Western experts expose China's 'stealth' fighter J-16

Counterfeit fighter jet in China's ambition to reclaim Taiwan

"The gray paint covering the body of the J-16 fighter gives it a certain stealth ability, making it undetectable by the naked eye and radar,"Global Timesquoted Colonel Xiang Jiaji, commander of a Chinese J-16 multi-role fighter brigade, speaking on January 31.

This information was praised by the Chinese military, considering it an important achievement of the country's aviation industry. "The magnetic coating helps significantly reduce the radar reflection area (RCS) of the aircraft. The enemy will only detect the J-16 at very close range, giving Chinese fighters a huge advantage in air combat," military expert Pho Tien Tieu affirmed.

However, Western analysts are skeptical about the stealth capabilities of the J-16, saying that this is just an exaggerated claim about the features of the new paint on this fighter, making it only considered a "near-stealth" fighter.

"The US Air Force has been using radar-absorbing magnetic paint on older fighters for many years. Some F-16s have been coated with stealth paint like the F-35 super fighter since 2012. However, they still have an RCS of up to 1.2 square meters, much larger than the 0.005 square meters of the F-22 and F-35," said analyst Ryan Pickrell.

Radar-absorbing paint is just one part of the overall design that makes a fifth-generation fighter invisible to enemy sensors. "The F-16's airframe structure is not capable of scattering radar waves. The same goes for the J-16, which is much larger than the American F-16, making it impossible to be a stealth aircraft," Pickrell added.

The J-16 is a multi-role fighter jet manufactured by China, based on a design copied from the Su-27 and Su-30MKK lines purchased from Russia. Some aviation experts assess the J-16 as being as powerful as the Russian Su-30M2 and the American F-15E Strike Eagle, thanks to its ability to accurately attack ground targets.

Although considered one of the most modern fighter jets in Chinese service, the J-16 still uses the original airframe of the Su-30MKK fighter, which has many flat and rounded surfaces that easily reflect radar waves. This makes the J-16 easier for enemy radar to detect from much longer distances than 5th generation aircraft such as the F-22, F-35, Su-57 and J-20.

The gray paint job can help the J-16 blend in with the clouds, making it difficult for enemy pilots to spot it with the naked eye in close combat situations. However, this is not a new feature and cannot turn the J-16 into a stealth aircraft.

"Most US fighter jets are painted in a similar gray color, while Russia is experimenting with a low-visibility white-gray camouflage paint scheme," said Mark Episkopos, a research assistant at the Center for the National Interest (CNI).

The J-16 series was introduced in 2013, but only appeared publicly for the first time in the parade marking the 90th anniversary of the founding of the Chinese People's Liberation Army in mid-2017. Beijing operates at least three brigades of J-16 fighters, which are considered one of the future pillars of the country's air force.

The J-16 is the first fighter jet that can carry a full range of Chinese-made weapons, including anti-ship missiles, air-to-air missiles, surface-to-surface cruise missiles, satellite-guided smart bombs, and electronic countermeasures (ECM). China's new fighter jet can perform a variety of missions, including air superiority, ground attack, and anti-ship missions.

The J-16 is equipped with a radar system and tracks targets in China's interior. Its ability to refuel in the air increases its combat radius, allowing it to strike deep inside enemy territory. In addition, the J-16 also helps Beijing fill the gap before 5th generation fighters are mass produced.

"The cost of manufacturing the J-20 stealth aircraft is too expensive, making it difficult to meet the needs of mass deployment and comprehensive modernization of the Chinese air force. The J-16 will be the key to filling the gap between the country's 4th and 5th generation fighters," said Colin Koh, a scholar at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies in Singapore.

Vu Anh