The official newspaper of the Chinese Armed Forces, the PLA Dailyrevealed that fighters from Eastern Theater Command locked onto the radar of a foreign stealth aircraft just 800 meters away.
The episode, whose date and location were not disclosed, would have occurred during an interception considered by China as a response to aerial “provocations”.
Experts linked to the People’s Liberation Army estimate that the Chinese plane involved was a J-16a multirole model widely used by the country’s air force.
The foreign aircraft was not identified, but the report describes a tactical approach with coordinated maneuvers between the lead fighter and his wingman, culminating in radar locking — a procedure that indicates immediate engagement capability.
+USA expands production of GBU-57 to target strategic underground bunkers
The case is the second reported by state media in just over four months. In October, broadcaster CCTV reported that another J-16 had forced two foreign stealth fighters to leave the area during an exercise in 2024. At the time, analysts suggested that the aircraft could be F-22 Raptor models, one of the main stealth fighters in operation in the world.
The Eastern Theater Command, responsible for sensitive areas such as the East China Sea and around Taiwan, has intensified patrols and exercises amid regional tensions. Beijing considers the island part of its territory and does not rule out the use of force for reunification, while the United States maintains military support for Taipei and a frequent presence in the region.
Source: South China Morning Post | Photo: @DavidWangPLA | This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team
