Nanchang Q-
The Q-5 Fantan, also known as the A-5 in its export versions, is a People's Republic of China-built jet fighter aircraft built by the Nanchang Aircraft Company. Its main role is as a fighter-bomber in assisting ground troops during attacks and in attacking land targets, the name Q-5 meaning Qiang-5, or 5th attack design. The Q-5 also retains a marginal interception ability. The jet is a single-seater, with two Liming WP-6 afterburning turbojets. It is capable of supersonic speeds.
The Q-5 started as a design from Shenyang in 1958, a development of the Soviet MiG-19 (NATO reporting name 'Farmer'). The project was cancelled in 1961, but a small team kept it alive until it was re-opened in 1963, but production was shifted to Nanchang where the first prototype flew in 1965. Production began in 1969 and deliveries in 1970.
The aircraft was redesigned for the low-level attack role primarily by changing the air intakes to a side-mounted position to leave the nose free for targeting radar (which was subsequently not developed). An internal weapons bay was also provided for up to 1,000 kg (2,205 lb) of ordnance, but in most versions the bay is now used for an auxiliary fuel tank, with weapons carried on four pylons on the edges of the fuselage and two pylons under each wing. Total ordnance load is 2,000 kg (4,410 lb). The Q-5 retains two cannon in the same wingroot location as the J-6, but the Nudelman-Rikhter NR-30 weapons are replaced with two 23mm cannon with 100 rounds per gun.
About 1,000 jets 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. In the 1980s, the plane was exported to nations such as Pakistan, Bangladesh and North Korea, and is often known as the A-5 in those nations.
It continues to serve in the Air Forces of these nations, and is still a capable attack plane, although its avionics require upgrading to keep it up to par with other planes.
| List of Aircraft | Aircraft Manufacturers | Aircraft Engines | Aircraft Engine Manufacturers Airlines | Air Forces | Aircraft Weapons | Missiles | Timeline of aviation |
Categories: PRC attack aircraft 1960-1969