There is a ** claim from the Taiwan region that it will be able to effectively restrain our J-20. Do you think this is possible? According to them, this latest F16V will have several advantages over our J-20, which is enough to threaten or even defeat the J-20 in real combat.
First of all, the first one is that F16V has upgraded its networking and collaboration capabilities, can share data links with the United States and Japan, has multiple information and intelligence support, and has a strong advantage in information acquisition. Secondly, the second is that the F16V has upgraded infrared detection equipment, which can detect and track the J-20 through passive detection, breaking the stealth capability of the J-20.
Then, on the third point, the F16V has a strong payload capacity, capable of carrying 8 AIM120 medium-range air-to-air missiles, plus two AIM9X short-range air-to-air missiles, or 28 small medium-range air-to-air missiles. Compared with the built-in magazine of the J-20, it has an overwhelming advantage in firepower.
Then, on the fourth point, the F16V will also be equipped with conformal fuel tanks, which will increase the maximum range, have a larger combat radius and more time in the air on the basis of ensuring aerodynamic shape and flight performance.
Combined with the above four points, it means that the F16V can take the lead in discovering the J-20 with the support of the United States and Japan, and use the advantages of firepower and numbers to form a frontal confrontation and suppression with the J-20. As we all know, the F16 is the best fighter sold by the United States in the world, and the code name V is the latest improved upgrade of this model.
According to public information, its main upgrades include the replacement of the universal P110 engine, the upgrade of the active phased array radar, the addition of a theater data link, and the use of stealth coatings, equipped with the RST long-wave infrared search and tracking system, etc.
Objectively speaking, the information equipment of F16V should be at the relatively advanced level in the United States. But if these alone can form a confrontation with the J-20, it is simply a fantasy. You must know that the cross-generational differences of fighters are by no means smoothed out by simple upgrades, otherwise the United States itself would not have developed F22 and F35.
The F16 has been in service so far, although it has performed well on various battlefields, it is after all a multi-functional medium fighter with a balanced focus. On the other hand, our J-20 is a heavy stealth fighter mainly fighting for air superiority. Whether it is a cross-generation advantage or a model advantage, there is a very obvious gap between the two.
Even taking a step back, according to the upgrade agreement between the United States and Taiwan, the existing 140 F16s in Taiwan will be upgraded to the V model. Combined with the 66 new aircraft that will be delivered in 2026, the total number is just over 200. Compared with our current J-20, there is no numerical advantage at all.
In the final analysis, the F16V against the J-20 is simply a fallacy. And the reason why there is such a statement is not that they are really confident in using F16V to compete with J-20, but in the face of our fifth-generation stealth fighter, they can only get their hands on this F165V.