Nanchang Q-5

Q-5 / A-5
An A-5 of the Bangladesh Air Force
Role Ground-attack aircraft
National origin People's Republic of China
Manufacturer Nanchang Aircraft Mfg. Co.
First flight 4 June 1965
Introduction 1970
Retired 2011 by Pakistan Air Force
Status Out of production. Active service.
Primary users PLA Air Force
Pakistan Air Force (historical)
Myanmar Air Force
Produced 1969–2012
Number built 1,300 (approx.)[1]
Developed from Shenyang J-6

The Nanchang Q-5 (Chinese: 强-5; pinyin: Qiang-5; NATO reporting name: Fantan), also known as the A-5 in its export versions, is a Chinese-built jet ground-attack aircraft based on the Soviet MiG-19. Its main role is close air support.

Design and development

The PRC was an enthusiastic user of the MiG-19, which it manufactured locally as the Shenyang J-6 from 1958. In August 1958 the People's Liberation Army requested development of a jet attack aircraft for the air support role.

Lu Xiaopeng was appointed chief designer of this project. Lu also designed the J-12 fighter jet.[2] Although based on the MiG-19, the new design, designated Qiangjiji-5 (fifth attack aircraft design), had a longer fuselage, area ruled to reduce transonic drag and accommodate a 4 m (13-ft) long internal weapons bay.[3] The air intakes were moved to the fuselage sides to make space in the nose for a planned target radar (which was never actually fitted). New wings with greater area and reduced sweep were incorporated. The Q-5 shares the J-6's Liming Wopen WP-6 A (Tumansky RD-9) turbojet engines. The redesign cost some high-altitude speed, but the Q-5 is as fast as the MiG-19/J-6 at low level, thanks largely to the area-ruled fuselage.

Fixed armament of the Q-5 was reduced to two Type 23-1 23 mm cannon with 100 rounds per gun, mounted in the wing roots. Two pylons under each wing and two pairs of tandem pylons under the engines were provided in addition to the weapons bay. A total of 1,000 kg (2,205 lb) of ordnance could be carried internally, with an additional 1,000 kg externally. On many aircraft the weapons bay is now used primarily for an auxiliary fuel tank.

The first prototype was completed in 1960, but the political climate in China resulted in the project being canceled in 1961. A small team kept the program alive until it was re-opened in 1963, when production was shifted to Nanchang. The first flight finally occurred on 4 June 1965. Series production began in 1969, with squadron delivery starting in 1970.

About 1,000 aircraft were produced, 600 of them being the updated Q-5A. A small number, perhaps a few dozen, Q-5As were modified to carry nuclear weapons; these are believed to retain their internal weapons bay. A long-range Q-5I, introduced in 1983, added a fuel tank instead of the internal weapons bay, compensating for that with the provision of two additional underwing pylons. Some of these aircraft serve with the PLA Navy, and have apparently been equipped with radar to guide anti-ship missiles. Subsequent minor upgrades include the Q-5IA, with a new gun/bomb sighting system and avionics, and the Q-5II, with radar warning receiver (RWR).

In the 1980s, the aircraft was exported to nations such as Pakistan, Bangladesh, Myanmar, and is often known as the A-5 in those nations.

Plans for an upgraded Q-5/A-5 with Western equipment and new navigation and attack (nav/attack) systems were largely aborted following the Tiananmen Square protests of 1989, but the aircraft continues in service. It is a capable light attack aircraft, although its limited navigation and weapons-delivery systems are inferior to more modern aircraft.

In more recent years, the PLAAF has begun to field newer models of the Q-5, that incorporate some of the technology developed during the canceled Q-5M and Q-5K projects. The Q-5 introduces a nose-mounted laser rangefinder, and a laser designator is also likely to be fitted since the aircraft is said to be able to deliver laser-guided bombs.[4] The Q-5A variant is believed to be capable of delivering nuclear munitions. The Q-5D is an upgrade with new avionics, including a HUD and a new navigation system. The Q-5E and Q-5F models are reportedly being worked on, though little is known about them at this time. One of them could potentially be the new two-seater that has been seen in a few photographs, although the two-seater could bear the designation Q-5J.

Operational history

During the 1996-2001 phase of the Afghan civil war Pakistan Air Force A-5s (of the now disbanded 16th and 26th Squadrons) are reported to have flown strike missions against Northern Alliance positions as part of the Pakistani support to the Taliban.[5]

Sudanese Air Force employed its A-5 attack jets during the War in Darfur.[6]

In March 2015, some Myanmar Air Force A-5C jets flying sorties against the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army, accidentally dropped bombs on a Chinese village in Gengma County, Yunnan inside the Chinese border, killing 4 villagers, with the PLA responding by deploying HQ-12 surface-to-air missiles and fighter jets.[7]

Variants

Domestic variants

Q-5
Old Q-5s on the deck of the Minsk, at the Minsk World Theme Park
Old Q-5 numbered #0064
View of Nanchang Q-5

Export variants

Operators

Current

 People's Republic of China
 Myanmar
 North Korea
 Sudan

Former

 Bangladesh
 Pakistan

Specifications (Q-5D)

Data from Wilson[1]

General characteristics

Performance

Armament

See also

Related development
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era
Related lists

References

Notes
  1. 1 2 Wilson, Stewart. Combat Aircraft since 1945. Fyshwick, Australia: Aerospace Publications, 2000. p. 107. ISBN 1-875671-50-1.
  2. "Q5 attack aircraft chief designer Lu Xiaopeng". AirForceWorld.com. Retrieved 15 July 2011.
  3. "Q5_attack_aircraft_weapon_bay". AirForceWorld.com. Retrieved 2 May 2011.
  4. "Qiang-5 (Q-5, A-5, Fantan) Ground Attack Aircraft". SinoDefence.com. Retrieved 2013-11-16.
  5. Cooper, Tom; Troung; Koelich, Marc (10 February 2008). "Afghanistan, 1979–2001; Part 2". ACIG. Retrieved 23 December 2014.
  6. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7503428.stm
  7. Feinberg, William. "China summons Burmese ambassador after bomb kills four in Yunnan". East by Southeast. Retrieved 16 March 2015.
  8. "West Updates China's Best", Flight International issue September 1987, page 45, FlightGlobal.com archive URL: http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1987/1987%20-%201859.html, accessed 27 February 2010.
  9. "Bangladesh Air Force Nanchang A-5C "Fantan" Fighter-Bombers". bdmilitary. Retrieved 2009-03-08.
  10. 1 2 3 4 "Flight Global World Air Forces 2014" (PDF). Flight Global. December 2013. Retrieved 13 April 2014.
  11. Bokhari, Farhan (15 April 2011). "Pakistan retires A-5 'Fantan'". Jane's Defence Weekly.
  12. Parsons, Gary (19 February 2010). "First JF-17 squadron forms". key.aero. Retrieved 19 October 2013.
  13. "Pakistan & China's JF-17 Fighter Program". defenseindustrydaily.com. 14 November 2011. Retrieved 20 October 2013.
  14. Parsons, Gary (12 April 2011). "JF-17 build-up progresses". key.aero. Retrieved 19 October 2013.
  15. Aerospaceweb.org (Q-5 IA)
Bibliography
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