Xia Yu emphasized that under his management, Jihuo Defense's profitability is beyond doubt.
The Federal Armed Forces received a total of 420 Gepard self-propelled anti-aircraft guns. After the Cold War, 382 of them were upgraded to the A1 model. When their performance became insufficient, 147 of them were selected for a second upgrade to the Gepard 1A2 model.
Until a few years ago, all of these air defense vehicles were retired. The old vehicles that had been stored away became organ donors for other Cheetah vehicles, and only about 100 of the latest models were ready for use after some maintenance.
Five years ago, 34 of them were sold to Bashi. The red Cheetah that Jihuo Defense has is one of those vehicles. Now it has a direct connection with Rheinmetall, so there's no need to go through any more roundabout steps.
"There are still 68 A2-type vehicles left in the National Defense Force's warehouse!"
After making a few phone calls, Hudson gave a precise answer.
Like the Leopard 2, this air defense vehicle was designed and manufactured by KraussMaffei Wegmann, but Rheinmetall had the right to acquire these assets from the Armed Forces and modify them, and then sell them exclusively to third parties.
Originally, there weren't 68 vehicles, but Zhili bought a few sample cars and found that she couldn't afford them, so she returned them all to Germany to make up this number.
With a limited budget, it's indeed difficult to afford twin 35mm anti-aircraft guns.
Depending on the type of ammunition, the lifespan of a single barrel is only 2,500 to 3,000 rounds. Basically, a set of barrels is scrapped in less than 10 rounds. If it cannot be produced domestically, the cost of use will be too high.
"If you want them all, I can give you 10 more A1-type spare parts vehicles as a gift. It's just that the Bashi people bought 600,000 rounds of 35mm ammunition, and there are only 300,000 rounds left in the warehouse."
Hudson continued speaking to Xia Yu.
Because it was a business acquired from Oerlikon, the ammunition plant under Rheinmetall's headquarters did not produce this type of shell. If they wanted it, they would have to place an order with the ammunition plant in Switzerland. However, Xia Yu did not have this need; he only needed to buy up all of Germany's inventory.
As for Switzerland, at least it still maintains the facade of a neutral country. Even if it is not neutral in private, it cannot openly sell ammunition to war-torn regions.
"Okay, I'll take them all."
Xia Yu approved the deal immediately.
Based on the contract with the Basil, even though five years have passed and prices have risen rapidly, the price quoted for this batch of large contracts by Jihuo Defense will not increase much.
Since he bought a financial product, we can just deliver it in a sealed state. We don't need any comprehensive logistical support, technical assistance, or training services.
Sellers love this kind of customer, and Xia Yu would love it too, since he sold so much equipment without it being a one-off deal.
The first year or two are fine, but in the next few years, many minor problems will definitely emerge. No matter how durable the equipment is, if it is not properly maintained, it will break down in a few months or half a year.
From this perspective, it is quite necessary for the village protection team of Jihuo Defense to expand by a dedicated logistics support battalion, with two companies specifically responsible for the company's after-sales service, traveling on business in C-160 full-fledged Afica aircraft.
However, Old Ha's price estimate was quite accurate; the entire batch of goods would cost approximately 100 million euros.
The price is much higher than the scrapped cars that Yohan took over from He, but fortunately the cars are in good condition and can be sold for a higher price in the future.
Of course, there are also brand-new barrels and an ample supply of ammunition.
Selling cars is only the first step; wear parts and consumables are the core of Xia Yu's profits.
Hudson was overjoyed to have sold an order before the exhibition even started, with a turnover equivalent to a whole platoon of KF-41 lynxes.
Xia Yu was also very happy, as he could earn back several times the 100 million euros.
This is much more cost-effective than keeping money in the bank. He spends his money as soon as he has it, only ensuring that he has a certain amount of cash flow in his account.
However, with the same 100 million euros, Xia Yu should be able to get two to three times that amount into Tunguska in Oslo.
The prices of older Soviet-made self-propelled anti-aircraft guns have plummeted significantly. Currently, only the Pantsir-S1 remains relatively stable, but it still cannot fire programmable airburst rounds.
Therefore, compared to the two twin 30mm anti-aircraft guns, it relies more on 12 57E6 short-range air defense missiles.
The price of nearly $15 million is expensive not only because of the radar, but also because of the missiles. Each missile costs hundreds of thousands of dollars to shoot down a reconnaissance and strike drone, but it's not too bad for shooting down an armed helicopter.
Shooting a long-endurance suicide drone (model aircraft) is a loss-making endeavor, while shooting a larger consumer-grade drone is a huge loss.
