What are the rules for naming fighter jets? A look at domestically produced fighter jets named after "dragons."

Among the many domestically produced fighter jets, there are several equipped with the name "Dragon." In traditional Chinese culture, the dragon can fly and swim; it is not only endowed with many beautiful symbolic meanings but also represents bravery and wisdom. What are the performance characteristics of these "Dragon" fighter jets? How have they enhanced the combat capabilities of the troops?

Overview of domestically produced fighter jets named after "Dragon"

"Weilong"

In the ranks of our Air Force, there are quite a few fighter jets with the character "Dragon" in their names, and the J-20 "Weilong" fighter jet is undoubtedly one of the stars. It is called "Weilong" because it possesses astonishing performance that justifies this imposing title. With super strong maneuverability, whether in intense aerial combat or high-speed cruising, the J-20 can easily perform various high-difficulty maneuvers and maintain air combat initiative.

The weapon system is the "Dragon Claw" that enables the J-20 to defeat its enemies. It can carry various advanced air-to-air missiles and precision-guided munitions, allowing it to flexibly attack targets in close-range air combat and launch attacks on enemies beyond visual range, giving the J-20 substantial firepower in aerial combat. In multiple real combat exercises and missions, the J-20 has demonstrated powerful combat capabilities, becoming a solid force for our Air Force to defend national sovereignty and territorial integrity, truly embodying the phrase "Weilong in the sky, dominating the airspace."

"Qianlong"

The J-16 fighter jet, named "Qianlong," aligns with its core positioning of multi-role covert strike and electronic warfare suppression. Its electronic warfare pod can release wideband jamming beams, obscuring the electromagnetic spectrum of the battlefield like a dragon breathing mist, showcasing the Eastern wisdom of "hiding and revealing," and is regarded as a technical benchmark for our heavy fighter jets.

"Yinglong"

The J-11 fighter jet, named "Yinglong," symbolizes the strategic posture of the Chinese Air Force "soaring high."

"Menglong"

The J-10 fighter jet, named "Menglong," is a third-generation multi-role fighter jet independently developed by China, achieving advanced levels of comprehensive combat effectiveness comparable to international counterparts. The birth and development of the J-10 also signify a leap forward for the People's Air Force from a "defensive" to a "combined offensive and defensive" model, becoming the "aerial Great Wall" that protects national interests.

"Xiaolong"

The "Xiaolong" fighter jet is an all-weather, single-engine, single-seat multi-role light fighter jointly developed by China and Pakistan. The name "Xiaolong" derives from its agility and versatility, embodying both the sharp insight of the "owl" and the might and agility of the "dragon." It features outstanding characteristics such as long range, extended loiter time, large operational radius, and excellent takeoff and landing performance, earning it the title of "the most successful cooperative project between China and Pakistan" from the Pakistani military.

"Yilong"

"Yilong" drone is a medium-altitude, long-endurance multi-role drone developed by Aviation Industry Corporation of China, reconstructing the rules of modern air and space warfare in the guise of a "silent dragon." It is the vanguard of China's unmanned combat system. As a shining example of "Chinese manufacturing," the "Yilong" series drones have received widespread acclaim in the international market, excelling in counter-terrorism, stability maintenance, and regional peacekeeping.

At the 2012 Zhuhai Airshow, the "Yilong" drone made its debut, attracting considerable attention. In recent years, the "Yilong" series drones have demonstrated their exceptional performance in various complex environments.

Yilong-X drone is a long-range, heavy-lift, independently operated multi-task medium-altitude long-endurance drone system capable of executing various missions such as maritime escort, anti-submarine operations, close air support, anti-radiation strikes, low-altitude alert, and interception, playing an important role in different combat scenarios.

