Chapter 290

In the history of the Eastern Air Force's equipment, the Jian-8 has always been an awkward presence.

Entities: Eastern Air Force (Eastern Air Force? Actually "Eastern Air Force" maybe "Eastern Air Force"? But glossary gave Air Force → Air Force. "Eastern" means Eastern. So "Eastern Air Force". Should we translate? It's a named entity: Eastern Air Force. Not in glossary, so we need to translate meaning: Eastern Air Force. Also Jian-8 is Jian-8 (fighter jet). We'll translate as "Jian-8". Should we keep hyphen? Probably "Jian-8". The original term is Jian-8. We'll output raw_term: "Jian-8", original_term: "Jian-8". Also "Eastern Air Force": raw_term: "Eastern Air Force", original_term: "Eastern Air Force". Also maybe "Eastern" alone? But it's part of the phrase.)

Developed in the 1960s, it indeed matched the trends of the time, but… the initial daytime variant was finalized only in the late 1970s, all-weather capability came in the mid-1980s, and moreover, it was still a useless nose-intake design.

Entities: 1960s (1960s) - not a named entity, just time period. late 1970s (late 1970s). mid-1980s (mid-1980s). "nose-intake useless junk" - not entity. No named entities besides maybe "daytime type" not entity.

Nose intake, regardless of the aircraft's maneuvers, never blocks the inlet, making it the most efficient intake method, common on first- and second-generation jets; however, this layout occupies the nose, preventing installation of airborne radar—even if shoved into the inlet cone, the size would be too small, rendering it utterly useless.

Entities: first-generation aircraft (first-generation aircraft), second-generation aircraft (second-generation aircraft). Could be considered named entities? They are generic. Probably not needed. airborne radar (airborne radar) not entity.

Thus, in the 1980s, the Jian-8 underwent further improvement, grafting the MiG-23's nose onto it, changing from nose intake to side intake, designated Jian-8 II, but… it still lacked a suitable radar.

Entities: 1980s (1980s) time. Jian-8 (Jian-8). MiG-23 (MiG-23). Jian-8 2 (Jian-8 2). Also "side intake" not entity.

During that honeymoon period, a decision was made to cooperate with the United States, importing a batch of airborne radars and electronic equipment to upgrade fifty-five Jian-8 II fighters; the project was named Peace Paradigm.

Entities: honeymoon period (honeymoon period) not entity. United States (United States). airborne radar (airborne radar) not entity. electronic equipment (electronic equipment). fifty-five Jian-8 2 fighter jets (fifty-five Jian-8 2 fighter jets). project name (project name). Peace Paradigm (Peace Paradigm).

The result… after 1989, the Americans tore up the contract, the project fell through, and the domestically developed fighter, the sole indigenous jet, was left exposed to American scrutiny.

Entities: 1989 (1989). Americans (American slang for Americans). Could treat as "Americans". But it's a colloquial term; maybe we keep as "Americans". Not a proper name. domestically developed fighter (domestically developed fighter). Not entity.

In the 1990s, the Jian-8 was fitted with Russian airborne radar, finally giving it all-weather combat capability, but… by then the Su-27 had already been introduced domestically, and the Jian-10 was under development.

Entities: 1990s (1990s). Russians (old Maozi, slang for Russians). airborne radar (airborne radar). all-weather (all-weather). Su-27 (Su-27). Jian-10 (Jian-10). under development (under development).

Thus, the shenanigans resumed, with a group shouting that the Jian-10's innovation was too risky and might fail, so for safety's sake they should also launch the Jian-8 III project.

Entities: shady operation (shady operation) not entity. Jian-10 (Jian-10). Jian-8 3 (Jian-8 3). project (project).

It would be re-engined with Factory 410's WS-14 turbofan, boosting power, upgrading advanced avionics, and gaining medium-range interception capability…

Entities: Factory 410 (Factory 410). turbofan-14 engine (turbofan 14 engine). advanced avionics (advanced avionics). medium-range interception capability (medium-range interception capability). Not entity.

