Chinese defence manufacturer Shenyang Aircraft Corporation (SAC) has showcased a green-primed J-35 stealth fighter on the runway in Liaoning, signalling confidence in a production push that aims to double warplane output within three to five years. Backed by parent company Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC), the move highlights Beijing’s accelerating effort to scale up fifth-generation fighter manufacturing.
A short video released early this year shows a freshly built J-35 roaring down the runway at SAC’s airfield in Shenyang, marking its first flight of the year. The aircraft’s unfinished green primer immediately caught the attention of military watchers, not because it looked battle-ready, but because it did not. To analysts, the lack of tactical grey paint suggested something more important: steady, serial production was already under way.
The footage, along with still images of two green-coated J-35s parked on the apron, was widely interpreted as a deliberate signal. According to SCMP, such public displays during the production phase were once rare in China’s defence industry, but have become increasingly common as Beijing seeks to project industrial confidence amid intensifying military competition with the United States.
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The J-35 is produced by Shenyang Aircraft Corporation, a key subsidiary of Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) and one of the country’s most important fighter jet manufacturers. SAC is best known for producing carrier-based aircraft, and the J-35 represents a major leap forward as China’s second fifth-generation stealth fighter after the J-20.
Behind the runway theatrics lies a massive expansion effort. A report by Liaoning Daily on December 26 revealed that the main assembly plant at SAC’s new factory complex was completed by the end of June last year, with product assembly already under way. Mass production is expected to begin this year, and over the next three to five years, the facility is planned to evolve into an “intelligent manufacturing and full-chain” production base that will double total output capacity, according to SCMP.
The factory itself is a megaproject. In August 2023, SAC announced plans to invest 8.6 billion yuan (US$1.2 billion) to build a new production site spanning 4.2 square kilometres. That facility will form the core of a much larger development known as “Shenyang Aerospace City”, an industrial zone covering 79.2 square kilometres, roughly the size of Hong Kong Island.
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According to the December report, the new SAC complex will eventually include final assembly lines, testing infrastructure and its own runway to support flight trials. The scale suggests China is not simply adding capacity for one aircraft model, but laying the groundwork for sustained high-volume military aviation production.
The J-35 itself plays a central role in China’s naval ambitions. The carrier-capable variant is part of the air wing of the Fujian, China’s third aircraft carrier and its first equipped with an Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS). In September, the J-35 successfully completed catapult-assisted take-off and arrested landing trials on the Fujian, two months before the carrier officially entered service.
Both the naval J-35 and the land-based J-35A were publicly unveiled during China’s Victory Day military parade in September, flying alongside new drones, missiles and support aircraft. The appearance of green-primed jets since then has reinforced the view that the J-35A has moved into serial production and advanced flight testing, a conclusion echoed by defence analysts cited by SCMP.
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State broadcaster CCTV later explained the unfinished look. The green primer protects the aircraft from corrosion and makes it easier for engineers to inspect the airframe during early testing. It also reduces costs, since applying final coatings before the design is fully frozen could lead to wasted work if modifications are required.
Taken together, the imagery and official statements send a clear message. China is no longer content to quietly build advanced aircraft behind closed doors. By publicly flexing its manufacturing muscle, SAC and AVIC are signalling that industrial scale, not just technological sophistication, is becoming a defining feature of Beijing’s military modernisation drive.
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