Peng Ben (1938-Present)
彭本，1938年出生，雷达系统工程技术专家，奠定了中国机载脉冲多普勒火控雷达的基础。1963年毕业于哈尔滨工业大学，分配到国防部第10研究院第14研究所工作，历任研究室主任、研究部主任、副所长。
上世纪70年代，作为技术负责人之一，成功主持了我国第一部超远程相控阵预警雷达的研制；80年代，作为总设计师，成功主持了我国首部机载脉冲多普勒火控雷达体制样机的研制，填补了国内空白；2000年后，作为新型体制雷达的开拓者，指导天基监视雷达团队完成天基某雷达和新一代天基某雷达预先课题研究，出版了专著《天基监视雷达新技术》，奠定了天基监视雷达研究的理论基础；近几年，追踪世界先进的预警探测技术，直接指导了分布式机会阵、微波光子学技术等领域的技术攻关。
先后出版专著3部，发表学术论文10余篇。1991年享受国务院政府特殊津贴，1992年获国家有突出贡献中青年专家称号，1990年获机电部科技进步奖特等奖，1991年获国家科学技术进步奖一等奖，1993年获国防科工委光华基金奖特等奖，2001年当选为中国工程院院士，2003年获中国首次载人航天飞行任务纪念证书。
Airborne radar is essential for fighter jets, providing situational awareness and enabling them to detect and engage targets. During the 1970s, China lacked airborne radar with look-down capability, hindering the detection of targets below the clutter. A pulse-Doppler fire control radar could solve this issue, but its technology was closely guarded by foreign countries.
The task of developing China's own airborne pulse-Doppler fire control radar fell to Peng Ben, then in his early 40s. Despite the lack of experience and resources, Peng Ben's team at the 14th Research Institute was confident in their abilities.
After more than 10 years of painstaking efforts, Peng Ben and his team achieved the seemingly impossible. They overcame countless challenges to produce the first successful airborne pulse-Doppler fire control radar in China.
Peng Ben was born in 1938 to a humble family in Jilin. He developed a keen interest in learning at a young age. Recognized for his exceptional memory, he excelled in his studies.
Despite financial constraints, Peng Ben's determination to continue his education led his family to support his aspirations. He walked up to 20 kilometers daily to attend high school, rain or shine. Through hard work and dedication, he secured a scholarship to a prestigious high school and later to Harbin Institute of Technology, one of China's top engineering universities.
Peng Ben's first significant contribution came in 1969, when he helped design a large-scale early warning radar (7010 radar) following the Sino-Soviet border conflict. He played a key role in various aspects of the project, including system design, production organization, and installation.
As a leading technical expert, Peng Ben addressed several critical technical challenges and ensured the successful completion of the 7010 radar. 7010 Radar Base
The 7010 Radar Base, situated in the mountainous region of Zhangjiakou City, provided a challenging work environment for its team. Members endured extended shifts without holidays or weekends, facing frigid temperatures of minus 20 degrees Celsius in the winter months. Each day, they ascended a hill to the windward side, where icy blasts stabbed their faces like countless steel needles.
Bende's prolonged absences on business travel prevented him from providing adequate care for his family. From 1971 to 1978, he spent the majority of each year at the 7010 Radar Base, overseeing the debugging of an entire aircraft system. With young children at home, Bende's wife had no choice but to tie them to the bed while she cooked and ran errands, ignoring their cries. The memory of these sacrifices filled Bende with remorse.
After years of tireless efforts by the 14th Institute's entire staff, China successfully constructed its first ultra-long-range phased array early warning radar system. The system met or surpassed all design specifications and subsequently played a crucial role in monitoring space targets, tracking satellites, and intercepting missiles. It received the National Science Conference Award in 1978 and the Ministry of Electronics' Special Class Science and Technology Achievement Award in 1985. The development of the 7010 Radar significantly advanced phased array technology, establishing the foundation for the 14th Institute's mastery of phased array radar systems.
Undertaking a World-Leading Technological Mission
In late 1979, the 14th Institute tasked Bende with an arduous mission: developing an airborne pulse Doppler fire control radar system. The daunting nature of this endeavor stemmed from Bende's unfamiliarity with airborne radars, particularly airborne pulse Doppler fire control radars. The 14th Institute had exclusively focused on ground-based radar systems, lacking both experience and personnel in airborne radar development. Undeterred by these challenges, Bende accepted the responsibility, driven by the recognition that this was a critical national need.
Conventional airborne radars lacked the ability to detect targets below the aircraft due to the presence of strong ground clutter signals. These signals masked low-flying targets, making them invisible to radar systems.
