Shenyang J-16

With the development of military aircraft during the turn of the century, the PLAAF found its JH-7 fighters becoming increasingly obsolete. In the 1990s, China purchased Sukhoi Su-27 and Sukhoi Su-30MKK air superiority fighters from Russia, including those license-produced in China as the Shenyang J-11A.Bronk, page 37 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 fighter derived from the J-11BS model.{{cite web|url=https://www.militaryfactory.com/aircraft/detail.php?aircraft_id=1157 |title=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. |website=Military Factory}}

The J-16 is equipped with an active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar and is powered by two Chinese Shenyang WS-10A turbofan engines.{{cite web |url=http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/analysis-can-china-break-the-military-aircraft-engine-412424/ |title=ANALYSIS: Can China break the military aircraft engine bottleneck? |last=Fisher |first=Richard |date=27 May 2015 |website=FlightGlobal |access-date=5 August 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150610030637/https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/analysis-can-china-break-the-military-aircraft-engine-412424/ |archive-date=10 June 2015}} Weight is reduced through greater use of composite materials. J-16 units have received radar-absorbent paint to reduce its radar signature,{{cite web|url=https://sofrep.com/news/china-says-a-new-paint-job-just-turned-its-j-16-into-a-near-stealth-fighter/ |title=China says a new paint job just turned its J-16 into a 'near-stealth' fighter |website=sofrep |date=2 February 2019|first=Alex |last=Hollings}} and enhance its suppression of enemy air defenses (SEAD) capability in conjunction with electronic support measures pods.{{cite web|url=https://nationalinterest.org/blog/the-buzz/chinas-new-j-16d-aircraft-might-have-terrifying-new-military-23427 |title=China's New J-16D Aircraft Might Have a Terrifying New Military Capability |website=National Interest | date=30 November 2017 |first=Sebastien |last= Roblin}}

The cockpit is fitted with helmet-mounted display (HMD) system to improve pilot's situational awareness.{{cite web|url= https://www.janes.com/amp/plaaf-j-16-fighter-pilots-seen-using-new-helmet/ZnlJK3dHVU9mZ28xajRJVkc5dVI5VFp1cVMwPQ2 |title= PLAAF J-16 fighter pilots seen using new helmet |website=Janes |date=11 November 2020 |first1= Andreas |last1=Rupprecht |first2= Gabriel |last2=Dominguez }}

The electronic warfare version of the fighter, named J-16D, was developed in 2010s. The aircraft reportedly made its first flight in 2015. J-16D is designed for SEAD, capable of housing internal jamming equipment and carrying various external electronic warfare pods.{{cite web|url=https://www.aviacionline.com/2021/09/j-16d-chinas-sead-aircraft-seen-as-never-before/ |title=J-16D, China's SEAD aircraft seen as never before |website=aviacionline |date=27 September 2021 |first=GASTÓN |last=DUBOIS }}

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 a transition by the Chinese aviation industry away from a past dependence on Russian technology towards developing modern derivatives that are superior to the Russian originals in many aspects.{{cite web|last=Roblin|first=Sebastien|date=10 November 2020|title=Why China's Latest Jets Are Surpassing Russia's Top Fighters|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/sebastienroblin/2020/11/10/why-chinas-latest-jets-are-surpassing-russias-top-fighters/?sh=4767e8e72e26|website=Forbes}} British combat aviation expert Abraham Abrams referred to the J-16 as "by far the world’s most advanced [Su-27] Flanker derivative," citing China's major advantages in composite material, radar and missile technologies, as primary facilitators of this. He notes that many of the fighter's technologies are derived from those developed for the J-20 fifth generation fighter.{{Cite book |last=Abrams |first=Abraham |title=J-20 Mighty Dragon: Asia's First Stealth Fighter in the Era of China's Military Rise |date=2024 |publisher=Helion |location=Warwick |pages=57–59}}

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" ({{zh|s=智胜|p=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.{{cite web|url=https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/41386/flanker-fighter-appears-among-unmanned-aircraft-at-chinas-secretive-drone-test-base |title=Flanker Fighter Appears Among Unmanned Aircraft At China's Secretive Test Base |date=2 July 2021 |first=Tyler |last=Rogoway}}

The J-16 fully replaced the single seat J-11B in production in 2018, with the two classes having been produced in parallel at Shenyang for over half a decade. A small number of twin seat J-11BS trainers remained in production alongside the J-16s into the following years.{{Cite book |last=Abrams |first=Abraham |title=J-20 Mighty Dragon: Asia's First Stealth Fighter in the Era of China's Military Rise |publisher=Helion |year=2024 |location=Warwick}}

In August 2024 Military Watch Magazine estimated that the J-16 fleet had exceeded 350 fighters at a conservative estimate, citing new images from the 125th Air Brigade confirming that aircraft is from the 13th production batch had begun deliveries to frontline units. Each batch of J-16s comprises between 24 and 30 fighters. The publication highlighted that these numbers made the J-16 "by far the most widely commissioned heavyweight fighter class by a single air force anywhere in the world since the turn of the century."

