Shenyang J-6, Chinese users, part three

 

The Shenyang J-6 is the Chinese copy of the Soviet Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-19. With more than 4.500 units completed, it comes no surprise that this machine was completed in many variants, which are the subject of this post.

• Shenyang J-6: AKA Dongfeng-102 and Type 59. The original production version of the MiG-19S with some changes which make it slightly different. Flew for the first time on 30th September 1959, but due to the poor economical conditions caused by the Great Leap Forward, its development was interrupted in 1960, but resumed four years later, in 1964, with Soviet assistance. Several hundreds built.
• Shenyang J-6A: AKA Dongfeng-103 and Type 59A. This variant is equivalent to the MiG-19P with some changes which made it worse than the original as it had a limited scope when flying in bad weather conditions or a RP-1 radar limited to 2 km only. It was armed with two 30 mm cannons placed at the root of the wings. It flew for the first time on 17th December 1958 with Wang Shuhuai at the controls. Only 90 machines were manufactured, 83 of them at Shenyang and just 7 at Nanchang where they were equipped and tested in the 1970s with air-to-air missiles. Given the poor quality of the machine, it never passed People's Liberation Army Air Force's tests and was rejected in favour of the J-6B.
• Shenyang J-6B: AKA Dongfeng-105 and Type 59B. This is the Chinese equivalent of the MiG-19PM. It flew for the first time in 1963 and several dozens of them were manufactured at Nanchang until 1967 when it ceased. Production was, however, resumed again in 1976 to manufactured some few dozens, albeit some sources claim that only 19 of them were built. Like the MiG-19PM, it was armed with a total of four PL-2 air-to-air missiles and, unlike its Soviet counterpart, it's armed with additional two cannons placed at the root of the wings.
• Shenyang J-6C: AKA Jianjiji-6 Bing, Product-55 and F-6C for the export sub-variants. This is a modernised version of the J-6 with a new Wopen WP-6A engine which delivers 6.614 lb of thrust power (for comparison, the WP-6 that powered the previous variant had 5.730 lb of thrust power). It's armed with three 30 mm cannons, two at the root of the wings, one under the nose and it's equipped with a braking parachute located in a pod at the base of the rudder. It flew for the first time on 6th August 1969 and has been, by far, the most produced variant with around 3.677 machines having been manufactured by Shenyang, including some regular J-6 converted to J-6C standard. Production ceased in 1984.
• Shenyang JZ-6: A sub-variant for the J-6 dedicated for tactical-reconnaissance role and equipped with five cameras in the bow. Flew for the first time in 1967 and a total of 50 machines were manufactured.
• Shenyang J-6 I: A day-fighter prototype with a redesigned frontal air intake, equipped with a shock cone. It was intended to serve as a lightweight fighter. Only one machine built and flown on 2nd August 1966.
• Shenyang J-6 II: A modification of the original J-6 I with an adjustable shock cone in four positions on a raked back intake splitter plate. It was also better armed as it was intended to be a tactical fighter. It flew for the first time on 25th March 1969 and only one prototype was built plus the modified J-6 I.
• Shenyang J-6 III: A J-6 II modified with a radome on the splitter plate instead of centred shock cone to fit a Chinese-made LCF-6 radar. A total of 303 machines were made with the initial flight taking place on 5th August 1969. The production was terminated prematurely as they aircraft suffered from poor quality and many of them had to be rebuilt and repaired several times.
  It saw two sub-variants, the J-6 IIIC, which featured a modified bow, hydraulic wheels and was made in 1971 and the J-6 IIIG which was another re-conversion with a different bow, some minor changes made to the wing-tips to equip two PL-5 air-to-air missiles. Only 5 prototypes were made and the initial flight took place on 1st August 1974.
• Guizhou J-6 IV: Another conversion of the J-6 III, this time made by Guizhou, to make the J-6 III into an all-weather supersonic fighter with two 30 mm cannons at the root of the wings and a radar. Only 7 machines built by Guizhou with the first prototype flying on 24th September 1976.
• Shenyang JJ-6: AKA Product 48 or FT-6 for the export version. The two-seater training variant stretched 84 cm (33.1 in) to accomodate a second seat and armed with just one 30 mm cannon placed under the nose. Flew for the first time on 6th November 1970 and a total of 886 machines have been built by Shenyang and Tianjing between 1970 and 1986 when production ceased. One of them, made by Tiajing, was used to test an H-5 ejection seatbelt.
• Xian BW-1: Experimental aircraft made on 5th November 1988 equipped with fly-by-wire technology converted from the JJ-6. The rear seat was replaced with measuring and testing equipment and tests took place between 1988 and 1989. The aircraft was controlled by two different systems, a mechanical one and an electronic one which were revealed to be the control system used in the Xian JH-7 fighter-bomber.

