Chapter 43
Chapter 43
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 43
Chapter Title: A Bold Offer
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“There it comes.”
On a day with a stuffy, dry wind, the assembled firefighting helicopter—no, the KA-32A disguised as one for radar testing—flew into Gyeonggi Province.
The training personnel for aircraft adaptation had already been secured right after the second Brown Bear Project was approved.
Even from a distance, it looked stable, a testament to the pilot's exceptional skill.
“The wind seems pretty strong, doesn't it?”
Just as Hee-won said, the weather conditions were far from ideal.
Yet, watching the aircraft calmly find its spot and land, I was once again struck by the incredible capability of its coaxial contra-rotating rotors.
“The software porting is complete. We updated the source codes Russia sent us beforehand to match our hardware, and thankfully, no operational issues were found.”
What we gained from this project wasn't just attack helicopter technology.
Did we even have a software developer with that kind of skill in our country?
Once the work began, one of the software developers at the institute revealed an exceptionally brilliant talent.
“Hee-won. Did you say that guy's name was Choi In-bae?”
“That's right. He's a KAIST graduate. I heard he's so brilliant in aerospace software development that even Lockheed Martin once tried to recruit him. So I snatched him up right away.”
If that was true, he was quite the talent.
No, even if the software was proven, successfully adapting it to new hardware in just a few months without any operational problems... you'd have to call that genius.
“His background is clean, right?”
“Of course. From his family to his personal life, there are no issues. Besides, the fact that he flatly rejected Lockheed's offer shows he's not the type to be bought.”
That was reassuring enough.
Anyway, they say a dragon can rise from a small stream.
For some reason, I couldn't help but be interested in him.
“The radar operation test results are in.”
A fortnight later, the test results from over thirty flights were placed in my hands.
Detection range passed, of course.
The ability to select threat targets via algorithm and prioritize them for attack also received a passing grade.
The problem was the occasional degradation in target discrimination, but since that was a software issue, not a hardware one, Russia would have to fix it themselves.
“Director of the NIS?”
I immediately reported the findings to the Director of the NIS.
The Director then contacted Russia through HUMINT, and the next day, the person who secretly arrived in Seoul was Alexei, the Director of the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service, who had previously come to Busan Port as the person in charge of the helicopter transport.
[I thought you said you'd contact us through another channel. Did you come in person again?]
[Things just worked out that way. Have you been well?]
Alexei grasped my hand with a look of genuine pleasure.
Glancing behind him, I saw a few people who didn't look like intelligence agents.
They were likely here to verify the data they were about to receive.
[But aren't you being a little too open with your entry this time?]
His visit this time lacked the meticulous caution of the last.
Sure, he entered under the guise of a trade official, but if the U.S. decided to look closely, would they really not notice?
But as if he had anticipated the question, a smile formed on his lips.
[Our great American friends have no time to worry about me, let alone South Korea. They have their hands full with China.]
[Why China?]
Puzzled, I tilted my head.
Alexei tapped my shoulder, glanced around, then stepped closer and whispered.
[Yesterday, an unprecedented event occurred. Chinese hackers launched a massive attack on U.S. defense contractors. Because of that, every American intelligence agency in the Asia branch is completely focused on it.]
[The damage must be significant, then?]
The one who asked was the Director of the NIS.
Unlike me, his eyes were sharp, as if he'd already heard something.
[I don't know the details, but judging by the fact that even the eyes on me have vanished, the damage must be substantial. Rumor has it that it wasn't just hacking; there was also a technology leak through human channels.]
That was China's classic method of technology theft.
They send talented individuals as international students in various fields, get them hired by local companies, and have them build trust.
Then, at the critical moment, they steal the data and stab them in the back.
Well, in the future, after being burned so many times, the U.S. would eventually develop countermeasures, but at this point in time, it must have been a huge shock.
[I suspect they've managed to steal some of the technology for the Apache and Black Hawk.]
Alexei continued, his expression like that of an excited child.
I was about to ask if he wasn't worried the same could happen to them, but then I decided it wasn't my place and held my tongue.
[How about your side, Mr. Jin?]
[What about it?]
[If they can hack the supposedly impenetrable U.S. defense industry, Jaewoo can't be completely safe, can it?]
He had a point.
However, hacking Jaewoo Thales and the institute, which are protected by quantum algorithms, is virtually impossible.
The only other method would be to induce a leak through human channels. But the core research is handled by the institute under tight security, and the research fields are so thoroughly compartmentalized that recruiting one or two people wouldn't be enough to leak anything significant.
Besides, with me and every single one of my researchers under the surveillance of NIS agents, making contact would be impossible.
I might have other worries, but the Director of the NIS is thorough on that front, so there's nothing to be concerned about.
[We have our measures, but does Russia have any countermeasures?]
[Mr. Jin, you know our situation better than anyone. The level of technology leakage through the military is severe. That's why our Foreign Intelligence Service is handling this directly.]
[So the chances of an illegal leak are much lower than before, then.]
[Not necessarily. Who is truly free in the face of money? No matter how much we crack down, there will always be rats. What's comforting, though, is the government's response.]
[...]
[It varies by case, but the orders from above are to eliminate not only the leaker but also those who orchestrated it, without a trace.]
As he spoke, Alexei's expression was completely different from a moment ago.
It felt like I was seeing his true face.
I offered an awkward smile, and he tapped my shoulder again.
[By the way, who are those fellows who've been staring at me like they want to eat me alive?]
