Changchun Air Show reveals China’s zombie J-6 drone fleet with a possible role in invading Taiwan
September 22, 2025
New images from China’s Changchun Air Show show China is converting some of its old Cold War-era jets into uncrewed combat aerial vehicles (UCAVs). One of the displays features a converted J-6 fighter jet, transformed into a zombie-like flying drone, confirming what outside analysts have suspected for years.
China is converting obsolete fighter jets into drones
China is taking a logical step in converting its obsolete Shenyang J-6 (based on the MiG-19) and likely its Chengdu J-7 (based on the MiG-21) and J-8 fighter jets (derived from the MiG-21) into combat drones.
For the first time a J-6W UCAV was put on display … here spotted at the Changchun Air Show.
— @Rupprecht_A (@RupprechtDeino) September 16, 2025
Even more interesting however are reports, it has been retired already (indeed most likely) and the units that operated them now use GJ-11 or are to gain them soon.
(Via @军武次位面) pic.twitter.com/dWskXCYLyJ
China’s air force (the PLAAF) is currently undergoing a dramatic transformation. The force still has legacy early Cold War fighter jets in service while also inducting large numbers of advanced 5th-generation fighter jets and working on next-generation designs. Even China’s Flanker derivatives are generally considered more capable than their Russian counterparts.
But even obsolete airframes, like the J-6, can be modified and repurposed for useful roles in future conflicts.
The drone J-6s have been modified by removing the cannon, external fuel tanks, and ejection seats, and by installing an automatic flight control and autopilot system. They also have additional wing pylons and a terrain-following navigation system.
Role of China’s new zombie fighter jets
According to MSN, quoting “details revealed at the [Changchun] exhibition” and images published on China’s Weibo social media, the first J-6 pilotless flight took place in 1995.
Since then, converted J-6s have been used as training targets and as aggressors in simulated exercises. The very origin of drones dates back to the World Wars, when aircraft were controlled remotely and used as training targets.
But the zombie J-6’s roles may have expanded since then. In particular, analysts see these old zombie airframes used as attritable platforms able to act as decoys, perform swarming missions, and overwhelm an enemy’s air defence. They could be used ahead of China’s modern fighter jets to deplete Taiwan’s air defence missiles.
This is JJ-7. The trainer version of the J-7 family. The newest one was delivered to the PLAAF in 2017. This was after J-20 formally entered service. pic.twitter.com/JNnnImRkeY
— SomePLAOSINT (@someplaosint) September 16, 2025
How China could use these jets in an invasion of Taiwan is explained in depth in a 2022 paper by the Mitchell Institute of Aerospace Studies.
US use of retired fighter jets converted to drones
For decades, the USAF has converted old fighter jets into flying zombies, mostly for training. It doesn’t appear to have an analogue to China’s apparent use of old autonomous fighter jet airframes in a combat role.
The United States has made use of retired fighter jets as remotely operated aerial targets since the early Cold War. This is how many retired Cold War fighter jets, like the F-4 Phantom II, met their end. As the US ran out of F-4s to convert into aerial targets, it transitioned to retired F-16s. These are now converted into QF-16 Full-Scale Aerial Targets (FSAT).
The US Air Force has also converted a retired F-16 into the General Dynamics X-62 VISTA (“Variable Stability In-flight Simulator Test Aircraft”) as part of the Skyborg program to develop unmanned combat aerial vehicles.
Currently, the USAF is testing advanced AI-enabled autonomous F-16s as part of Project VENOM “Viper Experimentation and Next-gen Operations Model – Autonomy Flying Testbed.” The first tests began in 2024, and the program seeks to advance aerial combat capabilities for future crewed and uncrewed platforms.
It is unclear if China is converting older fighter jets into a similar role to develop its own loyal wingman drones.
