Shenyang J-6


The Shenyang J-6 is the Chinese version of the Soviet MiG-19 'Farmer' fighter.

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. 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 before being overhauled. The Pakistan Air Force was often able to extend this to 130 hours with diligent maintenance.
A number of J-6 based at Liancheng and Yangtang-li bases appeared to have been converted into unmanned aircraft. Work on unmanned J-6 was first reported in 2013.

Description

The J-6 has a maximum speed at altitude of 1,540 km/h, Mach 1.45. Service ceiling is 17,900 m. Combat radius with two drop tanks is about 640 km. The aircraft is powered by two Liming Wopen-6A turbojet engines. In addition to the internal cannon armament, most have provision for four wing pylons for up to 250 kg each, with a maximum ordnance load of 500 kg. Typical stores include unguided bombs, 55 mm rocket pods, or PL-2/PL-5 air-to-air missiles.

Operational history

East Asia

China

The first use and loss of a U.S. fighter to a J-6 was in 1965 when a USAF Lockheed F-104 Starfighter piloted by Captain Philip E. Smith was intercepted by a PLAAF aircraft after illegally flying into Chinese airspace over Hainan Island. His Starfighter took cannon fire which damaged a portion of his wing and missile mount. Smith attempted to attack the defending aircraft and stated he received missile tone on the MiG but, shortly after pressing his missile firing button, his Starfighter lost all power. He ejected and was captured. Smith was held prisoner until he was released on 15 March 1973, due to improving US-China relations following U.S. President Richard Nixon's visit to China in 1972.

Vietnam

The Vietnam People's Air Force began receiving the J-6 at the end of Operation Rolling Thunder, which ended in 1968. Despite their limited numbers, J-6s were involved in extensive combat during Operations Linebacker and Linebacker II|Linebacker 2]. The VPAF claimed seven victories over U.S. aircraft using the J-6, all of which were F-4 Phantom IIs. The MiG-19 was tested by U.S. pilots in the United States in 1969 after receiving an F-6 from Pakistan. In addition to finding the aircraft to have a good canopy allowing good visibility for the pilot, along with three hard-hitting 30mm cannons, U.S. pilots found the MiG-19 to be an excellent fighter, "like the MiG-17, it could easily out-turn the Phantom...and could out-accelerate the F-4 out to Mach 1.2, but was slower than the MiG-21.". However, the MiG-19's greatest fault was its extremely short range, as one U.S. test pilot remarked, "after going in full after-burner at low altitude for five minutes, the MiG driver will be looking for a place to land!" This, combined with the aircraft's twin engines, which were difficult to maintain, made the MiG-19 unpopular with North Vietnamese pilots.
The North Vietnamese government decided in early 1969 to strengthen its air defenses by creating a third jet fighter unit, the 925th Fighter Regiment. This unit would consist of late model MiG-17s and the newly acquired MiG-19s. The regiment was established at Yen Bai, and by April 1969, nine combat-rated MiG-19 pilots were posted for combat duty. While some of North Vietnam's MiG-17s and all of their MiG-21s were supplied by the Soviet Union, the MiG-19s were supplied by the PRC, which seldom exceeded 54 MiG-19s in number.
While the J-6 lacked mounts for early air-to-air missiles, unlike early model F-4 Phantom IIs, it was armed with cannons effective in ACM. VPAF J-6s had three 30 mm cannons which "were notable for their large muzzle flash" when fired. The aircraft were loaded with 90 rounds per cannon, giving approximately six seconds of firing time. A single two second burst of 90 shells could impact a US aircraft with of metal. This contrasted to the small U.S. 20 mm cannon such as the M61 Vulcan which would deliver of metal.
US sources claim that 10 VPAF MiG-19s were lost in aerial combat. On 2 June 1972 a J-6 was the first recorded jet fighter to be shot down in aerial combat by cannon fire at supersonic speeds, by a USAF F-4 Phantom flown by Phil Handley. According to the VPAF, from 1965 to 1972, North Vietnamese J-6s shot down 13 enemy aircraft and helicopters, while five J-6s were lost and one pilot was killed.

Air-to-air victories

The following are Chinese and Vietnamese air-to-air kills, confirmed by US sources; all were achieved with 30 mm cannon shells.

Kampuchea

In the era of Khmer Rouge control of Cambodia, 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.

Pakistan

Between 1965 and 1980, the Pakistan Air Force received 260 F-6 fighters which went on to serve with 10 list of [Pakistan Air Force Squadrons|PAF squadrons] at various times. During their service, Pakistani F-6s also underwent 140 modifications at the Pakistan Aeronautical Complex to improve its capabilities in the interceptor and close air support roles. These modifications included installation of Martin-Baker ejection seats, gun cameras, western avionics, AIM-9B/J/P missiles, French 68mm SNEB rockets, underbelly gondola-style fuel tanks and a special ground power unit, to quickly start the engines and shorten scramble time.

