F-6 of Pakistan Air Force

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PAF F-6 with 68mm rockets pods

 

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Air Marshal Nur Khan checks one of the first F-6 (MiG-19) delivered to Pakistan. The type served PAF for thirty-five years and was finally retired in 2002, when the last F-6 squadron (No. 23 ‘Talons’) re-equipped with new F-7PG aircraft.

The type logged more than 400,000 sorties (approx 300,000 hrs) in 37 years. In total 260 F-6s were procured.

Picture Courtesy: Usman Shabbir

 

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PAF No. 23 Squadron “Talons” – Shenyang F-6 Firing Its Cannons.

The Shenyang F-6’s heavy cannon armament was formidable. A one-second burst from its three 30 mm NR-30 cannons delivered a projectile mass of 18 kg (40 lb). Each aircraft carried 75 rounds per wing gun and 55 rounds for the fuselage gun, giving roughly six seconds of total firing time. A single two-second burst of 90 shells could put approximately 37 kg (81 lb) of metal onto the target.

The three NR-30 cannons (two in the wing roots and one in the nose) were the F-6’s primary air-to-air and ground-attack weapons. Their high rate of fire and heavy projectile weight made even short bursts extremely destructive.

No. 23 Squadron “Talons” holds a unique distinction in Pakistan Air Force history. It was among the first units to receive the Shenyang F-6 after the type’s arrival in Pakistan on 30 December 1965 and remained the last squadron to operate the aircraft until its final retirement on 27 March 2002. The squadron flew the F-6 for more than 36 years, making it one of the longest continuous users of the type anywhere in the world.

After this long and distinguished service, the F-6 was withdrawn from PAF service in March 2002 and replaced by more modern aircraft.