169: Julong Steel is a treasure. You can go shopping for it whenever you want.

A super-large unmanned transport aircraft with a maximum payload of 5.4 tons, excellent anti-interference capabilities, a flight endurance of no less than 35 hours, and a range of ten thousand miles.

Why use such excellent equipment to deliver express packages instead of letting the Air Force turn it into a bomber? It's simply a waste!

"Also, instruct them to inspect all communication equipment on-site. This is top-secret information, and we must ensure there isn't the slightest possibility of a leak!" the General instructed.

"Especially that Brother Qi; he has a better eye than other trend-following streamers. Since this concerns national secrets, we must cooperate fully."

Just because of that one sentence from the big shot, Brother Qi received inquiry calls every day for half a month straight. That feeling was something else!

"As for the Navy, I'll call Old Zhang myself. Once the Double Bone Dragon enters our Air Force airfield, it's Air Force equipment, and no one can take it away!" the General said with a stern expression.

"You're right. It's our property to begin with. Can the Navy even use it? Such a large drone is perfect for being converted into a bomber," the Chief of Staff said with a chuckle.

The General sighed with emotion, "Julong Steel Factory is truly a treasure trove. If you find time to go again, you might dig up even more treasures."

"Rest assured, once we confirm the Double Bone Dragon is in our possession, I'll arrange for Xu Lei to go immediately. It's just a pity this isn't a super-large manned transport aircraft," the Chief of Staff nodded.

The General said leisurely, "We can't expect to become a giant overnight. Technology must progress step by step."

The big shots at the Air Force command center were all smiles, but in the Air Force reception room in the capital, Lu Shenwei was feeling a bit nervous.

"Comrade Lu Shenwei, don't be nervous. In our Air Force base, it's just like being at home. Relax."

The Air Force soldier in charge of reception said politely, but Lu Shenwei didn't dare to be careless in the slightest. He sat straight, perched on the edge of his chair.

"I'm not nervous, really. I just don't know what you want to ask me by inviting me back."

The Air Force soldier poured Lu Shenwei a cup of hot tea, "It's nothing major. I just want to ask about your original idea for designing the Double Bone Dragon."

"Oh, that? Actually, it's nothing. Nifeng Express just commissioned us to develop a commercial unmanned transport aircraft..."

Lu Shenwei explained the whole story, and the more the Air Force soldier heard, the more amazed he became.

Just this... it's that simple?

Nifeng Express gave 900 million and you could develop such black technology? If our Air Force gave you 9 billion, could you develop an aerospace carrier?

"It's that simple?"

"Yeah? How complex should it be?"

"Uh, no, I mean, weren't there any obstacles during the entire R&D process? Or other technical difficulties?"

"This... I don't think we encountered any. The only problem we had during the R&D process was a power outage in Qinchuan last year, which caused our factory's air conditioning to stop, but it was resolved that same day."

"That doesn't count as a difficulty, right?"

"If that doesn't count, then there weren't any."

Technical problems that others spend billions or tens of billions of yuan to solve without success seem to be non-existent here.

The Air Force soldier felt a toothache coming on. Just as he was about to say something, he saw Xu Lei push the door open and enter.

"Leave this to me. You go get busy."

"Yes."

The Air Force soldier saluted and turned to leave. Xu Lei said with a chuckle, "Good lad, we meet again."

"Eh? Director Xu, aren't you working at the Air Force base? How do you have time to come to the capital?"

"Isn't it because of you? Is the Double Bone Dragon really a new product from your factory?"

Lu Shenwei nodded. Xu Lei asked again, "Then why isn't the Black Dragon logo painted on it?"

"It's a prototype. In case it didn't fly, I wouldn't want to admit it was a product from our steel factory."

"You're quite cunning. Why didn't you notify me when test-flying a large drone? I could have applied for a flight path for you. Going through the Navy's channels—you're treating me like a stranger," Xu Lei said half-jokingly.

Lu Shenwei explained, "I did call you initially, but you were busy at the time, so I told Director Gu from the Navy. We're all acquaintances, after all."

"Even brothers must settle accounts clearly. The Navy is the Navy, and the Air Force is the Air Force."

Xu Lei paused, "Although we haven't met many times, I like your personality, so I'll be direct: share the full set of technology for the Double Bone Dragon with our Air Force."

Huh? This...

Lu Shenwei was stunned for a moment, "Our Air Force is interested in our little bit of civilian technology? You're not joking with me, are you?"

"You're playing dumb, aren't you? Do you really want me to admit that the technical level of the Double Bone Dragon is already far superior to the Air Force's active-duty drones?"

"Really?" Lu Shenwei stood up excitedly.

Seeing that he didn't seem to be faking it, Xu Lei slowly began to explain.

"Our military drone technology began development in the 1970s. The first batch of drones was for training anti-aircraft gun operators, using the simplest radio control."

"Equipped with piston engines and plywood airframes, they were known as the Target-2 and Target-7 drones, launched from towed launchers by solid-fuel boosters."

"Later, when our relations with the Eagle Sauce eased, we also copied the Big Brother's La-17 radio-controlled drone and the Eagle Sauce's AQM34N Firebee reconnaissance drone."

"We even once cooperated with the Desert Heavenly Soldiers and received their drone technical support. Later on, we developed the Rainbow series ourselves, but that's getting off-track."

Lu Shenwei asked in surprise, "We even cooperated with the Heavenly Soldiers?"

"Yes, the Heavenly Soldiers weren't that bad before. Of course, maybe their true nature has just been exposed now," Xu Lei sighed.

"Enough nonsense. Name a price for the full set of technology for your factory's Double Bone Dragon, and the Double Bone Dragon prototype must also remain with the Air Force."

Lu Shenwei smiled, "No problem, I can even give it to you for free."

"However, although our factory has manufactured the prototype, we still need two months of technical verification before we can mass-produce it."

Xu Lei praised, "Rigorous enough. But our Air Force can't wait. Just transfer the full set of technology to us."

"There's one more thing. The Double Bone Dragon was commissioned by Nifeng Express for our factory to develop. I was thinking, should we produce a batch for Nifeng Express?" Lu Shenwei asked.

"Wait a moment, I need to seek instructions." Xu Lei thought for a moment and turned to walk out.

"Leader, Lu Shenwei has already agreed to transfer the technology to the Air Force for free, and the prototype as well."

The General was overjoyed to hear this, "Good! This matter was handled well. However, our Air Force never takes equipment for free. You all should calculate the equipment R&D costs carefully; we absolutely cannot let Julong Steel suffer a loss."

"Don't even mention free transfer. If the Navy finds out, they'll think we're bullying Julong Steel. The Air Force isn't short on money either!"

"Yes, yes, I will negotiate with Lu Shenwei right away. Rest assured, I definitely won't let them suffer a loss," Xu Lei nodded hurriedly.

The General certainly has principles; he refuses to take anything for free.

However, the matter commissioned by Nifeng Express is difficult to handle, since they have already spent real money.