Xia Yu once asked the first captain of the St. Paul, our Prince Hamandan, what he thought of the Armor S1 weapon.
The poor Russians only completed their research on the new missile-gun integrated system with the sponsorship of the UAE, so the old man immediately opened the armor and broke through its defenses.
The answer they gave was that it was a nice toy.
That makes sense. So what if we use harpoons to fight pirates and treat short-range air defense missiles like rockets? As an original shareholder, we can get them at cost price anyway. The cost of firing a 57E6 is about the same as firing a Stinger.
After setting up the booth, the group returned to the hotel for dinner, and the next morning arrived quickly as they rested.
Xia Yu, who spent lavishly yesterday, is now working hard to secure orders for his company.
Enter the convention center early through the staff entrance, and when the event officially started, a huge crowd surged in.
As a professional exhibition, the Satley Defence Show attracts invited professionals who are highly targeted. They go straight to their business-related areas upon entering the venue, focusing on their work first, and only looking at unrelated content when they have free time in the following days.
For example, Rheinmetall has a lot of prestige when it comes to infantry fighting vehicles, which are not affordable for everyone. They managed to attract a large group of reporters with just a brand-new vehicle still covered by a protective cover.
It wasn't until 10 a.m. that Amin, who had only departed from Düsseldorf that morning, arrived at the scene and, together with Xia Yu, unveiled the car cover that was covering the KF-41 lynx.
With its sharp angles and stealth capabilities, and a body that is larger than the KF-31 Lynx, the reporters below kept snapping photos.
Regardless of its combat capabilities, its appearance is top-notch, much better looking than the wheeled anti-aircraft vehicle in the next exhibition hall.
"Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to Rheinmetall's launch event. We are very honored to present our masterpiece from the vehicle division—the KF-41 Lynx Infantry Fighting Vehicle..."
Amin began a brief speech, while the large screen TVs on both sides of the tank started playing clips from the actual battle.
At that moment, officers from various countries in the audience were also moved.
"Safety, firepower, and large capacity are what we pursued when designing the KF-41. Whether these elements combined can become a new type of infantry fighting vehicle adapted to the battlefield can only be told by the battlefield. Therefore, we specially invited the well-known PMC company, Firepower Defense, to conduct a field test of the KF-31 and KF-41 models for us in Afika."
Amin's words, combined with the intense battle scenes on the screen, captivated everyone's attention.
Although there were no external speakers, each shot from the 35mm cannon made everyone imagine the roar of an explosion, and the timely switching of the drone's perspective also allowed them to see the horrific state of the attacked pickup truck.
This is far superior to the host country VBCI's small 25mm water pipe; a larger diameter is the only way to go.
The modular missile bay rose, and a long spike shot out, flying 3 kilometers and destroying an armored vehicle in Boko Haram.
The scene was immediately followed by a barrage of rocket launchers and missiles, while several mechanized infantrymen dismounted and accompanied the KF-41 from the left, right, front, and rear.
The modular ADS active protection system components of the infantry fighting vehicle responded and used a jet of metal powder to intercept the incoming munitions. While protecting the vehicle from damage, none of the accompanying infantry were injured or killed.
Such experimental videos can be found on Rheinmetall's official website, but they are nowhere near as impactful as real-world footage.
It can really defend against
The soldiers who disembarked were not harmed.
This is far superior to the active defense system of the Yiseli people's spoils. When firing traditional interceptor missiles, mechanized infantry cannot dismount, making them vulnerable to close-range attacks in urban warfare.
But this thing is incredibly expensive, and probably only countries with high GDP and small populations can afford it.
"This is Sherlock Sherlock, the boss of Focused Fire Defense. Under his command, the KF-31 and KF-41 have dealt a heavy blow to the extremist group Boko Haram. He knows these two vehicles better than any of us."
After the video highlights finished playing, the original footage began, and Amin introduced Xia Yudao to everyone.
"Hello everyone, I am Sherlock. After nearly half a year of hard work, we have assisted the Nirilya government in basically eliminating the threat of the Boko Holy Land and captured their second leader, Shekao."
"To achieve this level, one needs not only brave and experienced members, but also the use of new equipment. No matter how many people an extremist organization has, they are no match for the KF-31 and KF-41, even if they have tanks and armored vehicles..."
Xia Yu started mutual flattery, but asymmetric warfare can indeed produce exaggerated casualty ratios.
Aside from the difficulty in finding the Boko Holy Land stronghold, it was actually easier to fight than the Azawad Coordination Movement, since there was no Longbow Cross Deer to help back then.
