"Well then, Mr. Mavi, I'll leave this matter in your hands. On behalf of the Indian government, please accept our most sincere thanks!" the Indian Ministry of Defence official said gratefully to Mavi over the phone.
This really highlighted the difference between a major military power and one that isn't. Mavi could completely make this deal without any fear, while the Indian side could only wait for his news.
"Don't thank me too early, let's not rush. I'll do my best," Mavi replied, calm and collected, to the Indian Defence Ministry official. His way of interacting with people was gradually becoming quite refined now. He knew exactly what attitude to take with whom.
You know, in his previous life, whenever India and Pakistan clashed, Russia was always the one who benefited. They'd either sell planes to Pakistan or sell tanks, submarines, and fighter jets to India. And they always seemed to make a sale; the other side would be scrambling to buy.
"But we still have to thank you, Mr. Mavi!" The Indian Ministry of Defence official was clearly being as humble as possible. It couldn't be helped; their ace planes were truly unreliable. The Indian Air Force now had a psychological complex about their domestically developed fighter jets.
They essentially prepared for a crash every time they took off. The first thing they checked was always whether the ejection seat and parachute in the cockpit could deploy successfully. Otherwise, the probability of crashing and dying was 60% to 70%!
(It's said that getting a pilot's license in India is easier than getting a car license in some countries, which might be one reason for all the crashes).
Two weeks later, a Boeing 737 passenger plane from India landed punctually at the Russian International Airport. The important figure on board was India's Defence Minister, Hassan Managalawa.
His main purpose for coming to Russia this time was to persuade the Russian military to sell them advanced weapons, specifically the long-coveted MiG-33 fighter jets, the incredibly capable Su-30 fighters, and so on.
The reason it was about "persuading the military" was because that annoying Mavi had been completely silent for two whole weeks. Along with that, the Russian military had also ignored India's requests for military deals. If this had been a few years ago, the Russian government would probably have been overjoyed to hear about potential business knocking on their door.
All these changes were due to Mavi.
"Good morning, Minister Hassan Managalawa, welcome to Russia." Out of courtesy, Mavi was there to meet him at the airport.
After all, in his previous life, India was famously known for loving to buy military equipment. Even if the government didn't have money, they'd take out loans to buy, figuring they'd just pay it back slowly with interest over the next decade or more.
"Hello, you must be Mr. Mavi, I presume? I've heard so much about you!" said India's Defence Minister, Hassan Managalawa. Although this was the first time he met Mavi, he had certainly heard of Mavi's reputation long ago. He knew he was a tough character.
When the al-Qaeda base in Afghanistan shot down one of his Su-30 fighter jets, Russia mobilized the entire country's resources to retaliate against Afghanistan. It was impossible to believe that someone hadn't played a significant role in that.
"Mr. Mavi, I still haven't received your response regarding whether your country's MiG-33 fighter jets can be sold to India," Hassan Managalawa said to Mavi first, after shaking his hand.
"Minister Hassan Managalawa, regarding the sale of MiG-33 fighter jets, our Russian military is also in a difficult position. After all, the data and information about this particular fighter jet are still not publicly available. You must understand that many countries would pay a high price to buy its information and intelligence," Mavi replied honestly.
The MiG-33 was developed by his Mikoyan Design Bureau based on the former Soviet Union's design, incorporating the latest communication technology and anti-electronic interference technology. Furthermore, scientists from the Sukhoi Design Bureau also participated. This made the MiG-33's performance even more outstanding and stable. Many countries outside were trying to get their hands on its intelligence.
"Then, Mr. Mavi, you see we are now here in Russia. About this 3.5 generation fighter jet..." Minister Hassan Managalawa asked Mavi patiently. He just wanted to know what it would take for the Russian military to be willing to sell the MiG-33 fighter jet.
"Let me put it this way, Minister Hassan Managalawa. According to the feedback from the Russian military, they suggest that if you want to purchase the MiG-33 fighter jet, perhaps you could spend a bit more money and buy the navy's Akula-class nuclear submarine as well, how about that?" Mavi said calmly to the Indian Defence Minister.
As soon as he finished speaking, Minister Hassan Managalawa, standing right in front of him, was instantly stunned!
"Wh- what?! Mr. Mavi, are you saying... the Akula-class nuclear submarine? Your Russia is willing to sell this?" Hassan Managalawa was truly shocked. A nuclear submarine is an incredibly formidable piece of equipment; it's the nemesis of all surface ships. Even encountering anti-submarine vessels, as long as it stays hidden deep enough, it has the power to fight back.
Unless the other side also dispatches nuclear submarines and sends more anti-submarine aircraft and ships to deploy sonar buoys everywhere, it's difficult to gain an advantage.
The Akula-class nuclear submarine was one of the submarines that played a surprise attack role during the recent naval standoff between Russia and Japan. It truly gave Japan's Maritime Self-Defense Force quite a scare at the time. It was the last class of traditional attack nuclear submarines developed by the Soviet Union and the most numerous attack submarine built by the Soviet Union/Russia after the Type 671 attack nuclear submarine (Project 671RTM).
Its submerged displacement is 9500 tons, length 110 meters, width 13.5 meters, maximum submerged speed is 35 knots, can dive to depths of 450 to 600 meters, and has an endurance of around 100 days.
"That's right, Minister Hassan Managalawa, the Project 971 attack nuclear submarine. I wonder if your country's government is interested in it?" Mavi asked the Indian Defence Minister with a smile.
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In this timeline, Russia and India had only traded six Grisha-class frigates last year. So, when Mavi said that the Russian navy was willing to sell India an Akula-class nuclear submarine, Minister Hassan Managalawa was understandably surprised.
"This... Mr. Mavi! How would your country sell the Project 971 attack nuclear submarine?" Minister Hassan Managalawa asked Mavi excitedly.
If they had Russian nuclear submarines, coupled with the MiG-33 fighter jets, then India wouldn't just stand up to Pakistan. They'd even dare to confront neighboring Myanmar simultaneously! In any case, whether it was Pakistan or Myanmar, India didn't like them. If it weren't for a certain Eastern country that they simply couldn't defeat, the warlike Indians would definitely have picked fights with the surrounding countries one by one.
"Let's not rush to talk about prices and such for now, Minister Hassan Managalawa. Our Russian Navy happens to have an Akula-class nuclear submarine that has just finished its patrol mission. I wonder, Minister, would you be willing to go with me for an on-site visit?" Mavi asked the Indian Defence Minister, extending an invitation.
(End of this chapter)