The FAST project, China's 500-meter spherical radio telescope, aims to achieve full domestic production of its components by approximately 2028. Currently, certain parts such as the phase array and 19-beam receiver remain imported, but development efforts are underway to replace these with local alternatives.
Jiang Peng, director and chief engineer of the FAST operation and development center, stated that the team has spent several years working on domestic solutions for terminal feed sources, radio frequency amplifiers, and chips. This transition is expected to complete the full supply chain localization for the telescope.
Plans are also in place to construct an array of 64 radio telescopes, each with a 40-meter aperture, surrounding the main FAST facility. This configuration will create a unique integrated aperture array, which is projected to increase the telescope's resolution by 200 times and improve sensitivity by approximately two times.
Since its inauguration in Guizhou on September 25, 2016, FAST has contributed to significant scientific output. Researchers have published 13 papers in the journals Science and Nature based on data collected by the telescope, with various findings recognized in top domestic and international scientific rankings.