The airborne pulse Doppler fire control radar, however, employed three different repetition frequencies (low, medium, and high) and utilized techniques such as single-pulse processing, pulse compression, and frequency agility. These advancements not only provided the system with the ability to detect targets above the aircraft but also enabled it to detect targets below the aircraft. Additionally, it boasted various operating modes, incorporating the latest advancements in radar electronics technology.
The development of the airborne pulse Doppler fire control radar system posed significant challenges. The system's compact size (0.1 cubic meters), lightweight design (approximately 150 kilograms), and ability to withstand extreme temperatures, low atmospheric pressure, and humidity levels were vital requirements. Furthermore, the radar needed to operate reliably in the harsh aircraft environment, enduring high levels of shock and vibration.
With both the aircraft and targets in rapid motion, target detection presented another significant challenge, demanding exceptional reliability from the radar.
The impetus for developing this system was rooted in the technological embargo imposed on China by foreign nations. In the mid-1980s, the United States announced the "U.S.-China Peaceful Model Program," proposing to upgrade 50 Chinese J-8II aircraft. The primary component of this upgrade was the installation of the airborne pulse Doppler fire control radar. However, during negotiations, the U.S. declared the radar technology to be highly sensitive, offering to provide only the equipment. Installation would be conducted solely by U.S. personnel, with any repairs requiring the aircraft to be returned to the United States. Despite signing a contract to retrofit Chinese J-8II aircraft with the fire control system, the U.S. maintained strict secrecy regarding the radar's details, allowing Chinese personnel to inspect only a model of the system.
Consequently, when China's avionics systems underwent interface testing with the U.S.-provided airborne pulse Doppler fire control radar, the equipment was housed in separate rooms, with connecting cables routed through walls. U.S. technicians claimed that once the radar was installed on Chinese aircraft, Chinese pilots would only be instructed on how to operate the equipment. Nonetheless, in 1989, the U.S. unilaterally terminated the contract under false pretenses, abandoning its commitment to provide China with the airborne pulse Doppler fire control radar.
Faced with this setback, China resolved to develop the system independently.
Despite the absence of foreign assistance, technical data, or prototypes, Bende recognized the imperative to overcome all obstacles. The airborne pulse Doppler fire control radar was a technology of paramount importance to China. Driven by the pressures and responsibilities inherent in this endeavor, Bende and his team delved into the intricate principles of pulse Doppler technology. They formulated over a hundred research topics and devised a development strategy tailored to China's specific circumstances. After three years of unwavering efforts, they had essentially resolved the theoretical underpinnings of the system and proceeded to the overall design phase.
Numerous technical challenges emerged during the design process. The team dedicated themselves to the project, sacrificing holidays and working overtime during the Spring Festival. Over the span of several years, Bende led the completion of the full-scale engineering design and coordinated the production process, resolving a myriad of technical and engineering issues that arose during ground testing and flight tests. During Test Flights
When encountering glitches during test flights, he led the team in researching and continuously improving radar performance. For instance, when the radar transmitter needed to tolerate extreme conditions of high altitude and low atmospheric pressure, they took the device to Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics (now Nanjing University of Science and Technology) for low-pressure testing in their altitude simulation chamber, toiling tirelessly for three days and nights. Later, at the evaluation meeting for the 147-1 radar system prototype, the expert panel commented: "Comrades from the 14th Institute, in arduous research and living conditions, have overcome obstacles, worked diligently, and made significant contributions. This proves that China has the capability to master advanced technology and to break through blockades to reach the world's advanced level."
**After the off-site space simulation tests verified that the radar's hardware and software met the design requirements, the 147-1 was transferred to an An-24 aircraft, which served as an airborne laboratory, for installation and debugging. At the time, the test aircraft used was a Soviet An-24 (AH-24) aircraft—an old propeller-driven transport plane that had been in service for nearly 30 years and was nearing the end of its lifespan. After major repairs and extensions, it was repurposed as a test aircraft.
Every Time He Boarded the Plane, He Discovered Problems
Ben De participated in every test flight, stating that only during flights could issues be discovered. According to recollections from team members of that time: "Chief Engineer Ben De led by example. He told his team that 'flying out' the radar's functional capabilities was crucial for its development. Not only should it be 'precisely' tested, but 'rigorously' tested as well. Together with test engineers such as Wang Lihong, Shao Zhimin, and Zuo Qunsheng, he would always rush to board that roaring, bumpy aircraft, flying for three to four hours at a time, completely disregarding his own safety and fatigue."