1971 Indo-Pakistani War

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.
Air to Air Combat
Throughout the war, the F-6 flew 650 Air Defence sorties in which they shot down approximately 8 Indian warplanes while damaging 2 more.
On 4 December 1971, Flight Lieutenant Javaid Latif of the No. 23 Squadron shot down an Su-7 over Risalewala Airfield while Flying Officer Qazi Javed of the No. 25 Squadron shot down a Hawker Hunter over Mianwali Airfield.
On 5 December 1971, Wing Commander Saad Hatmi and his wingman Flight Lt. Shahid Raza shot down 2 Indian Hunters near Sakesar.
On 7 December 1971, Flight Lt. Atiq Sufi of the No. 11 Squadron shot down an Su-7 near Samba.
On 8 December 1971, Wing Commander Hashmi shot down a Su-7 which was attacking the Risalewala Airfield.
On 14 December 1971, Flight Lieutenant Amir Sharif of No. 11 Squadron claimed to have shot down a superior IAF MiG-21 over Shakargarh.
Ground Attack
Moreover, the F-6 flew 184 Ground Attack sorties where their 3 x 30 mm guns and 57 mm S-5 rockets were particularly effective against Indian armour, military vehicles, bunkers, and troop concentrations. Their Close Air Support missions at Shakargarh were the most successful.
At the end of the war, the PAF had lost two F-6s to ground fire while losing one F-6 to an Indian Su-7. An F-6 was also lost to friendly fire.
Some notable Pakistani F-6 pilots are Mushaf Ali Mir who later became the PAF's Chief, Wajid Ali Khan who was taken as a POW after being shot down by Indian AAA, he later became a Member of the Parliament in Canada and Syed Manzoor ul Hassan Hashmi. The single-seat F-6 was retired from the Pakistan Air Force in 2002 and replaced with the Chengdu F-7P/PG aircraft.

Albania

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.

Africa

Somalia

Somalia ordered at least eleven F-6Cs and two FT-6s in 1979. Deliveries started in 1980. 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.

Sudan

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. Sudanese F-6s participated in the Second Sudanese Civil War, from the 1980s to the early 1990s. One F-6 was claimed shot down by the rebels in 1988, and two more in the autumn of 1991.

Tanzania

The Tanzania Air Force Command received its first batch of twelve F-6s starting in June 1973. An additional twelve F-6Cs and up to four FT-6s were also delivered in 1982. 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.

Zambia

Twelve F-6s were delivered to the Zambian Air Force, probably between 1976 and 1978. On 8 June 1980, Zambian F-6s intercepted and shot down an Angolan Yakovlev Yak-40, under unknown circumstances.

Iran–Iraq War

During the 1980–88 Iran–Iraq War, both sides deployed J-6 fighter jets. Documents from the US Defense Intelligence Agency released under the Freedom of Information Act on Chinese arms sales to Iran reveal that between 1980 and 1987 China delivered 100 J-6 fighter jets to Iran. Iraq's J-6 fighters were transferred from the Egyptian Air Force. Most missions J-6s performed during the Iran-Iraq War were air-to-ground attack.

Variants

Mass production type

  • Shenyang J-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.
  • 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.
  • J-6B – Similar to MiG-19PM "Farmer-D", interceptor with two PL-1 |K-5 ] beam-riding air-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.
  • J-6C – Day fighter version with three 30mm cannons and braking parachute at the base of the rudder. This cannon's codename is Type 30-1.
  • Shenyang J-6D – Advanced version of the J-6A with radome on the splitter plate for a Chinese-made radar. May also have been designated J-6 Xin. Another name is "J-6III". The name D-type was coined as a piggyback.
  • Shenyang/Tianjin JJ-6 – Chinese designed two-seat trainer, stretched 84 cm to accommodate second seat, armed with one 30 mm cannon.
  • Shenyang JZ-6 – Dedicated reconnaissance version with fuselage camera pack replacing cannon. In April 2006, it was reported that the PLAAF 3rd Reconnaissance Regiment, 26 Air Division based in Nanjing MR, it was the last regiment to actively fly the JZ-6 refusing to convert to the JZ-8F. Exported as the Shenyang FR-6.
  • Guizhou J-6A – J-6A aircraft upgraded to carry two PL-2 infrared-homing air-to-air missiles. The first flight was on 21 December 1975.
  • J-6W - target drone variant, first reported in 2013.

    Prototype machine (including unfinished)

  • Shenyang J-6A – – 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.
  • Shenyang J-6I – Single-seat day-fighter prototype with fixed shock cone on the intake splitter plate.
  • Shenyang J-6II – Single-seat tactical fighter prototype with adjustable shock cone on a raked back intake splitter plate.
  • Shenyang/Tianjin JJ-6 Testbed – Ejection seat testbed that succeeded H-5 ejection seat testbed.
  • Xian BW-1 – Fly-by-wire flying controls test-bed for the Xian JH-7 flying control system.

    Operators

Current