The A-5C is the export variant, equipped with modern western avionics and was mainly exported to Pakistan.
Such was the case, that in 1982 the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) ordered the type and, in February 1983 the first batch of 42 A-5B to be used as strike aircraft. The type was operated by the No.32 Fighter Ground Attack Wing, comprising Nos. 16 'Panther' and 26 'Black Spider' squadrons and based at Peshawar. The No.16 operated the A-5 from 1983 until April 2011 making the last unit to withdraw it from active service, while the No.26 operated it from 1984 until February 2010. The No.7 (Operational Conversion Unit) Squadron, belonging to the same wing, also operated the type as it was a former combat squadron. It was based at Masroor and equipped the A-5C from 1983 until 1991.
In early 1987 a second batch of 100 A-5Cs was also delivered. However, by late 1991 there were reports of only 54 active aircraft.
In 1990 the PAF also tested the A-5M which is the export variant of the Q-5M, a variant with even more western avionics, but it was rejected in favour of the Dassault Mirage IIIK, after the programe for the French fighter was extended.
By the year 2011 the type has already been withdrawn from active use with the PAF.
Sources:
1. Midland Publishing - Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-19. The Soviet Union's First Production Supersonic Fighter
2. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nanchang_Q-5
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