"Hello, Mr. Felix. Please feel free to ask your questions directly," Mavi said calmly.
Felix, leaning on his cane, first took a long, aged glance at Mavi before speaking in a hoarse voice. "Mr. Mavi, I've heard from Ivanov about your previous proposal. We've given it serious consideration, and we believe it's a viable plan."
"However, I'd like to know—if we choose to collaborate with you, how much funding will you invest in our Sukhoi Design Bureau?" Felix wanted Mavi to give him a guarantee. After all, if his entire family pledged allegiance but Mavi backed out, they would be left with nothing.
At this critical stage of negotiations, Mavi knew it was time to make a decisive move. Taking a deep breath, he looked at Ivanov and Felix and said flatly, "If you're willing to transfer the Sukhoi Design Bureau to me, I won't be stingy. I'll invest $200 million upfront to support your development of new fighter jets."
The moment those words left his mouth, Ivanov and Felix, standing in front of him, were momentarily stunned—unable to react.
$200 million! That was the equivalent of three years' worth of government subsidies for their entire design bureau! They hadn't expected this young man to casually throw out such a massive sum as if it were nothing. Even Felix, who had weathered many storms, was taken aback by Mavi's confidence.
No wonder the Mikoyan family had managed to run their design bureau better than Sukhoi. With someone this wealthy and capable in the family, it would be more surprising if they hadn't risen to prominence!
"Mr. Mavi, are you sure about the $200 million?" Felix asked, trying to suppress his emotions.
Mavi chuckled. "Of course, Mr. Felix. And not only that—I want you to accelerate the development of the Su-47, the successor to the Su-37. The design flaws of its forward-swept wings must be completely resolved."
In this parallel world, the Su-47 had yet to be finalized. Mavi recalled that in his past life, the Su-47 "Berkut" never entered service due to various reasons. But in this lifetime, there was a real possibility of making it happen.
After all, the Su-47's technology was extremely advanced for its time. Its aerodynamic layout was unconventional, featuring forward-swept wings instead of the usual backward-swept design. Combined with stealth and supermaneuverability, it met the technological standards of a 4.5-generation fighter.
Hearing Mavi's clear response, Felix, considering his current status, concluded that Mavi wouldn't lie to deceive an old man like him. Finally, he made his decision—to sell 65% of the Sukhoi Design Bureau's shares at a relatively low price in exchange for a partnership with Mavi.
Felix had thought this through. If he only sold 50%, it wouldn't be much of an incentive for Mavi. He could just as easily invest in the Mikoyan Design Bureau. Given his current trajectory, it was only a matter of time before Mavi took full control of the Mikoyan family.
...
Once Mavi acquired 65% of the shares, he fulfilled his promise and immediately transferred $200 million to the Sukhoi Design Bureau. The funds were designated for the development of the Su-47 and Su-57 fighter jets, as well as resolving the technical issues with forward-swept wings.
After the transfer, Mavi's bank account still held $820 million. At his current pace, if he didn't spend any money, his account balance would increase by $5–8 million per week—about $1 million per day on average.
Looking at the massive sum in his account, Mavi suddenly found himself troubled—what should he invest in next?
But before he could dwell on that thought, a call from the Chinese Air Force Command completely changed his perspective. He realized that his money might never run out...
"Hello, is this Mr. Mavi? This is the People's Liberation Army Air Force Headquarters. We'd like to inquire about the strengths and weaknesses of your country's Sukhoi and MiG fighter jets. Could you send us a detailed report via email? I need to pass it along for review," said a middle-aged officer on the phone.
"The People's Liberation Army Air Force Headquarters?" Mavi suddenly recalled something. Two weeks ago, Elder Yuan had called him about the aircraft carrier Varyag and its carrier-based aircraft. China was considering using Russian jets and had also mentioned that the Air Force wanted to get in touch with him.
Carrier-based aircraft are designed to take off and land on aircraft carriers.
The Varyag could carry 46 to 50 aircraft, including 26 fixed-wing jets and 24 helicopters. (Carrier-based aircraft are managed by the Navy, not the Air Force. However, Air Force planes can land on carriers in special circumstances, though this is rare.)
"Oh, no problem. I'll send it over shortly!" Mavi had almost forgotten about this since it was mentioned in passing.
"Great, we'll be waiting for your response," the officer said over the phone.
The reason the PLA Air Force was making such inquiries had a lot to do with the joint Ukrainian-Russian fleet's standoff against the Turkish Navy. The decisive air raid in that confrontation had left a deep impression worldwide, making many realize the critical importance of air power.
If a navy acquires an aircraft carrier, its air force must also be upgraded—only then can a country achieve balanced military development.
After the call, Mavi sent the requested details on Sukhoi and MiG fighter jets to the provided email address.
Before long, they were back on the phone again, setting a date for an official visit. A delegation would arrive in Russia in two weeks.
---
Time passed quickly, and soon it was the day when the Chinese Air Force delegation was scheduled to visit Russia.
On Wednesday at 10 a.m., a pure white Boeing 747 landed precisely on schedule at Moscow Airport. As the aircraft's stairs lowered, a middle-aged man, dressed in a Chinese Air Force uniform adorned with silver medals, stepped out, accompanied by his subordinates. He entered Mavi's field of vision.
From the medals and insignia on his uniform, it was clear that this man was a senior officer in the People's Liberation Army Air Force.
Unlike their previous meetings, things had changed. After the Ukrainian nuclear disarmament crisis and the Varyag aircraft carrier incident, the bond between Russia and China had deepened significantly. This level of friendship wasn't something that could be bought or broken by mere financial interests.
"Hello, Mr. Shen Hongshen. Welcome to Russia!" Mavi stepped forward to greet the visiting general.
(End of Chapter)