New imagery circulating online suggests China is preparing to move its J-35 stealth fighter from the prototype stage into serial production, marking a significant expansion of its fifth generation combat aviation capabilities. Analysts point to multiple J-35 airframes photographed in green primer as a strong indicator that the aircraft is no longer experimental.
The green coating is widely understood to be a factory primer used during early production and testing. Aircraft are typically left unpainted at this stage because final surface treatments may change, and primer allows easier inspection for structural issues. The appearance of several similarly finished aircraft together strongly implies repeat manufacturing rather than isolated test builds.
The J-35 is developed by Shenyang Aircraft Corporation, a subsidiary of Aviation Industry Corporation of China. The program is viewed as a counterpart to China’s earlier J-20 stealth fighter, but with a different mission focus and broader deployment options.
Unlike the J-20, which is primarily optimized for land based air force operations, the J-35 has been designed from the outset in both air force and naval variants. The carrier capable version is expected to operate from China’s newest aircraft carrier, the Fujian aircraft carrier. The Fujian is China’s first domestically built carrier equipped with electromagnetic catapult systems, similar in concept to those used on US Navy supercarriers.
Reports indicate that J-35 prototypes have already conducted catapult launches and arrested landings, suggesting the design has reached an operationally credible stage. If confirmed, this would give China a stealth carrier air wing, a capability currently fielded at scale only by the United States.
Industrial signals reinforce the production narrative. Shenyang Aircraft Corporation has reportedly committed to sharply increasing output, with long term plans tied to the development of a large scale aerospace manufacturing hub sometimes referred to as Shenyang Aerospace City. The investment, running into billions of yuan, mirrors broader efforts by China to expand defense industrial capacity and shorten replacement timelines in the event of conflict.
The public visibility of multiple J-35 airframes appears deliberate. China has historically kept advanced weapons production opaque, and showcasing repeat builds may be intended as strategic messaging. Analysts suggest Beijing is signaling that it can not only design modern stealth aircraft, but also produce them in sustained numbers.
For regional security planners, particularly in Taiwan, the implications are significant. A carrier based stealth fighter optimized for operations in the Western Pacific could complicate air defense planning and extend China’s power projection at sea. The J-35 imagery, taken alongside intensified military exercises, reinforces the sense that China is preparing for long term, high intensity operations rather than limited demonstrations of capability.