PLA Air Force calls J-16D electronic warfare aircraft ‘irreplaceable:’ top designer

The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Air Force considers China's domestically developed J-16D electronic warfare aircraft "irreplaceable," a top designer recently revealed.

Wang Yongqing, chief expert of the Shenyang Aircraft Design and Research Institute under the state-owned Aviation Industry Corporation of China, made the remarks, cctv.com reported on Saturday.

The J-16D is a dedicated electronic warfare aircraft developed from a fighter jet platform. Citing the assessment from the military, Wang said it is an indispensable and irreplaceable asset in the PLA Air Force's arsenal.

The J-16D was first unveiled at the Airshow China 2021 held in Zhuhai, South China's Guangdong Province. The aircraft was put on static ground display, showing four jamming pods beneath its wings and air inlets, as well as two missiles under its belly, in addition to the two electronic warfare pods on the wingtips.

According to information provided at the exhibition, the J-16D is a new electronic warfare variant developed from the J-16 fighter jet. It integrates reconnaissance, offensive and defensive capabilities, and is designed to effectively counter advanced air defense systems, including early warning and detection, communication, interception, and strike components.

The J-16D is designed to enhance the PLA Air Force's electronic attack capabilities and strengthen its overall systematic combat capacity, reads the description.

In November 2021, shortly after the Airshow China, the military channel of China Central Television reported that the J-16D had begun conducting combat exercises.

The report noted that the J-16D electronic warfare aircraft and the J-20 stealth fighter can operate in tandem, forming a comprehensive aviation electronic warfare system.

Wang Ya'nan, editor-in-chief of Beijing-based Aerospace Knowledge magazine, told the Global Times that the J-16D can fly in formation with other fighter jets. It is capable of conducting electronic suppression and deception missions, and can also launch missiles to destroy hostile radar installations or early warning aircraft. 

He added that the J-16D can further enhance the J-20's stealth capabilities. By jamming enemy radar, it can even enable non-stealth aircraft to achieve a degree of de facto stealth.

Future warfare is expected to take place in highly contested electronic environments, and the competition over theelectromagnetic domain could be fierce, Wang Ya'nan said, emphasizing the importance of the J-16D.