Narrow Escapes During Tests
Not only was the aircraft incredibly noisy, but the conditions inside the cabin were also poor, with constant bumps and few moments of stability. During one of Ben De's aerial tests, he encountered two near misses and was fortunate to return safely on both occasions.
Once, during a test flight, one of the two engines suddenly stalled, causing the aircraft's speed to drop immediately. The altitude also began to decrease. At the time, the ground crew was extremely tense, with the commander and pilots exchanging a series of commands and questions. Everyone was worried. After this incident, test flights were suspended for several days, both to inspect the aircraft, identify the cause, and ensure flight safety, and to allow everyone to recover emotionally.
Landing Gear Jammed During Return Flight
On another occasion, the weather conditions were excellent, and the test had gone smoothly, putting everyone in a good mood. However, during the return flight, the landing gear suddenly jammed and would not deploy. Without deployed landing gear, the aircraft could not land and could only circle the airport. Panic set in. In a moment of desperation, the pilot skillfully maneuvered the aircraft, utilizing its inertia to jolt the landing gear loose. Finally, the aircraft made a safe landing on the airport runway without further incident.
Triumph Over Adversity
When the airborne pulse Doppler fire control radar 147-1 passed the evaluation, Ben De fell ill. He had always been healthy, but during the final test flight phase, due to working day and night without rest and excessive workload, his health suffered greatly. In a short period of time, his weight dropped from 123 to 108 pounds, and his immune system was severely compromised.
Once, Ben De experienced severe discomfort in his heart and went to the hospital for examination, where he was diagnosed with viral myocarditis and required hospitalization. After a period of hospitalization, the 14th Institute arranged for him to go to Taihu Nursing Home, but concerned about the radar development work, he chose not to go. Soon after returning to work, his heart condition flared up again. After treatment, he went back to work. From the onset of the illness in 1989, it took until after 1993 for his condition to gradually improve. Ben De recalled that a leader from the Radar Bureau had said that developing airborne radar would cost a layer of skin, which turned out to be true.
From 1990 to 1993: Design, Production, and Testing
From the second half of 1990 to the first half of 1991, the airborne pulse Doppler fire control radar entered the phase of electrical telecommunication and structural design. Designers meticulously planned, and countless hours of labor were poured into the fine lines of millions of blueprints. From the second half of 1991 to the first half of 1992, the project progressed to the factory production and processing stage. Skilled workers meticulously manufactured the components, continuously overcoming technical difficulties. Various workshops established "three-combination" task forces that worked tirelessly at machine tools, vises, and salt bath furnaces.
In the second half of 1992, processed finished parts were gradually transferred to the research department, and the system debugging phase began. On December 5, the various subsystems of the first engineering prototype were installed in the radar mounting rack of a J-8II aircraft, and interfacing tests between the subsystems commenced. On March 5, 1993, the radar transitioned to full-system ground testing; on June 10, the full-system radar was moved off-site for comprehensive testing; on October 21, installation and modification of the onboard test equipment began, followed by power-on inspections and system recovery testing.
Test Flights: November 1993 to 1994
On November 20, 1993, at 9:00 AM, the test aircraft, equipped with China's independently developed airborne pulse Doppler fire control radar engineering prototype, took to the sky, entering the test flight phase. The first phase was conducted in the Nanjing area in the first half of 1994, and the second phase was carried out at the Air Force Base One in North China in the second half of 1994.
From the debugging of plug-ins and components, component screening, system interfacing tests, environmental testing, full-system on-site and off-site integration testing, to the completion of test flights on the test aircraft, the entire process spanned more than two years, a period of testing for the designers. To complete the matching tests and test flights of the radar and the carrier aircraft on time, Zuo Qunsheng, Xu Jianfeng, Chen Gu
Peng Ben, an experienced engineer, traveled extensively despite his ongoing battle with myocarditis. Despite occasional heart issues, his determination to contribute to China's defense industry remained unwavering.
When tasked to lead the development of China's first airborne pulse-Doppler fire-control radar, Ben recognized the immense challenges ahead. As a devout communist, he accepted this daunting task, determined to overcome all obstacles.
Through years of tireless efforts and diligent guidance from his superiors, Ben and his team successfully developed China's first airborne pulse-Doppler fire-control radar. This breakthrough shattered international technology barriers and filled a critical gap within the nation's defense capabilities, a testament to Ben's unwavering commitment to his country.
(Author's Affiliation: Nanjing Agricultural University)
In the summer of 1988, an airborne pulse-Doppler fire control radar was installed and tested on an An-24 aircraft.
