Although the MiG-19 had a comparatively short life in Soviet service, the Chinese came to value its agility, turning performance, and powerful cannon armament, and produced it for their own use between 1958 and 1981. While the basic Soviet-built MiG-19 has been retired from all nations, the Shenyang J-6 still flies for nine of its original 15 operators, however, in a very limited capacity. The J-6 airframe contributed to the Chinese ground attack version, the Q-5, which still flies for numerous nations.
The J-6 was considered "disposable" and was intended to be operated for only 100 flight hours (or approximately 100 sorties) before being overhauled. The Pakistan Air Force was often able to extend this to 130 hours with diligent maintenance.[2]
A number of J-6 based at Lianchen and Yantan-li bases appeared to have been converted into unmanned aircraft.[3] Work on unmanned J-6 was first reported in 2013.[4]
The J-6 has a maximum speed at altitude of 1,540 km/h (960 mph), Mach 1.45. Service ceiling is 17,900 m (58,700 ft). Combat radius with two drop tanks is about 640 km (400 mi). The aircraft is powered by two Liming Wopen-6A (Tumansky R-9) turbojet engines. In addition to the internal cannon armament, most have provision for four wing pylons for up to 250 kg (550 lb) each, with a maximum ordnance load of 500 kg (1,100 lb). Typical stores include unguided bombs, 55 mm rocket pods, or PL-2/PL-5 (Chinese versions of Soviet K-13) air-to-air missiles.
Albanian Air Force J-6s replaced the J-5s on the border to intercept Yugoslav incursions into Albanian airspace. However, the J-6 was ineffective against the faster Yugoslav MiG-21 'Fishbed'. Once the F-7A became available, the J-6 was redeployed to protect Tirana. As of 2005 all Albanian fighters were grounded due to a lack of spare parts.
PAF Pilots from the No. 25 Squadron with a Shenyang F-6 in 1968
When the 1971 War broke out, the PAF had operationalized three F-6 squadrons which were the No. 11, No. 23 & No. 25 Squadrons. The F-6s of these squadrons collectively flew 945 sorties out of which 834 were combat ones.[5][6][7]
The supersonic speed advantage provided by the MiG-21's more modern turbojet engine was found to be not as useful in combat as originally thought, because aerial dogfights at the time were conducted almost entirely at subsonic speeds. The J-6 (and hence the MiG-19 too) was found to be more manoeuvrable than the MiG-21 and, although slower, its acceleration during dogfights was considered adequate. The North Vietnamese Air Force fielded at least one unit of J-6s during the war, the 925th FighterRegiment, beginning in 1969.[15]
Somalia ordered at least eleven F-6Cs and two FT-6s in 1979.[16] Deliveries started in 1980.[17] They were used during border skirmishes with Ethiopia in 1981, and they also saw combat during the Somali Rebellion, in the second half of the 1980s and until 1991.[18]
Twelve F-6 fighters and two FT-6 trainers were reportedly delivered to the Sudanese Air Force, starting in 1973. Moreover, twelve F-6Cs were delivered between 1981 and 1983. Another batch of twelve F-6Cs might have been acquired in 1990, as well as two FT-6s in 2001.[19] Sudanese F-6s participated in the Second Sudanese Civil War, from the 1980s to the early 1990s.[20] One F-6 was claimed shot down by the rebels in 1988, and two more in the autumn of 1991.[21]
The Tanzania Air Force Command received its first batch of twelve F-6s starting in June 1973.[22] An additional twelve F-6Cs and up to four FT-6s were also delivered in 1982.[23] Tanzanian F-6s participated in the 1978–1979 Uganda-Tanzania War. However, they aren't known to have been involved in any air-to-air combats.[24]
Twelve F-6s were delivered to the Zambian Air Force, probably between 1976 and 1978.[25] On 8 June 1980, Zambian F-6s intercepted and shot down an AngolanYakovlev Yak-40, under unknown circumstances.[26]
Shenyang J-6 fighter at Vietnamese People's Air Force Museum, Hanoi
In the era of Khmer Rouge control of Cambodia (1975–1979), Chinese-supplied Khmer J-6s participated in Kampuchea-Vietnamese border clashes for ground attacks. During the Vietnamese invasion in 1978, the Cambodian aircraft were reluctant to take-off to intercept the Vietnamese ones, thus the Vietnamese captured a number of J-6s and put them on public display.
Shenyang J-6 – (a.k.a. Type 59, Dongfeng-102, Product 47 and F-6) Despite having no suffix to the designation, the J-6 appeared after the initial production of the J-6A had begun. The J-6 was equivalent, but not identical, to the MiG-19S.[1]
Shenyang J-6A – Production of the J-6 restarted after new assembly jigs, and other assistance, acquired from the USSR. Similar to MiG-19PF, an all-weather radar-equipped interceptor with two NR-30 30mm cannon. Exported as the F-6A.[1]
J-6B – (a.k.a. Type 59B, Dongfeng-105 and Jianjiji-6 Yi) Similar to MiG-19PM "Farmer-D", interceptor with two PL-1 (Chinese version of Soviet K-5 (AA-1 'Alkali')beam-ridingair-to-air missiles; it is unclear if the J-6B retains its cannon. Only 19 J-6Bs were built by Nanchang Aircraft Mfg. Co. before the programme was terminated.[1]
J-6C – (a.k.a. Jianjiji-6 Bing, Product 55 and F-6C) Day fighter version with three 30mm cannons and braking parachute at the base of the rudder.[1] This cannon's codename is Type 30-1.[29]
Shenyang J-6D – Advanced version of the J-6A with radome on the splitter plate (rather than the shock cone centerbody) for a Chinese-made radar. May also have been designated J-6 Xin.[1] Another name is "J-6III". The name D-type was coined as a piggyback.
