The J-16 is a two-seat, multirole Chinese fighter-bomber developed by the Shenyang Aircraft Corporation. It is based on the J-11BS, which was derived from the Soviet Su-27UB. The J-16's prototype made its maiden flight on October 17, 2011. By late April 2014, the Chinese Air Force had received its first batch of production J-16s. The aircraft's most notable feature is its AESA radar, which can detect aerial targets from long distances and guide weapons against multiple ground or naval targets simultaneously. The J-16 is also reportedly capable of interacting with unmanned aerial vehicles. It can carry a wide range of weapons, including air-to-air, anti-ship, and anti-radiation missiles, as well as guided bombs. The J-16 is currently in active service with the Chinese Air Force and Naval Aviation. A specialized electronic warfare variant, the J-16D, was developed from the same airframe.

The J-16 was introduced in Update 2.59 "Sky Odyssey". The aircraft has a high top speed and good climb rate but is less maneuverable than lighter fighters. Its primary air-to-air armament consists of PL-12A active radar-homing missiles and PL-8B short-range missiles. In a strike configuration, the J-16 can carry LD-10 and YJ-91A anti-radiation missiles; YJ-83K, anti-ship missiles; and KD-88A guided missiles. It can also carry a wide range of guided bombs. A targeting pod enables the J-16 to effectively employ precision-guided weapons against ground targets. In mixed battles, the J-16 poses a serious threat to armored vehicles. In air battles, it can intercept enemy aircraft and strike ground targets; however, it remains vulnerable in prolonged dogfights.