Sources:

1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shenyang_J-6

2. https://www.valka.cz/Sen-jang-J-6-kod-NATO-Farmer-t42341 (translated)

3. Midland Publishing - Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-19 - The Soviet Union's First Production Supersonic Fighter

Shenyang F-6, Pakistan users, part two

 

The F-6 was operated by the No.15 Squadron 'Cobras' of the No.33 Wing based at Kamra. Nos. 17 and 23 Squadrons 'Talons' also operated the type based at Samunghi Air Base, in Quetta. No.19 Air Superiority Squadron 'Phoenix', based at Masroor also employed the type. 
Practically almost every Pakistani pilot began their flying careers with the F-6 or another Chinese aircraft. In spite of not being specially sophisticated, the F-6 allowed the pilots to gain valuable jet experience before transitioning to more advanced types. 

Initially, Pakistan Air Force's (PAF) F-6s flew in natural metal colour, often with colourful squadron markings. Later, Olive drab or two tone grey or grey/green camouflage patterns were introduced, always keeping their flashy squadron markings. As an example of this, No.15 Squadron often had red/white checkered rudders and noses. 

In the late 1980s the surviving F-6s had been relegated to the advanced training role being assigned to two operational conversion units (OCU). These were the No.1 Fighter Conversion Unit (FCU) and No.14 Squadron OCU at Mianwali Air Base which was the first stop for student pilots fresh from the PAF academy at Risalpur. No.25 Squadron OCU based at Sargodha Air Base also was one of those units. In this training process, five weeks of ground training were followed by five to six months of flying training in which the trainees logged some 70-80 sorties including 30 on the FT-6 trainer. 

Sargodha also hosted the Combat Commanders School (CCS), which is at the top of training process. This unit had one F-6 squadron. However they phased it out, together with the FT-6 during the mid 1990s as they converted to the Chengdu F-7P 'Skybolt' and Guanzhou FT-7, which was a Chinese variant of the MiG-21UM trainer. 

By 1991 many of the F-6s were already been retired and replaced by the Martin/Lockheed F-16A and the Chengdu F-7P. By April 1992 two squadrons of F-6s were donated to the Bangladesh followed by some few more. According to some sources, in late 1991 a total of 80 plus F-6Cs and 15 FT-6 were still in active service with the PAF.

Sources:

1. Midland Publishing - Aerofax - Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-19. The Soviet Union's First Production Supersonic Fighter

2. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shenyang_J-6

3. Salamander Books - The Complete Book of Fighters

Shenyang F-6, various Asian users

 

The Shenyang J-6 (F-6 denomination for the export variants) is the Chinese-built version of the Soviet Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-19. It started as a "pure" copy of the MiG, but it evolved until being a fighter of its own. As it has been massively produced, it has been also, exported to various countries around the globe, among them, the following ones:

