Aerodynamics expert Gu Songfen, chief designer of the Shenyang J-8 fighter jet family, died at age 96 in Beijing.
Gu Songfen died in Beijing on Sunday night, AVIC said in a statement. He served as an academician of both the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Chinese Academy of Engineering.
The J-8 became China’s first home-grown supersonic fighter jet. It was developed to counter US high-altitude reconnaissance aircraft.
A farewell ceremony is scheduled for Saturday in Beijing. Gu received the 2020 State Pre-eminent Science and Technology Award along with a Lifetime Achievement Award from AVIC.