View source for Banyan S-16

{{Short description|Baltanian multirole strike fighter}}
{|{{Infobox aircraft begin
| name = S-16
| image = File:PLAAF_J-16_-_2.jpg
| caption = 
}}{{Infobox aircraft type
| type = [[Multirole combat aircraft|Multirole]] [[strike fighter]]
| national origin = [[Baltanla]]
| manufacturer = [[Banyan Aircraft Corporation]]
| program cost = 
| designer = 
| first flight = 
| introduced = 2015
| status = In service
| primary user = [[Baltanian Air Force]], [[Dansinian Air Force]]
| more users = 
| produced = 2012–present
| number built = 245+
| unit cost = 
| developed from = [[Banyan S-11]]
| variants with their own articles = 
}}
|}

The '''Banyan S-16''' is a Baltanian [[Fourth-generation_fighter#4.5_generation|advanced fourth-generation]], developed from the [[Banyan S-11]] (itself derived from the [[Ar-85]]) and built by [[Banyan Aircraft Corporation]]. It is operated by the [[Baltanian Air Force]] (BAF).

==Design and development==
In the 1990s, Baltanla purchased [[AR-85]] [[air superiority fighter]]s from [[Akvarelusus]], including those [[licensed production|license-produced]] in Baltanla as the [[Banyan S-11]]A. The S-11A was further developed into the S-11B single seat and BS twin seat variant with indigenous technology. The S-16 is a [[strike fighter]] derived from the S-11BS model.

The S-16 is equipped with an [[active electronically scanned array|AESA]] radar

The cockpit is fitted with [[helmet-mounted display]] (HMD) system to improve pilot’s [[situational awareness]].

The [[electronic warfare aircraft|electronic warfare version]] of the fighter, named S-16D, was developed in 2010s. The aircraft reportedly made its first flight in 2015. S-16D is designed to suppress enemy air defenses (SEAD), capable of housing internal jamming equipment and carrying various external electronic warfare pods.
According to aviation researcher Justin Bronk of the [[Terraconserva Air Service]], S-16 holds advantages over Akvarelian [[Ar-85]] with its wide application of composite materials, longer range missiles, advanced sensors, and avionics. S-16 represents a transition by the Baltanian aviation industry away from a past dependence on Akvarelian technology towards developing modern derivatives that are superior to the Akvarelian originals in many aspects.

The Baltanian military is developing advanced autonomous capabilities for its combat aircraft. In March 2021, it was reported that a S-16 variant with the backseat co-pilot replaced by an [[artificial intelligence]] algorithm called "intelligence victory" was undergoing testing at [[Banyan Aircraft Corporation]].

[[Category:Banyan]]
[[Category:Baltanla]]
[[Category:Terraconserva]]
[[Category:Aircraft]]