When it comes to cooperation on European fighter jets, Alan Wilson has a certain impression. Whether it was the early Tornado or the later Typhoon, although the development process was not smooth, the final result was that the two fighter jets took more care of the British.
Due to practical needs, other cooperating countries have compromised more on Britain's demands.
In fact, this is easy to understand. The United Kingdom is not said to be the strongest in the world in the field of engines, but it is still one of the strongest in the world after decades of work. Excluding the United States and the Soviet Union, the United Kingdom is the only option for European countries, and it has incomparable capabilities.
Substitutability.
Even fighter jets are like this. With larger strategic transport aircraft, Britain's advantage becomes even more obvious... Alan Wilson remembers that although France is also a triad of nuclear powers, it is actually a triad in name.
The British IIIV bombers are genuine strategic bombers, as is the Belfast strategic transport aircraft.
Although it was later decommissioned and terminated, Britain was indeed a true triad nuclear power for a period of time. France did not have a real strategic air force.
France's choice of strategic bombers and strategic transport aircraft is to consider being able to intervene in African affairs at any time. France is separated from Africa by the Mediterranean Sea, and a decent transport aircraft will be enough.
Later, France was unwilling to introduce the C17 transport aircraft made in the United States because it was really difficult to manufacture heavy-duty transport aircraft, and unlike the United Kingdom, France called on European partners such as Spain, Belgium, and Germany to jointly develop the A400M transport aircraft.
As for strategic bombers, the French Mirage IV strategic bomber should also be the strategic bomber with the shortest legs in the world.
That's why Alan Wilson believed that France had taken the initiative to cooperate on strategic transport aircraft. If it were a fighter jet, France would never ask for it.
There are two reasons for this. Although strategic transport aircraft are important, they are not insurmountable in the air force.
Fighters are deadly things, and France, under the administration of Charles de Gaulle, must be on guard against being stuck. What if the cooperation produces a finished product, and at a critical moment, Britain uses the special relationship between Britain and the United States to force France to submit? This is all unavoidable.
things.
In terms of European defense cooperation, France has never engaged in multinational cooperation in the field of fighter jets. Tornado and Typhoon are both led by the United Kingdom. On the contrary, in the development of transport aircraft, France has roped in other countries to jointly research.
After some simulations, Alan Wilson asked his father-in-law to personally work in the Ministry of National Defense while doing diplomatic work. Of course, this matter could not be hidden from Rab Butler.
This foreign minister.
"There is no doubt that this is a gesture of goodwill from France. It is used to counter the accusations made by the United States at the foreign ministers' meeting." Rab Butler also understood the twists and turns. "And the person he found was very accurate. If I remember correctly
, this is the product that the airline integrated by the Mountbatten Group currently invests the most energy in, isn’t it, Allen?”
"Does the Foreign Secretary doubt that because the Belfast strategic transport aircraft is Pamela's brainchild, I will make a mistake?" Alan Wilson changed the topic when he said this. "Actually, to be honest, the development of strategic transport aircraft is complex and very difficult.
, sending someone to your doorstep? I mean, it is certainly a good thing for close allies to share risks. Even if there is no result in the end, you can accumulate experience and reduce costs."
Rab Butler smiled and shook his head, "Alan, you misunderstood. I believe that Whitehall's professional ethics in this regard are fine, and the Prime Minister also supports European cooperation."
This is a pure lie. The Conservative Party does not have a prime minister who supports European cooperation. It is just that it is facing pressure from the United States and it is always right to support solidarity, even with questionable allies.
At this time, will Britain choose to respond enthusiastically to France's overtures, or will it be unwilling to be held hostage by the United States? Especially recently, the Americans have made a unified response to the Soviet threat, allowing Britain and France to put nuclear weapons first.
Hand it over.
"That's no problem. I will definitely try my best to reach a wide range of cooperation projects that are beneficial to the UK." Alan Wilson made a solemn guarantee. "Although it may not be appropriate to do so based on my friendliness towards the United States, it is still possible."
There is really no way. Let the United States know how powerful Britain is, which will help establish a more equal relationship."
Rab Butler nodded. Although he did not understand how to implement the establishment of a more equal relationship as mentioned by Alan Wilson, and what it had to do with military cooperation. However, this NATO foreign ministers meeting was indeed annoying, but
The French rushed in front and bore the main firepower. In fact, the British were also dissatisfied.
After receiving the authorization, Alan Wilson immediately learned about the position of the Ministry of National Defense from his father-in-law.
"Let my son have a taste of Britain's long-term hegemony of public opinion." Alan Wilson whistled. In the thalidomide incident, Britain's attack on public opinion was a small test, but Kennedy used Germany to deflect criticism of the U.S. government.
