CHINESE PLAAF ‘FLANKERs’ - Su-27SK/UBK Su-30MKK/MK2 - Su-35 - J-11 - J-11B - J-16

[Tariq Habib Afridi]

Analyzing the percentage reduction in RCS, the aircraft's geometry contributes the most. If the aircraft's geometry contributes significantly to RCS reduction, its surface coatings will further enhance this effect. However, if the aircraft's geometry is not optimized, the contribution of the surface coatings will be very small.

Can you explain this part with example ? consider russian Su 35 and and J-15/16?

 

[Deino]

PL-17 and PL-10

But only a CG made by @Lovely Swift

 

[Michael]

Can you explain this part with example ? consider russian Su 35 and and J-15/16?

The fundamental operating principle of radar involves emitting radar waves and then calculating a target's size and position based on the "energy difference" and "time difference" of the returning waves.

A key method used in the design of modern fighter jets to reduce their Radar Cross-Section (RCS) involves utilizing a specific geometric airframe configuration to reflect a greater proportion of radar waves away from the radar's transmitter/receiver source and toward other directions. This approach accounts for approximately 50–70% of the overall RCS reduction. Subsequently, integrated design techniques—such as optimizing air intakes and internal weapons bays, applying radar-absorbent materials (RAM) or coatings to surfaces, and managing other scattering sources—are employed to further minimize the return of radar waves.

If an aircraft's airframe has not undergone this specialized geometric optimization, relying solely on surface-applied radar-absorbent materials or coatings yields a contribution to RCS reduction that is, in practical terms, almost negligible. Moreover, doing so would significantly increase the fighter jet's manufacturing and maintenance costs. Consequently, such an approach holds no practical value.

In terms of external appearance, China's "Flanker" series of fighter jets largely adheres to the original design of the Russian Flanker series and has not undergone specialized geometric optimization.

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Additional Information:

In the context of modern technology, the "stealth" capability of fighter jets is achieved primarily by reflecting the vast majority of incoming radar waves toward other directions, rather than by absorbing them or causing them to vanish entirely. This design proves highly effective in rendering the aircraft invisible to "monostatic radar" systems (where the radar's transmitter and receiver are co-located within a single unit).

Consequently, within the field of counter-stealth technology, a new concept has emerged: "multistatic radar" (where the radar's transmitter and receiver are located on separate, distinct radar units).

By deploying a network of numerous radar units across a specific theater of operations, it becomes possible to detect stealth aircraft as they intrude into the area; regardless of which specific radar unit emits the initial waves, at least one other unit within the network is bound to receive the reflected signals, thereby revealing the stealth aircraft's presence.

This technology has already begun to be implemented in operational settings. However, due to the extremely rigorous technical requirements involved, it has not yet been fully or universally adopted.

 

[Zoyou]

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[FHN]

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[Deino]

Maybe a stupid question I stumbled across, but what is the exact total length of a J-16?

If you check different internet sites, you most often find exactly the same length like a Su-30MKK aka 21.935m (21.94m) ... the Su-30MKK however has the old Flanker's usual pitot, so the J-16 must be IMO clearly a bit shorter!

Or is this length 21.94m always given as length without pitot?

 

[FHN]

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[Beijingwalker]

China’s J-16 “Missile Truck” Unleashes 8× PL-15 Beast Mode: New PLAAF Air Combat Doctrine Could Redefine Taiwan Strait And Indo-Pacific Air Superiority​

New imagery showing a PLAAF J-16 carrying eight PL-15 beyond-visual-range missiles and two PL-10 dogfight weapons is fueling new debate over whether Beijing is reshaping future Indo-Pacific ​

ENGLISHINTERNATIONALMILITARY TECHNOLOGY
May 24, 2026

Freshly surfaced imagery depicting a People's Liberation Army Air Force J-16 operating in an unusually dense air-superiority configuration is generating substantial attention across defence and intelligence communities, as military planners increasingly assess whether Beijing is accelerating a transition toward high-volume, networked long-range aerial fires designed to reshape engagement geometry and challenge long-standing assumptions underpinning Western air dominance across the Indo-Pacific theatre.

(DEFENCE SECURITY ASIA) — Freshly surfaced imagery depicting a People’s Liberation Army Air Force J-16 operating in an unusually dense air-superiority configuration is generating substantial attention across defence and intelligence communities, as military planners increasingly assess whether Beijing is accelerating a transition toward high-volume, networked long-range aerial fires designed to reshape engagement geometry and challenge long-standing assumptions underpinning Western air dominance across the Indo-Pacific theatre.

The image, believed to have originated from Chinese aviation spotting circles before rapidly proliferating through international open-source intelligence ecosystems, appears to show a PLAAF J-16 carrying eight PL-15 beyond-visual-range missiles and two PL-10 high-off-boresight short-range weapons in what may represent one of the heaviest publicly observed air-to-air configurations associated with China’s expanding air combat doctrine.

