A Chinese J-10 fighter jet flies during an airshow in Bangkok, Thailand, in March 2025. The J-10 is the backbone of China’s air force, and is similar in capabilities to the US-made F-16 Fighting Falcon. (Shutterstock/Sanit Fuangnakhon)

F-16 vs. J-10: Here’s What a China-Taiwan Air War Would Look Like

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The F-16 Fighting Falcon and the J-10 Vigorous Dragon are the backbones of the Chinese and Taiwanese air forces, respectively—and would certainly clash during a Chinese attack on the island.

The F-16 Fighting Falcon and the J-10 Vigorous Dragon fighter jets could plausibly meet in combat, making a head to head comparison between the two a worthwhile exercise.

The J-10 is operated by China and Pakistan, while many countries in Asia fly the American-made F-16. Most importantly for China, one of the F-16’s largest operators in the region is Taiwan. Any future air war between the two countries would almost certainly feature a clash between Taiwan’s F-16V Block 70/72 aircraft and the J-10C fielded by the People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF).

The two fourth-generation fighter jets are alike in some ways and different in others. Although they occupy similar weight classes as agile, single-engine multirole platforms, they reflect different........

© The National Interest