Practice, characteristics, and implications of national science and technology system in development of cutting-edge national defense weapons

In the process of developing China’s cutting-edge defense weapons, the whole-nation system was implemented. Among these efforts, the most crucial, challenging and successful aspect that best demonstrates the superiority of the socialist system is the whole-nation system in science and technology. China’s industrial sector, the Chinese Academy of Sciences, institutions of higher education, national defense agencies, and local institutions formed five major scientific and technological contingents, waging Chinese-style “decisive battle” for scientific and technological advancement in cutting-edge defense weapons. This endeavor achieved remarkable success, representing a great practice with Chinese characteristics that is worthy of reference globally. It still holds profound implications for today’s development of China’s cutting-edge weapons, the deepening of defense system reform, and even broader fields.