Aircraft & UAVs

Shenyang J-16

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. Mitchell Institute lists it as active, with IOC in 2013-2014, a Mach 2.4 top speed, and a J-16D electronic attack variant.

Various ConflictsUnspecified

Shenyang J-16, Twin-engine, two-seat multirole strike fighter, Aircraft & UAVs

Image source: Chinese Air Force, 61248, Shenyang J-16 (51524684603).jpg

Profile

Origin: China
Built by: Shenyang Aircraft Corporation
Type: Twin-engine, two-seat multirole strike fighter
Service note: 2010s-present
Produced: 2010s-present
Variants: J-16, J-16D

Also Known As

J-16

fighter aircraft multirole strike air-to-air

Specifications

Crew: 2
Length: 71.9 ft (21.9 m)
Wingspan: 48.2 ft (14.7 m)
Height: 20.9 ft (6.4 m)
Power plant: 2x WS-10B turbofan engines
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

Program Snapshot

Mitchell Institute describes the J-16 as an active PLAAF multirole strike fighter and notes the J-16D electronic attack variant.

Field	Detail
Service status	Active
IOC	2013-2014
Operator	People's Liberation Army Air Force
Active variants	J-16 and J-16D

Service And Conflict Use

Service History

In service: Active in PLAAF service; Mitchell Institute lists IOC in 2013-2014.
Used by: People's Liberation Army Air Force

Conflict Usage

Side: Unspecified

No named conflict assignment was supplied for this import, so the entry stays in the catalog's Various Conflicts holding bucket.

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: 2026-06-26 Chinese 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: 2026-06-26 J-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: 2026-06-26 PLAAF 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: 2026-06-26