In the first round, Britain and the United States were tied, and the Germans suffered a heavy loss. This time, Alan Wilson started with the flying coffin F104 fighter jets that Germany had installed in large numbers.
"Quoting reports from Germany, why Hartmann, the best pilot in the world, opposed the introduction of the F104 fighter jet, and why the F104 fighter jet was nicknamed the Flying Coffin."
"Every F104 fighter pilot has excellent courage. It reminds me of the Japanese Kamikaze on the Pacific battlefield."
"An astonishing crash rate, a failed design like a suicide torpedo boat..."
Almost immediately, a spark of public opinion that could start a prairie fire appeared in the eyes of British citizens. Erich Hartmann is a famous man, known as the number one ace pilot in the history of world air combat.
This chapter is not over yet, please click on the next page to continue reading! The halo around him makes Erich Hartmann shrouded in mystery. In fact, Erich Hartmann is still quite young. He was born in 1922.
Just a few years older than Alan Wilson.
As a soldier, this age is far from the age of retirement, and the respected Marshal Mountbatten is still shining brightly.
However, after inspection, Erich Hartmann felt that the F104 fighter jet was indeed a failure, so he opposed the Federal Republic of Germany's deployment. However, his fierce opposition could not shake Germany's determination to express friendship with the United States.
At this moment, Britain returned like lightning, bringing justice from heaven and putting Germany in an extremely embarrassing situation. British public opinion was so pervasive that the Germans also knew that the fighter jets they most relied on in their country's air force turned out to be the United States.
Air Force failure.
This is not over yet. The British media continued their efforts and discovered that very few F-104 fighter jets are in service in the US Air Force. The fighter jets in the combat wing have even been retired. They are not used as main fighter jets at all, but are exported to other countries' air forces in large quantities.
The current F-104 fighter jets in the U.S. Air Force are only used for testing to obtain experimental data. This follow-up report has directly discredited the F-104 fighter jets.
"Adenauer dares to refute? There are US troops stationed in Germany, but there are no British troops stationed in Germany? He dares to tell lies with his eyes open. The High Commissioner in Germany will immediately find out whether the respected German Chancellor is lying.
.”
At the French Embassy in London, Alan Wilson talked eloquently in front of Celt, making fun of the silent German government. All the remaining British civil servants in the British-occupied zone wore the same trousers as Alan Wilson.
"You British are still experts in this regard." Salt sighed, "What about continental balance? No one knows better than you British."
"Oh, my friend, that was all in the past. The current situation forces us to adopt a cooperative attitude in certain areas. Of course, I know that both France and the UK have heavy historical baggage. Cooperation may not be possible.
They will be very close, but basic trust must be built up slowly. You French people make trouble, and we British try to stop them. There are many flexible ways to fight, and you can't just use one method."
Alan Wilson said this and took a sip of wolfberry to replenish the energy he spent yesterday at Vivien Leigh. He continued, "I have been active recently about the progress of cooperation on strategic transport aircraft. The results are gratifying, whether it is the Ministry of National Defense or the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
All departments are open to cooperation in this field."
"Of course, we can also cooperate in many military fields, such as the field of fighter jets."
As soon as Alan Wilson finished speaking, the smile on Salt's face froze slightly, but he immediately replied, "Of course I have no problem with it personally, but as Sir Wilson said, our two countries each have historical baggage.
We can make a good start with strategic transport aircraft, and then gradually expand cooperation to other areas."
"That's right!" Alan Wilson looked at the other party deeply and said with a smile.
How could he not know that France does not dare to cooperate in fighter jets and foreign countries, and there is really a problem in any link. Now France is always in a thorny situation. If the United States uses any means in any country, France may be in a hurry to deal with it.
.
Other aspects can be overcome, but this engine? If France rejects the British engine, it may make the UK feel distrusted. But if it does not reject it, France will not cry if something goes wrong.
The engine is equivalent to the heart of the aircraft, and the French do not dare to let the British be responsible for their own heart safety issues.
The reason why Alan Wilson proposed to expand cooperation to the field of fighter jets was just to take advantage of the opportunity to lower prices, so that France would not have technology that could help Britain, and he kept making demands.
Celt expressed that he would truthfully inform the French government of Alan Wilson's views on behalf of the United Kingdom, and go out to see him off in person when he left.
"Diplomatic work is so rewarding. It's like covering the sky with one hand." Alan Wilson raised his wrist and took a look at the old Patek Philippe, which was simple and had been out of the factory for ten years. It was still early, so there was no harm in walking around.