Images surfaced today (21) of the Shenyang J-16D electronic attack fighter of the People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) of China, as it arrived at Zhuhai Airport, in the south of the country. It is there that the biggest Chinese air show will be held, between the 28th of September and the 03rd of October.
This is the first time the jet has been recorded in detail and clear images. The J-16D is an electronic warfare (EW) version of the J-16 multi-role fighter, which in turn is based on the Su-30MKK Flanker-G and the Shenyang J-11 Flanker-L, with the latter being derived of the Su-27. The J-16 is equipped with AESA (Active Electronic Scanning) radar, Chinese WS-10A engines and is manufactured with composite materials. It is also believed that the gray paintwork incorporates materials that absorb radar waves, an important characteristic especially for the J-16D.
Considered a Chinese analogue of the US Navy's EA-18G Growler (EW version of the F/A-18F Super Hornet), the J-16D received modifications to carry out Electronic Jamming and Enemy Air Defense Suppression (SEAD) missions, with the GSh-30-1 side gun being retired, replaced with mission systems. The same happened on the EA-18G itself, where the frontal M61A2 cannon was removed to make room for the Airborne Electronic Attack Pallet.
The traditional infrared search and track (IRST) sensor, installed in front of the windshield, has also been removed. However, the most visible modification was the installation of pods on the wingtips, also similar to the EA-18, which has the AN/ALQ-218(V)2 pods. The J-16D's radome has also been modified: it is shorter than the standard J-16 part.
Like the Growler, the aircraft is expected to use two to four EW pods, although it has yet to be seen in this configuration. The suffix D comes from the Chinese word 'Diànzǐde' (电子的), which means "electronic".
For the first time a gray J-16D EW-variant has been spotted clearly identifiable by the missing IRST-dome and lack of gun besides the characteristic EW-pods on the wing-tips.
However I'm not sure if it was spotted on an operational base or in preparation for Zhuhai? pic.twitter.com/visiUj1E7n
- @Rupprecht_A (@RupprechtDeino) September 21, 2021
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Interesting comparison… J-16 vs J-16D, especially the much shorter radome pic.twitter.com/oWpX2dWgFH
- @Rupprecht_A (@RupprechtDeino) September 21, 2021
China's J-16D radar-jamming electronic warfare (EW)#China #airshow #Zhuhai
(Images via wb/太湖啥个） pic.twitter.com/7x5Eep1l8H- 香江 香江 (@louischeung_hk) September 21, 2021
https://twitter.com/IExaminer2/status/1440318563118579732
Being a new aircraft with little information about it, it makes sense that the J-16D will be presented in Zhuhai. City Mayor Huang Zhihao told a press conference that the air show will highlight the country's civil and military aviation technologies.
Officially called the China International Aviation & Aerospace Exhibition (Airshow China), the event is held every two years, however, the 2020 edition was canceled due to the pandemic. With few foreign attendees expected in person due to restrictions in place, the show will include a virtual component and local military and aerospace companies have significantly increased their presence, the mayor said.
On the military side, the PLAAF will hold flight displays and the locally made Wing Loong II drone will make its debut. On the civil side, foreign companies, including Boeing, Airbus, Rolls-Royce, CFM International, Honeywell International and Embraer will participate in the event through their national subsidiaries, says the Reuters.