Aircraft Naming:

Precisely matching aircraft positioning reflects Chinese characteristics

Military commentator Zhang Xuefeng: Naming fighter jets after dragons not only reflects Chinese characteristics but also precisely matches the positioning of the aircraft. Firstly, because the dragon is a spiritual symbol of the Chinese nation, naming them after dragons carries national confidence and the strength of a great power, aligning with the meaning of guarding the air and space, and fulfilling the cultural identity of "descendants of the dragon." Secondly, the imagery of the dragon perfectly matches the attributes of Air Force fighter jets; the legendary dragon can soar through clouds and fly high, and is fierce, swift, and unpredictable, which aligns very well with the high-altitude, high-speed, and agile flying characteristics of fighter jets, as well as their powerful combat capabilities.

According to the naming rules of the China Aviation Industry Corporation, in addition to the model names assigned by the state, each type of fighter jet also has a model nickname, which is what we commonly refer to as a moniker. Before July 2022, only some fighter jets had officially assigned nicknames, such as the J-10 being called "Menglong" and the JH-7 being called "Feibao." In July 2022, the China Aviation Industry Corporation first systematically announced the naming rules for military and civilian aircraft products, which certified some of the previous aircraft names and further improved and optimized them, forming a naming system with Chinese characteristics.

Military commentator Zhang Xuefeng: In addition to ground-based fighter jets being mostly named after dragons, carrier-based aircraft are named after sharks, such as the J-15 being called "Feisha"; trainer aircraft are named after eagles, such as the CJ-6 being called "Chuying," the JL-8 being called "Xiongying," the J-9 being called "Shanying," and the CJ-10 being called "Lieying"; transport aircraft are named after the "Peng" series, with the Y-8 being called "Hongpeng," the Y-9 being called "Qipeng," and the Y-20 being called "Kunpeng"; bombers are named after gods, such as the H-6K being called "Zhanshen" and the H-6N being called "Leishen"; armed helicopters are named after "Pili Huo," and special aircraft such as early warning aircraft are named "Qianliyan," while anti-submarine aircraft are named "Haidiao," and large electronic warfare aircraft are called "Leidian." These names are very much in line with the characteristics of each type of aircraft and also reflect the profound and diverse nature of Chinese culture.

Expert Interpretation:

Positioning and innovative transformation of China's fighter jet system

China's fighter jets are classified into different types based on takeoff weight, functional purposes, etc. They each perform their duties while cooperating in combat. What transformations will they undergo in the future?

Military commentator Zhang Xuefeng: If classified by takeoff weight, China's fighter jets can be divided into light, medium, and heavy types. Generally speaking, under the same technical conditions and design philosophy, heavy fighter jets have the strongest combat power and performance, with large payloads and long operational radii, but their prices are also directly related to takeoff weight—the heavier the aircraft, the more expensive it is. Given China's vast territory and diverse threats, our equipped fighter jets must consider technological iterations while seeking an optimal solution between military effectiveness and economic efficiency, maintaining sufficient scale, fully meeting combat requirements, and also aligning with economic considerations. Therefore, our active fighter jets are primarily heavy and medium types, mainly fourth and fifth generation, with both quality and quantity ranking among the top in the world, transitioning from a parallel development to a leading position.

Experts believe that in the future, fighter jets will develop towards greater stealth and intelligence, with manned aircraft becoming larger and unmanned aircraft becoming lighter.

Military commentator Zhang Xuefeng:

Firstly, to enhance survivability, future fighter jets will be more stealthy. To improve stealth performance, aerodynamic layouts will need to be further optimized, radar cross-sections reduced, and more advanced radio frequency stealth technologies adopted to minimize exposure probabilities.

Secondly, manned fighter jets will develop towards larger sizes. Stealth aircraft often require munitions to be stored in internal bays, and the demands for operational radius and sustained combat capabilities are increasing, necessitating new power systems.

Thirdly, light fighter jets will move towards unmanned configurations. To meet the requirements for internal munitions, light fighter jets will need to eliminate cockpits to free up sufficient space, while also optimizing aerodynamic layouts accordingly, allowing light unmanned fighter jets to serve as loyal wingmen to manned fighter jets.

Fourth, there is a need to enhance the intelligence level of fighter jets. By improving information technology levels, the detection and perception capabilities of fighter jets and their networked combat capabilities will be enhanced, improving systemic combat capabilities.