67: New appointment: Chief Designer of Army Equipment Development!

Currently, the largest international arms trade in the world is between the United States and Iran.

Since the outbreak of the 1973 oil crisis, Iran has accumulated enormous wealth through oil trade.

However, at the same time, Iran also faced the threat of frequent border reconnaissance by Soviet MiG-25 fighter jets and urgently needed a new generation of air superiority platforms.

To consolidate its allied status in the Middle East, the United States agreed to sell F-14 "Tomcat" fighter jets, which were not yet fully deployed, to Iran.

This is currently the most advanced heavy carrier-based aircraft in the world, equipped with AN/AWG54 "Phoenix" beyond-visual-range missiles, with extremely high technical thresholds!

In January 1974, Iran and the United States signed the first contract to purchase 30 F-14 Tomcat fighter jets and 424 Phoenix missiles.

In June of the same year, Iran again expanded its order, increasing the number of fighter jets to 80.

And the number of Phoenix missiles purchased also increased to 714.

Coupled with additional clauses covering 10 years of spare parts supply, engine replacement plans, and technical training services, the total value of this arms purchase order reached 15 billion US dollars!

This is, to date, the only single international arms trade order in the world with a value exceeding 10 billion US dollars!

When this international arms trade order was concluded, the whole world was shaken!

Even the Mao Bear Empire was envious of such a huge arms order!

And now, the Dragon Country is also about to enter the 10 billion US dollar club for single arms trade orders!

Don't think that the Dragon Country's current order with the Saudi royal family is only 8 billion US dollars.

Because this is merely the price of equipment procurement.

The subsequent supply of spare parts, ammunition, and technical training for such a large batch of weapons and equipment will all be a significant long-term expense.

Therefore, if calculated as a whole, this arms trade order will definitely exceed 10 billion US dollars!

This is an achievement that even the world superpower, the Mao Bear Empire, has not achieved!

Now, the Dragon Country has done it!

This is also why Marshal Xu Yong'an is so excited!

In international arms trade, what many countries care about are nothing more than two points: combat performance and sales volume!

There's no need to elaborate on the combat performance of Dragon Country's weapons and equipment; the most astonishing 75 to 1 combat loss ratio in world war history is right there!

So now, Dragon Country's military industrial weapons and equipment will once again speak to the world with a single order exceeding 10 billion US dollars in sales!

Dragon Country's military industry is about to rise in the world!

"Oh, Comrade Peng Lin, there's one more thing to give you!"

"Now that the self-defense counterattack against the Viet Monkeys has ended, your temporary tenure as Chief Military Advisor for the Eastern Front has naturally expired!"

"This is your brand new appointment certificate!"

Marshal Xu Yong'an suddenly took a red certificate from his guard and handed it to Peng Lin.

"Chief Designer for Army Equipment Development!"

Peng Lin opened the red certificate and saw the job title on it.

Next to it, there were also the joint handwritten appointment signatures of Marshal Xu Yong'an, the Minister of National Defense, and the Commander of the Army.

"This time it's no longer temporary, but a genuine full-army-level position!"

"Directly under the Ministry of National Defense, jointly appointed by the Army General Staff Department and the Military Commission!"

"Now, in the Yanjing Ministry of National Defense building, you have your own independent office as the Chief Designer for Army Equipment Development!"

"In addition, the Ministry of National Defense is preparing to establish the Army Equipment Development Research Institute jointly with the Army General Staff Department, and you will be in charge of it!"

"The main task of this unit is to look at the world's cutting edge and the future, to plan the future development direction of our army's land equipment, procurement of active equipment, research on modern warfare tactics, and so on!"

"The Army is about to undergo a major transformation, and the above-mentioned aspects will be entrusted to you to lead!"

Marshal Xu Yong'an said to Peng Lin with utmost solemnity.

Science and technology are the primary productive forces!

This statement is not only reflected in national development.

Through this self-defense counterattack, the Ministry of National Defense has become more aware of the improvement in combat effectiveness brought by new weapon systems.

Now, not only does the country need to reform and open up, but the army has also reached a crossroads where change is needed.

Although the Dragon Country won this war beautifully, many problems were exposed in terms of command system, combat equipment, and soldier quality!

The Ministry of National Defense and the Army General Staff Department have now started a reform of the army based on these exposed problems!

And the heavy responsibility of equipment innovation fell on Peng Lin's shoulders.

Currently, the Dragon Country implements a four-level command system of "Grand Military Region—Army—Division—Regiment."

Peng Lin's full-army-level position is roughly equivalent to a field army commander, and being directly under the Ministry of National Defense, he is absolutely a core senior leader of the military!

