China Reveals J 20 Launch of PL 16 Long Range Air to Air Missile

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The PL 16 air to air missile has appeared publicly for the first time, shown during imagery of a Chinese J 20 stealth fighter conducting a missile launch. The reveal offers the clearest confirmation to date that China has developed a compact long range air to air weapon optimized for internal carriage on its fifth generation fighters.

Short clips and still images released through official and state linked channels show a J 20 launching the missile from its internal weapons bay. Defense analysts identify the weapon as the PL 16, a previously unconfirmed variant long discussed in open source reporting.

A compact evolution of the PL 15

According to available imagery and analyst assessments, the PL 16 is essentially a modified version of the PL 15 long range air to air missile. The most visible change is the use of folded control fins, allowing the missile to fit within the internal bays of stealth aircraft.

This design enables the J 20 and the carrier capable J 35 to carry up to six long range missiles internally, preserving low observable characteristics during air combat operations. The PL 15, by contrast, is typically carried in smaller numbers internally due to its size.

J-20 launching the PL-16 long range air to air missile.

This is the first time the PL-16 has been shown in public.

It’s essentially a modified PL-15 with folded fins, so stealth fighters like the J-20 and J-35 can fit 6 of them in their internal weapons bay.

Despite the… pic.twitter.com/OSWr1ljADF

— Zhao DaShuai 东北进修🇨🇳 (@zhao_dashuai) January 12, 2026

Despite its reduced external dimensions, the PL 16 is assessed to retain a range of around 300 kilometers, matching the reported reach of the baseline PL 15. If accurate, this suggests minimal performance tradeoffs despite the more compact form.

Implications for Chinese air combat capability

The public appearance of the PL 16 highlights China’s focus on long range air engagement and beyond visual range combat. A stealth fighter carrying six long range missiles internally would pose a significant challenge in high end air combat scenarios, particularly when paired with advanced sensors and networked targeting.

The development aligns with broader People’s Liberation Army Air Force efforts to enhance stealth, persistence, and first shot capability in contested airspace.