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Shenyang J-6
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The Shenyang J-6 (designated F-6 for export versions) (NATO-Codename Farmer) was the Chinese-built copy of the Soviet MiG-19 'Farmer' fighter aircraft.
hough 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.
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The Shenyang J-6 (designated F-6 for export versions) (NATO-Codename Farmer) was the Chinese-built copy of the Soviet MiG-19 'Farmer' fighter aircraft.
Design and development
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. By the end of 2005, J-6s have been retired from active combat missions. While the basic MiG-19 has been retired from all but three nations, its airframe made up the Chinese made ground attack version the Q-5 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 scrapped. The Pakistan Air Force was often able to extend this to 130 hours, with diligent maintenance.
The J-6 still is in service with North Korea, Myanmar (Burma), and Sudan.
Operational history
Albania
Albanian Air Force J-6s replaced the J-5 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 guard Tirana. As of 2005 all Albanian fighters where grounded due to lack of spare parts.
India-Pakistan Wars
Pakistani J-6 participated in the Indo-Pak War 1971 against India and scored several aerial victories including two Indian Mig-21, the three squadrons undertook nearly a thousand sorties during the war. PAF lost 4 planes during the war, with one of its pilots Wajid Ali Khan who was taken as POW becoming a Member of Parliament in Canada.
Vietnam War
After secretly test flying Pakistani J-6 in 1965, the United States concluded that the MiG-19/J-6 were much more formidable than the MiG-21 'Fishbed', MiG-17 'Fresco' and J-5, because in the subsonic aerial dogfights, the supersonic speed of the MiG-21 was not useful. MiG-19/J-6 could accelerate to its top speed that was within this range, and the MiG-19/J-6 more maneuverable than the MiG-21, yet it was slower. While at the same time, it was faster than yet less maneuverable MiG-17/J-5. However, The North Vietnamese did use the MiG-19 and the F-6 during the latter half of the air war in Vietnam.
Ogaden War
Somalian J-6 participated in the Ogaden War and suffered greatly because the superior opposition faced (Cuban pilots fought for Ethiopia). Over 75% of the Somali Air Force was destroyed in the war but some J-6s and survived until the country turned into turmoil in the early 1990s.
Uganda-Tanzania War
During the Uganda-Tanzania War, Tanzanian J-6 was tasked to handle any possible Ugandan fighters which consisted of MiG-15 and MiG-17, while F-7A was tasked to handle more advanced aircraft of Ugandan ally, such as the Libyan Tupolev Tu-22 'Blinder'.
Kampuchea-Vietnam War
In the era of Khmer Rouge control of Cambodia, Khmer J-6s participated in Kampuchea-Vietnamese border clashes for ground attacks. During the Vietnamese invasion in 1978, none of the Cambodian aircraft dared to take-off to challenge the invading Vietnamese aircraft. The Vietnamese captured a number of J-6s and put them on public display.
Iran–Iraq War
The J-6's participation in the Iran–Iraq War were mostly ground attack sorties performed by both Iranian and the Iraqi J-6 units.
Afghan War
The Pakistan Air Force again brought the J-6 into action, ironically against its original designers, the Soviet Union, and the jet claimed half a dozen air to air victories.
Variants
Six principal variants have been developed in Chinese service:
J-6A (J-6IV)
- Similar to MiG-19PF, all-weather radar-equipped interceptor with two 30mm cannon. Exported as the F-6A.
J-6B
- Similar to MiG-19PM "Farmer-D", interceptor with two PL-1 (Chinese version of Soviet K-5 (AA-1 'Alkali') beam-riding air-to-air missiles; it is unclear if the J-6B retains its cannon.
J-6C
- Day fighter version with three 30mm cannon and braking parachute at the base of the rudder
J-6 Xin
- Advanced version of the J-6A with radome on the splitter plate (rather than the shock cone centerbody) for Chinese-made radar.
J-6III
- Single-seat day-fighter prototype.
JJ-6
- Two-seat trainer, stretched 84 cm (33.1 in) to accommodate second seat, armed with one 30 mm cannon. Exported as FT-6.
JZ-6
- Dedicated reconnaissance version with fuselage camera pack replacing cannon. As of April 2006, it was reported that the PLAAF 3rd Recon Regiment, 26 Air Division based in Nanjing MR, is the last regiment to actively fly the JZ-6.
J-6 Testbed
- Ejection seat testbed that succeeded H-5 ejection seat testbed.
Nanchang Q-5 'Fantan'
- Extensively redesigned attack aircraft based on J-6.
Operators
There are currently 4 active operators of the Shenyang J-6 out of 15.
Current Operators
- People's Liberation Army Air Force retired J-6 from combat duties at 2005, but still uses it for training missions, but due to the age of the planes airframes, only a very few are still airworthy. All JJ-6s will be replaced by JL-8.
- People's Liberation Army Navy Air Force
- Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force operates 18 aircraft.
- Myanmar Air Force J-6s were better suited for ground attack missions than F-7B and were used with relative success.
- North Korea Air Force operates 100 aircraft.
Former Operators
- Albanian Air Force J-6s was considered the backbone of the National Air component. Since 2005, around 82 Shenyang J-6C are grounded and retired from active service.
- Bangladesh Air Force retired J-6 aircraft.
- Cambodian Air Force
- Egyptian Air Force no longer in service. replaced by F-16.
Specifications
Description
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). Powerplant is 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 (NATO AA-2 'Atoll') air-to-air missiles.
External links
See also
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