In recent years, China's military strength has been attracting the attention of the world, in the minds of the Chinese people, when it comes to fighters, the first thing that comes to mind is - J-20.
But for the mainland, not only this model, but also a fighter larger than the J-20, and even, it can be said that China's main model is not the J-20.
Speaking of which, some netizens will inevitably wonder: So what is it? In fact, it is the J-16, and the number of aircraft currently in service has reached more than 300.
This incident will indeed surprise many people at the first time, but this is an indisputable fact! Although, in reality, many people have always believed that the J-20 is China's main model. But that's not the case. The reason why the J-16 fighter can become the main model of the mainland is not groundless, but because of the comparison of technical level, tactical application, quantity and scale, and combat capability.
From a technical point of view, the J-20 is one of the advanced fighters of the Chinese Air Force, with stealth performance and supersonic cruise capability, and is considered the pride of China's aviation industry.
However, the J-16 is also very advanced in some aspects, such as being equipped with advanced electronic systems such as automatic electronic scanning phased array radar, so that it has the ability to carry out multi-target engagement. Therefore, the J-16 and the J-20 are technically comparable, but, in some respects, the J-16 does have a lead.
Here's a word for it: Automated Electronically Scanning Phased Array Radar (AESA), an advanced radar technology that utilizes hundreds, if not thousands, of small transmitting and receiving units to enable fast, flexible beam steering and multi-target tracking.
Its advantages include: faster target detection and tracking, higher immunity to interference, and greater difficulty in being jammed and destroyed by the enemy. AESA is also capable of random beam scanning, reducing the probability of enemy detection and improving its stealth performance.
In addition, AESA can also achieve electronic beam focusing, which enhances the range and accuracy of radar detection, provides more accurate target information for fighters, and improves combat effectiveness.
From the perspective of tactical use, the J-16 is a heavy multi-role fighter, which will have the ability to attack air and ground, and is also equipped with a 20mm M-51 six-barreled cannon, as well as a variety of missiles and bombs and other weapons, suitable for performing a variety of combat missions.
In contrast, the J-20 is more inclined to perform air superiority and air interception missions, and its ground attack capability is relatively weak. Therefore, the J-16 is more flexible and diverse in tactical application, and has a wider range of applications.
Again, in terms of quantity and scale. China has produced more than 300 J-16 fighter jets, and will continue to produce them in the future. At this time, on the other hand, the number of J-20 is indeed relatively small, although it is currently increasing, but the scale of it is far less than that of J-16. Therefore, in terms of quantity and scale, the J-16 is more in line with the concept of the main model.
From the perspective of combat capability, the J-16 also has strong all-weather combat capabilities, capable of performing a variety of combat missions such as air-to-ground attacks, long-range strikes, and air defense interceptions.
Although the J-20 has stealth performance and supersonic cruise capabilities, it is more used to perform air interception and air defense missions, and its ground attack capabilities are relatively weak.
Stealth performance refers to the ability of a fighter to detect it by reducing sensors such as radar, infrared, vision, and sonar, thereby reducing the probability of being detected by the enemy. Its advantages include: improving the survivability and battlefield survival rate of fighters, reducing the possibility of being discovered and destroyed by the enemy, enhancing the penetration ability and concealment of fighters, and at the same time, improving the combat effectiveness and mission execution success rate.
Supersonic cruise capability means that the fighter can continue to fly for a period of time at supersonic speed, without relying on afterburners or using afterburners less. Its advantage is to improve the rapid deployment capability and mobility of fighters, so that they can quickly reach their destinations, speed up their reaction and deployment efficiency.
In addition, the supersonic cruise capability can also enhance the penetration capability of the fighter, improve the combat flexibility, and at the same time, reduce the possibility of being intercepted and destroyed by the enemy, which can also shorten the flight time, reduce the time window of reconnaissance and attack by the enemy, and improve the survival rate and combat effect.
Therefore, it can be known from the above content: although the J-20 is one of the advanced fighters of the Chinese Air Force, due to the advantages of the J-16 in terms of technical level, tactical application, quantity and scale, combat capability, etc., it is more in line with the concept of the main model. Therefore, it is considered the main fighter of the Chinese Air Force.
Although the J-20 fighter has attracted much attention as an advanced fighter of the Chinese Air Force, the emergence of the J-16 fighter has indeed made the combat effectiveness of the Chinese Air Force more diverse and powerful.
The J-16 not only has advanced performance in technology, but also has strong advantages in combat capability and bomb-carrying ability. Therefore, this fighter is ultimately the main model of the Chinese Air Force, and will continue to play an important role in the later stage.