Video shows one of Taiwan’s F-16s tracking a Chinese J-15 fighter jet with its sniper pod during war games

• A new video shows a Taiwanese F-16 following a Chinese J-15 fighter jet.

• The video is from China’s massive military exercise around Taiwan on Monday.

• The “Joint Sword-2024B” exercise involved a record number of Chinese aircraft and warships.

A new video of Taiwan’s response to China’s military exercises this week shows a Chinese J-15 fighter jet mounted on an aircraft carrier through the sniper pod on an American-made F-16.

The Chinese exercises, dubbed “Joint Sword-2024B,” saw a record number of Chinese aircraft fly around Taiwan, according to data from Taiwan’s Ministry of Defense.

The Taiwan Military News Agency, part of the Ministry of National Defense, published the video on Monday. In the footage, a Taiwanese F-16 uses its sniper system to track a Chinese J-15, believed to be from the Chinese aircraft carrier that took part in the Chinese exercises.

The F-16’s Sniper Advanced Targeting Pod, developed by Lockheed Martin, is a device that allows aircraft to detect and track targets. Lockheed describes the sniper pod as a “lightweight” system capable of performing “the most challenging precision targeting and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions.”

In the video, the F-16 monitors the J-15 as it flies through the sky. The fourth generation J-15 is a multirole fighter derived from the Russian Su-33 that serves as an aircraft carrier. China is working on a next-generation aircraft, but for now the Shenyang J-15 is the main fighter jet for China’s aircraft carriers.

During the exercise “Joint Sword-2024B”, China’s first aircraft carrier, the Liaoning, operated southeast of Taiwan. China released video footage of the aircraft carrier launching fighter jets during the exercise.

Notably, the exercise included a record number of Chinese military aircraft flying around and into Taiwan’s air defense identification zone. Taiwan’s Defense Ministry said it had detected 153 aircraft in the area on Monday, 111 of which crossed the center line into the island democracy’s de facto ADIZ.

In response to the major “Joint Sword-2024B” exercises, Taiwan sent combat air patrol (CAP) aircraft and naval ships and used its littoral missile systems.

China’s military exercises followed a National Day speech by Taiwan’s new President Lai Ching-te, a speech in which he said the People’s Republic of China cannot represent the Republic of China, prompting condemnation from Beijing .

The Chinese exercise, which was announced without notice on Monday morning, involved joint forces from the entire army, the People’s Liberation Army.

China said the exercise was intended to test the effectiveness of its joint force in simulating combat readiness, blocking key ports and areas, and testing attacks on maritime and ground targets. Beijing also noted that the exercise was aimed at “resolutely” thwarting “separatist efforts for Taiwan’s independence.” Experts have previously warned that these exercises reflect real potential Chinese actions.

China claims Taiwan as its own country and has not ruled out using force to bring the independent nation under its rule. Taipei rejects Chinese claims of sovereignty over it and has consistently worked to strengthen Taiwan’s military for deterrence and defense.

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