Tech Giants: Starting from Bankrupt Companies

149: Chapter 149 The 72 Hours of the Arms Sales HurricaneRiyadh, Spark-Arab Defense Company Signing Center, December 21

The signing center, originally an exhibition hall, had been transformed into an ”arms procurement supermarket.”

Twenty signing desks were lined up in a row, with long queues in front of each one.

The large screen displayed the total signing amount in real-time, with the numbers jumping every few minutes:

December 21, 10:00: $3.2 billion

December 21, 12:00: $5.8 billion

December 21, 15:00: $8.7 billion

Egyptian Secretary of Defense Sami led the delegation in person; his entourage included the Chief of Staff of the Army, the Air Force Commander, and the Air Defense Force Commander.

The sixty-year-old veteran general wore a crisp military uniform adorned with medals, but at this moment, he acted like a shrewd businessman, carefully reviewing the contract terms.

”For the H1 rocket artillery, we want three battalions to be deployed in the Sinai Peninsula.”

Sami pointed to the red dots on the map, ”Here, here, and here—we need to form crossfire to cover the entire border region.”

”Most of the terrorists’ hideouts are in caves. How deep can your bunker-busting warheads penetrate?”

The Spark sales director pulled up the data: ”The thermobaric bunker-busting warhead can penetrate 30 meters of soil or 15 meters of concrete, then detonate inside the cave, creating overpressure and oxygen deprivation effects. The people inside... will feel no pain.”

Sami nodded, ”Humane. That is exactly the effect we want.”

”Also, for the F1 man-portable air-defense missiles, we’ll start with 500 sets to be deployed around the Aswan Dam.”

”The Jewish state’s F-16s often ’accidentally enter’ our airspace; we need deterrence.”

”Understood. We also recommend deploying ’thunderbird 3’ drones to provide 24-hour continuous surveillance. Once an anomaly is detected, the missiles can quickly lock on.”

”Fine. What is the total price?”

”The entire system, including rocket artillery, missiles, drones, the command center, plus three years of maintenance and personnel training, is a package price of $2.8 billion.”

Sami did some quick math—if they bought the same configuration with American equipment, it would cost at least $5 billion, and the Americans would attach various usage restrictions.

”Sign,” he said decisively.

Nearby, the UAE delegation’s negotiations were more detailed.

The UAE Armed Forces Deputy Supreme Commander, Prince Khalid, forty years old, a graduate of the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in the UK, could speak fluent Chinese.

”We are ordering 500 ’rhino a2’ units,” Khalid said, ”but there is one condition: we want technology transfer for the production line.”

”Not just simple assembly, but the full set of technology from component production to final assembly. We want to build a factory in Abu Dhabi to serve the entire Gulf region.”

Fahd personally received this heavyweight client, ”Your Highness, technology transfer is negotiable, but it needs to be done in stages.”

”First stage: build a final assembly line in Abu Dhabi, with a 30% localization rate. Second stage: build a component production line, with a 60% localization rate. Third stage: build engine and avionics production lines, with a 90% localization rate.”

”Throughout the process, we will send engineers to provide guidance and train UAE technical personnel.”

”Timeframe?”

”Three years to complete all three stages,” Fahd provided the schedule, ”The prerequisite is that the UAE must commit that the products will only be used for national defense and the legitimate needs of Gulf Cooperation Council member states, and will not be transferred to third parties.”

”That can be written into the contract,” Khalid agreed, ”Additionally, we want to customize a ship-based version of the ’Rhino’—one that can take off and land on our frigates for maritime patrol and anti-piracy operations.”

”We have a ready-made solution for that. The ’Rhino C’ features a folding wing design, is compatible with helicopter flight decks, has a flight endurance of 6 hours, and can carry light anti-ship missiles.”

”Good. Total price?”

”500 rhino a2 units, plus production line technology transfer and training, and 10 customized Rhino C units, a package price of $4.5 billion. Payable over five years, with oil or natural gas as payment.”

Khalid reached out his hand, ”Deal.”

The most unique one was the Jordan delegation—King Abdullah II personally conducted a direct conversation with Fahd via an encrypted video link.