File:J-16 Авиадартс2021.jpg engines taking off]]

The first flight is believed to have occurred in 2011–2012.{{cite web|author=John Pike|title=J-16 (Jianjiji-16 Fighter aircraft 16) / F-16|url=http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/china/j-16.htm|publisher=Globalsecurity.org|access-date=4 February 2015}}

In April 2014, the PLAAF received a regiment of J-16s.{{Cite web|title=Chinese Air Force Takes Delivery of New J-16 Strike Fighters |date= 8 May 2014 |url=http://www.popsci.com/blog-network/eastern-arsenal/chinese-air-force-takes-delivery-new-j-16-strike-fighters|access-date=2015-05-17}}

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

In 2021, Chinese Air Force began inducting J-16D in combat training.{{cite web|url=https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/chinese-air-force-deploying-recently-unveiled-j-16d-in-combat-training |title=Chinese air force deploying recently unveiled J-16D in combat training |date=8 November 2021 |website=Janes |first1=Gabriel |last1=Dominguez |first2=Andreas |last2=Rupprecht}}

According to the Australian Department of Defence, on 26 May 2022 a J-16 intercepted a RAAF P-8 Poseidon surveillance aircraft over the South China Sea while the latter was "conducting routine maritime surveillance operations" over international waters.{{cite news |title=Australia says China threatened plane over South China Sea |date= 5 June 2022 |url=https://apnews.com/article/china-australia-south-sea-beijing-government-and-politics-a6c946ff902bcccbdddbbaaca260d0b9 |work=Associated Press News |location=Beijing}} The newly elected Australian defence minister Richard Marles said that the J-16 first flew closely alongside the P-8, released flares and then flew in front of the P-8 where it released chaff into the flight path, of which some were ingested by the P-8's engine. The Australian Government lodged a protest with the Chinese Government over the incident and Marles said that Australia would not be deterred from conducting operations of the same or a similar nature in the future.{{cite news |title=Anthony Albanese protests China's fighter plane intercept |date= 6 June 2022|url=https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/defence/anthony-albanese-protests-chinas-fighter-plane-intercept/news-story/3294d4f0912f06210aceb7b4276c492f |agency=The Australian}}{{cite news |title=Federal government undeterred by China's 'intimidation' tactics |date= 5 June 2022 |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-06-05/federal-government-undeterred-by-chinas/13916020 |agency=Australian Broadcasting Corporation|format=video}} According to a Chinese defense ministry spokesman, the Australian pilots acted "dangerously and provocatively," and ignored repeated warnings before the J-16 drove the Australian aircraft away.{{Cite web |date=2022-06-07 |title=China accuses Australia and Canada of 'disinformation' over jet encounters |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/jun/07/china-accuses-australia-canada-jet-encounters |access-date=2022-06-21 |website=The Guardian |location=Beijing |language=en}} An article by the Lowy Institute, an Australian thinktank, said the interception marked an escalation in the grey zone actions that China was using to enforce its claims in the South China Sea.{{cite news |last=Layton|first=Peter|title=A flare up in China's deliberate pattern of aggression |url=https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/flare-china-s-deliberate-pattern-aggression |work=The Interpreter|publisher=Lowy Institute|date=6 Jun 2022}}

Out of all aircraft deployed in the Taiwan strait, J-16 fighters are the most frequently used, possibly due to its electronic warfare capabilities.{{cite web|url= https://www.flightglobal.com/defence/j-16-is-chinas-go-to-fighter-in-taiwan-aerial-incursions/145755.article |website=FlightGlobal |date=4 October 2017 |title= J-16 is China's go-to fighter in Taiwan aerial incursions |first= Greg |last=Waldron }} In August 2022, China dispatched large amount of J-16 fighters to the Taiwan strait, in response to the Nancy Pelosi's Taiwan visit.{{cite web|url= https://www.flightglobal.com/flight-international/why-pelosis-taipei-visit-triggered-beijings-military/149894.article |title= Why Pelosi's Taipei visit triggered Beijing's military |website=Flight Global |date=19 August 2022 |first=Ryan |last=Finnerty }}

