Unmanned premiere
The Changchun Air Show 2025 took place in Changchun, China, from September 19th to 23rd. While the event lacked any major premieres, several interesting aircraft of various classes were on display for the first time.
One such new development, previously undisplayed publicly, was an unmanned version of the J-6 fighter jet. The People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) displayed the aircraft on static display and also released some information about it.
Experiments to convert the aging J-6 aircraft into a UAV are reported to have begun more than 30 years ago. The first prototype UAV This type took to the air in 1995. What results it showed and how this project developed further are not specified.
Apparently, the fighter jet upgrade project proved its worth and found practical application. UAVs could be adapted from available fighters in the required series. However, this technology was kept secret for three decades, and only recently was it unveiled to the public for the first time.
The exhibition revealed the main features of the modernization project. During the conversion, the aircraft is stripped of some of its cockpit equipment, ejection seat, integrated cannon, and other components. At the same time, it is equipped with new control and navigation systems and additional hardpoints. weapons and other elements.
After the upgrade, the J-6 loses its air-to-air combat capability. However, it retains or improves its ability to attack ground targets. Furthermore, the unmanned aircraft can serve as an aerial target and assist in training pilots and air defense crews.
Long story
History The history of the presented UAV dates back to the early 1950s. At that time, the advanced MiG-19 fighter was being developed in the USSR. It made its maiden flight in May 1952, and officially entered service with the Soviet Air Force in 1955. It was the world's first mass-produced supersonic aircraft.
In 1959, several MiG-19 fighters and the production documentation for this product were transferred to the friendly People's Republic of China. Chinese industry soon mastered the production of this type of aircraft, and in 1962 the aircraft was accepted into service with the People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) under the designation "Jiang-6." Production continued until the early 1980s, during which time approximately 3,000 aircraft were built.
For a long time, the J-6 was one of the PLAAF's mainstay fighters. This only began to change in the 1990s, and these aircraft soon began to be phased out. The last aircraft were officially decommissioned in 2010. According to available reports, some fighters were scrapped, while those with acceptable remaining service life were placed in storage.
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