Radar expert's contributions laid basis for nation's defense systems

Ben De, a pioneering radar expert and an academician with the Chinese Academy of Engineering, continues to push the boundaries of radar technology at the age of 88, remaining devoted to the field that has defined his life's work.

His pioneering contributions to China's airborne pulse-Doppler fire-control radar and large phased-array radar not only helped position the country among the world's leaders in advanced radar systems but also laid a solid foundation for its national defense capabilities. He received China's top sci-tech award on Wednesday in recognition of his outstanding contributions.

"From the day I graduated, I've been working on radar," Ben said. "I think it's the only thing I'll do for the rest of my life. Looking back, it was the right choice."

Born in 1938 in Jilin province during the Japanese occupation, Ben spent his early childhood in difficult circumstances. It was not until he was in primary school that his hometown was liberated.

In 1951, after consistently ranking first in his class, Ben was recommended for admission to the only middle school in the county. Although his tuition was waived, boarding costs remained a heavy burden for his rural family, which had four children. Determined to continue his education, he ran 20 kilometers between home and school every day.

To make his shoes last longer, he often ran barefoot, putting them on only as he approached the school.

His perseverance paid off in 1957, when he was admitted to the Harbin Institute of Technology.

Five years later, he was assigned to the Nanjing Research Institute of Electronics Technology in Jiangsu province, then the country's only radar research institute.

At the time, China's radar industry was still in its infancy, with many key technologies yet to be developed. The country urgently needed its own phased-array radar to defend against ballistic missile threats.

In 1965, Ben joined research on long-range phased-array radar, a field then dominated by the United States and the former Soviet Union.

The project, codenamed "7010", was an enormous undertaking. It required hundreds of equipment cabinets, more than 8,000 antenna units and over 1,000 km of control wiring.

Over the next eight years, Ben made seven extended trips to the mountainous construction site, each lasting several months, to oversee development and tackle numerous technical challenges.

Unlike conventional radar systems that rely on rotating dish antennas, phased-array radar uses a flat antenna array, making both the technology and construction far more complex.

Built into a mountainside in Hebei province, the radar eventually stood eight stories high and covered an area equivalent to two-and-a-half basketball courts.

The project tested not only scientific expertise but also physical endurance.

From 1971 to 1978, Ben spent more than half of each year at the remote site, enduring harsh weather and basic living conditions.

"The winter winds on the mountain felt like steel needles and aluminum washbasins were often blown onto nearby hillsides," he recalled.

Despite the difficulties, Ben and his team successfully developed China's first large-scale long-range phased-array radar, filling a critical gap in the country's radar capabilities and extending its aerial detection range by thousands of kilometers.

In the 1970s, air combat underwent a fundamental transformation. A new generation of fighter jets needed to engage targets dozens of kilometers away while detecting aircraft flying below them.

Achieving such beyond-visual-range combat capability depended on pulse-Doppler radar, often described as the aircraft's "thousand-mile eye".

Transitioning from a massive phased-array radar to a compact pulse-Doppler system capable of fitting inside a fighter jet's nose presented an entirely new challenge. In addition to the dramatic size reduction, the two radar systems were based on fundamentally different technical principles.

Once again, the responsibility fell to Ben.

"I had no confidence, but the country needed it, so I had to succeed," he said.

Starting from scratch, Ben led his team through hundreds of research projects and developed technical approaches tailored to China's needs. During more than a year of flight testing, he moved to the joint test site and lived alongside air force personnel. He personally took part in test flights and experienced two serious incidents, including an engine failure and a landing gear malfunction.

After a decade of work, his team rapidly incorporated the resulting technology into a range of equipment, significantly strengthening China's defense capabilities.

Today, despite his age, Ben still commutes 20 km to his office each day before returning home in the afternoon to cook for his wife.

He now devotes more time to his family, caring for his wife, staying in close contact with his children and spending time with his grandchildren.

He also enjoys making sauerkraut, a reminder of his northeastern roots, which he shares with family and friends.

Ben continues to supervise doctoral students, attend academic conferences and explore cutting-edge technologies. He also travels across Jiangsu province to promote science education in schools.

"My only regret is that my work remains unfinished," he said. "I hope to continue contributing to the advancement of radar technology during my lifetime. Looking ahead, we must focus on three key areas: extending detection range, improving accuracy and enhancing resistance to interference. Only in this way can China's radar systems truly lead the world."