China’s J-35 Stealth Fighter Enters Serial Production

China’s J-35 Stealth Fighter Moves to Serial Production as AVIC Ramps Up 2026 Flight Operations

Mohd Hanif Ismail - : Jan 11, 2026 - : 3:43 pm

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The Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) has commenced its 2026 flight test programme with a high-profile demonstration of the J-35 stealth fighter, signalling a definitive shift from prototype development to serial manufacturing. In the first week of January, unpainted airframes coated in green primer were observed conducting sorties at the Shenyang Aircraft Corporation facility in Liaoning Province. This development marks a critical milestone for the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) as it seeks to achieve air parity with Western fifth-generation platforms across the Asia-Pacific theatre.

Strategic Transition to Batch Manufacturing

Industry observers note that the appearance of primer-only aircraft often indicates that the airframes are part of an early production batch rather than experimental prototypes. This transition is supported by recent reports of a massive industrial expansion at Shenyang, with some analysts suggesting the facility has been engineered to support an annual output of nearly 100 units. While the J-20 Mighty Dragon remains the primary heavyweight air superiority asset with over 300 units in service, the J-35 is positioned as the versatile, multi-role backbone for both the PLA Air Force (PLAAF) and the PLA Navy (PLAN).

Original reporting from the Global Times and others, citing official AVIC social media releases, confirms that the naval variant of the J-35 has also intensified its integration schedule. Following successful catapult-assisted take-offs and arrested landings aboard the aircraft carrier Fujian in late 2025, the platform is now being prepared for full-scale maritime operations. The Fujian, China’s first carrier equipped with electromagnetic launch technology, provides the necessary infrastructure for the J-35 to operate at maximum take-off weight, significantly enhancing its combat radius and ordnance capacity compared to earlier ski-jump designs.

Regional Implications and the Export Market

The rapid maturation of the J-35 is set to alter the strategic balance in the Indo-Pacific. By developing a medium-weight stealth fighter that mirrors the capabilities of the Lockheed Martin F-35, Beijing is creating a high-low mix of stealth assets that complicates regional air defence planning for US-aligned nations. Furthermore, the export-oriented variant, designated the FC-31 or J-35E, is already attracting significant interest. Pakistan has reportedly formalised plans to acquire the platform by 2027, a move that would introduce fifth-generation capabilities to South Asia and potentially prompt a secondary arms race in the region.

Technological Benchmarks and Industrial Scale

Technologically, the J-35 family incorporates advanced Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar, internal weapons bays, and a distributed aperture system for 360-degree situational awareness. While Western analysts continue to debate the absolute stealth signature of the aircraft compared to the F-35, the sheer scale of AVIC’s production capacity remains a primary concern for international defence planners. The state-owned conglomerate is increasingly adopting automated assembly lines—likened by some Chinese engineers to "manufacturing mobile phones"—to ensure that volume remains a decisive factor in Pacific air superiority.

Beyond the J-35, AVIC has utilised the start of 2026 to showcase broader aerospace progress, including first flights for the AG600 amphibious aircraft and new tactical helicopter variants. These programmes, backed by substantial state funding often exceeding several billion yuan (US$1.4 billion) annually, underscore a self-reliant supply chain strategy aimed at eliminating dependence on Russian engines and Western avionics. As the J-35 approaches Initial Operating Capability (IOC) by the end of the year, the focus of the regional aerospace industry will shift toward how quickly these airframes can be integrated into the PLA’s wider "system-of-systems" combat network.