It sounded impressive, but during flight testing the WS-14 engine suffered six in-flight flameouts, two single-engine landings, and losing screws and such became routine…

Entities: turbofan-14 engine (turbofan 14 engine). airborne stall (airborne stall?). Not entity.

Of the five prototypes, two were destroyed in accidents, and the entire project ended in utter failure…

Entities: prototype aircraft (prototype aircraft). project (project).

Meanwhile, the Jian-10 was still being developed on a shoestring budget; even Old Song and others had to sell noodles to raise funds, and on the test flight field, the brightest aircraft designers could be seen eating meals in tattered vests—a scene that moved many.

Entities: same period (same period). Jian-10 (Jian-10). Old Song (Old Song). noodles (noodles) not entity. aircraft designers (aircraft designers) not entity.

As for the Jian-8 aircraft… despite enormous development funding, its total production was extremely limited: from early 1980s production to the last rollout in 2012, over thirty-plus years, total output was… three hundred aircraft, averaging barely ten per year!

Entities: Jian-8 (Jian-8). early 1980s (early 1980s). 2012 (2012). 300 aircraft (300). 10 aircraft per year (10 per year).

Look at the Jian-7 instead—over two thousand built—and the Jian-10, a third-generation fighter, has exceeded seven hundred units! Moreover, it remains in production to this day.

Entities: Jian-7 (Jian-7). Jian-10 (Jian-10). third-generation aircraft (third-generation aircraft). later times (later times) not entity.

So… wouldn't it be more sensible to pour the Jian-8's development funds into the Jian-10?

Entities: Jian-8 (Jian-8). Jian-10 (Jian-10).

In Qin Miao's view, the Jian-8 project is utterly unnecessary to pursue!

Entities: Qin Miao (Qin Miao). Jian-8 (Jian-8). project (project).

But… it appears the Air Force really has no other choice at the moment.

Entities: Air Force (Air Force). (from glossary)

The Jian-7 is a copy of the MiG-21, its performance well known abroad, whereas the Jian-8 is a twin-engine enlarged version of the Jian-7—its performance… at least outsiders don't know it.

Entities: Jian-7 (Jian-7). MiG-21 (MiG-21). Jian-8 (Jian-8). twin-engine enlarged version (twin-engine enlarged version) not entity.

Moreover, the Air Force's biggest threat remains the northern bear (Russia); one never knows when conflict might erupt, and the first wave will surely be backfire bombers flying in from the sky, so dedicated interceptors will be needed.

Entities: Air Force (Air Force). Northern Bear (Northern Bear, slang for Russia). Counterfire Bomber (Counterfire Bomber). interceptor aircraft (interceptor aircraft).

Therefore, even if the Air Force knows the Jian-8 is a lemon, it still must have it!

Entities: Air Force (Air Force). Jian-8 (Jian-8).

Hearing this, Qin Miao could only sigh helplessly: "Alright, even if the Air Force must have the Jian-8, we can't tolerate that useless nose-intake; at the very least we should switch to side intakes, freeing up the nose so a large airborne radar can be installed."

Entities: Qin Miao (Qin Miao). Jian-8 (Jian-8). Air Force (Air Force). nose intake (intake at nose). side intakes (side intakes). nose (nose). large airborne radar (large airborne radar).

In the 1980s, if the Jian-8 had matured, it would have been a tremendous boon for the Air Force—this era, the Air Force also had its unspoken hardships.

Entities: 1980s (1980s). Jian-8 (Jian-8). Air Force (Air Force). this era (this era) not entity.

They eyed the Mirage 2000, but the French demanded a lion's share—sixty million dollars per aircraft! Consider that our first batch of Su-27s in the 1990s cost only around thirty million, while the American F-16 was relatively cheap, albeit with various strings attached…

Entities: Mirage 2000 (Mirage 2000). French (French slang). lion opens mouth wide (lion opens mouth wide) idiom meaning "asks for a lot". Not entity. 60 million USD (60 million USD). Su-27 (Su-27). Americans (American slang). F-16 (F-16). additional conditions (additional conditions).

