Chapter 54: Privately Developing an F-22? Are You Out of Your Mind?

Beijing, Fighter Jet Development and Research Center.

Chang Wen sat in his office and stretched comfortably. The lunch break was fast approaching, and having concluded his morning duties, he was just waiting a few minutes before heading to the cafeteria for lunch.

He still remembered the live stream he had watched two days ago, where a live-streaming e-commerce host named Wang Yang publicly offered an F-22 fighter jet for sale in his broadcast room.

The number of viewers in that room was truly staggering, with even one person placing a deposit on the spot.

He wondered if that person was a genuine buyer or merely a plant arranged by Wang Yang.

Regardless, it hardly mattered. Wang Yang's broadcast had achieved remarkable results, successfully generating widespread buzz and significantly boosting his popularity once again.

Just this morning during a lull in his work schedule, he seemed to notice that Wang Yang had gone live once more, featuring a mysterious guest in the broadcast room. However, being occupied at the time, he paid it no heed and did not tune in.

From his perspective, Wang Yang's current marketing wave was undeniably formidable. At the very least, he had gained immense popularity, losing at most the cost of two fighter jet models.

Although those fighter jet models looked quite realistic—almost identical to a genuine F-22—they were, after all, mere models. Having a superficially replicated exterior meant incurring slightly higher expenses at most.

Compared to the fortune Wang Yang stood to make in the future, that expenditure was merely a drop in the ocean.

Just as the thought crossed his mind, *ring, ring*.

The telephone on his desk suddenly chimed.

Without a second thought, he picked up the receiver directly. "Hello, greetings. Fighter Jet Development and Research Center. This is Chang Wen."

"Hello, I am Lin毅 from the Military Scientific Research Institute of the Qingcheng Garrison Command," Lin Yi's muffled voice came through the phone.

Chang Wen was momentarily taken aback.

The Military Scientific Research Institute of the Qingcheng Garrison Command?

"Hello, how may I help you?" Chang Wen asked with a smile.

Dispensing with pleasantries, Lin Yi went straight to the point. "Director Chang, it is like this. I recently derived a set of data regarding fighter jet engines and aerodynamic devices. I would like to ask whether your Fighter Jet Development and Research Center can deduce the approximate performance of a fighter jet based on this set of data?"

Hearing this, Chang Wen frowned. "Given our current technological standards, that is hardly realistic. High-precision testing instruments still need to be utilized in conjunction with engines and aerodynamic devices within simulated operational environments to conduct tests and ultimately yield authentic data."

"If one relies solely on a set of data, it is extremely difficult to infer specific performance metrics; testing remains indispensable."

Chang Wen felt a trace of puzzlement. As colleagues within military scientific research institutes, although differences in scholarly attainment and knowledge levels might arise due to potentially fewer experiences and routine research projects on their end, the fundamental notion that performance could not be deduced merely from data ought to be common knowledge.

After all, that was nothing more than a set of figures.

While he was pondering, another voice took over the call. "Hello, Director Chang. I am Li Wenshan."

Chang Wen froze for a second. "Hello."

"Here is the situation: I would like to ask whether you believe there is any possibility for the private sector to develop fighter jet engines, aerodynamic devices, and other components, and assemble them into a functional, usable military fighter jet?"

Hearing this, Chang Wen was completely baffled and utterly bewildered.

What on earth?

The private sector developing fighter jet components and assembling them into a complete, operational military fighter jet?

What a joke!

Did they take fighter jets for automobiles, motorcycles, or some other kind of small vehicle?

"Impossible. Even advanced military scientific research institutes require various experiments, phased trials, and other rigorous procedures before they can successfully develop a single component for a fighter jet. This demands a massive workforce of researchers, high-precision instruments, and strictly controlled environments—every single one is indispensable. The private sector could never possess such conditions." Although he felt somewhat speechless, Chang Wen still patiently explained.

Li Wenshan said thoughtfully, "That is to say, it is equally impossible for the private sector to develop components for the F-22 fighter jet, is that correct?"

Chang Wen parted his lips slightly, wanting to say something, but felt at a loss for how to begin.

The F-22 fighter jet...

Let alone the private sector, even their own Fighter Jet Research and Development Center lacked the capability to develop components for the F-22.

"Precisely. As the primary active-service fighter jet of the United States military, many of its cutting-edge technologies are products of the last century. Yet even today, those state-of-the-art technologies remain at the absolute pinnacle. At present, our country cannot master the majority of core technologies, let alone the private sector..."

Before he could finish, Chang Wen seemed to recall something. He first glanced at the telephone and then thought back to Wang Yang's live stream.

Wasn't Wang Yang currently located in Qingcheng?

Moreover, the questions posed to him by the Qingcheng Garrison Command were exceedingly bizarre and entirely disconnected, sounding very much like an outsider asking naive questions.

As the realization bloomed in his mind, Chang Wen chuckled and bantered, "Did you happen to tune into the live stream of that e-commerce host named Wang Yang as well?"

"Ah?" Li Wenshan was stunned.

Chang Wen continued, "As I was saying, the private sector simply does not possess the possibility of developing F-22 components. They lack the conditions even for manufacturing parts for fighter jets utilizing outdated technology."

"If you watched that broadcast and consequently suspected that what Wang Yang was selling was a genuine F-22, then you are worrying needlessly. I can state with certainty that it is no F-22; it is merely a fighter jet model possessing nothing more than an outer shell."

"Ah... I see. So that's how it is." Li Wenshan offered an awkward chuckle.

Chang Wen glanced at the time. "Indeed, so you needn't worry."

"Very well, sorry to have troubled you."

With that, Li Wenshan abruptly hung up the phone.

Scarcely had the call ended when Institute Director Zhang Wenchang walked in. Noticing Chang Wen's expression, he asked, "Who were you just talking to on the phone? How did I happen to catch the mention of the F-22?"

"Well, Director, it was the Qingcheng Garrison Command calling to inquire whether the private sector is capable of developing an F-22 fighter jet," Chang Wen said with a smile.

"The private sector developing an F-22? How could that possibly be?" Zhang Wenchang was startled.

Chang Wen spread his hands. "Precisely, that is what I told them as well. Li Wenshan must have watched Wang Yang's broadcast, seen how lifelike those two F-22 models were, and mistaken them for authentic F-22s, which is why he called to check if such a possibility existed."

"Sigh," Zhang Wenchang emitted a long sigh, clasping his hands behind his back. "Let alone the private sector, even our own Fighter Jet Research and Development Center—which stands at the very apex of fighter jet research in Great Zhou—still hasn't mastered the cutting-edge technologies of the F-22 as things currently stand."

"Indeed. If we could truly master those technologies, that would be wonderful. We could then vigorously research sixth-generation fighter jets on that foundation, elevating the power of our air force even further. When that day comes, regardless of whether it's the F-35 or the F-45, they will all be outclassed by the fighter jets of our Great Zhou!" Chang Wen stood up and said excitedly.