On May 26, 2023, a J-16 fighter made a fly-by cutting directly in front of the nose of a RC-135 Rivet Joint reconnaissance aircraft over South China Sea, forcing the American plane to fly through its jet wash, a maneuver colloquially known as "thumping". According to United States Indo-Pacific Command, the RC-135 was conducting "safe and routine operations" in international airspace.{{cite web|url=https://edition.cnn.com/2023/05/30/politics/china-fighter-jet-south-china-sea/index.html|title=US says Chinese jet conducted 'unnecessarily aggressive maneuver' intercepting US spy plane over South China Sea|date=2023-05-31|last1=Liebermann|first1=Oren|last2=Britzky|first2=Haley|publisher=CNN|accessdate=2023-11-20}} The PLA stated in response the following day that the American spy aircraft "deliberately intruded" into China's military training area. The Chinese Foreign Ministry rejected the American assertion of aggressive behavior and accused the US of posing a "serious danger" to China by frequently deploying reconnaissance aircraft and vessels to China, and spokesperson Mao Ning said during a regular briefing, "The US's provocative and dangerous moves are the root cause of maritime security issues. China urges the US to stop such dangerous provocations... China will continue to take necessary measures to resolutely defend its sovereignty and security."

File:Shenyang J-16D.jpg

• J-16
• J-16D: Electronic warfare variant. Equipped with wingtip EW pods; internal EW system replaces IRST and 30 mm cannon.{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ml6AT9o2AMA |title=提前探秘第15届中国航展现场！歼-16D罕见展示翼尖电子吊舱！歼-10C 歼-16 轰-6K等大批明星战机震撼集结 大饱眼福！20241105 {{!}} 军迷天下 |date=2024-11-04 |last=军迷天下 |access-date=2024-11-09 |via=YouTube}} Reportedly first flew in December 2015.{{cite web |last1=Fisher |first1=Richard D. Jr |title=Possible J-16 EW variant makes its first flight |url=http://www.janes.com/article/56855/possible-j-16-ew-variant-makes-its-first-flight |date=23 December 2015 |website=IHS Jane's 360 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151224052741/http://www.janes.com/article/56855/possible-j-16-ew-variant-makes-its-first-flight |archive-date=24 December 2015 |access-date=12 November 2020}}

;{{PRC}}

• People's Liberation Army Air Force – 245+ aircraft as of 2022{{cite web | url=https://www.defensenews.com/air/2022/11/08/display-at-zhuhai-airshow-reveals-info-on-chinas-j-20-j-16-inventory/ | title=Zhuhai Airshow display reveals info on China's J-20, J-16 inventory | date=8 November 2022 }} IISS estimated 280+ aircraft by the end of 2023.{{cite report|url=https://www.iiss.org/publications/strategic-dossiers/asia-pacific-regional-security-assessment-2024/chapter-6/ |title=Asia-Pacific Regional Security Assessment 2024 |date=May 2024 |publisher=The International Institute for Strategic Studies |chapter=6: Waiting in the Wings: The Asia-Pacific Air-to-Air Challenge }} In August 2024 Military Watch Magazine estimated that the fleet had exceeded 350 fighters at a conservative estimate.

{{Aircraft specs

|ref=Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA),{{Cite report |author=Defense Intelligence Agency of the United States |author-link=Defense Intelligence Agency |date=2019 |title=China Military Power: Modernizing a Force to Fight and Win |url=https://www.dia.mil/Portals/27/Documents/News/Military%20Power%20Publications/China_Military_Power_FINAL_5MB_20190103.pdf |page=88 |access-date=28 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190511175030/https://www.dia.mil/Portals/27/Documents/News/Military%20Power%20Publications/China_Military_Power_FINAL_5MB_20190103.pdf |archive-date=11 May 2019}} RupprechtRupprecht 2022, pp. 100-106

|prime units?=met

|crew=2

|capacity=

|length m=21.9

|span m=14.7

|upper span m=

|mid span m=

|lower span m=

|width m=

|height m=6.36

|wing area sqm=62

|aspect ratio=

|airfoil=

|empty weight kg=17700

|gross weight kg=

|max takeoff weight kg=35000

|fuel capacity=

|more general=

|eng1 number=2

|eng1 name=Shenyang WS-10B{{Cite web |url=https://www.yzzk.com/article/details/中華天地/2022-47/1668657342100/珠海航展逆市高飛%E3%80%80軍事肌肉秀展現信心 |title=珠海航展逆市高飛 軍事肌肉秀展現信心 （黃東）|author=黃東 |date=2022-11-18 |publisher=亞洲週刊|language=zh-hant |access-date=2022-11-23}}

|eng1 type=afterburning turbofans

|eng1 kn=

|eng1 kn-ab=135{{cite web|url=https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/chinas-j-15-naval-jet-appears-with-indigenous-ws-10-engines |title=China's J-15 naval jet appears with indigenous WS-10 engines |website=Janes |date=25 November 2022 |first1=Akhil |last1=Kadidal |first2=Prasobh |last2=Narayanan }}

