On 16 September 2025, during a preview ahead of the Changchun Air Show scheduled from 19 to 23 September, China publicly displayed for the first time a J-6 fighter converted into an unmanned aircraft. The sighting, as reported by X-account: @RupprechtDeino, confirmed long-standing reports about the People’s Liberation Army Air Force’s interest in converting legacy fighters into unmanned platforms. The choice to unveil the system before the official opening suggests a deliberate communication effort by Beijing to highlight the continuing value of its legacy airframes in modern operations. Read Full Defense News At This Link.
 |
| The public appearance of the J-6W is therefore more than a symbolic gesture. It confirms that China is aligning its stockpile, infrastructure, and doctrine to exploit massed unmanned platforms in future conflicts (Picture source: X-account/@RupprechtDeino) |