Chapter 31
Chapter 31
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 31
Chapter Title: The Proposal
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“Minister, what brings you here…?”
Though I acted like I knew him, I wasn’t sure if he’d remember me.
My only connection to him was a brief greeting at a party at Gyeryongdae not long ago.
But thankfully, his face brightened the moment he saw me, and he immediately shook my hand.
“I never expected to see Chief Jin Hyun-seung here either. Oh, but I should be calling you Senior Managing Director now, shouldn’t I?”
“I didn’t realize the news had already reached you, Minister.”
“The Director of the NIS told me. Now, now, let’s not stand around. Please, let’s all take a seat and talk.”
For a while after that, the Minister of Defense led the conversation.
He covered everything from the international political climate, which I was well-versed in, to the latest developments north of the truce line.
Just as I was starting to wonder who the real person in charge of the Bulgom Project was, the Minister of Defense suddenly turned to me and spoke casually.
“I hear Jaewoo Thales has acquired the core technology for the Iskander missile?”
“That’s correct. And we haven’t just acquired it; we’re currently researching an improved version.”
At my words, the expressions of everyone in the room shifted.
Some wondered if they should believe me.
Others, how it was even possible.
A long silence followed, as if no one knew who should speak first. Finally, the Director of the NIS broke the silence.
“According to Deputy Director Im Hyo-sik, you said development could begin immediately. Do you have any credible proof for us?”
*Sssk.*
As soon as he finished speaking, I took out the films containing the data from my jacket.
After asking for their permission, I projected them onto a wall.
“There’s no risk of the technology leaking just by you seeing this, but allow me to say this out of an abundance of caution. Everything you see here today must be erased from your memory the moment you leave this room.”
“Of course.”
*Gulp!*
As the NIS Director replied, I heard someone swallow hard.
He was a rather elderly-looking man.
For a moment, I thought he looked familiar.
Then, his identity suddenly clicked in my mind.
The current Director of the ADD, Gwak Ji-yong.
He had been the director when I first joined the ADD, and after Professor Myung Seung-eun, he had become my mentor.
“As you can see…”
I pushed aside the feeling of nostalgia and continued my explanation.
I started with the detailed design of the propulsion system, the core of a ballistic missile, and moved on to the internal design of the warhead and the configuration of its precision components.
As I explained, Director Gwak Ji-yong’s face flushed with excitement, and the others, who had been watching his expression, began to show a similar glint in their eyes.
“But the shape is a little different from the Iskander.”
Director Gwak Ji-yong interjected with a question while I was explaining.
Seeing every eye in the room turn to me, he quickly clarified the intent of his question to the others.
“The multi-trajectory technology and other aspects certainly seem to be from the Iskander, but I’m asking because the shape is different. The truth is, even a slight change in a missile’s shape can prevent it from performing as intended.”
He wasn’t wrong.
But that only applied if there were no independent improvements. We, in the past—no, the future—had redesigned the Iskander based on more advanced technology to create the unparalleled Hyunmoo-4.
In other words, I was presenting the design of the Hyunmoo-4, not the Hyunmoo-2A.
“This is Jaewoo’s redesign, based on the Iskander. So, a change in shape is only natural.”
“Why? Was there a reason to redesign it?”
“First, to secure additional range. The military currently wants a 500-kilometer class missile, but I’m sure you all agree that an increase in range will be necessary in the future, correct?”
The Minister of Defense gave a subtle nod.
“Therefore, it was essential to redesign the shape to secure space for additional propellant and to adapt to the increased weight of the warhead.”
“…”
“There’s another reason. If the shape were identical to the Iskander, do you think the Russian government would just stand by? As you know, we didn’t acquire this technology through official diplomatic channels. If a missile with the same appearance were to be revealed, Russia would naturally protest.”
“That’s a good point.”
Director Gwak Ji-yong belatedly accepted my argument.
A moment later, he stared at the propulsion system schematics on the screen, and his expression changed to one of realization. “Ah!”
“So that’s why it can change its trajectory mid-flight.”
“That’s right. It’s a technology that achieves sequential thrust by designing a multi-layered bulkhead structure containing solid fuel.”
“Hah… Now I understand. Your claim that developing a ballistic missile wouldn’t be easy, even if we brought in an actual ICBM. Setting aside the propulsion system design, if the structure for storing solid fuel is a bulkhead system like that, it would certainly be impossible to develop without the right materials technology.”
“That’s not all. The composite materials that withstand the heat of atmospheric re-entry and the high-precision gyroscopes also can’t be developed just by taking them apart.”
The others finally nodded in understanding.
The demonstration was over.
I collected the materials and returned to my seat. The Minister of Defense spoke in a low voice.
“Does that mean Jaewoo also possesses the materials technology?”
“Yes, we do.”
The Minister’s eyebrows twitched at my firm reply.
And he wasn’t the only one. The NIS Director and the ADD’s Director Gwak Ji-yong reacted as well.
It was the Minister of Defense who broke the brief silence.
