McDonnell Douglas F-15E Strike Eagle vs Shenyang J-16

McDonnell Douglas F-15E Strike Eagle — licensed reference photograph

ACombat aircraft

McDonnell Douglas F-15E Strike Eagle

Multirole strike fighter

Credit

Staff Sgt. Sean Carnes · Public domain · Resized · Public domain · Source ↗ · Modified

Shenyang J-16 — licensed reference photograph

BCombat aircraft

Shenyang J-16

Multirole strike fighter

Credit

Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation · CC BY 4.0 · Resized · CC BY 4.0 · Source ↗ · Modified

First system

Second system

At a glance

Side by side

Length comparisonOne shared metre scale

McDonnell Douglas F-15E Strike EagleF-15E · Length

19.446 m

Length source ↗

Shenyang J-16Length

21.9 m

Length source ↗

Lengths retain their source configuration and measurement scope.

Measured figures

Head to head

20 of 38 rows sourced on both sides

19.45mF-15E · Length

21.9m

Length

All recorded figures & sources

19.446 m

F-15E · Length

Single source

63 ft 9.6 in (19.446 m)^[source]

21.9 m

Length

Single source

21.9 m (71 ft 10 in)^[source]

13.05mF-15E · Wingspan

14.7m

Wingspan

All recorded figures & sources

13.045 m

F-15E · Wingspan

Single source

42 ft 9.6 in (13.045 m)^[source]

14.7 m

Wingspan

Single source

14.7 m (48 ft 3 in)^[source]

5.64mF-15E · Height

6.36m

Height

All recorded figures & sources

5.64 m

F-15E · Height

Single source

18 ft 6 in (5.64 m)^[source]

6.36 m

Height

Single source

6.36 m (20 ft 10 in)^[source]

36.7t

35tMaximum take-off; Max takeoff weight

MassScopes differ

All recorded figures & sources

15,694 kg

Empty; F-15E · or

Single source

17,690 kg

Empty; F-15E · with CFTs

Single source

36,741 kg

Maximum take-off; F-15E · Max takeoff weight

Single source

34,600 lb (15,694 kg) or 38,990 lb (17,690 kg) with CFTs^[source]

81,000 lb (36,741 kg)^[source]

18,700 kg

Empty; Empty weight

Single source

35,000 kg

Maximum take-off; Max takeoff weight

Single source

18,700 kg (41,226 lb)^[source]

35,000 kg (77,162 lb)^[source]

2F-15E · pilot and weapon systems officer

Crew

All recorded figures & sources

2 people

F-15E · pilot and weapon systems officer

Single source

2 (pilot and weapon systems officer )^[source]

2 people

Crew

Single source

2^[source]

2,655km/h

2,120km/hMaximum; Maximum speed

SpeedScopes differ

All recorded figures & sources

1,482 km/h

Maximum; F-15E · at low altitude

Single source

2,655 km/h

Maximum; F-15E · Mach 2.5 at high altitude Mach 1.2

Single source

Mach 2.5, 1,650 mph (2,655 km/h) at high altitude Mach 1.2, 800 kn (921 mph; 1,482 km/h) at low altitude^[source]

2,120 km/h

Maximum; Maximum speed

Single source

2,120 km/h (1,320 mph, 1,140 kn)^[source]

3,900km

4,000kmFerry; Ferry range

RangeScopes differ

All recorded figures & sources

3,900 km

Ferry; F-15E · with conformal fuel tanks and three external fuel tanks

Single source

2,100 nmi (2,400 mi, 3,900 km) with conformal fuel tanks and three external fuel tanks^[source]

4,000 km

Ferry; Ferry range

Single source

3,000 km

Range

Single source

3,000 km (1,900 mi, 1,600 nmi)^[source]

4,000 km (2,500 mi, 2,200 nmi)^[source]

1,272kmF-15E · air interdiction

—

Combat radius

All recorded figures & sources

1,272 km

F-15E · air interdiction

Single source

687 nmi (791 mi, 1,272 km) air interdiction^[source]

130kNF-15E · ) with afterburner each

135kN

ThrustScopes differ

All recorded figures & sources

79 kN

F-15E · ); 29,160 lb (

Single source

64.9 kN

F-15E · 2 × Pratt & Whitney F100-PW-220 afterburning turbofan thrust each dry

Single source

129.7 kN

F-15E · ) with afterburner each

Single source

105.7 kN

F-15E · with afterburner ( or 2 × F100-PW-229 , thrust: 17,800 lb dry (

Single source

2 × Pratt & Whitney F100-PW-220 afterburning turbofan , 14,590 lbf (64.9 kN) thrust each dry, 23,770 lbf (105.7 kN) with afterburner ( or 2 × F100-PW-229 , thrust: 17,800 lb dry (79 kN); 29,160 lb (129.7 kN) with afterburner each)^[source]

135 kN

2 × Shenyang WS-10B afterburning turbofans with afterburner

Single source

2 × Shenyang WS-10B afterburning turbofans , 135 kN (30,000 lbf) with afterburner^[source]

