batch of Indian-made vehicles was sold a few years ago, and they haven't been fully delivered yet. Judging from the fact that this upgraded version has appeared at several defense exhibitions, the other party is obviously still looking to make a profit.
However, can a small number of Leopard 2Ri vehicles really compete with Singapore's Leopard 2SG?
Suddenly, there's a sense of beauty in using a T-84 to fight a T-80. It's like using money meant for a new car to buy an old one. Even if we don't follow the example of Thailand buying "Japanese goods," buying Russian cars like Vietnam would be the same. Buying a Leopard 2 to protect against a Leopard 2 is truly indescribable.
Xia Yu will definitely not use the Leopard 2. This vehicle is a serious waste of tonnage, and with multiple layers of protection, its weight is close to 70 tons.
Unlike the Leclerc, which weighs only around 50 tons, it works quite well when paired with the T-80U.
Xia Yu didn't stay outside for long. The group went straight into the exhibition hall. The first thing they saw was a heavy infantry fighting vehicle covered by a car cover. It was the KF-41 Lynx, which Ji Huo Defense was very familiar with.
"Is there still a need for secrecy? There are dozens of leaked photos online."
Kuhn couldn't help but complain from the side.
"Maybe...it's for the sake of ritual."
Xia Yu looked at the two large televisions on the left and right sides of the infantry fighting vehicle and said.
They should be used to show videos tomorrow; real combat is the best form of publicity, and they can also promote concentrated fire defense along the way.
"Mr. Sherlock, you've finally arrived."
Hudson, who was present at the scene, came over to say hello.
"Your two booths are right next door, let me take you there now!"
Today's main character is the KF-41. The S3 and S30 from Jihuo Defense are the green leaves that set off the red flower, but green leaves sell much better than fresh flowers. Even if they only consume a small portion of the traffic, it is still a huge exposure.
Compared to Rheinmetall, Jihuo Defense's modification department is really just a small workshop. It takes a whole year to process orders of less than 100 vehicles. If they sell out, they have to pretend to expand production capacity to avoid being too sensational.
"The location is excellent, but Mr. Hudson, besides the KF-41 lynx, it seems your company has brought quite a few new products with you on this trip."
After scouting the location, Xia Yu looked around at the other Rheinmetall booths and said.
"That's right. Our main product this time is the KF-41, and our secondary product is the Oerlikon-SkyRanger mobile air defense system based on the Boxer chassis."
Hudson gestured to the left, pointing to a large, single-35mm anti-aircraft vehicle.
This eight-wheel chassis itself is not cheap, and it is equipped with expensive search and tracking radar, so Xia Yu did not dare to ask the other party about the price of the car.
Back in my hometown, even a single 35mm anti-aircraft gun is mounted on a cat car. A big eight-wheeled vehicle would at least need a Gatling gun, or some kind of combined gun and missile system!
Xia Yu definitely can't sell this vehicle; only countries that have previously purchased it or intend to purchase it would buy this Sky Ranger.
In this regard, he can proudly say that he only chooses domestically made anti-aircraft vehicles. The red Cheetah is really just an old Cheetah chassis, and the broken radar has been completely replaced with a brand new one.
"It looks a bit out of place."
Xia Yu held back for a while, but as someone who values aesthetics, he still shared his opinion on the car with Hudson.
"I think so too. It looks a bit like a small vehicle carrying a large cannon. Maybe 30mm caliber is more suitable for a wheeled platform."
Even though it was his own company's product, Lao Ha didn't go against his conscience and insist that the car was beautiful.
"Yes, just like the 35mm caliber on the KF-31 is incongruous; only the size of the KF-41 is suitable for a large caliber."
Xia Yu picked up the conversation and continued to comment.
"Okay, I've got it. I'll check the overall feedback after the exhibition. If it's not good, I'll go back and revise it!"
Hudson nodded in agreement.
Participating in defense exhibitions is not just about grabbing orders and selling goods. Communication with peers and customers is also very important. This is how an immature product can be iterated into a hot commodity.
However, Jihuo Defense is very straightforward. This trip to the United States was only for supporting Rheinmetall and selling used modified cars. They didn't have any concept cars to offer.
In addition to this main and auxiliary system, Rheinmetall also brought the Ragnarok 120mm mortar system, the G-LMT mobile crane, and the Mission Master multi-purpose hybrid unmanned vehicle.
These are just for novelty; Jihuo Defense's large-caliber mortars have just been upgraded.
A single Leclerc ARV capable of lifting engine packs is sufficient for the crane, but this hybrid eight-wheeled driverless vehicle is rather interesting.
Drones, unmanned vehicles, unmanned boats—unmanned operation is the future.
This unmanned vehicle is also modularly designed. One part of the loading platform is a replaceable weapon platform, and the other part is the mission load area, which can carry personnel, equipment, and logistical supplies.