His gaze shifted to the men standing behind me.
My personal bodyguards, hired recently for my safety.
Having just left the military, their gazes were indeed quite sharp.
[They're my bodyguards. You don't need to mind them.]
[I thought they felt different from the NIS agents. Anyway, we're not just going to stand around at the airport all day, are we?]
[Ah!]
At his words, the Director of the NIS took the lead.
With such a large group, we needed six vehicles.
A while later, we arrived at an NIS front company located in Incheon.
[First, please take a look at the test results.]
As soon as we arrived, I handed Alexei the hard drives containing the data.
The drives passed from his hands to the men he'd brought with him. They connected them to their own computers, and after examining the results for a while, their faces brightened as they looked at Alexei.
[According to the data, it's at the level we expected.]
A grin spread across Alexei's face.
Hearing this, Alexei gave a satisfied smile.
He then handed me a large carrier he was holding and cracked a casual joke.
[It's primitive, but a direct exchange is the safest way. But doesn't this make us look like we're in the middle of a drug deal?]
I let out a dry laugh and examined the case he'd handed me.
Was it made of some special material?
The case, with its unusual texture, was armed with various security devices, and inside, thirty hard drives were all protected by shock-absorbent rubber padding.
[Do you mind if I take a moment to check?]
[Of course.]
After getting his permission, I connected one of the hard drives to a computer.
Countless folders.
Among them, one in particular caught my eye, and I quickly looked up at Alexei.
[What is this?]
[Let's see... it looks like the folder for the combat systems.]
[I know that, but why is there data on the R-73 air-to-air missile in here?]
[Isn't the defining feature of the Ka-50 its HMS (Helmet Mounted Sight) and air-to-air system? So it's only natural that the R-73, which integrates with it, is included.]
The HMS was a system that allowed the pilot to lock onto an enemy simply by looking at it.
As he said, it was one of the Ka-50's key features.
The problem was, I didn't possess that system myself.
Not just the system, but the integrated missile technology was also something I didn't have.
[...]
In fact, the R-73, also known as the Archer missile, was the world's first fifth-generation air-to-air missile.
It was capable of extreme maneuvers, using not only thrust-vectoring nozzles but also canard controls.
To give you an idea of how incredible it was, the AIM-9X, which the U.S. developed to counter the Archer, appeared a full twenty years later, and even then, some experts argued its performance was inferior.
In other words, Russia had just handed over another one of its hearts.
[Why so surprised? When we're handing over the platform, it's only natural that the related combat systems come with it. And didn't I tell you before? We never forget a kindness shown to us.]
[...]
He could say that, but no fool would believe it blindly.
Especially considering Russia's history of backstabbing various countries in diplomatic affairs.
This meant they wanted something in return, and I had a good idea of what it was.
“It seems they've made up their minds to acquire the gyro.”
I immediately whispered to the Director of the NIS.
Was this an issue he had been prepared for?
The Director's lips twitched, his expression hardening.
“I don't understand. Why do they want it this badly? This doesn't seem to be just about tactical nukes.”
“That's...”
I hesitated to answer.
But it was something he had to know eventually.
In the end, prefacing it as just my speculation, I told him about the possibility of Russia developing a hypersonic cruise missile.
“So, what happens if they mount a nuclear warhead on a hypersonic missile?”
“There's virtually no way to stop it. Unlike ballistic missiles, we don't have the technology to intercept an object with such a complex flight path.”
“Then what do you plan to do? The fact that they're going this far shows they're determined to get what they want.”
“Haven't we already reached a conclusion?”
“We have, but after hearing that, I feel a bit...”
“Even without us, Russia will eventually succeed in developing the gyro. They've been handling nuclear technology for decades. That being the case, we should sell it while we can, as originally planned.”
The Director of the NIS nodded at my words.
[We will gratefully accept Russia's friendship.]
After my brief consultation with the Director, I turned back to Alexei.
Had he been guessing the content of our conversation? With a slight smile, he broached the subject.
[By the way, have you given any thought to my previous proposal? The matter of the gyro, I mean.]
As expected, he cut straight to the chase.
I watched him silently, wondering if he would bring up something else, but he continued.
[Actually, our committee has already made a decision. If South Korea agrees to the exchange, we are prepared to transfer all the technology for the latest version of the Sukhoi fighter jet.]
[...]
For a moment, the Director and I looked at each other simultaneously.
Although the durability of its engine components was only one-fifth of its Western counterparts, the Sukhoi fighter's maneuverability and power were overwhelming.
That was largely due to its engine control software. If they were to transfer that, there would be nothing more I could ask for.
[Does that include the source code for the engine control software?]
[I told you. We intend to provide all related technology. To be honest, even I don't fully understand my comrades' thinking. Why they're so willing to hand over technology we've poured over fifty billion dollars into developing.]
[...]
[But once you know the inside story, it starts to make sense. Our standing has shrunk due to the economic crisis. There's a sense of crisis that if things continue this way, we'll be crushed by America's military might and never recover. So, we are developing a strategic weapon they cannot ignore, and for that, we absolutely need the gyro you've created.]
His words confirmed my suspicions.
They really were developing a hypersonic cruise missile.
In the current situation, that was the only thing that could instantly restore the balance of power with the U.S. that Russia had lost.
[Could you please ask the men who came with you to step out for a moment?]
I immediately requested this of Alexei.
As if sensing my intention, he gave a faint smile.