The audience listened attentively, especially the officers from the Ao Daliya.
Because the Germans had won the bid for their heavy infantry fighting vehicle upgrade program, they knew all the specifications of the KF-41 lynx.
The Cougar's poor performance was disappointing, but Rheinmetall's new car was a pleasant surprise, more attractive than the old Ajax, the Swiss CV90MK4, and the South Korean AS-21.
Having made a good first impression, the next step is to assess combat effectiveness and reliability.
Rheinmetall took an unexpected approach, abandoning the pursuit of theoretical data and directly demonstrating the performance of the KF-41 lynx in these two aspects through actual combat.
Using a relatively mature chassis, the prototype vehicle withstood a long and intense battle.
Yes, the video only shows edited combat footage. Amin announced that customers interested in purchasing the two vehicles can request the original footage from them, and the two infantry fighting vehicles will continue to undergo combat testing, at which time all will be made public to customers.
Live-streaming battles is still too difficult, but recording videos from multiple angles is much simpler.
Rheinmetall, which has signed a long-term cooperation contract with Jihuo Defense, will also sponsor Xia Yu's new car according to a certain proportion after the sale of the new car.
For example, a 100:1 ratio, meaning that for every 100 KF-31 or KF-41s sold, one of the same model would be sponsored.
Alternatively, Jihuo Defense could purchase these two heavy infantry fighting vehicles at cost price.
Xia Yu would be happy to sponsor, but there's no need to buy at cost price.
His Weasel S series is working quite well. Besides, the cost price for Germans is enough to buy a new export car from his hometown. Only the super-rich can afford it.
With seven or eight million dollars, there are so many things he could do. He could buy a whole platoon of old Cheetahs, buy dozens of Lamborghini Aventadors (which sell for North American prices), or buy an F-16 and play with it for a long time.
Having the system, Xia Yu's consumption habits will never change; being able to use a new car was purely accidental.
After a brief press conference on the KF-41 lynx and a chat with officers from several countries, it was already midnight.
After grabbing a bite of his boxed lunch at the back, Xia Yu hurriedly went to his own showroom to replace the parched and hungry Kuhn.
This morning, we had quite a few customers interested in the Weasel S3 and S30, including not only from third-world countries but also from many developed countries.
They initially thought it was a Rheinmetall product backfire, but after further investigation, they discovered it was a third-party upgrade kit from a PMC company.
That's impressive; they just set up a mini-exhibition space inside someone else's showroom.
"Mr. Sherlock, can we talk?"
A colonel wearing an army uniform greeted Xia Yu.
"Yes, you are..."
Xia Yu was filled with doubt halfway through his sentence.
Although he spends most of his time in Afica, he is still very clear about the situation in the world arms market.
The Argentine Army does have a modernization plan, but weren't they supposed to be buying wheeled infantry fighting vehicles? Why are they suddenly interested in tracked infantry fighting vehicles?
The other party has stood us up several times and still hasn't made up their mind. Could it be that they see their Weasel S series is cheap enough and want to use it with the Tam Weasel tank?
No, when Agnes introduced the TAM, they also introduced the VCTP tracked infantry fighting vehicle. They have their own Weasel.
“I am Alfredo, Colonel of the Armored Corps. I noticed the concentrated fire defense a year ago, but I never had the chance to visit in person until today when I met Mr. Sherlock at the defense exhibition.”
The colonel greeted Xia Yu with a smile.
"I see, Colonel Alfredo. Are you more interested in concentrated fire defense or our infantry fighting vehicles?"
Xia Yu asked the other party.
"We're both interested, but after we've finished discussing business, I believe we'll have time for in-depth discussions."
As Alfredo spoke, he looked toward the weasel S30, which was positioned at the front.
"The 20mm cannon is becoming outdated, and it's not enough to carry just one Milan anti-missile. But my country doesn't have the budget to phase out our VCTP, so we want to upgrade it."
The other party finally revealed their purpose: they didn't want to buy a car, but they wanted to modify it.
This is similar to how they had Yi Se Lie upgrade the TAM tank to the TAMIC type; now the other side wants to use a concentrated fire defense strategy to upgrade the VCTP to the VCTPIIS.
Larger caliber, more anti-tank missiles, and higher defense...
They don't seem to need defense. It's not a place where there's constant fighting, so there's no need to equip every vehicle with an active defense system, and they don't need to apply anti-tank patches either.
Upgrading firepower is the most important thing; the Argentinians, who are trying to cut costs to the extreme, only want to focus on upgrading the defensive turrets.
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