| J-16 Qianlong | |
|---|---|
 | |
| General information | |
| Role | Multirolestrike fighter |
| National origin | People's Republic of China |
| Manufacturer | Shenyang Aircraft Corporation |
| Status | In service |
| Primary user | People's Liberation Army Air Force |
| Number built | 450 (As of 2025[update])[1][2] |
| History | |
| Manufactured | 2017–present |
| Introduction date | 2015–16[3] |
| Developed from | |
TheShenyang J-16 (Chinese:歼-16;pinyin:Jiān-Shíliù), also known asQianlong[4][5] (Chinese:潜龙;pinyin:Qián Lóng;lit. 'Hidden Dragon',NATO reporting name:Flanker-N[6]) is a Chinese all-weather4.5 generation,[7][8]tandem-seat,twin-engine,multirolestrike fighter[9][3] built byShenyang Aircraft Corporation and operated by thePeople's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF). It is developed from theShenyang J-11, thelicensed production variant of the RussianSukhoi Su-27.[9] Its design is based onSu-30MKK.[10][11]
With the development of military aircraft during the turn of the century, the PLAAF found itsJH-7 fighters becoming increasingly obsolete. In the 1990s, China purchasedSukhoi Su-27 andSukhoi Su-30MKKair superiority fighters fromRussia, including thoselicense-produced in China as theShenyang J-11A.[12] The J-11A was further developed into the J-11B single seat and BS twin seat variant with indigenous technology. The J-16 is astrike fighter derived from the J-11BS model.[13]
The J-16 is equipped with anactive electronically scanned array (AESA) radar[3] and is powered by two ChineseShenyang WS-10Aturbofan engines.[14] Weight is reduced through greater use of composite materials.[3] J-16 units have receivedradar-absorbent paint to reduce its radar signature,[15] and enhance itssuppression of enemy air defenses (SEAD) capability in conjunction withelectronic support measures pods.[16]
The cockpit is fitted withhelmet-mounted display (HMD) system to improve pilot'ssituational awareness.[17]
Theelectronic warfare version of the fighter, named J-16D, was developed in 2010s. The aircraft reportedly made its first flight in 2015.[18] J-16D is designed for SEAD, capable of housing internal jamming equipment and carrying various external electronic warfare pods.[19]
According to aviation researcher Justin Bronk of theRoyal United Services Institute, J-16 holds advantages over RussianFlanker 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.[20] 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.[21]
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 anartificial intelligence algorithm called "intelligence victory" (Chinese:智胜;pinyin:Zhì shèng) was undergoing testing atShenyang Aircraft Corporation. A similar aircraft was also spotted bysatellite image at an experimental test base nearMalan,Xinjiang in June 2021.[22]
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.[23]
In August 2024Military Watch Magazine (a Russian affiliated website[24]) 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."
The first flight is believed to have occurred in 2011–2012.[25]
In 2022, at least 245 J-16 airframes were produced.[26]
By the end of 2023, more than 280 aircraft were produced.[27]
As of September 29 2025, based on observable serial numbers, such as "1518" seen in a CCTV report, open-source analysis suggests the People's Liberation Army Air Force has a significant number of J-16 fighter aircraft in its inventory. Analysts, using a common method of interpreting Chinese aircraft serials as indicating batch and sequence numbers, estimate that the "1518" designation signifies the 18th aircraft of the 15th production batch. By extrapolating a typical batch size, this has led to an unofficial public estimate that at least 450 J-16s have been produced.[1][2]
In April 2014, the PLAAF received aregiment of J-16s.[28]
The J-16 entered service in 2015[3] and was officially revealed in 2017 during thePeople's Liberation Army's90th anniversary parade.[9]
In 2021, Chinese Air Force began inducting J-16D in combat training.[29]
According to theAustralian Department of Defence, on 26 May 2022 a J-16 intercepted aRAAFP-8 Poseidonsurveillance aircraft over theSouth China Sea while the latter was "conducting routine maritime surveillance operations" overinternational waters.[30] The newly elected Australian defence ministerRichard Marles said that the J-16 first flew closely alongside the P-8, releasedflares and then flew in front of the P-8 where it releasedchaff into the flight path, of which some were ingested by the P-8's engine.[30] TheAustralian 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.[31][32] 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.[33] An article by theLowy 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.[34]
Out of all aircraft deployed in the Taiwan Strait, J-16 fighters are the most frequently used, possibly due to their electronic warfare capabilities.[35] In August 2022, China dispatched large amount of J-16 fighters to theTaiwan strait, in response to theNancy Pelosi's Taiwan visit.[36]
On May 26, 2023, a J-16 fighter made a fly-by cutting directly in front of the nose of aRC-135 Rivet Jointreconnaissance aircraft over South China Sea, forcing the American plane to fly through itsjet wash, a maneuver colloquially known as "thumping". According toUnited States Indo-Pacific Command, the RC-135 was conducting "safe and routine operations" ininternational airspace.[37] The PLA stated in response the following day that the American spy aircraft "deliberately intruded" into China'smilitary training area. TheChinese 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, andspokespersonMao 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."[37]
Data from Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA),[39] Rupprecht[40]
General characteristics
Performance
Armament
Avionics
Related development
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era
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