The Shenyang J-16 is a twin-seat, twin-engine, multirole combat aircraft manufactured by the Shenyang Aircraft Corporation (SAC) for the Chinese People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF). The J-16 is a derivative of the Russian-made Su-27 Flanker family, equipped with China's domestically developed avionics and weapon systems. It is capable of performing a wide range of missions, including air superiority, ground attack, and anti-ship strike.
Shenyang J-16 (Anna Zvereva)
Design and Development
The development process for the J-16 is based on the experience China gained from the Su-27/Su-30MKK aircraft, which it purchased from Russia in the 1990s and later produced under license. Although the J-16 has a design similar to the Su-30MKK, its weight has been reduced and its radar cross-section lowered by using more composite materials in the fuselage. The aircraft's maiden flight was conducted between 2011 and 2012. The PLAAF began inducting J-16s into its inventory in 2014, and it entered operational service in 2015. The aircraft was first publicly displayed in 2017 during the parade for the 90th anniversary of the Chinese People's Liberation Army.
Shenyang J-16 (LovePlan)
Domestic Engine in Tegration
One of the aircraft's achievements is the integration of domestically produced WS-10B "Taihang" turbofan engines in place of Russian-made engines. This has reduced China's dependence on foreign engine technology in its aviation industry.
Technical Specifications and Avionics
Thanks to its powerful engines and modern avionics, the J-16 offers high performance and situational awareness.
- Category: Dual-Role Combat Aircraft
- Origin: China (Shenyang Aircraft Corporation)
- Engines: 2 x Shenyang WS-10B turbofan engines
- Maximum Speed: Mach 2.0 (approximately 2,120 km/h)
- Crew: 2
- Maximum Takeoff Weight: 35,000 kg
- Range: 3,000 km
- Avionics: One of the most significant upgrades of the J-16 is its equipment with an advanced Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) Radar. This radar allows the aircraft to track and engage multiple targets simultaneously. It also features a helmet-mounted display (HMD) system, which enhances the pilots' situational awareness.
Shenyang J-16 (LovePlan)
Weapon Systems
The J-16 can carry a wide and diverse range of ordnance thanks to its up to 12 external weapon hardpoints. This makes the aircraft flexible in both air-to-air and air-to-ground missions.
- Air-to-Air Missiles: It can be equipped with the short-range infrared-guided PL-9, the medium-range radar-guided PL-12, and the long-range PL-15 missiles. The PL-15 missile stands out for its BVR (Beyond Visual Range) engagement capability.
- Air-to-Ground Munitions: It can carry precision-guided bombs, rockets, and air-to-surface missiles such as the KD-88.
- Anti-Ship and Anti-Radiation Missiles: It can utilize YJ-12 and YJ-83K anti-ship missiles against naval targets and anti-radiation missiles to suppress enemy radar systems.
Operational Role and Variants
The J-16 is a critical platform for the PLAAF's air superiority and deep strike operations. It generally operates alongside more advanced stealth fighters like the J-20 as an "air superiority-strike" duo. After the J-20 clears the enemy airspace, the J-16 conducts precision attacks against ground and naval targets using its heavy ordnance load.
The most important variant of the J-16 is the J-16D model, which is specially designed for electronic warfare missions. Having made its maiden flight in 2015, the J-16D carries electronic warfare pods on its wingtips and is used for the Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses (SEAD).
