Back in 1978, I was admitted to Northwestern Polytechnical University.

Chapter 133 The J-2 is here, all that's missing is the radar!

Shen Yang.

The snow has melted, and in the distant fields, there are even patches of green. Everything is reviving, and spring is here!

At Factory 112, on the tarmac, a sharp-nosed fighter jet stands there, exuding a powerful aura.

The dark green radome made the aircraft stand out from the crowd. There were also two flat air intakes on both sides below the cockpit, which looked quite unique. At this moment, a large group of people stood next to the aircraft, excitedly discussing it.

"Old Lin, this is our J-8 variant. The nose air intake has been changed to side air intakes, which frees up the nose area!" Old Gu said enthusiastically. "The rear fuselage has also been improved to facilitate ground maintenance. This aircraft has passed the test flight review and is ready for its maiden flight!"

"Then what are we waiting for? The weather's nice today, let's fly it and show it to everyone!"

"it is good!"

Half an hour later, the J-8 modified aircraft roared into the sky, its dark green nose piercing the heavens, and everyone present stared intently at the nose.

"If it weren't for Northwestern Polytechnical University providing the design, this J-8 modification probably wouldn't have been completed in a year."

"Yes, they used computer-aided design over there and completed all the improvements in just one winter break. Although it cost ten million, it doesn't seem like much at all now! Here, I'm afraid even thirty million wouldn't be enough to fix it!"

Amidst the sighs of the crowd, the J-8 roared as it circled once in the sky, then aligned itself with the runway and landed, marking the successful completion of its maiden flight!

"Old Gu, the Air Force is very satisfied with this upgrade. Because of the major modifications, the entire project has been renamed J-8-2!" Old Lin said. "Next, you all need to expedite the test flights, complete all the training courses, and equip the troops as soon as possible..."

Old Gu was somewhat embarrassed: "Old Lin, right now we're only test-flying the fuselage. The nose section is empty, but... we haven't installed the corresponding airborne radar equipment yet; we're still using ballast." Old Gu sighed: "Without radar, there's no combat capability!"

Old Lin waved his hand: "This problem should be easy to solve. The radar for the MiG-23 has already been sent to Northwestern Polytechnical University, right? We can coordinate with them. If the radar development has been completed, then we can bring it over to be used as a component!"

Northwestern Polytechnical University?

Across from him, engineer Lao Li shook his head: "Professor Lin, Northwestern Polytechnical University does have a knack for designing aircraft, which we can't help but admire. However... they only have three IBM computers imported from the United States, not their own real abilities. This airborne radar technology is definitely not something Northwestern Polytechnical University could develop!"

"Yes, so far, the relevant departments in our country have only managed to develop a single-pulse radar rangefinder. Of course, with the MiG-23's radar as a sample, they might be able to reverse engineer it, but... Mr. Lin, the MiG-23's radar is already outdated!" Engineer Wang chimed in, "Even if they manage to reverse engineer it, it will be just like our 204 radar—a useless tool. If we want to obtain advanced airborne radar, we still have to import it from abroad!"

Old Lin frowned: "Imported?"

"That's right. Looking at the world, the United States has the most advanced airborne radar technology. In the late 1960s, they already had planar slotted radar antennas. The AWG-9 radar on the Tomcat fighter jet has a search range of over 300 kilometers! The Tomcat's nose is similar to our J-82's nose. As long as we buy the AWG-9 radar, our J-82 will become an airborne early warning aircraft!" Old Wang said. "That's right. Even if we can't buy the American one, we can buy the European one! For example, the Tornado fighter-bomber. The British modified it into an interceptor and installed Marconi's most advanced airborne radar. If we import this kind of radar, we can be on par with Europe." Old Li chimed in.

With the aircraft in place, the radar problem became an urgent issue. How could it be solved?

Of course it's imported!
"Marconi's most advanced airborne radar?" Old Lin glanced at everyone present with disdain. "Do you know who manufactured this radar antenna?"

"Who?"

Northwestern Polytechnical University!

Everyone was stunned. The most advanced airborne radar used on Europe's most advanced fighter jet had its antenna manufactured by Northwestern Polytechnical University?
"This is impossible!"

Old Lin rolled his eyes at the other person: "Engineer Li, are you implying that I'm lying?"

Li Gong quickly waved his hand: "No, no, Mr. Lin, that's not what I meant. I just... we haven't heard of it!"

Of course, I've never heard of that. Arms deals are inherently highly confidential. And this transaction by Northwestern Polytechnical University didn't even bring the foreign exchange back; they directly used that foreign exchange to buy chips from abroad. The relevant departments are extremely dissatisfied and are complaining in the capital! They don't want to air their dirty laundry in public. The department in charge of foreign trade feels ashamed that they can't control the import and export of a university, and they certainly won't leak it out.

"Report!" Just then, an officer approached: "We just received a telegram from Northwestern Polytechnical University. Their airborne radar has passed its first power-on test. For subsequent tests, the Air Force needs to coordinate an aircraft..."

The power-on test is just the basics. There will be subsequent vibration tests, cold resistance tests, and so on. Once the initial tests are all done without problems, it will be put into aircraft testing!
"It's already built?" Old Gu asked in surprise. "What are the performance specifications?"

Old Wang and Old Li's eyes widened. Northwestern Polytechnical University had actually completed the mapping and imitation of a radar? If they really succeeded in making a copy, they would definitely need to use it, after all, it was the most advanced radar available in China! But... if they had it themselves, how could they buy it from abroad? And if they didn't buy it from abroad, how could they go abroad to conduct research?

No, we have to find fault with it! The copy of the MiG-23 radar is too poor in performance!

"Continue," Old Lin said, glancing at his secretary.

"The radar antenna uses a 900mm planar slotted antenna, and the subsequent circuitry employs fully digital processing capabilities. The theoretical specifications are as follows: for an aerial target of three square meters, the maximum search range is greater than 110 kilometers; for an ultra-low-altitude target of three square meters, the maximum search range is no less than 40 kilometers..."

"Impossible, impossible! This data is too exaggerated, it's practically launching satellites!" Old Wang shook his head repeatedly: "I don't believe it. Northwestern Polytechnical University doesn't have this capability. Even if Institute 607 went to help, they still wouldn't have this capability! They must be overconfident and trying to scam more R&D funding from their superiors..."

The data is incredible, surpassing Europe and putting us on par with the United States. How is this possible? With our weak electronic technology in the East, we couldn't possibly build such an advanced radar!
Seeing the expressions on everyone's faces, Old Lin's expression darkened: "The radar antenna diameter is 900 millimeters, it was tailor-made for our J-8! Since you don't like it, then forget it. Send a telegram back to Northwestern Polytechnical University to reduce the antenna diameter to 700 millimeters for the J-7!"

(End of this chapter)