Shenyang J-6

The Shenyang J‑6 is a Chinese-built, single‑engine, supersonic fighter that entered service in the early 1960s as a licensed copy of the Soviet MiG‑19 ‘Farmer’. Produced by the Shenyang Aircraft Corporation, the programme began in 1958 and over 1,100 airframes were delivered to the People’s Liberation Army Air Force, navy and export customers such as Iraq, Albania and Bangladesh. The aircraft features a low‑set tapered wing, twin afterburning turbo‑jets, and an all‑metal semi‑monocoque fuselage that gave it a maximum speed of Mach 1.35 and a service ceiling above 16,000 m. Armament typically consisted of three 23 mm cannons and provisions for rockets, bombs or later‑fitted air‑to‑air missiles, allowing the J‑6 to fulfil both interceptor and ground‑attack roles. Its simplicity, robustness and relatively low operating cost made it a workhorse for several decades, providing the PLA an indigenous jet platform during a period of rapid modernization. Although superseded by more advanced fighters, the J‑6’s extensive export record and long service life underscore its lasting impact on Asian and Middle‑Eastern military aviation. Today a few J‑6 airframes are kept in museums and some remain in limited service with training units, serving as a tangible reminder of China's early jet‑age ambitions and its contribution to global fighter development.

Shenyang Aircraft Corporation

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