New Delhi: China has started large-scale war gaming exercises for its pilots, and for the first time, it is using the J-16 fighter jet in simulations against the French Rafale, the same aircraft flown by the Indian Air Force.
State media footage showed a tabletop exercise where eight J-16s were set against six Rafales as the main threat.
This comes amid ongoing border tensions with India and follows reports from earlier this year about air clashes involving similar jets.
The J-16 is a 4.5-generation multirole fighter made by Shenyang Aircraft Corporation. It has an advanced AESA radar that can detect targets 150-200 km away and track multiple ones at once. It carries up to 8 tonnes of weapons, including long-range PL-15 missiles, air-to-ground bombs, and anti-ship missiles. Other features include electronic warfare systems, helmet-mounted displays, and radar-absorbent coating to lower its signature. A special J-16D variant handles electronic attacks.
Experts note the Rafale has proven itself in real combats and offers better manoeuvrability in some areas, plus longer range for certain missions. The J-16, built on upgraded Su-30 designs with Chinese tech, focuses on heavy strikes and networked operations.
No exact price is public since the J-16 is only for China’s air force and not exported. Estimates put similar Chinese fighters at around $40-60 million each.
These exercises show China is preparing its forces for modern air threats, especially from advanced Western jets like the Rafale that India operates.