Chapter 32 Looking for OEM Partners

The practice of artificial rainmaking in Huaxia dates back to the late 1950s, so the old factory director and others are not unfamiliar with it. However, the current method of artificial rainmaking mostly relies on the Yun-5 aircraft. Thus, they had not heard of artificial rainmaking rocket projectiles.

"Artificial rainmaking rocket projectiles? Are there such things internationally?"

"And firefighting projectiles? We've never heard of them!"

Although the old factory director knew that Wang Ye was embellishing the truth again, he also knew that Wang Ye was not someone who fabricated stories. So, the two things Wang Ye mentioned should indeed exist, he just hadn't heard of them before.

"Our country lags behind in this field. As far as I know, the Soviet Union began developing rainmaking rocket projectiles in the 1960s."

"Think about it. Normally, rainmaking operations involve aircraft dispersing rain-inducing agents in the sky. But if we could use rocket projectiles to disperse them directly by explosion, wouldn't it achieve the same effect?"

"After all, the cost of such a simple rocket projectile is minimal, and it's also relatively easy to use. It's much more convenient than using aircraft."

"As for firefighting projectiles, that's my own idea."

"Recently, we've seen news reports of forest fires breaking out frequently. Firefighters not only work tirelessly but also face great danger."

"If there could be a long-range firefighting projectile to deliver fire extinguishing agents directly, it would significantly reduce the risk and enable early detection and suppression of fires, thereby greatly improving firefighting efficiency, wouldn't it?"

In response to Wang Ye's remarks, the old factory director pondered for a moment, his face showing a hint of excitement as he nodded and said, "Indeed, you are a brilliant student of Huazhong University! What you said makes perfect sense."

"I believe that rainmaking rocket projectiles are needed domestically as well. If meteorological units in various cities and counties are equipped with them, whenever there's a need for rain but a lack of natural precipitation, and the weather conditions are suitable for artificial rainmaking, we could simply launch a few projectiles, right?"

"No need to mobilize aircraft, it's not only convenient but also cost-effective!"

"And as for firefighting projectiles, that's a great idea. Forests with dense vegetation should have them readily available. Spotting a fire and extinguishing it promptly could prevent it from spreading!"

"Great job, Wang Ye! This is a matter of national and public interest!"

As the old factory director became more and more excited, he repeatedly praised Wang Ye, giving him a thumbs-up in the end. Wang Ye did not refuse such praise. After all, although what he proposed may sound exaggerated, it had already become a reality decades later. The facts had proven its usefulness!

"Indeed, I've been thinking along these lines."

"So in the future, we can also engage in domestic sales through export conversion!"

"I'll contact the meteorological and firefighting departments and ask if they need our equipment."

In the end, Wang Ye made the decision. After all, for a large agricultural country like Huaxia, developing artificial rainmaking technology and equipment was undoubtedly the right choice. After all, the most prominent feature of agriculture is its dependence on the weather, and technological development is aimed at continually mitigating this characteristic.

As for Wang Ye's suggestion of export conversion, it had become a popular term in recent years. The country was vigorously promoting foreign exchange earnings, resulting in many state-owned factories hastily attempting to earn foreign exchange. However, due to issues such as quality problems leading to returned goods or difficulties in the trading process due to contracts and financial issues, some goods ended up being sold domestically.

And because the goods intended for export were generally of very reliable quality, the products for domestic sales through export conversion had become very popular, becoming sought after by many.

"Great, great, great!"

The old factory director repeated "great" three times, took out his old reading glasses from his pocket with his one arm, put them on, and carefully examined Wang Ye's sketches. Although it was just a sketch this time, it was still quite detailed and clear.

"A caliber of 120 millimeters? That's quite large!"

"A length of two meters? With a forty-tube launcher, a twenty-tube launcher, a six-tube launcher, and hmm... a single-tube launcher?"

Hearing the old factory director muttering, Wang Ye smiled and explained, "As you know, we have customers of all kinds. Those with money can naturally afford multiple tubes, but those without money can make do with a single tube, right?"

"Besides, single-tube launchers are also good. After firing, they can be easily moved away!"

Just as Wang Ye finished speaking, the production director couldn't help but exclaim, "Director Wang, you really think of everything!"

And the technical director, also staring at Wang Ye's sketch, couldn't help shaking his head and saying, "Director Wang, these rocket projectiles are not like the gas cylinders we produced before."

"Gas cylinders are just pressure vessels, mainly relying on stamping and welding. The propellant is also relatively small, with a short burn time. But these rocket projectiles have a longer burn time and require seamless steel pipes with large diameters!"

"If welded, the concentricity would be difficult to guarantee, and high-temperature sealing would also be an issue."

"Our factory's current equipment might have difficulty with this!"

Wang Ye had already anticipated the issues raised by the technical director. He grinned and pointed in a direction, saying, "We may not be able to handle it, but the adjacent Laiyang Iron and Steel Plant should have no problem!"

"We can order the outer shells directly from them and make the other parts ourselves. It's convenient, isn't it?"

"Besides, I've heard they're struggling financially lately. They've been looking for business everywhere."

"Let's do them a favor!"

Although using seamless steel pipes to make furnace tubes was already a far-fetched reason, the financial director had to admit that Wang Ye's argument made sense. He smiled awkwardly and waved his hand, saying, "My perspective was too narrow, Director Wang, please forgive me!"

Finally, Wang Ye scanned the faces of the six giants of the machinery factory present and said, "So be it then."

"Tomorrow, we'll visit the station to express our condolences. When we come back, I'll finalize the drawings and then start this project!"

"That person from the Advanced Military Academy of Changshan should be returning to the country in about a month. We need to secure this order before he returns!"