|perfhide=

|max speed kmh=2120

|max speed mach=2

|cruise speed kmh=

|stall speed kmh=

|never exceed speed kmh=

|minimum control speed kmh=

|range km=3000

|combat range km=

|ferry range km=4000

|endurance=

|ceiling m=17300

|g limits=+9

|roll rate=

|climb rate ms=230

|time to altitude=

|wing loading kg/m2=

|fuel consumption kg/km=

|power/mass=

|thrust/weight=

|more performance=

|armament=

• 1 × 30 mm GSh-30-1 cannon{{cite web

| title = Shenyang (AVIC) J-16 (Red Eagle)

| url = https://www.militaryfactory.com/aircraft/detail.php?aircraft_id=1157

| website = Military Factory

| access-date = 2024-09-11

}}

• Munitions on 12 external hardpoints, including:
• Air-to-air missiles
• PL-9{{cite web

| title = Shenyang (AVIC) J-16 (Red Eagle)

| url = https://www.militaryfactory.com/aircraft/detail.php?aircraft_id=1157

| website = Military Factory

| access-date = 2024-09-11

}}

• PL-10 (ASR)
• PL-12{{cite web

| title = Shenyang (AVIC) J-16 (Red Eagle)

| url = https://www.militaryfactory.com/aircraft/detail.php?aircraft_id=1157

| website = Military Factory

| access-date = 2024-09-11

}}

• PL-15{{cite web |author=International Institute for Strategic Studies |author-link=International Institute for Strategic Studies |title=Chinese and Russian air-launched weapons: a test for Western air dominance |url=https://www.iiss.org/publications/the-military-balance/the-military-balance-2018/mb2018-01-essays-1 |date=2018|access-date=12 November 2020}}
• PL-17{{cite report|url=https://www.airuniversity.af.edu/Portals/10/CASI/documents/Research/Other-Topics/2022-08-15%20PLA%20Primer%203rd%20edition.pdf?ver=CHnk2NAOlCMqoqs7tGdjkw%3D%3D×tamp=1660595152807 |title=PLA Aerospace Power: A Primer on Trends in China's Military Air, Space, and Missile Forces |publisher=China Aerospace Studies Institute |location=Montgomery |year=2022}}
• Anti-ship missiles
• YJ-12
• YJ-83KYJ-12 name="janes_rupprecht_2020-02">{{cite web |last1=Rupprecht |first1=Andreas |title=Images show PLAAF J-16 armed with YJ-83K anti-ship missile |url=https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/images-show-plaaf-j-16-armed-with-yj-83k-anti-ship-missile |date=18 February 2020 |website=Janes |access-date=12 November 2020}}
• Air-to-surface missile
• AKF-98
• KD-88
• Rockets
• Guided bombs
• LS-500J Laser guided bombRupprecht 2018, p. 120.
• Anti-radiation missiles
• YINGS-III targeting pod

|avionics=

• AESA radar
• IRST

}}

• EW pods(J-16D)

{{aircontent

|see also=

• 4.5 generation fighter

|related=

• Shenyang J-11
• Shenyang J-15
• Sukhoi Su-30MKK

|similar aircraft=

• Dassault Rafale
• Eurofighter
• F-15EX Eagle II
• F/A-18E/F Super Hornet
• EA-18G Growler
• Sukhoi Su-35S

|lists=

• List of fighter aircraft

}}

{{Reflist}}

{{Refbegin}}

• {{cite report |last1=Bronk |first1=Justin |date=October 2020 |title=Russian and Chinese Combat Air Trends |series=Whitehall Report |volume=3-20 |url=https://www.rusi.org/explore-our-research/publications/whitehall-reports/russian-and-chinese-combat-air-trends-current-capabilities-and-future-threat-outlook|publisher=Royal United Services Institute for Defence and Security Studies }}
• {{cite book |last1=Rupprecht |first1=Andreas |title=Modern Chinese Warplanes - Chinese Air Force |url=https://www.harpia-publishing.com/hapbook/37 |publisher=Harpia Publishing |isbn=978-0-9973092-6-3 |location=Vienna, Austria |year=2018}}
• {{cite book |last1=Rupprecht |first1=Andreas |title=Red Dragon "Flankers" - China's Prolific "Flanker" Family |url=https://harpia-publishing.com/hapbook/371 |publisher=Harpia Publishing |isbn=978-1-950394-10-4 |location=Vienna, Austria |year=2022}}

{{Refend}}

{{commons category|Shenyang J-16}}

{{Su-27 family}}

{{PRC fighters}}

{{Chinese Military Aircraft}}

Category:2010s Chinese fighter aircraft

Category:Shenyang aircraft

Category:Electronic warfare aircraft

Category:Twinjets

Category:Fourth-generation jet fighters

Category:Sukhoi Su-27 family aircraft

Category:4.5-generation jet fighters

Category:Aircraft with retractable tricycle landing gear