Although the missile count itself immediately attracts attention, the broader significance lies in what such a configuration may reveal regarding evolving PLAAF operational thinking, where future air superiority may increasingly be determined by missile magazine depth, sensor networking, datalink integration and coordinated saturation attacks rather than by traditional platform-centric measurements of fighter capability.

The Shenyang J-16 is a twin-engine, twin-seat 4.5-generation multirole fighter operated by the People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF), developed by China as a heavily upgraded and indigenous evolution of the Russian Su-30 Flanker family.
Dokumen Rahsia Rusia

No official PLAAF statement has accompanied the imagery, yet defence observers and aviation analysts have broadly treated the sighting as authentic because no credible contradictory assessments, technical anomalies or substantive debunking efforts have emerged despite widespread scrutiny across international open-source intelligence communities.

The aircraft itself appears configured in an unusually clean profile lacking external fuel tanks, strike ordnance or auxiliary stores, creating a specialized combat posture optimized almost exclusively around maximizing missile density and long-range air-to-air lethality rather than preserving multirole flexibility or extended operational endurance.

Such distinctions increasingly matter because assumptions governing future aerial warfare across the Western Pacific are shifting away from isolated fighter-versus-fighter engagements toward highly networked battlespaces where survivability may depend less on maneuverability and increasingly upon which force achieves target detection, engagement quality and missile launch opportunities first.

For military planners examining future Taiwan Strait contingencies or South China Sea confrontation scenarios, heavily armed airborne missile carriers increasingly represent force multipliers capable of shaping battlespace conditions and influencing combat outcomes before opposing formations even approach visual engagement ranges.

China’s J-16 “Missile Truck” Unleashes 8× PL-15 Beast Mode: New PLAAF Air Combat Doctrine Could Redefine Taiwan Strait And Indo-Pacific Air Superiority - Defence Security Asia

Newly surfaced imagery of a Chinese PLAAF J-16 armed with eight PL-15 long-range missiles is raising fresh questions about Beijing’s evolving air combat doctrine, missile truck strategy and future Taiwan Strait or Indo-Pacific conflict scenarios.

defencesecurityasia.com

 

[Viet]

Maybe a stupid question I stumbled across, but what is the exact total length of a J-16?

If you check different internet sites, you most often find exactly the same length like a Su-30MKK aka 21.935m (21.94m) ... the Su-30MKK however has the old Flanker's usual pitot, so the J-16 must be IMO clearly a bit shorter!

Or is this length 21.94m always given as length without pitot?

They have the same physical dimensions given available public sources. What’s possible, the Chinese plane has larger wings because of weaker turbofan engines, but that’s speculation. Generally it’s always good to keep a proven design.

 

[TopGun786]

weaker turbofan engines,

Haha.... I can feel the burn.

 

[ety]

Haha.... I can feel the burn.

That's Vietnamese plus German anxiety.

 

[Viet]

Haha.... I can feel the burn.

Look at Comac. The company wants to make 75 a year, it ends up with 13. The aircraft uses western jet engines, when it will use domestic engine?
nobody knows.
Why making military jet engines should be different?
Weaker turbofan provides weaker thrust, in turn it requires more fuel, that’s in turn bigger wings.

As said my speculation. Please ask the PLA.

 

[ety]

Look at Comac. The company wants to make 75 a year, it ends up with 13. The aircraft uses western jet engines, when it will use domestic engine?
nobody knows.
Why making military jet engines should be different?
Weaker turbofan provides weaker thrust, in turn it requires more fuel, that’s in turn bigger wings.

As said my speculation. Please ask the PLA.

The J-16 is powered by two Shenyang WS-10 (typically WS-10B or WS-10A) afterburning turbofans.

• J-16 Engine Thrust: ~132 to 145 kN per engine with afterburner (totaling up to 290 kN).

By comparison, the Su-30MKK is powered by two Russian Saturn AL-31F engines.

• Su-30MKK Engine Thrust: ~125 kN per engine with afterburner (totaling ~250 kN).

 

[Viet]

The J-16 is powered by two Shenyang WS-10 (typically WS-10B or WS-10A) afterburning turbofans.

• J-16 Engine Thrust: ~132 to 145 kN per engine with afterburner (totaling up to 290 kN).

By comparison, the Su-30MKK is powered by two Russian Saturn AL-31F engines.

• Su-30MKK Engine Thrust: ~125 kN per engine with afterburner (totaling ~250 kN).

Given technical progress, yes, very possible the Ws10 has a higher performance. But where Ws10 engine design initially comes from?

 

[ety]

Given technical progress, yes, very possible the Ws10 has a higher performance. But where Ws10 engine design initially comes from?

It falls from the sky, uh.