The Chinese J-16 fighter airframes are currently in service for the People's Liberation Army Air Force. The aircraft are equipped with an electronic flight control system and a modified AESA radar. They can simultaneously track aerial and ground targets. The aircraft can also operate in all weather conditions. These fighters have the ability to perform air-to, and ground combat operations.
Shenyang Aircraft Corporation developed the J-16 as a fourth generation Chinese twin-engine striker fighter. It was built from the Soviet-era Su-30 Flanker aircraft. The J-16 can engage and detect targets instantly thanks to its electronic scanned array radar, and glass cockpit. The PL-10 airto-air weapon has high sensitivity, and thrust vector control. This weapon can hit multiple air targets reliably, including helicopters and antiaircraft missiles.
According to the Royal United Services Institute, the J-16 is China's most capable multi-role fighter. The aircraft is currently in mass production. By 2019, China plans to build at least 90 of these aircraft. Analysts believe that the aircraft is responding to India's Dassault Rafale fighters. However, the aircraft is not yet ready to replace the current Su-30MKI and Su-27UBK units.
Recently, China deployed 39 warplanes into Taiwan's air defense identification zone. The aircraft included 24 J-16s. During this period, fighters engaged the enemy in mock battles. The J-20 and J-16 aircraft flew head to head, but the J-20 managed to escape the attack.
Chinese state media has reported about the J-16's superiority. It has been said that the J-16 is superior to the Su-30. Jiang Jiaji, a PLAAF pilot, who won three Golden Helmet contests, has been reportedly involved in ground attack exercises using rocket projectiles. He claimed that the J-16 is coated with silver-gray painting, which he recorded on CCTV in early 2019
Numerous experts warn that Russia is still ahead of China in many areas of aircraft development. Some have warned that China is planning to reverse-engineer the engines of the Su-35 jet. It isn't known if China can produce enough engines to support the J-15 fighters or J-16 fighters.
J-16, a new generation Chinese twin engine strike fighter, is now available. It was developed by Shenyang Aircraft Corporation, which also has the J-11. The J-16 is a derivative of the J-11. It can detect and engage target in real-time. As of the end of 2014, the aircraft has completed a number of test flight missions and is currently in production.
People's Liberation Army Air Force is increasing its efforts to replace old fighter jets. A number of hundred fighters are currently in active service and it is hoped these aircraft will be capable of taking on Indian and Russian combat planes. China has also invested in new engines, and electronic warfare capabilities to make the aircraft more reliable. China will have to slow down manufacturing of the jet for the time being, until the new engines can be fully developed.
Twenty years ago, the Soviet Union's success was repeated by the Chinese aviation industry. The Chinese air force has deployed J-16s and other fighters into the airspace of the breakaway province of Taiwan.