According to new images, China is preparing its J-35 stealth fighter jet for mass production. The aircraft is reportedly past its prototype phase and approaching full-scale operational status.
China's fifth-generation stealth fighter jet, the J-35, developed as a rival to the US F-35 fighter, is preparing to move beyond its prototype phase. Recent images and analyses indicate that the Beijing administration is now positioning the J-35 not as an experimental platform, but as an operational fighter jet ready for mass production.
China Prepares for Mass Production
Newly released photos and videos show multiple J-35s with a green primer coating. According to defense industry analysts, this color indicates that the aircraft are newly manufactured and still in the testing phase. The reason for not applying the final paint is that minor design changes are still possible, and the primer coating is more advantageous in terms of both cost and inspection.
The most striking point is the sight of multiple aircraft in this state simultaneously. This indicates a repetitive, mass-production-oriented assembly line rather than individual prototypes. According to experts, this situation reveals that the J-35 has moved beyond the experimental stage and is ready for mass production.
Production to be Doubled
Shenyang Aircraft Corporation (SAC), operating under the state-owned Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC), announced on Tuesday that a J-35 with a green primer coating conducted its first flight of the year on the runway of its facility in Liaoning province. The same footage also showed two green-coated J-35s parked on the runway. The Beijing administration is reportedly investing 8.6 billion yuan (approximately 1.2 billion dollars) in this facility.
While the factory itself covers approximately 4.2 square kilometers, the facility is said to be integrated into a much larger project. SAC is reportedly part of a massive aviation hub called "Shenyang Aerospace City," planned to cover a total area of approximately 79 square kilometers.
According to local media sources, the main assembly line at SAC's new factory complex was completed by the end of last June, and product assembly officially began. The same source reported that the facility is expected to enter mass production this year. According to plans, the factory will become a center with "smart manufacturing and a full supply chain" infrastructure within the next three to five years. This aims to double SAC's total fighter jet production capacity.
One of the key factors making the J-35 significant is its aircraft carrier-borne version, developed for the navy. This variant is planned to operate from the Fujian, considered China's most advanced aircraft carrier.
The Fujian holds the distinction of being China's first aircraft carrier built entirely with indigenous capabilities. It is reported that electromagnetic catapults, similar to those used on US supercarriers, have been integrated into the ship. More importantly, the J-35 has already performed catapult launches and landings on this carrier.
A Clear Message to the West
China is known for generally maintaining a high level of secrecy in its military projects. Therefore, the open display of multiple J-35s on runways is interpreted by experts as a deliberate strategic message. Beijing is believed to want to demonstrate to the world that it can not only develop advanced fighter jets but also produce them quickly and sustainably.
This message emphasizes that in a potential US-China conflict, the decisive factor will not only be technological superiority but also the capacity to compensate for losses and maintain production speed. The J-35 is specifically optimized for regional power projection. Carrier-borne stealth fighter jets are seen as a factor that could significantly complicate Taiwan's air defense planning. This development, when considered alongside the recent increase in exercises and pressure operations by the Chinese People's Liberation Army, presents a worrying picture for the military balance in the region.
Shenyang J-35 Technical Specifications
General Characteristics
- Crew: 1 pilot
- Length: 17.5 meters
- Wingspan: 13.5 meters
- Height: 4.8 meters
- Wing area: 61 m²
- Empty weight: 15,000 kg (estimated based on similar carrier-borne aircraft)
- Normal takeoff weight: 22,200 kg (based on approximately 7,200 kg internal fuel capacity)
- Maximum takeoff weight: 30,000 kg
- Engine: 2 x Guizhou WS-19 afterburning turbofan
Performance
- Maximum speed: Mach 1.8
- Speed at sea level: Mach 1.14 / approximately 1,400 km/h
- Combat radius: 1,250 km (internal fuel only)
- Service ceiling: 16,000 meters (52,000 feet)
- G-force limits: +9 / -3
Weapon Systems
- Weapon stations:
- 6 internal weapon bays (internal weapon compartment)
- 6 external weapon stations (wings)
- Payload capacity:
- Internal: 2,000 kg
- External: 6,000 kg
- Total maximum: 8,000 kg
Missile Systems
- Air-to-air missiles:
- PL-10 short-range infrared-guided missile
- PL-15 long-range active radar-guided missile
- PL-17 very long-range active radar-guided missile (planned)
- PL-21 long-range active radar-guided missile (under development)
- Air-to-ground missiles:
- Internally, 6 x LD-8A anti-radiation missiles
- 8 supersonic land-attack missiles
- 8 supersonic anti-radiation missiles
- 8 supersonic anti-ship missiles
Bomb Load
- Internally, 6 x CM-506KG precision-guided glide bombs
- 8 x 500 kg deep-penetration bombs
- 30 small-diameter bombs
Avionics Systems
- KLJ-7A AESA radar
- Distributed Aperture System (DAS) - optical early warning and situational awareness system
- Electro-Optical Targeting System (EOTS)
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