China embarrassed by J-16’s operational range during joint China-Russia Air patrols, reveals Japanese military
On November 29 and 30, 2024, the Chinese and Russian air forces conducted a joint patrol over the Sea of Japan and surrounding areas. However, the operation didn’t go as smoothly as planned, with the Japanese Self-Defense Forces (JSDF) revealing significant flaws in China's military aviation technology. These shortcomings exposed serious limitations in China's military capabilities and strategic planning.
The first day of the patrol saw a Chinese H-6N strategic bomber flying into the Sea of Japan to meet up with Russian forces. Normally, fighter jets would escort such a mission for protection. However, the Chinese J-16 fighters assigned to escort the bomber turned back after crossing the Tsushima Strait, roughly 900 kilometers from China's mainland, leaving the bomber to continue the mission alone.
This incident raised questions about the operational range of the J-16 fighters. While these jets are marketed with a theoretical range of 4,000 km, the fighters were carrying only four missiles out of a possible 12 weapon stations and still couldn’t complete the mission. Analysts believe that the high fuel consumption of the WS-10 engines in the J-16 is to blame, as these engines underperform compared to the Russian AL-31F engines used in other fighter jets.
The following day, Russian Tu-95 bombers joined the patrol, flying through the Tsushima Strait toward the Pacific Ocean via the Miyako Strait. Observations from the JSDF revealed that Chinese YU-20 aerial tankers were refueling the J-16 fighters just 800 km from China. This is a surprisingly short distance for a refueling operation, further raising doubts about the J-16’s range with the WS-10 engines.
The early refueling point indicated severe limitations in the J-16’s operational range, and the situation worsened when two additional J-16 fighters sent to escort the bomber back to base couldn’t reach the Miyako Strait. This highlighted ongoing fuel and range constraints that had become apparent during the exercise.
The real-world range of the J-16 fighter was far below its claimed 4,000 km. While the 4,000 km figure may apply under ideal subsonic conditions without combat maneuvers, actual combat conditions reduce the combat radius to likely under 1,000 km. In comparison, the U.S. F-15EX, even when fully loaded with weapons, has a combat radius of 2,200 km and can operate with engines that last up to 4,000 hours, significantly outlasting the J-16’s engines, which are only rated for 1,000 to 1,500 hours.
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| Chinese J-16 fighter jet |
China’s ongoing engine technology issues are a major hindrance. The WS-10 engine suffers from high fuel consumption, limiting the fighter’s range. Meanwhile, the WS-15 engine used in the J-20 stealth fighter has had reliability problems, including high-temperature failures during test flights at speeds approaching Mach 2.5. These engine deficiencies undermine China’s claims of long-range capabilities for both the J-20 and other aircraft like the J-35.
The refueling tactics used during the joint patrols also raised alarms. The YU-20 tankers were positioned dangerously close to the Miyako Strait, within range of Japan’s Type-12 surface-to-air missiles and Aegis destroyers. This positioning exposed the tankers to potential interception by U.S. and Japanese aircraft, contradicting standard military doctrine, which typically keeps tankers well behind friendly lines.
The patrol also revealed the lack of genuine military cooperation between China and Russia. Russia contributed only outdated Tu-95 bombers to the exercise and did not provide fighter escorts. Furthermore, Chinese bombers took longer, indirect routes to avoid Russian airspace, a move that reflected mutual distrust despite their public claims of strategic alignment.
Underlying these operational failures are deeper issues within China’s military-industrial complex, including widespread corruption. Recent anti-corruption campaigns have led to the removal of many senior officials, exposing inefficiencies and mismanagement within defense projects. One engine development program, for instance, reportedly consumed over 15 billion yuan, but a large portion of the funds were misallocated, leaving little for actual research and development.
In conclusion, the joint China-Russia patrols were more of a political display than a demonstration of military power. The Chinese H-6N bomber flew without any payload, undermining its supposed role as a strategic deterrent. Additionally, the operational flaws exposed during the exercise revealed significant weaknesses in Chinese aviation technology. For Russia, the exercise was largely symbolic, showing little commitment to deep military cooperation.
The events of November 29 and 30 serve as a reminder of the challenges facing China’s efforts to project military power beyond its borders. With technological limitations and systemic corruption, China’s ability to match the military capabilities of established powers remains in question.
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