• Bangladesh: Beginning in 1978 the Bangladesh Air Force (BAF) received at least 40 F-6C and FT-6 as a gift from Pakistan as they were phased out of service with the Pakistan Air Force. The F-6C was operated by the No.25 Squadron "Trendsetters" based initially at Patenga Air Base and later at other various air bases scattered around the country. By 1998 the types were being retired with the FT-6 being replaced in the trainer role by the Czech Albatross L-39ZA and the F-6C were replaced by Russian built MiG-29s.
• Burma/Myanmar: The Burmese Air Force ordered 36 F-6s, together with some Guizhou F-7M (the Chinese copy of the Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21F-13) from China in 1990. However, by 1991 none of them were delivered. As with many other cases in this blog, we drawn it in Burmese colours in an imaginative exercise.
• Iraq: In 1983 Iraq bought 40 ex-Egyptian F-6C machines to supplement their MiG-19S. Their fate is unknown because many times they are taken by MiG-19s. However, it's most likely that many of them were destroyed during the First Gulf War and other sold to various customers like Uganda and North Korea. As we couldn't find graphical evidence of a Shenyang F-6C in Iraqi colours, the drawing should be considered as speculative.
• Iran: Apparently the Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force (IRIAF) acquired 24 F-6 fighter-bombers from North Korea which arrived via a cargo ship in April 1983. Apparently, during the Iran-Iraq they saw some action against Iraqi forces as they served as ground-attackers. Later, they bought additional FT-6 trainers. As we couldn't find any photo or pic of Iran's F-6 nor fighters, nor trainers, the FT-6 depicted below should be considered as speculative.
• North Korea: In 1988 (some sources claim 1980) as the North Korean Air Force (NKAF) looked on expanding the size of their air force, they acquired 100 F-6 fighter-bombers which were delivered in 1988 and 1989. They are still active nowadays based around the various air bases around the country.

Sources:

1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shenyang_J-6

2. Midland Publishing - Aerofax - Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-19. The Soviet Union's First Production Supersonic Fighter

3. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_aircraft_of_the_Iranian_Air_Force

4. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_historic_Bangladesh_military_aircraft

5. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Korean_People%27s_Army_Air_and_Anti-Air_Force

6. Salamander Books - The Complete Book of Fighters

Shenyang J-6, African Users

 

The Shenyang J-6/F-6 is the Chinese-built version of the Soviet Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-19. 

With thousands of aircraft produced, it has been exported to various countries all around the globe, among the following ones:

• Sudan: The Sudanese Air Force had ten (or nine, depending on the source) F-6  in force by 1981. Later, presumably in the early 1990s they were joined by an unknown number of FT-6 trainers and additional F-6 fighters. Nowadays, as December 2019, twenty F-6/FT-6 are still in active service with the Sudanese Air Force.
• Tanzania: In 1973 or 1974, the Air Wing of the Tanzania People's Defence Forces received twelve Shenyang F-6 interceptors and FT-6 trainers. All of them were based at Mikumi Air Base, located 130 km (80 milles) north of Dar Es Salaam, the capital. 
  In 1978, when Uganda waged war on Tanzania, Tanzanian F-6, together with the older F-5, were tasked with engaging any possible Ugandan aircraft, which consisted on the MiG-15 and the MiG-17, while the Chengdu F-7A (the Chinese-built MiG-21) of the Tanzanian Air Force were tasked to deal with the more advanced aircraft of Uganda's allies, namely the Libyan Tupolev Tu-22 bomber.
  Nowadays, three F-6 and a single FT-6 are known to be still in active service.
• Zambia: It's known that by 1991 the Zambian Air Force had 12 F-6C in active. Nowadays, eight F-6C and two FT-6 are still in service. As we couldn't find graphical evidence of this, the drawing should be considered as speculative.

Sources:

1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shenyang_J-6

2. Midland Publishing - Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-19 - The Soviet Union's First Production Supersonic Fighter

3. https://www.valka.cz/topic/view/187130

4. https://www.valka.cz/topic/view/187149

5. Salamander Books - The Complete Book of Fighters

Shenyang F-6, Egyptian and Somalian users

 

The Shenyang F-6C is a day fighter version armed with three Type 30-1 30 mm cannons, which are a copy of the Soviet NR-30. It's a direct copy of the MiG-19S but it differs in having a braking parachute at the base of the rudder. 