After experiencing it firsthand, Xia Yu felt that selling this kind of car for over 100,000 euros was just a bit expensive, unlike the handcart that cost over 100,000 dollars, which required someone to hold it.
Of course, the best option is still the cheaper unmanned cat car, which can be airdropped with the personnel, and it's not a pity to throw it away or let it explode after the mission is completed.
Therefore, Rheinmetall's best products are infantry fighting vehicles and various artillery; it doesn't have such a deep foundation in other areas.
"Boss, we've arrived!"
After being stuck in traffic for several hours, Sergei and his group finally arrived at the venue. Xia Yu asked Kuhn and the others to pick them up.
A short while later, two modified Marders with rubber-coated tracks were driven by Kuhn and Lyman to the Jihuo Defense booth.
"Your S30 Marder looks too much like the KF-31 Lynx, but its four Kornet anti-tank firepower is far superior to its two Spike anti-tank firepower."
Hudson looked at the stopped infantry fighting vehicle and said.
They don't have a complete military-industrial complex like the Chinese. Their only anti-tank missiles are the off-the-shelf Spike, and at most they can produce a Panzerfaust-3 rocket. But who would expect to use that to open up a tank? At most, it can be used to shoot down pickup trucks and light armored vehicles.
"The main idea is the BMP-2M, but in the future, loitering munitions paired with drones will be more practical than missiles."
Launching loitering munitions to attack tanks from above is easier than destroying a tank with an anti-tank missile. Close combat between infantry fighting vehicles and tanks is too dangerous; it's better to eliminate the enemy from tens of kilometers away.
Xia Yu told the truth to industry insiders, but to customers, he suggested selling the S3 and S30 first, and then providing upgrade packages seven or eight years later.
"You're right. Traditional vehicle-mounted anti-tank missiles are not as effective as they used to be. The future belongs to drones and loitering munitions."
Hudson agreed with Xia Yu's view, so they also accelerated the development of air defense systems in order to come up with solutions to deal with these low, slow, and small targets.
With precise radar guidance and programmable munitions, even subsonic missiles can be shot down, let alone these small karami missiles.
The only problem is that the price is too high, and very few customers can afford it.
"By the way, how many Cheetah air defense vehicles do you have left?"
Xia Yu asked Hudson.
He's already stockpiling large-caliber howitzer shells, so shouldn't he start stockpiling anti-aircraft vehicles too?
There's no need to upgrade to the Cheetah A9 standard; ordinary shells with the original radar are enough to shoot down most aerial targets, and they can be sold for several times the price.
However, to avoid being accused of favoring German systems, Xia Yu also targeted the Soviet Tunguska missile-gun system during his trip to Oslo.
"Why do you want to buy it?"
Hudson asked in surprise.
Through a lot of battlefield footage, he learned that the modified Cheetahs from Jihuo Defense were very powerful. Could it be that they were planning to sell the same improved version?
Even if Xia Yu had this idea, no one would be willing to spend nearly ten million US dollars to buy a Cheetah. At most, he would spend ten minutes or so to prepare each car and restore its condition slightly, and then sell it for three to five million a few years later.
How should I put it? Just treat it as an investment product. That's something Xia Yu learned from the old king.
Weapons and equipment that are worthless in peacetime become incredibly valuable during wartime, easily generating profits of several hundred percent.
"Yes, wouldn't it be great to equip every vehicle with a portable anti-aircraft missile?"
Xia Yu answered directly.
"Isn't this the same idea as your modified weasel? Although we've done it before, it didn't work at all because of the Cold War. Now it's a good opportunity."
Hudson thought of the Cheetah 1A2, an anti-aircraft vehicle that used the Stinger.
Targets that the twin 35mm anti-aircraft guns cannot reach can be brought down by missiles. Regardless of the model, the Jihuo Defense system, which integrates two portable air defense missiles, can definitely command a good premium.
Switching to Rheinmetall would be less profitable. Not only would the missiles have to be sourced from overseas, but the old Cheetah missiles in the garage would also need to be refurbished, leaving very little profit.
"We still have a few dozen vehicles. If you need them, I'll just talk to the chairman later. It's just that we don't seem to have any ammunition in stock..."
Hudson stopped mid-sentence; it seemed like Focused Fire Defense would never lack ammunition of that caliber.
Whether it's a regular high-explosive shell, a high-penetration tungsten-core armor-piercing shell, or a high-tech programmable airburst shell.
"We have plenty of ammunition, but we're also willing to take over any stockpiles."
Buying up all the available ammunition on the market is beneficial for raising prices later, and Xia Yu, as a shrewd businessman, is a professional at it.
"Okay, I estimate it will cost 100 million euros to complete, but that won't affect your company's cash flow."
“Mr. Hudson, you underestimate our company. The net profit from the second deployment in the Sahel region is more than that. Our company just has a small workforce, not that we can’t make a profit.”
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