Aircraft & UAVs

Shenyang J-16

Also known as
  • J-16
  • J-16D
  • Qianlong
  • Hidden Dragon

The Shenyang J-16 is a Chinese twin-engine, two-seat multirole strike fighter built by Shenyang Aircraft Corporation for the People's Liberation Army Air Force. Sourced records link the baseline J-16 and J-16D derivative to PLAAF service growth, South China Sea patrol-aircraft intercepts, and August 2022 Taiwan Strait crisis air activity.

Shenyang J-16, Twin-engine, two-seat multirole strike fighter, Aircraft & UAVs
Image source: Chinese Air Force, 61248, Shenyang J-16 (51524684603).jpg

Role in Conflicts

South China Sea Disputes
Area DenialDeterrence
Side
People's Republic of China

Australian and U.S. defense reporting documented Chinese J-16 intercepts of RAAF P-8A and U.S. RC-135 aircraft operating in international airspace over the South China Sea in 2022 and 2023.

Profile / Specs

Profile

Origin
China
Type
Twin-engine, two-seat multirole strike fighter
Service note
2010s-present
Produced
2010s-present
Number built
At least 245 production aircraft reported in 2022

Specifications

Crew
2
Length
71.9 ft (21.9 m)
Wingspan
48.2 ft (14.7 m)
Height
20.9 ft (6.4 m)
Empty weight
39,022 lb
Maximum takeoff weight
77,162 lb
Power plant
2x WS-10B turbofan engines
Radar
Multimode AESA radar
Maximum speed
Mach 2.4
Combat range
810 nm (1,500 km)
Range
1,620 nm (3,000 km)
Ceiling
65,617 ft (20,000 m)
Gun
30 mm Gryazev-Shipunov GSh-30-1 cannon
Air-to-air missiles
PL-9, PL-10, PL-12, PL-15, and PL-17
Air-to-ground systems
Anti-ship missiles, satellite-guided munitions, and laser-guided munitions reported among available systems
Service Context

The J-16's public conflict record centers on patrol, crisis signaling, and intercept activity rather than a conventional air-combat campaign.

Service growth

Defense News reported a small batch entering service in 2015 and later noted a 2022 Zhuhai display aircraft marked as the 245th production J-16.

Electronic-attack derivative

Chinese military coverage tied the J-16D to Airshow China 2021, realistic combat training, and a display fit with wingtip electronic-warfare pods plus additional jamming pods and missiles.

South China Sea intercepts

Australian and U.S. defense sources documented J-16 intercepts of RAAF P-8A and U.S. RC-135 aircraft over the South China Sea region in 2022 and 2023.

Taiwan Strait crisis activity

CSIS recorded J-16 fighters among PLA aircraft entering Taiwan's ADIZ or crossing the median line during the August 2022 crisis.

Variants

Public sources identify the baseline J-16 strike fighter and the J-16D electronic-warfare derivative as active J-16-family variants.

VariantConfigurationDesignation notes
J-16Baseline two-seat multirole strike fighter

Mitchell lists the J-16 as an active PLAAF multirole strike-fighter variant.

Sources: J-16

J-16DElectronic-warfare derivative

Chinese military coverage describes the J-16D as a new electronic-warfare aircraft independently developed from the J-16 platform.

Sources: J-16D and WZ-7 to debut at Airshow China 2021, J-16D joins realistic combat training

Air-to-Air Missiles

Mitchell's J-16 technical data lists the PL-15 among the aircraft's air-to-air missile options.

AmmunitionAmmunition typeFiring evidence
PL-15 / PL-15E, Beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile, MunitionsPL-15 / PL-15ELong-range air-to-air missile

Mitchell's J-16 technical data lists the PL-15 among the aircraft's air-to-air missile options.

Sources: J-16

Timeline

Shenyang J-16 Key Events

  1. Initial PLAAF service

    Defense News reported a small batch of J-16s entering service in 2015 with the 176th Brigade as the type moved into wider PLAAF use.

    Sources: Images reveal China's J-16 jets stepping up introduction into service

  2. J-16D public debut

    Chinese military coverage said the J-16D electronic-attack derivative would debut at Airshow China 2021, making the jamming-focused variant visible to the public.

    Sources: J-16D and WZ-7 to debut at Airshow China 2021

  3. J-16D enters realistic combat training

    China's Ministry of National Defense said the J-16D electronic-warfare aircraft had been put into realistic combat training after its Airshow China 2021 debut.

    Sources: J-16D joins realistic combat training

  4. Production count passes 240

    Defense News said a Zhuhai display aircraft was the 245th production J-16 and that more than 240 aircraft were in service by 2022.

