Selling oil across Libya

Chapter 33 Rent a Satellite

At the beginning of the year, Russia purchased a batch of Iveco-manufactured "Lynx" armored vehicles, with an average price of about 400 million euros.

This price includes technology transfer; it's not just about buying the whole vehicle, but more importantly, about introducing the production technology for the engine, chassis, and related components to develop our own "Dart" armored vehicle, which is why it's so expensive.

The average price of the new generation of light tactical vehicles used by the U.S. military is approximately $25.

The armored vehicle Qin Rui wanted was a heavy armored vehicle, and the price quoted by the US military was not a reliable reference.

BAE Systems produced nine mine-resistant ambush protected (MRAP) vehicles this year, at an average cost of $1 million each.

Qin Rui wanted a deluxe version of a mine-resistant ambush protected vehicle, and the Hand of Justice quoted him 2500 million.

Excluding weapon systems.

Although the price includes spare parts and subsequent maintenance costs, it is still a bit expensive.

So after the Hand of Justice made its offer, it replied with a long post of about 1500 words explaining why it was so expensive.

Qin Rui didn't read the long message and only replied with two words: Deal.

A mere $2500 million wouldn't last three days; it wasn't worth Qin Rui wasting his time on.

Besides armored vehicles, Qin Rui's long-awaited armed helicopter has finally made progress.

"Black Hawk? Where did it come from?"

Qin Rui had originally hoped to have a "female deer" or a "little antelope," but he never expected Yuri to give him such a big surprise.

"middle East."

Yuri laughed heartily: "Not only do we have Black Hawks, but we also have M1 Abrams main battle tanks."

"How is that possible!"

Qin Rui was utterly shocked.

The Black Hawk and M1 Abrams are the main combat equipment of the US military, and theoretically, they are impossible to purchase.

But reality is often more absurd than fiction.

"The US military is withdrawing from the Middle East on a large scale, and the cost of transporting a lot of equipment back to the mainland is more expensive than buying new equipment, so it has to be disposed of locally."

Yuri's explanation unveiled the biggest absurd drama of the new century for Qin Rui.

"In April of this year, a U.S. military transport ship encountered a storm in the Atlantic Ocean and lost five containers."

GPS data shows that these containers are indeed on the seabed, but it's hard to say what's inside them.

The U.S. military transferred 11 M1A1 tanks to local allies last year, and only 5 of these tanks are still operational.

The equipment left behind by the US military in the Middle East is enough to equip four US-equipped divisions.

We currently have two brand-new Black Hawk helicopters available, and if we want them, they can arrive within a week at the latest. The price is very reasonable.

Yuri was quite tempted.

"A brand new Black Hawk, just like that, we throw it away?"

Qin Rui was speechless.

"Who told them to be so rich and powerful?"

Yuri's words reminded Qin Rui not to get carried away.

"don't want."

Qin Rui acted decisively.

While Black Hawk is good, it's not that important.

Although Black Hawk performed exceptionally well in Somalia.

When facing system-of-systems warfare, the Black Hawk is completely useless.

The Numidian Brigade needs defense more than offense right now.

After the joint military operation ended, for a considerable period of time, the Numidian Brigade's opponents were the warlords within Libya.

Black Hawk is not needed to deal with these warlords.

There is no need for main battle tanks.

Once the armored vehicles, radar, and anti-aircraft missiles that Qin Rui wanted are in place, the Numidian Brigade can push forward unimpeded.

The best-equipped brigade among the warlords, the Jintan Brigade, had fewer than 20 tanks, only 6 armed helicopters, and not a single fixed-wing fighter jet.

The Numidian Brigade already possesses anti-armor weapons.

While armed helicopters pose a significant threat, a mere six are simply not enough to alter the course of the battlefield.

Bringing Black Hawk back will not increase the combat strength of the Numidian Brigade.

Moreover, it would expose the Numidian Brigade prematurely, which would be very detrimental to Qin Rui's plans.

Qin Rui had assumed that the armored vehicles he ordered did not include weapon systems and therefore would not attract the attention of Europe and the United States.

Unexpectedly, on the morning of November 25th, The Politics Show suddenly aired a news report.

"Our correspondent in East Asia received a breaking news report that the Numidian Brigade, which controls Tripoli in Libya, is negotiating a military procurement contract with an Asian country for approximately $2500 million, which may include radar and surface-to-air missiles."

Nick, is there anything you want to say?

Jon Sopple looked serious.

"Although this has not been confirmed, it is indeed very likely to happen, as air defense is one of the problems faced by all Libyan armed groups."

The Numidian Brigade made a name for itself in the Zawiya massacre, repelling an attack by the French National Gendarmerie Intervention Group, and subsequently taking control of Tripoli and oil fields in western Libya.

This is amazing, unbelievable;

Because the leader of the Numidian Brigade is Yuri, many people believe that the Numidian Brigade is supported by Russia.

This is quite possible, because only a country like Russia has the power to support such an organization.

Nick Sampson is an eloquent speaker and is considered an expert on Libya.

"My God! This is amazing!"

Jon Sopper was very cooperative, with exaggerated expressions and tone of voice.

Qin Rui opened Baidu and sent a question mark to the Hand of Justice.

Before the hand of justice could respond, Ding Jian arrived in haste.

"Although Libya is riddled with infiltration, you don't seem to be in much better shape."

Qin Rui was the first to launch an attack.

"Tiger, the situation is complicated. Don't jump to conclusions."

Ding Jian did not panic.

"I was fully responsible for maintaining contact with you. Even Yuri and Musa didn't know the specific details. Did I leak it?"

Qin Rui took the opportunity to vent his dissatisfaction.

Ding Jian has not yet agreed to sell radar and anti-aircraft missiles to the Numidian Brigade.

However, this cannot be blamed on Ding Jian.

Qin Rui understood Ding Jian's concerns, so he offered to let Ding Jian's people handle the operation. Numidia Travel would only pay for safety and had no interest in the relevant technology.

This model is not without precedent.

Even so, Ding Jian still disagreed, which made Qin Rui very dissatisfied.

They keep saying, "Go out, go out!"

Now that the opportunity has come, he is hesitant and indecisive.

Is this what it means to "go out"?

In recent days, another piece of news has emerged, claiming that during Operation Odyssey Dawn, a certain country negotiated military procurement with Libya, blatantly violating the United Nations arms embargo.

Honest people are not as honest as they seem.

"If you cannot give me a reasonable explanation, then after we complete the existing contract, all subsequent cooperation will cease."

Qin Rui was confident and fearless, as he still had trump cards up his sleeve.

Numidia has already reached a long-term supply agreement with Tripoli.

But it hasn't been signed yet.

The Numidian Brigade will not sign the agreement if it does not receive radar and missiles.

"Tiger, your most important task right now is to improve communications security."

Ding Jian reminded Qin Rui that relying solely on the Chrysanthemum mobile phone was insufficient to guarantee communication security.

What suggestions do you have?

Qin Rui readily accepted good advice.

"Tiger, do we need to rent a communications satellite?"

Ding Jian smiled.

Qin Rui desperately needs it.

But rent?

Who do you think you are!