Tech Giants: Starting from Bankrupt Companies

252: Chapter 252 Billion-Dollar Orders5:00 PM, Conference Room 1 (Saudi Arabia)

The conference room was about thirty square meters, with soundproofing reaching military standards. In the center was a long mahogany table; on one side sat Gu Xinghe and three negotiators from Xingchen Defense, and on the other side was Prince Fahd and his team of eight.

”CEO Gu, let’s get straight to the point,” Prince Fahd said, opening his tablet to pull up the procurement list. ”This is our preliminary intention.”

The list was projected onto the big screen:

sabertooth hx-30 main battle tank: 200 units

Lynx V-25 multi-role infantry fighting vehicle: 300 units (including 150 infantry type, 50 air defense type, 50 anti-tank type, 30 command type, 20 reconnaissance type)

Peregrine Falcon S-15 air defense system: 50 sets (200 launch vehicles)

Comet ultra-long-range air-to-air missile: 500 units

qimingxing medium-range ballistic missile: 100 units (including basic intelligent modules)

Gu Xinghe did a quick mental calculation: based on export prices, it was about 12 billion USD. (Export weapon prices start at 1.5 times the public price, determined based on friendly relations with different countries.) But the actual transaction price would certainly fluctuate.

”Your Highness, the quantity is no problem,” Gu Xinghe said, ”but the qimingxing missile requires your country to sign a ’non-transfer agreement,’ and positioning and self-destruct devices will be installed inside the missiles. Once they leave the authorized usage area or if there is an attempt to dismantle them, the missiles will automatically self-destruct.”

”That’s acceptable,” Fahd nodded. ”But we need to establish an overhaul factory and partial assembly lines in Saudi Arabia. At the very least, the tanks and armored vehicles must be assembled locally.”

This was the key negotiation point.

Gu Xinghe was prepared: ”Tanks and armored vehicles can have CKD (Complete Knock-Down) production lines established in Saudi Arabia, but core components—including main guns, active protection systems, engine electronic control units, and missile seekers—must be imported from China and undergo final tuning in China.”

”Why?”

”For technical protection and quality control,” Gu Xinghe said calmly. ”The manufacturing processes for these core components have extremely high requirements, and Saudi Arabia currently lacks the production conditions. Forcing localization will only reduce equipment reliability.”

Fahd was silent for a moment: ”How much is the investment for the production line?”

”A complete CKD production line with an annual output of 50 tanks and 100 armored vehicles, including training, technology transfer, and equipment, has a total investment of about 10 billion USD. It will be built within five years.”

”That’s too expensive,” Saudi Arabia’s economic advisor frowned. ”When the United States helped us build the M1A2 production line, they only charged 3 billion.”

”That was just an assembly line,” Gu Xinghe said pointedly. ”And the United States didn’t transfer any core technology. What we are giving is true technical cooperation—including maintenance of active protection systems and missile upgrade services. More importantly...”

He paused: ”If Saudi Arabia has this production line, in the future, it will not only be a user but also become a maintenance hub in the Middle East. Equipment purchased by other countries can all be overhauled and upgraded in Saudi Arabia. The profits from this alone will recoup the investment in five years.”

Fahd’s eyes lit up.

He understood the subtext: If Saudi Arabia became the ”general agent” for Xingchen Defense equipment in the Middle East, then future purchases of these weapons by the UAE, Qatar, Egypt, and even Turkey might need to go through Saudi Arabia’s service center.

That was not just military influence, but political and economic influence as well.

”10 billion, does that include technical training?” Fahd confirmed.

”It includes: training 500 engineers and 1,000 technicians, and establishing a complete quality control system,” Gu Xinghe said. ”Also, if Saudi Arabia settles in rmb, you can enjoy a 5% discount.”

”rmb?”

”Yes,” Gu Xinghe smiled. ”Spark Group is pushing for rmb settlement in international trade. If Saudi Arabia is willing to pay part of the payment in rmb, we would be very grateful.”

Fahd and his advisors exchanged glances.

This was another political signal: reducing dependence on the US dollar and strengthening financial ties with China.

”Acceptable,” Fahd finally nodded. ”But the payment method must be in installments: 30% upon signing, 30% upon first delivery, 30% when the production line is completed, and the final 10% as a warranty deposit.”

”Reasonable,” Gu Xinghe extended his hand. ”Happy to cooperate.”

The two hands shook.

A massive arms deal worth 22 billion USD (including the production line) was finalized within half an hour.

5:30 PM, Conference Room 2 (Russia)

The atmosphere here was completely different.

Igor Petrov brought a six-person team, their expressions as serious as if they were attending a funeral.

”CEO Gu, Russia needs technical cooperation for the Comet missile,” Igor said straight to the point. ”We can exchange it with long-term oil and natural gas supply contracts.”

A very Russian style: direct, but with the confidence of a resource superpower.

Gu Xinghe shook his head: ”Technology is not possible. The Comet’s active phased array seeker, dual-pulse engine control algorithm, and AI target recognition module are all top secret.”

”Then how many can we buy?” Igor took a step back.

”We can sell a reduced-spec version: the range is reduced to 80 kilometers, the seeker uses mechanical scanning radar, and there is no terminal AI recognition. The price is 800,000 USD per unit, with a maximum supply of 100 per year.”

Igor frowned: ”80 kilometers... that’s not enough to deal with the F-35.”

”But it’s enough to deal with the F-16, and also enough to deal with Europe’s ’Typhoon’ and ’Rafale’,” Gu Xinghe said calmly. ”Also, if your country is willing to give priority to Spark Shipping in Arctic Sea Route cooperation, we can provide the gliding aerodynamic data for the ’Venus’.”

This was a naked exchange of interests.

The Arctic Sea Route, with global warming, is becoming a new shipping route connecting Asia and Europe. Whoever controls the route controls the throat of future logistics.

Russia has always viewed the Arctic as its ”backyard,” and now Spark Group wanted a piece of the pie.

Igor was silent for a long time. This decision was beyond his authority.

”I need to consult Moscow,” he finally said. ”But before that, we want to purchase a batch of sabertooth tanks. The quantity... 30 units, for testing and evaluation.”

”That’s fine,” Gu Xinghe nodded. ”But for the tanks’ active protection system, we will install ’regional restrictions’—it can only be used within Russia. Once it leaves the country, the system will automatically downgrade.”

”That’s not fair,” Igor’s deputy protested.

”Fair?” Gu Xinghe glanced at him. ”The T-90S tanks your country sold to India had engine power 20% lower than the version for domestic use, and the armor was also a simplified version. It’s a commercial transaction; what’s unfair about it?”

The Russian representative was speechless.

Arms trade has never been ”fair,” only interests and constraints.

”30 units, 450 million USD, 50% prepaid,” Gu Xinghe gave the conditions. ”Delivery time is 12 months.”

”That’s too long.”

”Because we have to customize a cold-climate version for Russia, including engine preheating systems, low-temperature batteries, and antifreeze circuits. This takes time.”

Igor finally nodded: ”That’s fine. But we want to send technical personnel to participate in the modification process.”

”Observation is allowed, but hands-on work is not,” Gu Xinghe did not budge. ”This is the bottom line.”

The negotiation temporarily came to an end. The Russian side’s procurement intention was about 8 billion USD, but most of it still required approval from Moscow.