56.5m²F-15E · Wing area

62m²

Wing area

All recorded figures & sources

56.5 m²

F-15E · Wing area

Single source

608 sq ft (56.5 m 2 )^[source]

62 m²

Wing area

Single source

62 m 2 (670 sq ft)^[source]

18,000mF-15E · Service ceiling

17,300m

Service ceiling

All recorded figures & sources

18,000 m

F-15E · Service ceiling

Single source

60,000 ft (18,000 m)^[source]

17,300 m

Service ceiling

Single source

17,300 m (56,800 ft)^[source]

250m/sF-15E · 50,000 ft/min ( ) +

230m/s45,000 ft/min

Rate of climbScopes differ

All recorded figures & sources

250 m/s

F-15E · 50,000 ft/min ( ) +

Single source

50,000 ft/min (250 m/s) +^[source]

230 m/s

45,000 ft/min

Single source

230 m/s (45,000 ft/min)^[source]

Bars compare reported quantities only. A larger figure does not make a system better; configurations and test conditions differ.

Configuration

Details

McDonnell Douglas F-15E Strike Eagle and Shenyang J-16 configuration
Specification	McDonnell Douglas F-15E Strike Eagle	Shenyang J-16
Type	Multirole strike fighter^[source]	—
National origin	United States^[source]	People's Republic of China^[source]
Manufacturer	McDonnell Douglas (1985–1997) Boeing Defense, Space & Security (1997–2017)^[source]	Shenyang Aircraft Corporation^[source]
Status	In service^[source]	In service^[source]
Primary users	United States Air Force Royal Saudi Air Force Israeli Air Force Republic of Korea Air Force For other users, see Operators^[source]	—
Number built	435 (F-15E/I/S/K/SG)^[source]	~ 470 - ~ 500 (As of 2026 )^[source]
Manufactured	1985–2017^[source]	2017–present^[source]
Introduction date	1988 30 September 1989 ( IOC )^[source]	2015–16^[source]
First flight	11 December 1986 ( 1986-12-11 )^[source]	—
Developed from	McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle^[source]	Shenyang J-11 Su-30MKK^[source]
Variant	Boeing F-15SE Silent Eagle^[source]	—
Developed into	Boeing F-15EX Eagle II^[source]	—
Fuel capacity	12,915 lb (5,858 kg) internal, 22,267 lb (10,100 kg) with CFTs, 34,162 lb (15,496 kg) with CFTs and 3× 600-gallon (2,270 L) external fuel tanks^[source]	—
Guns	1× 20 mm (0.787 in) M61A1 Vulcan 6-barreled rotary cannon , 500 rounds of either M-56 or PGU-28 ammunition^[source]	—
Hardpoints	4 wing pylons, fuselage pylons, bomb racks on CFTs with a capacity of 23,000 lb (10,400 kg) of external fuel and ordnance^[source]	Munitions on 12 external hardpoints, including:^[source]
Airfoil	root: NACA 64A006.6 ; tip: NACA 64A203^[source]	—
g limits	+ 9^[source]	+9^[source]
Thrust/weight	0.93^[source]	—
Missiles	Air-to-air missiles : 4× AIM-7 Sparrow 4× AIM-9 Sidewinder or IRIS-T (S variant of the Saudi Air Force ) 8× AIM-120 AMRAAM Air-to-surface missiles : 6× AGM-65 Maverick 2× AGM-84 Harpoon 2× AGM-84H/K SLAM-ER 2x AGM-130 AGM-154 JSOW AGM-158 JASSM Joint Strike Missile (to be integrated) Taurus KEPD 350 (integrated on South Korean Air Force F-15Ks)^[source]	—
Bombs	Mark 82 bomb Mark 84 bomb GBU-15 GBU-10 Paveway II GBU-12 Paveway II GBU-24 Paveway III GBU-27 Paveway III GBU-28 (Bunker buster) GBU-31 or GBU-38 {8 GBU-31s or 16 GBU-38s} (JDAM) GBU-54 Laser JDAM (LJDAM) GBU-39 Small Diameter Bomb (SDB) B61 nuclear bomb CBU-87 or CBU-103 (CEM) CBU-89 or CBU-104 (GATOR) KGGB (integrated on South Korean Air Force F-15Ks) CBU-97 or CBU-105 (SFW) CBU-107 Passive Attack Weapon BLU-107 Durandal^[source]	—
Others	up to 3× 600 US gallons (2,300 L ) external drop tanks for ferry flight or extended range/loitering time 3 x 7-round (21) APKWS under each wing^[source]	—
Radar	Raytheon AN/APG-70 or AN/APG-82 AN/ASQ-236 Radar Pod^[source]	—
Targeting pods	AN/AAQ-14 LANTIRN or Lockheed Martin Sniper XR or AN/AAQ-28(V) Litening^[source]	—
Countermeasures	Northrop Grumman Electronic Systems AN/ALQ-131 electronic countermeasures pod Hazeltine AN/APX-76 or Raytheon AN/APX-119 Identify Friend/Foe (IFF) interrogator Magnavox AN/ALQ-128 Electronic Warfare Warning Set (EWWS) – part of Tactical Electronic Warfare Systems (TEWS) Loral AN/ALR-56 Radar warning receivers (RWR) – part of TEWS Northrop Grumman Electronic Systems ALQ-135 Internal Countermeasures System (ICS) – part of TEWS Marconi AN/ALE-45 Chaff / Flares dispenser system – part of TEWS BAE Systems AN/ALQ-250 Eagle Passive Active Warning Survivability System (EPAWSS) - combined electronic warfare / electronic countermeasures system^[source]	—
Role	—	Multirole strike fighter^[source]
Primary user	—	People's Liberation Army Air Force^[source]