In the end, looking at our resources—namely the Jian-8, at least home‑grown—we thought we could improve it and make do for now, but… upgrading the avionics still ended up being a trick played by the Americans.

Entities: resources, Jian-8, Americans, avionics.

This history of humiliation ought to be reversed.

No named entities.

"Let's go, to the meeting room."

Entities: meeting room.

Inside the meeting room, when they saw Qin Miao enter, the people from Factory 410 had mixed feelings - after all, they'd suffered a loss last time, and this time they couldn't afford to be reckless again.

Entities: meeting room, Qin Miao, Factory 410.

Old Gu smiled and said: "Old Lin, this young, capable fellow beside you must be Comrade Qin Miao, right? He's currently the most renowned figure in our country!"

Entities: Old Gu, Old Lin, Qin Miao, comrade, domestic.

"That's right, come, San Shui, let me introduce you - this is Old Gu from Institute 601."

Entities: San Shui, Institute 601, Old Gu.

"Hello, Old Gu." Qin Miao greatly respected this senior.

Entities: Old Gu, senior, Qin Miao.

Back then, during Jian-8 flight tests, a vibration problem arose that lingered unsolved; Old Gu personally sat in the rear seat of the Jian-8 trainer, flew up alongside it, visually observed from beside the Jian-8, and then resolved the issue.

Entities: Jian-8, Jian-8 trainer, Old Gu.

Although Qin Miao looked down on the Jian-8, he still held great respect for Old Gu, a first-generation aircraft designer of New China.

Entities: Qin Miao, Jian-8, Old Gu, New China, first-generation aircraft designer.

Well, Comrade Qin Miao, we've come seeking help. Your Harbin Institute of Technology has shown capability in many fields - for instance, in electronics technology you've produced many products, and you're even working on chips - so... can you help us solve the Jian-8's airborne radar problem?

Entities: Qin Miao comrade, Harbin Institute of Technology, electronics technology field, products, chip, Jian-8, airborne radar.

Beside him, Engineer Zhu chimed in: "Yeah, Comrade Qin Miao, we've been developing the 204 radar to match the Jian-8 for over a decade, and now only one problem remains - if your Harbin Institute of Technology can help..."

Entities: Engineer Zhu, Qin Miao comrade, Jian-8, 204 radar, Harbin Institute of Technology.

No.

No entities.

Those blunt words made everyone's faces change color - this Qin Miao, really giving no face?

Entities: Qin Miao.

Even Old Lin felt a bit embarrassed: "Qin Miao, even if you don't value the Jian-8, you should at least do it for my sake!"

Entities: Old Lin, Qin Miao, Jian-8.

San Shui, the R&D of our sister unit isn't easy either - are you guys stretched thin with too many projects?

Entities: San Shui, sister unit, project.

No.

No entities.

Old Lin was also speechless: "I'm trying to smooth things over, yet you refuse to accept it!"

Entities: Old Lin.

Why is that?

No entities.

Because the radar you're researching is analog technology, while we at Harbin Institute of Technology have long abandoned that in favor of digital technology; so it's not that we won't help, but... the technology is too outdated, and we lack personnel skilled in it.

Entities: radar, analog technology, Harbin Institute of Technology, digital technology, talent.

Inside the meeting room, it was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

Entities: meeting room.

Old Lin finally realized, Qin Miao was doing this on purpose!

Entities: Old Lin, Qin Miao.

Intentionally looking down on the backward, then pushing advanced technology and demanding that the Jian-8 change its nose!

Entities: backward, advanced technology, Jian-8, nose.

Old Gu took a deep breath and said: "It seems your Harbin Institute of Technology possesses advanced technology; using that, could you help improve the 204 radar..."

Entities: Old Gu, Harbin Institute of Technology, advanced technology, 204 radar.

That's impossible - from the radar antenna to the rear processing circuitry, everything would need to be changed, amounting to a wholly new development. We shouldn't waste effort designing a small radar just for the Jian-8; that would be pure waste. Unless...

Entities: radar antenna, processing circuitry, new development, Jian-8, small radar.

Unless what?

No entities.

Unless we swap in a big engine!