J-16 PLA (1:48)
Shenyang J-16 Qianlong (Hidden Dragon)

Shenyang J-16 (歼-16, Jiān-Shíliù) “Qianlong” (潜龙, Qián Lóng – ‘Hidden Dragon’)

NATO reporting name: Flanker-N
Manufacturer: Shenyang Aircraft Corporation (SAC)
Operator: People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF)

The Shenyang J-16 is a Chinese all-weather, 4.5-generation multirole strike fighter, designed for precision air-to-air and air-to-ground missions. It features tandem seating, twin engines, and a fly-by-wire control system, and is capable of operating in contested electronic environments.

Developed from the Shenyang J-11 (the Chinese-built version of the Russian Sukhoi Su-27SK), the J-16’s airframe is largely based on the Su-30MKK, but with extensive use of composite materials to reduce weight and radar cross-section. It incorporates domestically developed avionics, sensors, and weapons systems, distinguishing it significantly from its Russian predecessors.

Design and Avionics

Airframe: Reinforced Su-30MKK-based structure with radar-absorbent composite skin panels.

Radar: Type 1475 (KLJ-7A) Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar with a reported detection range exceeding 200 km.

Cockpit: Two-seat glass cockpit with wide multifunction color displays (MFDs), compatible with helmet-mounted display and sight (HMDS) systems.

Avionics: Indigenous mission computer, electronic warfare (EW) suite, and digital flight control system.

Communication: Secure datalink for network-centric operations with J-10C and J-20 fighters.

Propulsion

Engines: 2 × Shenyang WS-10B afterburning turbofans (each rated ~132 kN with afterburner).

Performance:

Maximum speed: Mach 2.0

Combat radius: ~1,500 km (without refueling)

Ferry range: ~4,000 km with drop tanks

Service ceiling: ~20,000 m

Armament

The J-16 supports a wide range of PLAAF precision-guided munitions and air-to-air missiles across 12 external hardpoints, including:

Air-to-Air: PL-10, PL-12, PL-15 missiles

Air-to-Ground: KD-88, YJ-91 (anti-radiation), LS-6, and GB series laser-guided bombs

Gun: 1 × 30 mm GSh-30-1 internal cannon

Operational Role

The J-16 is primarily used for long-range strike, air superiority, and electronic attack missions. The variant J-16D is optimized for electronic warfare (EW), equipped with wingtip jamming pods and specialized sensors instead of the infrared search and track (IRST) system.

Production and Service

First flight: 2011

Service entry: 2014 (PLAAF)

Units equipped: Primarily in Eastern and Southern Theater Commands of the PLAAF

Notable variant: J-16D (electronic warfare), J-16B (experimental upgrades)