The 5th-gen air war escalates again in DCS World.

Expect stealth. Expect missiles. Expect boom boom.

After last week’s F-35A AIM-260 vs J-35 PL-15 battle, we are raising the stakes with a full squadron engagement: USAF F-22 Raptors armed with AIM-260 JATM missiles vs Chinese J-20 Mighty Dragons carrying the new PL-16.

This is stealth-on-stealth, beyond-visual-range combat at its most brutal. First shot matters, but so does timing, missile energy, defensive manoeuvring and knowing when to turn cold before the sky fills with incoming missiles.

The F-22 Raptor brings stealth, speed and air-dominance pedigree. The AIM-260 gives it the long-range punch needed for modern peer-level combat.

On the other side, the J-20 Mighty Dragon enters the fight with China’s emerging long-range missile threat: the PL-16. Details remain largely reported or rumoured, but it is believed to be designed for serious long-range BVR combat and internal carriage by stealth fighters.

So the question is simple:

Can the J-20 and PL-16 challenge the F-22 with AIM-260, or does the Raptor still rule the skies?

Featuring F-22 Raptor, J-20 Mighty Dragon, AIM-260 JATM, PL-16, DCS World, BVR combat, USAF vs PLAAF and 5th-generation stealth fighter action.

For more modern stealth fighter matchups, watch the full 5th-Gen Stealth Fighter Battles playlist: