China to Double J-35 Stealth Fighter Output by 2031: SAC Pledges Mass Production 2026
SAC announces plans to double J-35 stealth fighter production within five years. Mass production is set to begin in 2026 at the new $1.2 billion Shenyang Aerospace City.
Double the fleet, half the time. China's primary carrier-based stealth fighter manufacturer is hitting the gas. Shenyang Aircraft Corporation (SAC), a subsidiary of the state-owned giant AVIC, has officially pledged to double its warplane production capacity within the next five years. The move signals a major shift toward high-volume deployment of the J-35 stealth fighter.
Scaling Up: China J-35 stealth fighter production 2026
According to reports from SCMP, a video released on January 6, 2026, showed a green-coated J-35 roaring down the runway in Liaoning province. The aircraft appeared to be fresh off the assembly line, lacking its final tactical grey coating. This display showcases a steady production pace for the fifth-generation fighter after its official commissioning last year.
The main assembly plant at SAC's new factory complex was reportedly completed by mid-2025. It's expected that mass production will officially kick off in 2026. Over the coming years, the facility is slated to evolve into an "intelligent manufacturing" hub, aiming to double its total output capacity.
The $1.2 Billion 'Aerospace City' Project
The scale of this expansion is massive. SAC has invested approximately 8.6 billion yuan ($1.2 billion) into a new production site. This factory is part of the larger "Shenyang Aerospace City," a planned 79.2 sq km zone—roughly the size of Hong Kong Island.
By integrating a full-chain support system, China intends to streamline the manufacturing process of the J-35. As the PLA looks to modernize its naval aviation, the rapid scaling of stealth capabilities could challenge existing air superiority dynamics in the Indo-Pacific.
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