“How long do you think development would take?”
“Typically, ballistic missile development takes at least ten years. However, with a technology transfer, it’s possible to produce a prototype within two years.”
“Two years?”
“There’s no need to be surprised. That two-year timeline is for when you enter the materialization phase after the technology transfer. At Jaewoo, where we are already in the process of improving it, we can produce a prototype of the 500-kilometer class missile within six months.”
“Then how long would an 800-kilometer class missile take?”
I had been waiting for that question.
From the start, what the military coveted was a weapon with enough range to pose a threat not just to North Korea, but also to China and Japan.
Although they couldn't reveal it to the world yet due to missile range guidelines, they would have wanted to secure a deterrent for contingencies.
“To be frank, development is possible immediately.”
“Really?”
“Yes, but there are a few issues to resolve. For one, there’s the GPS.”
“Hasn’t the United States already approved its sale? If we install the American military receiver…”
“Using the US military’s GPS chip, the M-Code receiver, would be an unwise choice. Leaving everything else aside, the US would likely use it as an excuse to demand information about the missile. That would negate its value as a strategic weapon. Furthermore, in a critical situation, the US could simply block the signal.”
“Hmm…”
The Minister of Defense let out a belated sigh.
Frankly, there was no guarantee something like that wouldn’t happen.
In fact, that was precisely why nearby Japan was securing its own GPS satellites. It would be a mistake for us to overlook that.
“But it’s not like we can launch dozens of satellites right now.”
As he spoke, the Minister of Defense glanced at me.
His eyes seemed to ask if I had a solution.
Of course, I did.
“If I were to suggest an alternative, there is the option of using Russia’s GPS. We would have no obligation to provide them with information.”
“GLONASS?”
The Minister’s eyes widened.
It wasn’t a negative reaction; he was likely gauging its feasibility.
“Yes. It probably wouldn’t be impossible.”
Of course it wasn’t impossible.
Historically, the Hyunmoo series had solved the GPS problem in that exact way, escaping American influence.
“Using Russia’s GPS…”
The Minister of Defense muttered to himself for a moment, then stared at me intently.
“Could you give us a moment to confer among ourselves?”
After asking me to step out, they called me back into the room a long time later.
“Shortly, I will report the details of today’s meeting to the President.”
“…”
“When the President hears of this, I believe he will lean toward independent development. If that happens, would you be willing to co-develop it with the ADD?”
I finally understood why they had sent me out.
If I took the development rights, the ADD would be left high and dry.
But I couldn’t allow that.
It was called co-development, but when I was providing most of the technology, what would it be but them just piggybacking on our work?
“That’s impossible. That would be tantamount to exposing the technologies we worked so hard to redesign. Besides, isn’t the ADD already developing a cruise missile? They must have their hands full with that alone, no?”
The Minister of Defense looked taken aback.
Perhaps due to my resolute expression, he eventually nodded.
“Well… If you’re that firm about it, I suppose there’s no other way. I will report it as such, and once we have the President’s approval, we’ll have Jaewoo take on the project.”
“Minister, but to so easily grant such a large project…”
One of the civilian officials from the Ministry of National Defense, who had been listening from the side, immediately objected.
The Minister’s head whipped around to face him, and he shot back a rebuke.
“Are you suggesting we put a top-secret project like this up for public bidding?”
“No, my concern isn’t about the controversy of a sole-source contract, but about security. Wasn’t that the fundamental reason we intended to proceed with the project through the ADD?”
“You need not worry about that. Can’t we directly supervise the entire development process?”
I immediately cut into their conversation.
Instantly, all eyes turned to me.
“The development of key components and technologies will be conducted at my research institute, not at Thales anyway. So, as long as the military thoroughly manages the security of my institute, there shouldn’t be a problem, correct?”
“…”
“Crucially, the eyes of neighboring countries monitoring us are more likely to be focused on the ADD. After all, the ADD is the mecca of this country’s military technology. In that sense, wouldn’t my research institute be better suited for avoiding attention?”
“Hmm…”
The eyes of the Ministry official who had been voicing his opposition lit up at my words.
A moment later, after exchanging a long glance with the Minister, he nodded. Soon, the words I had been waiting for came from the Minister’s mouth.
“From a security standpoint, your point certainly has merit. Very well, I will report it that way.”
My hands clenched into fists.
It would be strange not to be excited after securing a project that would bring in enormous profits.
Development costs alone would be at least 1 trillion won.
Once mass production began, we would possess at least 1,000 units, so the resulting revenue would be around another 1 trillion won.
Simply put, with that one statement, our Jaewoo Group had secured profits of at least 2 trillion won.
“If you don’t mind, I have one more proposal for the Minister and everyone else here.”
But I couldn’t be satisfied with just that.
The Bulgom Project was the best chance to absorb Russian military technology.
It was the only opportunity to acquire technologies in certain fields that weren’t on the data chip and that I didn’t possess. I couldn’t just let it slip away.