China Claims It Forced Away Two US F-22 Jets in High-Stakes Aerial Encounter

China has claimed that its J-16 fighter jets successfully intercepted and forced away two US F-22 stealth aircraft during a close encounter in its Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ). According to Chinese military analysts, the operation showcased the effectiveness of China’s integrated air defense network combining satellites, early warning aircraft, and anti stealth radar systems to detect and track advanced stealth jets. The incident, which allegedly brought the aircraft within visual range, highlights Beijing’s growing capability to challenge US air power in the Indo Pacific and signals escalating aerial tensions between the two rivals.

Beijing In a striking revelation that underscores growing tensions between global military powers, China has claimed that its People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) successfully forced away two American F-22 Raptor stealth jets during a close encounter in its Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) last year.

According to Chinese state media, the incident involved a J-16 multirole fighter jet coming within visual range of the US aircraft an unusually close and risky maneuver given the stealth and speed capabilities of both platforms. Former PLA Colonel Yue Gang, a prominent military analyst, stated that the aircraft “were highly likely to be

F-22s,” and that the Chinese pilot was able to “lock on” to them through a networked radar and satellite assisted tracking system, rather than relying solely on onboard sensors.

Yue described the operation as a demonstration of China’s maturing anti-stealth capabilities, crediting an integrated combat network that synchronizes satellites, early warning aircraft, and ground based radar to overcome the low observability of fifth generation jets.

“This marks a turning point in China’s ability to counter stealth technology,” Yue noted, suggesting that the event showcased Beijing’s progress in multi domain defense coordination.

Another former PLA instructor echoed this view, describing the encounter as a decisive test of China’s defensive posture against high tech reconnaissance flights near its borders.

While the United States Department of Defense has not publicly confirmed or denied the incident, the claim comes amid heightened air and naval activity in the South China Sea and East China Sea, regions increasingly contested by both nations.

Military observers say the reported face off reflects not only the strategic competition between Washington and Beijing but also the technological race to dominate aerial warfare in the Indo Pacific where every radar lock, flight path, and intercept tells a story of growing power projection and deterrence.