"Yes!"

"Within three months, I will submit a satisfactory answer to the Ministry of National Defense and the Army General Staff Department!"

Peng Lin stood at attention and saluted.

The Valiant Combined Arms Brigade has confirmed the success of the transformation of Type B divisions towards light combined arms brigades.

Now, several core pieces of equipment for the heavy combined arms brigade have also been prototyped and undergone initial testing.

Once the 99A heavy main battle tank is prototyped, that will be the time for the heavy combined arms brigade to debut!

Currently, the Dragon Country Army has a total of approximately 150 infantry divisions, 60 of which are Type A divisions!

If the heavy combined arms brigade plan is feasible, then all 60 of these Type A divisions will be reorganized in the direction of heavy combined arms brigades!

If the forces of these 60 Type A divisions are transformed into 60 heavy combined arms brigades through selection and reorganization.

Although their personnel will be less than one-third of the original.

Their combat capability and firepower strike capability can be directly increased by several times!

60 heavy combined arms brigades—this is a number that was far from being achieved in the previous life!

Peng Lin was full of anticipation for this reform!

...After seeing off the Saudi royal family delegation, Marshal Xu Yong'an returned to Yanjing by military plane.

Peng Lin, meanwhile, returned to the Changhe Comprehensive Test Site to continue testing related aspects.

Next, vehicles loaded with 155mm howitzers and Weishi rocket launchers underwent off-road capability tests in various complex terrains.

In addition, Peng Lin also tested the "Flying Crossbow" man-portable air defense missile and the "Red Arrow" man-portable anti-tank missile.

In this era, the most effective way for infantry to strike heavy equipment such as tanks and helicopters was still limited to RPGs and various rocket launchers.

Even directly using satchel charges at close range.

As for dedicated man-portable air defense missiles and anti-tank missiles, no country has yet developed and used them.

However, the Changhe Weapon Manufacturing Branch, using some of the technologies and ideas provided by Peng Lin, developed these two pieces of equipment.

Subsequently, Peng Lin tested these two pieces of equipment using specially manufactured unmanned target drones and homogeneous armor targets.

The "Flying Crossbow" man-portable air defense missile launcher and missile system weighs 15 kilograms, slightly heavier than a man-portable rocket launcher.

Yet it can still be operated by a single soldier from the shoulder.

It uses the same two-stage solid rocket engine technology as the Weishi extended-range rocket, with an effective range of 4.8 kilometers and a maximum altitude of 3.8 kilometers!

It can effectively strike low-flying aircraft and helicopters!

After Peng Lin's testing, its accuracy against unmanned target drones can reach over 70%!

If the target is changed to a larger helicopter, this hit rate can climb even higher!

Although the "Red Arrow" anti-tank missile is slightly heavier at 22 kilograms, it can still be operated by a single soldier.

However, its optimal use is still collaborative firing by a gunner and an observer.

Its maximum range can reach 2.5 kilometers, and after launch, the "Red Arrow" will climb to an altitude of 150 meters before diving to attack the top armor of a tank!

According to Peng Lin's tests, its penetration thickness against homogeneous steel can reach 750 millimeters!

Even the Mao Bear Empire's third-generation T-72 tank would have no chance of survival against a top-down attack from the "Red Arrow"!

And in moving target tests, the "Red Arrow" achieved an astonishing 90% hit rate!

The development and appearance of these two weapons will completely change the battlefield ecosystem for individual soldiers facing heavy armored targets such as helicopters and tanks!

Previously, helicopters and tanks facing light infantry were a one-sided slaughter!

Because traditional RPGs and rocket launchers had difficulty hitting and causing effective damage to heavy tanks and helicopters!

But now, as long as "Flying Crossbow" and "Red Arrow" are equipped, the era when light infantry can still hunt heavy tanks and helicopters is about to arrive!

"It won't be long before the last batch of weapons and equipment ordered by the United States will be delivered to Afghanistan."

"Perhaps during this equipment handover, the Dragon Country can indirectly provide a batch of 'Flying Crossbow' and 'Red Arrow' to Afghanistan."

Peng Lin silently planned.

Recently, as Afghanistan expelled the Mao Bear's ambassador, the conflict between the two sides has intensified.

According to the temperament of the Mao Bear Empire, they could invade Afghanistan by ground at any time to carry out military operations.

And taking advantage of this opportunity, in addition to causing trouble for the Mao Bear Empire and tying them down on the Afghan battlefield.

Peng Lin also planned to test the power of "Flying Crossbow" and "Red Arrow" in actual combat!