    Sources: Zhuhai Airshow display reveals info on China's J-20, J-16 inventory

  5. Australia reports a J-16 intercept

    Defence Australia said a Chinese J-16 intercepted a Royal Australian Air Force P-8A Poseidon during routine maritime surveillance over the South China Sea region.

    Sources: Chinese interception of P-8A Poseidon on 26 May 2022

  6. J-16s cross the Taiwan Strait median line

    CSIS recorded Taiwan Ministry of National Defense reporting that ten J-16 fighters crossed the median line southwest of Taiwan during the August 2022 crisis activity.

    Sources: CSIS Fourth Taiwan Strait Crisis Tracker

  7. U.S. documents a risky intercept

    The U.S. Defense Department said a Chinese J-16 made an aggressive intercept of a U.S. RC-135 over the South China Sea and forced the aircraft through wake turbulence.

    Sources: Defense Leaders See Increase in Risky Chinese Intercepts

Media

Shenyang J-16 Videos

Shenyang J-16 Images

Shenyang J-16, Twin-engine, two-seat multirole strike fighter, Aircraft & UAVs - view 1
Source: J-16 at CCAS2023 (20230724102737).jpg
Shenyang J-16, Twin-engine, two-seat multirole strike fighter, Aircraft & UAVs - view 2
Source: PLAAF H-6 and J-16 2024-11-29.jpg
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Sources

J-16Publisher: Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies | Note: Supports J-16 background, manufacturer context, PLAAF service status, active variants, IOC, crew, dimensions, power plant, speed, range, ceiling, gun, and air-to-air loadout. | Accessed: 2026-07-04Images reveal China's J-16 jets stepping up introduction into servicePublisher: Defense News | Note: Supports J-16 service-introduction context, the 2015 fielding pace, multimode AESA radar context, and the reporting that the aircraft was entering service in increasing numbers. | Accessed: 2026-07-04J-16D and WZ-7 to debut at Airshow China 2021Publisher: China Military Online | Note: Supports the J-16D public-debut timeline and the existence of a dedicated electronic-attack derivative in the J-16 family. | Accessed: 2026-07-04J-16D joins realistic combat trainingPublisher: Ministry of National Defense of the People's Republic of China | Note: Supports the J-16D's electronic-warfare identity and reported entry into realistic combat training in November 2021. | Accessed: 2026-07-04J-16D jamming pods and missiles at Airshow China 2021Publisher: Global Times | Note: Supports J-16D Airshow China 2021 display context, including wingtip electronic-warfare pods, additional jamming pods, belly-mounted missiles, and the exhibition description of the variant as a J-16-based electronic-warfare aircraft. | Accessed: 2026-07-04Zhuhai Airshow display reveals info on China's J-20, J-16 inventoryPublisher: Defense News | Note: Supports the 2022 estimate that more than 240 J-16 multirole strike aircraft were in service and the catalog's production-count context. | Accessed: 2026-07-04Chinese interception of P-8A Poseidon on 26 May 2022Publisher: Defence Australia | Note: Supports South China Sea Disputes direct-use reporting that a Chinese J-16 intercepted a RAAF P-8A over the South China Sea region on 26 May 2022. | Accessed: 2026-07-04Defense Leaders See Increase in Risky Chinese InterceptsPublisher: U.S. Department of Defense | Note: Supports South China Sea Disputes direct-use reporting that a Chinese J-16 performed an aggressive intercept of a U.S. RC-135 over the South China Sea in 2023. | Accessed: 2026-07-04CSIS Fourth Taiwan Strait Crisis TrackerPublisher: ChinaPower Project, Center for Strategic and International Studies | Note: Supports 2022 Fourth Taiwan Strait Crisis direct-use context: J-16 fighters were among PLA aircraft entering Taiwan's ADIZ or crossing the Taiwan Strait median line during August 2022 crisis activity. | Accessed: 2026-07-04Chinese Air Force, 61248, Shenyang J-16 (51524684603).jpgPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Image provenance for a Shenyang J-16 photographed at a PLA Air Force event; the file page lists Creative Commons licensing information. | Accessed: 2026-07-04J-16 at CCAS2023 (20230724102737).jpgPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Image provenance for a J-16 photographed at the 2023 Changchun Air Show; the file page lists Creative Commons licensing information. | Accessed: 2026-07-04PLAAF H-6 and J-16 2024-11-29.jpgPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Image provenance for a PLAAF J-16 photographed with an H-6 on 2024-11-29; the file page lists Creative Commons licensing information. | Accessed: 2026-07-04