Li Lin, director of the No 513 Institute of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation, said the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-30) period is key to the development of the commercial aerospace industry.
Li, also a deputy to the National People’s Congress, suggested ensuring the stable supply of basic equipment and materials, enlarging the scale of the supply chain and enhancing mass production capacity.
Li Lin, director of the No 513 Institute of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corp, is a deputy to the National People’s Congress. [Photo/sasac.gov.cn]
China’s commercial aerospace industry is entering a phase of rapid growth. However, there are issues in the basic components and material supply, such as a small-scale supply chain with weak support capacity, insufficient quality control in large-scale production, high R&D costs and slow iteration. These gaps have led to a supply chain that falls far behind in meeting the needs of future large-scale satellite constellations.
To address these issues, Li made the following suggestions:
First, expand the market, enhance coordination and optimize supply. A modern, controllable and secure supply chain should be built through increasing investment in satellites, developing supporting clusters and launching special funds for technological breakthroughs.
Second, set standards, strengthen systems and promote transformation. Standards for mass production and modular design should be improved, and digital technologies should be integrated to transition satellite and rocket products toward standardized modules.
Third, improve efficiency, accelerate iteration and reduce costs. The low-cost, efficient and sustainable commercial aerospace industry should be developed through innovative research and breakthroughs in key components.
(Executive editor: Yuan Ting)
