In 2018, scientists at the Changchun Institute of Optics, Fine Mechanics and Physics developed a high-precision aspherical silicon carbide mirror with a diameter of 4.03 meters, making it the world's largest monolithic silicon carbide aspherical mirror.

This achievement signifies that China's advanced manufacturing capabilities in optical systems have reached international standards. It has laid a solid foundation for the leapfrog upgrade of large scale optoelectronic equipment in China.

The core manufacturing equipment as well as manufacturing processes for this mirror possess completely independent intellectual property rights.