FORCETALLY

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McDonnell Douglas F-15E Strike Eagle

Shenyang J-16

Type

Multirole strike fighter^[source]

—

National origin

United States^[source]

People's Republic of China^[source]

Manufacturer

McDonnell Douglas (1985–1997) Boeing Defense, Space & Security (1997–2017)^[source]

Shenyang Aircraft Corporation^[source]

Status

In service^[source]

Primary users

United States Air Force Royal Saudi Air Force Israeli Air Force Republic of Korea Air Force For other users, see Operators^[source]

—

Number built

435 (F-15E/I/S/K/SG)^[source]

~ 470 - ~ 500 (As of 2026 )^[source]

Manufactured

1985–2017^[source]

2017–present^[source]

Introduction date

1988 30 September 1989 ( IOC )^[source]

2015–16^[source]

First flight

11 December 1986 ( 1986-12-11 )^[source]

—

Developed from

McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle^[source]

Shenyang J-11 Su-30MKK^[source]

Variant

Boeing F-15SE Silent Eagle^[source]

—

Developed into

Boeing F-15EX Eagle II^[source]

—

Fuel capacity

12,915 lb (5,858 kg) internal, 22,267 lb (10,100 kg) with CFTs, 34,162 lb (15,496 kg) with CFTs and 3× 600-gallon (2,270 L) external fuel tanks^[source]

—

Guns

1× 20 mm (0.787 in) M61A1 Vulcan 6-barreled rotary cannon , 500 rounds of either M-56 or PGU-28 ammunition^[source]

—

Hardpoints

4 wing pylons, fuselage pylons, bomb racks on CFTs with a capacity of 23,000 lb (10,400 kg) of external fuel and ordnance^[source]

Munitions on 12 external hardpoints, including:^[source]

Airfoil

root: NACA 64A006.6 ; tip: NACA 64A203^[source]

—

g limits

+ 9^[source]

+9^[source]

Thrust/weight

0.93^[source]

—

Missiles

Air-to-air missiles : 4× AIM-7 Sparrow 4× AIM-9 Sidewinder or IRIS-T (S variant of the Saudi Air Force ) 8× AIM-120 AMRAAM Air-to-surface missiles : 6× AGM-65 Maverick 2× AGM-84 Harpoon 2× AGM-84H/K SLAM-ER 2x AGM-130 AGM-154 JSOW AGM-158 JASSM Joint Strike Missile (to be integrated) Taurus KEPD 350 (integrated on South Korean Air Force F-15Ks)^[source]

—

Bombs

Mark 82 bomb Mark 84 bomb GBU-15 GBU-10 Paveway II GBU-12 Paveway II GBU-24 Paveway III GBU-27 Paveway III GBU-28 (Bunker buster) GBU-31 or GBU-38 {8 GBU-31s or 16 GBU-38s} (JDAM) GBU-54 Laser JDAM (LJDAM) GBU-39 Small Diameter Bomb (SDB) B61 nuclear bomb CBU-87 or CBU-103 (CEM) CBU-89 or CBU-104 (GATOR) KGGB (integrated on South Korean Air Force F-15Ks) CBU-97 or CBU-105 (SFW) CBU-107 Passive Attack Weapon BLU-107 Durandal^[source]

—

Others

up to 3× 600 US gallons (2,300 L ) external drop tanks for ferry flight or extended range/loitering time 3 x 7-round (21) APKWS under each wing^[source]

—

Radar

Raytheon AN/APG-70 or AN/APG-82 AN/ASQ-236 Radar Pod^[source]

—

Targeting pods

AN/AAQ-14 LANTIRN or Lockheed Martin Sniper XR or AN/AAQ-28(V) Litening^[source]

—

Countermeasures

Northrop Grumman Electronic Systems AN/ALQ-131 electronic countermeasures pod Hazeltine AN/APX-76 or Raytheon AN/APX-119 Identify Friend/Foe (IFF) interrogator Magnavox AN/ALQ-128 Electronic Warfare Warning Set (EWWS) – part of Tactical Electronic Warfare Systems (TEWS) Loral AN/ALR-56 Radar warning receivers (RWR) – part of TEWS Northrop Grumman Electronic Systems ALQ-135 Internal Countermeasures System (ICS) – part of TEWS Marconi AN/ALE-45 Chaff / Flares dispenser system – part of TEWS BAE Systems AN/ALQ-250 Eagle Passive Active Warning Survivability System (EPAWSS) - combined electronic warfare / electronic countermeasures system^[source]

—

Role

—

Multirole strike fighter^[source]

Primary user

—

People's Liberation Army Air Force^[source]