China's Sky Giant? New J-35 Mega-Factory Revolutionizes Stealth Fighter Production

The impressive opening of China's new 270,000-square-meter facility in the Shenbei New District, dedicated to producing the fifth-generation J-35 stealth fighter, with a projected output of 100 aircraft annually, marks a crucial step in China's military expansion. This facility, comparable in size to the F-35 production base, highlights China's independent production capability, which eliminates the vulnerabilities of global supply chains (like that of the United States) and enables more efficient manufacturing.

Aerial photographs and urban planning maps reveal not only the immense size of the current plant but also the ongoing construction of new buildings. These additions are set to double production capacity, accommodating future sixth-generation stealth fighters. The sheer scale and architecture of this single industrial complex have been described as "impressive," suggesting it could become China's primary combat aircraft manufacturing hub.

Crucially, the role of integrated avionics and pulsed production lines is reducing development times and improving efficiency dramatically. This enhances the strategic role of the J-35 for the PLA Air Force and Navy, and fuels China's future ambitions, including the production of sixth-generation stealth fighters. In essence, the expansion of China's stealth combat aircraft production capacity is set to redefine the balance of air power in the Indo-Pacific.

by Gabriele and Nicola Iuvinale

China has officially opened a massive new 270,000-square-meter facility within the Shenyang Aerospace City in the Shenbei New District. This new factory is dedicated to the production of the J-35 fifth-generation stealth fighter, with an anticipated output of 100 aircraft annually. This facility, comparable in size to Lockheed Martin's F-35 production base in Fort Worth, Texas, marks a significant step in China's ambitious plan to expand its air fleet.

A Production Colossus in Expansion

Aerial photographs and urban planning maps reveal not only the immense size of the current plant but also the ongoing construction of new buildings. These additions are set to double production capacity, accommodating future sixth-generation stealth fighters. The sheer scale and architecture of this single industrial complex have been described as "impressive," suggesting it could become China's primary combat aircraft manufacturing hub.

Unlike the global supply chain model used for the F-35, which has faced delays due to supply chain issues, China benefits from an independently managed industrial chain, with all components self-produced. This self-sufficiency eliminates vulnerabilities associated with reliance on external suppliers, leading to smoother and more predictable production.

Innovation in Production and Avionics Technology

Historically, developing new fighters was a lengthy process: 15 years for fourth-generation and 20-25 years for fifth-generation aircraft, from concept to military deployment. However, China is revolutionizing this process through a new generation of integrated avionics systems, based on highly integrated mission computers and central processing technologies. This innovation allows for rapid updates and iterations of the avionics and fire control system architecture.

With powerful central processors and standardized interfaces, the J-35's avionics system can be frequently updated. This not only adds new functions but also directly improves technical performance through "plug-and-play" hardware component replacement. This "rapid iteration" approach ensures improved performance and reduced development times.

The Chinese aerospace industry has successfully implemented pulsed production lines and rhythmic, step-by-step assembly for both tactical and strategic aircraft. The next goal is to further enhance in-line assembly efficiency by optimizing material preparation, equipment transfer, and individual worker assembly actions. The ambition is to produce combat aircraft "like mobile phones," emulating the precision and high production capacity of the modern civil electronics industry.

The Role of the J-35 and Future Prospects

The J-35 is a new fifth-generation stealth fighter developed by the Shenyang Aircraft Corporation (SAC), with variants for both aircraft carriers (J-35) and the air force (J-35A). Designed for air superiority and carrier-based operations, the J-35 is twin-engined and significantly smaller than the J-20. While initial versions used Russian-designed engines, they have been replaced with the Chinese WS-19 engine.

Both the J-35 and J-35A are seen as crucial elements for the future of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) Air Force and Navy. The Air Force intends to expand its fleet, while the Navy will use it as the new generation of carrier-borne aircraft, potentially equipping at least four aircraft carriers. Foreign orders for this aircraft are also anticipated.

With extremely heavy production tasks, including the continued production of J-16 and J-16D, and the development of new J-15 series carrier-borne models (J-15T, J-15D, and J-15TD), the Shenfei Group desperately needs a large facility to ensure production and delivery capacity.

Following the J-35 series, the next goal is the mass production of sixth-generation combat platforms. It's highly probable these will be produced in parallel with the J-35, which will also require enormous production facilities and smart manufacturing workshops.

Implications for Global Air Power Balance

The opening of this mega-factory and China's ambition to mass-produce stealth fighters signals a significant shift in the global air power balance. The ability to produce hundreds of fighters annually, coupled with self-sufficiency in the production chain and technological innovation enabling rapid iterations, positions China as an increasingly dominant player in the military aviation sector. The comparison with F-35 production, which, despite a designed capacity of 300-400 aircraft per year, produces just over 100 due to supply chain issues, highlights China's strategic advantage in production control.

It remains to be seen how this production acceleration will influence geopolitical dynamics and the military doctrines of major world powers.