The aircraft has been exported to various countries, among them, Egypt and Somalia, which are the main topic of this post:

• Egypt: When Cairo and Moscow broke up relations in 1976, Egypt turned to China for spares support. China saw the opportunity and sold around 40 Shenyang F-6C fighter-bombers and an unknown number of FT-6 trainers. According to Interavia, Egypt had no less than 100 F-6C and FT-6 in two air brigades, No.241 based at Bilbeis-East Air Base and No.242 based at Beni Suef Air Base, in early 1987. Some other sources claim that Egypt sold some F-6Cs to Iraq which were employed in the Iraq-Iran War.
  Flight International reported that by 1991 the Egyptian Air Force had 72 F-6C and six FT-6s in service. Those surviving F-6C and FT-6s were assigned mainly to the Nos.20 and 21 Squadrons both of which were part of the No.211 Fighter Ground Attack Brigade, based at Gianaclis Air Base, with a reduced number serving as an Operational Conversion Unit (OCU) with the Air Force's Academy at Bilbeis Air Base. 
  The F-6C were fitted with pylons for two 100 kg (220 lb) or 250 kg (551 lb) bombs for runaway cratering, ORO-57 FFAR pods or 212 mm (8.34 in) rockets. Some aircraft were even fitted with non-standard trapezoidal blast panels and a number were also upgraded with the Matra R.550 Magic IR-homing air-to-air missile. 
  They served until the mid-1990s when they were progressively replaced by the General-Dynamics F-16.
• Somalia: As the USSR supported Ethiopia at the border conflict with Somalia in 1977-1978, Somalia promptly terminated its friendship treaty with the USSR in November 1977. Therefore, Soviet military aid to Somalia was cut off and, after the Ogaden War, Somalia looked up to China to replace their MiG-17 and Shenyang F-5 that were lost in combat. Hence, from 1980 onwards, the Somali Air Force was supplied with 50 Shenyang F-6C fighters and FT-6 trainers. 
  When Somalian dictator Siad Barre fled the country in 1991, the country fell into chaos causing the Somalian Air Force to cease its existence and leaving most of its aircraft to rot at the different airfields around the country. Nowadays the remaining number of F-6Cs are listed as "in storage" but they are most likely, derelict.

Sources:

1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shenyang_J-6

2. Midland Publishing - Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-19 - The Soviet Union's First Production Supersonic Fighter

3. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Egyptian_Air_Force

4. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Somali_Air_Force

5. Salamander Books - The Complete Book of Fighters

Shenyang F-6, Albanian and American Users

The Shenyang J-6/F-6 is the Chinese-built version of the Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-19. The denomination of 'J-6' is used for those machines built and serving in China, while the denomination of 'F-6' is used for the exported machines. It has been exported to various countries, among them, the following ones:

• Albania: When Albania broke diplomatic relations with the USSR in 1962, the country went into a self-imposed political isolation with China being their only ally. Therefore, in 1965, after just six years of operations, the MiG-19PMs that operated with the 7594th Fighter Regiment were shipped to China (as China wanted to know about Soviet radar technology which they couldn't acquire firsthand) and were traded back for 12 new but radarless and cannon-armed Shenyang F-6 fighters.
  Eventually, 17 F-6s were delivered some of them being, according to some sources, the Shenyang F-6C version which has a braking parachute at the base of the rudder and the JJ-6/FT-6 version which is the two-seater trainer variant.
  Albania's relationship with China also deteriorated in 1978 and, hence, spares supplies were cut off. Facing the serious problem of a total unserviceability the Albanian Air Force had to start manufacturing vital airframe components and engine parts at the Aviation Maintenance Unit in Kucovë Air Base at Berat.
  According to Euromil, the Albanian Air Force had 24 Shenyang F-6 in service in as late as 1995. However, by early 2000s they were all written off except for the FT-6 trainers.
• United States of America: There is no evidence of any Shenyang F-6 flying with the United States Air Force. However, the US Aviation Museum had an unarmed F-6A (Shenyang's equivalent to the MiG-19P) with fake markings reminiscent of the People's Liberation Army Air Force at Chino, California.
  This aircraft was later repainted mimicking the Egyptian camouflage pattern and was given Egyptian markings and codes too. 

Sources:

1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shenyang_J-6

2. Midland Publishing - Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-19. The Soviet Union's First Production Supersonic Fighter

3. https://www.valka.cz/Sen-jang-J-6-kod-NATO-Farmer-t42341

4. Salamander Books - The Complete Book of Fighters