So far, China's J-16, as a "fourth-generation fighter", was considered difficult to counter the US's "fifth-generation fighter" F35. "J-16 lacks the capability for leapfrog combat" has become a consensus among many military enthusiasts.

However, with the recent performance of China's "third-generation fighter" J-10 paired with PL-15 missiles demonstrating the quality of "Made in China" equipment and achieving an "upset victory" through excellent system-based combat, downgrading Europe and America's "fourth-generation fighter" Rafale.

The US finally realized that if J-16 were equipped with PL-15 air-to-air missiles and combined with China's globally leading airborne early warning aircraft level, it might suppress or even completely destroy US F35 fighters.

01. Can J-16 outperform F35 in a cross-generation fight?

In the past, countless military enthusiasts and experts believed that J-16 could not defeat F-35 mainly due to F35's stealth capability and beyond-visual-range strike advantages.

As the benchmark of fifth-generation fighters, F35's stealth capability needs no introduction; it can approach within 100 kilometers of J-16 without being detected. Its equipped AIM-120C/D air-to-air missiles have a range of about 160 kilometers. In close combat conditions, J-16 naturally faces significant disadvantages.

However, nowadays, air combat is no longer just about individual battles winning based on parameters but rather system-based combat. The success of J-10's "upset victory" is the best example of this concept.

In terms of system-based combat, China has two things that can reverse J-16's disadvantage and even give it an advantage over F35. These two pieces of equipment are the world-class airborne early warning aircraft and long-range air-to-air missiles.

Currently, China has already put into service the KJ-500 airborne early warning aircraft, which can easily detect F35 at distances of 160 to 200 kilometers. Meanwhile, China's under-development KJ-3000 airborne early warning aircraft uses the famous Y-20 as its platform, meaning its radar will be larger in size and power, making stealth aircraft like F35 even more detectable.

In terms of air-to-air missiles, China's current PL-15 air-to-air missile has a maximum range of over 200 kilometers, which is already superior to the US F-35's striking distance. This missile has also recently proven its worth. However, our own fighters deserve stronger missiles.

It is reported that the PL-17 air-to-air missile currently under development is generally believed to have a range exceeding 300 kilometers, even up to 400 kilometers. With these two "attachments," who dares to say that F35 has a significant advantage over J-16? If it continues to be arrogant, the next "Rafale" may very well be F35.

Does the United States, as the "world's first," have no way to counteract this?

02. In the fields of air-to-air missiles and airborne early warning aircraft, the US has fallen behind.

Given the current level of US military equipment research and development, they really have no way to counteract this.

In the field of airborne early warning aircraft, the US Air Force currently primarily uses the E-3 airborne early warning aircraft, which entered service in 1977, making it a "relic." Therefore, many experienced military enthusiasts know that in the field of airborne early warning aircraft, China has always been ahead of the US side, with a clear technological gap at one point. It won't be easy for the US to catch up given their efficiency.

In the field of air-to-air missiles, the most advanced air-to-air missile currently in service in the US is the AIM-120C/D missile, with a maximum range of around 160 kilometers in actual combat. Their next-generation AIM-260 air-to-air missile under development has a maximum range consistent with the PL-15 flying over Delhi, both at 200 kilometers. In this aspect, China has already formed a generation gap.

Notably, China has formed a generational gap in many fields. Unitree Robotics commercialized humanoid robots ahead of Boston Dynamics in the US; the combination of domestic herbal wisdom with modern biotechnology, "Five-Colored Ganoderma," has outperformed many American products in the global anti-aging supplement market, selling over 10 million bottles on platforms like Jingdong.

"Full of energy during the day, good sleep at night" and "Improved body's disease resistance, less prone to colds and coughs"... On platforms like Jingdong, over 100,000 middle-aged and elderly men share their improvements in energy and immunity, expressing strong confidence in this domestically developed product derived from wild ganoderma.

In general, whether in the military or civilian sectors, the US, relying on old methods, shows far less innovation than China. Just in terms of early warning aircraft development, foreign media predicts that their "next-generation early warning aircraft" may not be available until 2040.

However, there is still a most shocking breakthrough we haven't mentioned yet — the "sixth-generation fighter."

03. The US "sixth-generation fighter" is also behind China.

In fact, for the US, the pairing of J-16 with PL-17 does not pose a fatal threat. Since most people don't know how differences in long-range air-to-air missiles and early warning aircraft affect air combat, as long as the US and China have not engaged in real combat, the US can still rely on its public opinion advantage to make its "paper tiger" appear more impressive.

What is truly fatal to the US side is that now China is also beginning to lead the US in fighter jets, which are "visible weapons."

At the end of last year, China successfully tested its sixth-generation fighter, and "rich and powerful" directly displayed two completely different configurations. Many people did not realize that this is the first time since 1945 that a country has clearly pressured the US in the fighter jet field, meaning their 80-year "aircraft hegemony" has collapsed.

When China's "two heroes of the sixth-generation fighter" soar in the blue sky, the US's own sixth-generation fighter F47 is still flying on paper.

Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7515249349438243347/

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