In March 1960, Bender was running experiments in his laboratory.
In October 2002, Pan Bend is in the airborne radar test lab.
Delving Deeper: Completing the First Task Well
In May 1963, Pan Bend graduated from the Harbin Institute of Technology. The following June, he was assigned to the 14th Institute of the 10th Research Institute of the Ministry of National Defense (referred to below as the 14th Institute). Before graduating, the head of the radio engineering department spoke to the graduates, telling them: "The first thing you do at your work unit is very important. Only by completing the first task well can others be confident in entrusting you with the second task. If you fail to do the first task well, others will be hesitant to give you further tasks, doubting whether you can complete the mission." Pan Bend kept the department head's words firmly in mind.
Pan Bend's initial assignment was to participate in the development of a number of special measuring instruments. While general-purpose measuring instruments, such as oscilloscopes, power meters, and signal generators, were available on the market, there was no equipment that met the requirements of special testing. This had to be developed in-house.
At the time, he was involved in the development of a power spectral density analyzer (i.e., a spectrum analyzer), and was responsible for designing a critical circuit within it: the oscillator. The oscillator's frequency was not high, only three to four hundred hertz; it was an audio oscillator. After the plan was approved, the leaders asked him to produce the oscillator within a month. As his first task after joining the company, Pan Bend was determined to do it well no matter what, and to avoid making any mistakes.
Although Pan Bend had studied many radar-related professional courses during university, his teachers had not covered how to make this oscillator, and he had not seen any relevant materials. What could he do? Pan Bend fell into deep thought. He tossed and turned all night, unable to sleep, going over all the knowledge he had learned in school. In desperation, he sought advice from relevant research staff the next day, but all those he asked shook their heads and said they did not know.
Pan Bend had no choice but to search for clues in the 14th Institute's library. His luck held out: he found a book in the library dedicated to this type of oscillator. It had over 200 pages and had been published in the Soviet Union. It seemed no one had ever read it before, as the pages were virtually new.
Nanjing in July is like a furnace, and there was no air conditioning or electric fans at the time. There were also many mosquitoes at night. To avoid distractions, Pan Bend sat inside a mosquito net to read the book, which made him so hot he could barely breathe. In this way, he spent two weeks reading the book, thoroughly understanding and organizing the formulas and principles.
Subsequently, Pan Bend began designing the circuit, drawing the circuit diagram, and preparing the components. Once everything was ready, he soldered the components onto the circuit board according to the circuit diagram, starting off somewhat clumsily but becoming quite proficient after a few tries.
The weather was hot, and the soldering iron tip was also hot, like a small stove. Sweat poured from every pore on his body, but he paid no attention. After each component was soldered on, he shook it by hand to check if it was securely attached. Soon, all the components on the circuit board were soldered in place. Watching his hard work of half a month come to fruition, Pan Bend felt a sense of accomplishment, as if he had drunk a glass of ice water.
That month's plan target was that, once the oscillator was powered on, the task would be considered complete if a sine wave could be seen on the oscilloscope and the frequency measured. However, when the power switch was turned on, there was nothing but a straight line on the oscilloscope. Under normal circumstances, a neat sine wave should have appeared as soon as the power supply was connected, but for some reason, the expected sine wave did not appear. Pan Bend was anxious. He quickly disconnected the power supply and carefully checked for problems, only to find that a solder joint on the circuit board had been missed. Pan Bend quickly resoldered the joint, and once everything was ready, he turned on the power supply. A neat sine wave appeared on the oscilloscope, and the frequency, as measured by the frequency counter, was within the required range. Seeing this result, Pan Bend was relieved. At least the oscillator would not delay the entire project.
China is a vast country, with high temperatures in the south, relatively low temperatures in the north, high humidity near the coast, and lots of wind and sand in the desert. Radar operating environments can be harsh, so radar products inevitably need to be able to adapt to different working conditions. Moreover, component heating is a major issue when radar is operating. To ensure stable operation of the components, Pan Bend redesigned the original circuit, incorporating temperature compensation. After the redesigned circuit board was made, it was heated to 70 or 80 degrees Celsius for testing. The frequency counter showed that the result did not change at all, and the design of the compensation circuit was also a great success.
After this initial success, Pan Bend's confidence grew, and he went on to design other circuits. In less than a year, the spectrum analyzer was complete, and the acceptance inspection fully met the requirements. He had successfully completed his first task at the 14th Institute, and more important tasks soon followed.
Science and Technology Daily (2024-03-22, Page 4, Impressions)
