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on october 1, 2009, at the 60th anniversary military parade of the national day, an aircraft carrying a "big mushroom" on its back, as the vanguard of the air formation, led the huge fleet to fly over tiananmen square with precision. the announcer said excitedly: "the air formation is coming, and the leading aircraft is the kj-2000 early warning aircraft independently developed by my country and with world-leading level, our pride in the blue sky!" this was the first time that a chinese early warning aircraft was publicly unveiled in front of a global audience. on the viewing platform, wang xiaomo pointed at the aircraft with tears in his eyes.

he developed my country's first three-coordinate radar using computer technology, built china's own early warning aircraft, made three types of radars, and "moved" the radars onto airplanes... wang xiaomo firmly believed that "the chinese can do it," and spent his entire life building "clairvoyance" for the country's national defense.

on the eve of the 75th anniversary of the founding of new china, wang xiaomo was awarded the national honorary title of "people's scientist".

in 1961, wang xiaomo graduated and was assigned to the 14th institute of the 10th academy of the ministry of national defense. in 1969, in response to the call for the national "third line" construction, wang xiaomo devoted himself to the establishment of the 38th institute of the ministry of electronics industry (now the 38th institute of china electronics technology group corporation) hidden deep in the mountains of southwest guizhou. wang xiaomo took on the responsibility of chief designer of three-coordinate radar and led a group of technical backbones to start the research of three-coordinate radar.

in april 1984, the 383 radar was approved for finalization, and its technical indicators reached the international advanced level. my country has entered the world's advanced ranks in three-coordinate radar technology, and air defense radar has achieved a leap from a single warning function to a precise command and guidance function. in 1985, this project won the first prize of the national science and technology progress award.

"the technological blockade imposed by foreign countries on us has forced us to embark on a path of self-reliance," wang xiaomo lamented more than once.

at the end of the last century, early warning aircraft played a significant role in the gulf war. some people figuratively compared it to "a clairvoyant in the sky" and "a central military tent in the clouds."

at that time, people's impression of early warning aircraft was a large aircraft with a huge disc-shaped radar antenna on the fuselage. "it was difficult to build the 'big mushroom' before, even if we bought it from abroad and installed it on the aircraft ourselves," said wang xiaomo.

knowing that "core technology cannot be bought", wang xiaomo was transferred to the position of executive vice president of the electronic science research institute of china electronics technology group corporation, leading the team to develop domestic early warning aircraft.

"we must not only develop an awacs, but also develop a world-leading awacs!" wang xiaomo and his team gritted their teeth and overcame difficulties. in summer, the temperature in the closed cabin even reached over 40 degrees celsius; in winter, water freezes into ice, and even wrapped in a coat, one shivers; the noise is even louder. in such a difficult environment, wang xiaomo, who is nearly 70 years old, insisted on working at the test site and often worked overtime until the early morning.

in just one year, the team led by wang xiaomo completed the ground prototype. after precise technical solutions and comprehensive key technology research, the domestic early warning aircraft was finally successfully developed, creating 9 firsts in the history of the development of the world's early warning aircraft, breaking through more than 100 key technologies, and obtaining nearly 30 major patents.

on january 18, 2013, wang xiaomo was awarded the 2012 national highest science and technology award.

wang xiaomo liked to listen to mei lanfang's operas. he once had a wish: "after i turn 70, i will only work half a day every day, and spend the rest of the time practicing with a group of people who like peking opera." but this wish has never been realized. even when he was over 80 and suffering from cancer, he still insisted on working. on march 6, 2023, wang xiaomo died of illness in beijing at the age of 84.

wang xiaomo dedicated his youth and life to the motherland and the people, and the motherland and the people will always remember him.

people's daily (page 04, september 20, 2024)