"This is an aircraft carrier?!" Zhong Liyu's eyes were full of shock when she saw the "Varyag" still in the dock.
"Yes, this is the Varyag, the most powerful aircraft carrier ever built by the Soviet Union, but the Soviets don't call them aircraft carriers, but aircraft carrier cruisers." Ye Kai stared at the unfinished "
"Varyag", I also have feelings in my heart.
When I saw this maritime overlord with my own eyes, the main structure of the Varyag had actually been basically completed, and more than 60% of the hull had been installed in place. What was currently being done was mainly some later equipment installation work, such as
Talk about cable laying, weapon system assembly, etc.
The Soviet Navy began building the first-generation "Moscow"-class aircraft carrier cruiser (helicopter carrier) in 1962. After starting the construction of the second-generation "Kiev" medium-sized aircraft carrier (medium-sized aircraft carrier) in 1970, it began construction in 1982.
The third generation Type 1143.5 (now the Russian "Kuznetsov") heavy aircraft carrier cruiser.
In early 1983, Marshal Gorshkov, then Commander-in-Chief of the Soviet Navy, proposed the idea of building a second Type 1143.5 aircraft-carrying cruiser. This plan was supported by the then Soviet Defense Minister Uskinov.
On December 6, 1985, the Type 1143.6 "Riga" officially started construction at the Black Sea Shipyard.
In view of the construction and testing experience of the "Kuznetsov", after complex calculations, the ski jump deck was improved from the 12 degrees of the "Kuznetsov" to 14 degrees. 1143.6 type aircraft carrier cruiser November 25, 1988
When it was launched on the same day, the main structure of the ship body was completed.
According to the original plan of the Soviet Ministry of Defense, the "Riga" was supposed to be the No. 2 ship of Type 1143.5, but the Soviet Navy believed that there had been new developments in shipboard electronic equipment at this time, and the original design should be improved.
In June 1986, the Type 1143.6 improvement plan was approved. The main content was to improve the radar system: replacing the "Mars-Tradewinds" phased array of the "Kuznetsov" with the latest "Frum" air warning radar.
Radar, model 1143.6 also made significant improvements to other electronic equipment, with a total of more than 150 improvements compared to model 1143.5.
However, due to the updated plan, the construction was delayed by 9 months compared with the scheduled construction period. In July 1990, the "Riga" was officially renamed "Varyag".
Logically speaking, the Varyag should have been completed and put into service by now. Unfortunately, the Soviet economy has been in trouble in recent years, especially after the outbreak of the Gulf War this year. Oil prices plummeted back to their original positions, which was fatal to the Soviet Union's oil exports.
After the blow, the entire Soviet Union's foreign trade was in a hopeless situation, and funds were exhausted. How could it be possible to continue investing in a money-burning thing like an aircraft carrier?
For these reasons, the Ukrainian Black Sea Shipyard, the contractor of the Varyag, can only put the ship there first and maintain the operation of the shipyard by undertaking the construction of some large civilian ships.
"If you want this ship to be put into use, you have to invest at least about 500 million US dollars, but now the Soviet government has no money." The Ukrainian who accompanied Ye Kai and the others said so, with some regrets on his face.
Ye Kai was very interested in this aircraft carrier, and under the leadership of the Ukrainians, he went up to the platform and walked around.
A giant steel beast! Standing on the deck of the aircraft carrier, Zhong Liyu could not help but think of this term.
"What do you think, I buy it?" Ye Kai suddenly said to Zhong Liyu.
"Ah?!" Zhong Liyu was stunned after hearing this.
"It's just talk. Don't be so nervous. I can't afford it even if you buy it." Ye Kai laughed and said.
Ye Kaixin knew very well that if the Soviet Union were to collapse, it would be the best time to immediately purchase the unfinished aircraft carrier Varyag.
In fact, in the years before and after the collapse of the Soviet Union, the chaos in the former republics was almost unimaginable.
Even hundreds of suitcase nuclear bombs have been sold privately, let alone ordinary weapons. As described in the movie "Lord of War" starring Nicolas Cage, international arms dealers were once quite rampant.
As long as the buyer can afford the money, any weapon that is in the Soviet arsenal can be obtained for you.
The story of a Chinese businessman back then taking a truckload of food and daily necessities to Ukraine and getting back two planes was definitely not a myth. In fact, what he got was more than what he said.
We still have to wait! Ye Kai reluctantly glanced at the "Varyag" in the dock again, and finally left with Zhong Liyu.
He has a lot to do when he comes to Ukraine this time, and the Black Sea Shipyard is an important target that he has long targeted.
What he is interested in is Ukraine's mature shipbuilding technology, technology for building giant ships with a capacity of 10,000 tons and 100,000 tons, and mature industrial workers.
Today, the situation in the Soviet Union is very bad, and the situation in the Black Sea shipyards is also very bad. Although they can make a living with civilian shipbuilding orders, the operating rate is less than 30%, and most workers are barely making ends meet. Under this situation,
Ye Kai estimated that he could fool a group of Ukrainians into going to China to hunt for gold.
Especially after he came to the Soviet Union, he discovered that in fact many Soviet people did not have much rejection of China, and even many older people even affectionately called them "Chinese comrades."
Obviously, because Gorbachev has made a mess in the Soviet Union, the people have already complained about him and the current government, and they miss the powerful red Soviet Union even more. Naturally, China, which belongs to the same camp of socialist countries, has
I also have a lot of good feelings. After all, we were once "comrades and brothers", and China is said to be developing well now. Everyone has food and clothing.
The more important point is that the Chinese have a lot of resentment towards the Soviet Union, but the Soviets did not suffer any loss from the Chinese, so their ordinary people do not have any bad feelings towards China, and they still feel some kindness when talking about it.
Ye Kai has plans to invest in building a large shipyard in the outskirts of Pearl City. He will first put up the frame and slowly hollow out the foundation of the Black Sea Shipyard. When the time is right, he will build the Varyag.
Buy it and then build it.
But after doing this, Ye Kai found that his money seemed to be a bit insufficient.
Although he transferred more than 700 million US dollars last time, this money was planned to be invested in the Hong Kong property market to make money. Now that the plan has suddenly changed, he really doesn't know what to do.
However, it won’t cost much to recruit thousands of people from the Black Sea Shipyard to return home. For these people now, as long as you promise to provide for their families, scientists are willing to go with you!