Shenyang/Tianjin JJ-6 – (Jianjiji Jiaolianji – fighter trainer, a.k.a. Product 48 and FT-6) Chinese designed two-seat trainer, stretched 84 cm (33.1 in) to accommodate second seat, armed with one 30 mm cannon.[1]
Shenyang JZ-6 – (Jianjiji Zhenchaji – reconnaissance fighter) Dedicated reconnaissance version with fuselage camera pack replacing cannon. As of April 2006, it was reported that the PLAAF 3rd Reconnaissance Regiment, 26 Air Division based in Nanjing MR, is the last regiment to actively fly the JZ-6 refusing to convert to JZ-8F.[30] Exported as the Shenyang FR-6.
Guizhou J-6A – J-6A aircraft upgraded to carry two PL-2 (Pi Li – Thunderbolt) infrared-homing air-to-air missiles. The first flight was on 21 December 1975.
J-6W - unmanned variant,[31] first reported in 2013.[4]
Shenyang J-6A – (a.k.a. Type 59A, Dongfeng-103, Jianjiji-6 Jia) – Early production from 1958 to 1960 was sub-standard and not accepted by the PLAAF. Production was halted, the jigs scrapped, and production restarted with assistance from the USSR. The J-6A was equivalent to the MiG-19P. The maiden flight was made by Wang Shuhuai on 17 December 1958. Only around 100 aircraft from this version were produced. It was reported that the J-6A never actually passed the PLAAF's tests. The planes were of little operational value and suffered from quality issues, flight characteristics were much lower than those of the J-6.[1]
Pakistani Shenyang F-6 on display at Karachi Air MuseumAn Albanian Shenyang J-6C in Kucova Airbase.Egyptian Air Force personnel inspect an Egyptian F-6Bangladesh Air Force F-6 inflight
Albanian Air Force – 71 F-6 and FT-6 delivered between 1965 and 1971 partly in exchange for MiG-19PMs,[39] retired in 2005.[40] As of 2019, some remain in storage[41]
Egyptian Air Force – 40 delivered by China in exchange for MiG-23s in 1979. Between 1982 and 1983, a further 50 were delivered. This second batch was assembled in Egypt.[39] 44 F-6 and FT-6 were in service in 2011[44]
Somali Air Corps – At least 30 delivered between 1980 and 1981. According to SIPRI, the total number of aircraft delievered could be up to 50.[39] Somali F-6s were dumped and destroyed in the years following the disintegration of the SAC in 1991[46]
The nose of an F-6, showing the 30 mm cannons fitted in the right wing root and the lower body.
Data from Chinese aircraft : China's aviation industry since 1951,[47] Combat aircraft since 1945[48]
General characteristics
Crew: 1 (JJ-6 trainer – 2)
Length: 14.64 m (48 ft 0 in) (variants with nose pitot probe)
12.54 m (41.1 ft) (variants without nose pitot probe)
Wingspan: 9 m (29 ft 6 in)
Height: 3.885 m (12 ft 9 in)
Wing area: 25.16 m2 (270.8 sq ft)
Empty weight: 5,172 kg (11,402 lb) to 5,447 kg (12,009 lb)
Max takeoff weight: 7,560 kg (16,667 lb) clean
8,662 kg (19,096 lb) with drop tanks
8,832 kg (19,471 lb) with drop tanks and rocket pods
Fuel capacity: 1,735–1,800 kg (3,825–3,968 lb) internal
2,796 kg (6,164 lb) with drop tanks
Powerplant: 2 × Wopen WP-6Aafterburning turbojet engines, 25.5 kN (5,730 lbf) thrust each dry, 31.8 kN (7,160 lbf) with afterburner
Performance
Maximum speed: 1,540 km/h (960 mph, 830 kn)
Maximum speed: Mach 1.3
Range: 1,400 km (870 mi, 760 nmi)
Combat range: 640 km (400 mi, 350 nmi)
Ferry range: 2,200 km (1,400 mi, 1,200 nmi) with drop tanks
Endurance: 1 hour 43 minutes clean
2 hours 38 minutes with drop tanks
Service ceiling: 15,800 m (51,800 ft) at military power
17,500–17,900 m (57,400–58,700 ft) with full afterburner
Rate of climb: 180 m/s (35,000 ft/min)
Take-off run: 900 m (3,000 ft) at full military power
515 m (1,690 ft) with full afterburner
Landing run: 610 m (2,000 ft) with brake parachute
890 m (2,920 ft) without brake parachute
Armament
3x 30 mm NR-30 cannons (70 rounds per gun for wing guns, 55 rounds for fuselage gun)
Up to 250 kg (550 lb) of unguided bombs or rocket pods or PL-2/PL-5 (Chinese versions of Soviet K-13 (NATO AA-2 'Atoll') and AIM-9 (for Pakistani F-6s only) air-to-air missiles on 4 underwing pylons
^ abcdeAVM (R) Ikramullah Bhatti (27 July 2020). "Faithful Warrior". Second To None. Directorate of Media Affairs Pakistan Air Force. Retrieved 27 August 2022.
Bangladesh
Myanmar
North Korea
Pakistan
Sudan
Tanzania
Zambia
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China
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