Shenyang J-16

The Shenyang J-16 (Chinese: 歼-16) is a Chinese tandem-seat, twinjet, multirole strike fighter[3][1] developed from the Shenyang J-11 (itself derived from the Sukhoi Su-27) and built by Shenyang Aircraft Corporation. It is operated by the People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF).[3]

J-16
Role Multirole strike fighter
National origin People's Republic of China
Manufacturer Shenyang Aircraft Corporation
Introduction 2015[1]
Status In service
Primary user People's Liberation Army Air Force
Produced 2012–present
Number built 172+ as of 2021[2]
Developed from Shenyang J-11

Design and development

In the 1990s, China purchased Sukhoi Su-27 air superiority fighters from Russia, including those license-produced in China as the Shenyang J-11A.[4] The J-11A was further developed into the J-11B single seat and BS twin seat variant with indigenous technology. The J-16 is a strike aircraft derived from the J-11BS model.[5]

The J-16 is equipped with an AESA radar[1] and is powered by two Chinese Shenyang WS-10A turbofan engines.[6] Weight is reduced through greater use of composite materials.[1] J-16 units have received radar-absorbent paint to reduce its radar signature,[7] and enhance its Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses (SEAD) capability in conjunction with electronic support measure pods.[8]

The electronic warfare version of the fighter, named J-16D, was developed in 2010s. The aircraft reportedly made its first flight in 2015.[9] J-16D is designed to suppress enemy air defenses (SEAD), capable of housing internal jamming equipment and carrying various external electronic warfare pods.[10]

According to aviation researcher Justin Bronk of the Royal United Services Institute, J-16 holds advantages over Russian Flanker variants with its wide application of composite materials, longer range missiles, advanced sensors and avionics. J-16 represents Chinese aviation industry has transitioned from past dependency of Russian technology to developing modern derivatives that are superior to that of Russia in many aspects.[11][12]

The Chinese military is developing advanced autonomous capabilities for its combat aircraft. In March 2021, it was reported that a J-16 variant with the backseat co-pilot replaced by an artificial intelligence algorithm called "intelligence victory" (Chinese: 智胜; pinyin: Zhì shèng) was undergoing testing at Shenyang Aircraft Corporation. A similar aircraft was also spotted by satellite image at an experimental test base near Malan, Xinjiang in June 2021.[13]

Operational history

The first flight is believed to have occurred in 2011-2012.[14]

In April 2014, the PLAAF received a regiment of J-16s.[15]

The J-16 entered service in 2015[1] and was officially revealed in 2017 during the People's Liberation Army's 90th anniversary parade.[3]

In 2021, Chinese Air Force began inducting J-16D in combat training.[16]

Variants
  • J-16
  • J-16D: Electronic warfare (EW) variant. Equipped with wingtip EW pods; internal EW system replaces IRST and 30 mm cannon.[1] Reportedly first flew in December 2015.[9]

Operators
 People's Republic of China

Specifications

Data from

General characteristics

Performance

  • Maximum speed: Mach 2[17]

Armament

Avionics

  • AESA radar[1]
  • IRST[1]
  • EW pods(J-16D)

See also

Related development

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

Related lists

References

Citations
  1. Bronk, page 38
  2. International Institute for Strategic Studies: The Military Balance 2022, p.261
  3. Liu, Zhen (4 August 2018). "China's new J-16 advanced fighter jet 'targeting Taiwan' may soon be combat ready". South China Morning Post. Archived from the original on 4 August 2018. Retrieved 12 November 2020.
  4. Bronk, page 37
  5. "Based in the Russian Sukhoi Su-30MKK, the Shenyang J-16 is an all-modern multirole fighter-bomber introduced for service by China during 2013". Military Factory.
  6. Fisher, Richard (27 May 2015). "ANALYSIS: Can China break the military aircraft engine bottleneck?". FlightGlobal. Archived from the original on 10 June 2015. Retrieved 5 August 2015.
  7. Hollings, Alex (2 February 2019). "China says a new paint job just turned its J-16 into a 'near-stealth' fighter". sofrep.
  8. Roblin, Sebastien (30 November 2017). "China's New J-16D Aircraft Might Have a Terrifying New Military Capability". National Interest.
  9. Fisher, Richard D., Jr (23 December 2015). "Possible J-16 EW variant makes its first flight". IHS Jane's 360. Archived from the original on 24 December 2015. Retrieved 12 November 2020.
  10. DUBOIS, GASTÓN (27 September 2021). "J-16D, China's SEAD aircraft seen as never before". aviacionline.
  11. Roblin, Sebastien (10 November 2020). "Why China's Latest Jets Are Surpassing Russia's Top Fighters". Forbes.
  12. "Russia Still Hopes to Sell More Su-35s to China — But Isn't Likely to Succeed". militarywatchmagazine. 12 September 2021.
  13. Rogoway, Tyler (2 July 2021). "Flanker Fighter Appears Among Unmanned Aircraft At China's Secretive Test Base".
  14. John Pike. "J-16 (Jianjiji-16 Fighter aircraft 16) / F-16". Globalsecurity.org. Retrieved 4 February 2015.
  15. "Chinese Air Force Takes Delivery of New J-16 Strike Fighters". Retrieved 2015-05-17.
  16. Dominguez, Gabriel; Rupprecht, Andreas (8 November 2021). "Chinese air force deploying recently unveiled J-16D in combat training". Janes.
  17. Defense Intelligence Agency of the United States (2019). China Military Power: Modernizing a Force to Fight and Win (PDF) (Report). p. 88. Archived from the original (PDF) on 11 May 2019. Retrieved 28 April 2019.
  18. International Institute for Strategic Studies (2018). "Chinese and Russian air-launched weapons: a test for Western air dominance". Retrieved 12 November 2020.
  19. Rupprecht, Andreas (18 February 2020). "Images show PLAAF J-16 armed with YJ-83K anti-ship missile". Janes. Retrieved 12 November 2020.

Bibliography
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