China’s J-16D: a sign in the sky of a new electronic attack warplane threat to Taiwan?

Name: China’s PLA Air Force aims to improve pilot training on J-20 fighter jets
Uploaded: 2022-01-25T11:00:24.000Z
Duration: 1 min 19 s
Description: China’s PLA Air Force aims to improve pilot training on J-20 fighter jets

Two of the aircraft appeared for the first time in a group that entered the island’s air defence zone on Monday

It is a sign that the jets, equipped with electronic interference functions, are combat ready, analyst says

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The J-16D electronic warfare aircraft made its debut at Airshow China in Zhuhai last year. Photo: Reuters

Lawrence ChungandAmber Wang

Published: 7:00pm, 25 Jan 2022

The appearance of two PLA electronic warfare jets in a Taiwan air defence fly-by on Monday signals a new possible threat to the island – an aircraft capable of launching direct strikes and interfering with radar systems at short-range, observers said.

The island’s defence ministry reported on Monday that 13 PLA warplanes entered the southwest of Taiwan’s air defence identification zone (ADIZ).

The aircraft included eight J-16 fighter jets, two H-6 bombers and a Y-8 anti-submarine aircraft. But there were also two J-16Ds, the electronic warfare version of the J-16 multirole strike fighter developed by Shenyang Aircraft Corp.

According to the ministry, it was the first time the J-16Ds, which function as both fighter jets and electronic warfare aircraft, had been spotted in the zone since the aircraft made its debut at the Airshow China in September.

According to the ministry, the planes flew into the southwest of Taiwan’s ADIZ but were far from the Pratas Islands controlled by Taipei.

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China’s PLA Air Force aims to improve pilot training on J-20 fighter jets

Observers said the sorties raised alarm in Taiwan as the J-16D was one of the most advanced People’s Liberation Army warplanes and its capacity to interfere with the island’s defence radar systems could make all the difference in combat.