Chinese Engineer Proposes Self-Sufficient Supply Chain for Large Passenger Jets

A leading Chinese aviation engineer has published a detailed paper proposing a blueprint for a completely self-sufficient domestic supply chain to produce large passenger jets. The paper acknowledges a substantial risk that the country could be cut off from components manufactured in the West.

It was written by a senior academician at the Chinese Academy of Engineering who previously served as chief scientist of the Aviation Industry Corporation of China and played a major role in developing the C919 jet. The author is known for decades of work on the Y-20 military transport plane and the C919 passenger jet.

The document states that many critical parts of the C919 currently come from Western companies. The Leap-1C engine is supplied by CFM International, a joint venture between GE of the United States and France’s Safran. The auxiliary power unit comes from Honeywell of the United States, while the shell around the engine is provided by Nexcelle.

Avionics systems are designed and tested by GE and its joint ventures. Communication and navigation subsystems are supplied by Collins Aerospace, and the air data system comes from Honeywell. The main flight controls and autopilot receive technical guidance from Honeywell, which also supplies the brakes.

Actuators that move the control surfaces, along with fuel and hydraulics equipment, are provided by Parker Hannifin. The high-lift system comes from Moog.

The paper sets out specific measures intended to replace each of these imported systems with domestically produced alternatives. It calls for systematic investment in research, testing infrastructure and manufacturing capacity to achieve full independence.

The proposal reflects long-standing Chinese government policy to reduce reliance on foreign technology in strategic sectors. Aviation Industry Corporation of China has been developing the C919 as a competitor to Boeing and Airbus narrow-body aircraft.

The C919 has already secured orders from Chinese airlines, though it still depends heavily on Western components for certification and performance. Full supply-chain independence would require years of development and regulatory approval both domestically and from international aviation authorities.

Chinese officials have accelerated efforts to build self-reliant technology chains following past U.S. export restrictions on semiconductors and other advanced components. The aviation sector is viewed as particularly vulnerable because of the complexity and certification standards required for commercial aircraft.

The paper provides one of the most detailed public roadmaps to date for achieving that goal in commercial aviation. It stops short of setting specific timelines or cost estimates for the proposed domestic substitution program.