Nanchang Q-5, part one

 

The Nanchang Q-5 is a Chinese-built single seat twin-engine jet fighter ground attack aircraft heavily based on the Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-19 which is heavily used in the ground attack role.

Its origin can be traced back to the late 1950s when, in August 1958 the People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) requested a jet attack aircraft for the ground attack role. 

Lu Xiaopeng was named chief designer of this project which, although based on the MiG-19, this new design, named initially as Qiangjiji-5 (5th fifth attack aircraft design), had a longer fuselage, area ruled to reduce transonic drag and fit a 4 m (13-ft) long internal weapons bay. The air intakes were placed at the sides of the fuselage to make room for a planned target radar in the nose which, eventually, it was never fitted. New wings with greater area and reduced sweep were also incorporated, though they were similarly looking to those of the MiG-19. The Q-5 was powered by the Liming-Wopen WP-6A turbojet engine which is itself a copy of the Soviet Tumansky RD-9, with 6.610 lbf of thrust power.

The redesign meant that the Q-5 was a bit slower at high altitude than the MiG-19, but at low altitudes it proved to be equally faster thanks to the area-ruled fuselage.

Production armament consists on two Type-23-1 23 mm guns mounted in the wing roots, two pylons under each wing and two additional pair of pylons under the engines were also provided in addition to the weapons bay. A total of 1.000 kg (2.205 lb) of ordnance could be carried internally with additional external 1.000 kg externally. On many aircraft the weapons bay were fitted with an auxiliary fuel tank.

Many variants were made, though in this post we're just covering some of them:

• Q-5: The original production version of the 1960s. It was equipped with a total of 6 pylons, two under each wing and two under the fuselage. Replaced by the Q-5A.
• Q-5Jia: A regular Q-5 modified to carry tactical nuclear bombs. Very few were converted to this role and some of them were fitted with the 317Jia radar as an improvement program. 
• Q-5I: AKA Q-5A. This version was a regular Q-5 with the internal weapons bay replaced with an additional fuel tank which increased fuel capacity in 70% more. A Chinese-built Type 74Y4 laser rangefinder was also fitted.
• Q-5IA: AKA Q-5B. Improved Q-5A with radar warning receiver and flare dispensers. It was equipped with an improved weapon aiming sight which allowed the attacks to be carried out from different angles. Extra outer pylons on outer wings were also added for PL-2/PL-5 air-to-air missiles, bombs or rocket launchers.
• Q-5Yia: AKA Q-5B (denomination given by the People's Liberation Army Navy - PLAN). A torpedo attacker developed for the PLAN. It was initially going to be equipped with YJ-8 anti-ship missiles but the programme was cancelled because of budget problems, even with the missile well developed. It was tried to retake the project in the 1980s but it was decided to give the role to the Xian JH-7. 
• A-5C: Export version fitted with western avionics which we already covered in previous posts.
• Q-5D: An interim attack aircraft introduced during the 1996 Taiwan Strait Crisis. It featured improved avionics and radar.

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

Nanchang A-5, Pakistan users

 

The Nanchang A-5C is the export variant of the Chinese-built Nanchang Q-5C, which is a single-seat, twin-engined ground attack aircraft derived from the Soviet Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-19. 

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

Nanchang Q-5/A-5, foreign users, part one

 

The Nanchang A-5C is the export version of the Chinese-built Nanchang Q-5 which is a single-seat twin-engined ground attack aircraft heavily based on the Soviet Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-19. The aircraft is mainly used for ground support.

As we said, the A-5C is the export variant equipped with western equipment per customer requests, like avionics made by Rockwell Collins and Martin-Baker ejection seats, among others. Most of them were were exported to Pakistan, but that country wasn't the only user of this aircraft as the following ones also used the type:

• Bangladesh: In 1986, the Bangladesh Air Force (BAF) received no less than 11 Nanchang A-5C which came straight from the People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF). They were assigned to the No.21 Squadron, based at Bashar Kurmitola Air Base, in the country's capital of Dhaka. Nowadays they are all reportedly retired from service.
• Myanmar: The Myanmar Air Force bought some Nanchang A-5C in 1994 with a total of 36 A-5C having been ordered, which were gradually delivered between that year and the year 2000. They were used in combat in 2015 against the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army. In one of those sorties, they accidentally bombed a Chinese village in Gengma country, province of Yunnan. The PLAAF responded by deploying anti-air missiles and interceptors to the area. In December 2019, twenty-one of them were still in active service.
• Democratic People's Republic of Korea: In 1982 (though some sources claim that by very late 1970s the first units had already arrived) the Korean People's Air Force bought a total of 40 Nanchang A-5, with some sources reducing that number to 36 and other increasing it to 50. They are primarily used as ground attack aircraft and are still in active service nowadays. On 20th April 2017 two Korean A-5s were seen practising air strikes against ground targets in Bohai bay during the increased tensions in the Korean peninsula.
• Sudan: The Sudanese Air Force (SAF) received no less than 20 A-5IIA (tdenomination given to the export version for the SAF) in the early 2000s. They were used in the War in Darfur, conflict which still rages on nowadays. As December 2019 all 20 of the A-5IIA are still in active service with the SAF.

Sources:

1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nanchang_Q-5

2. http://www.aeroflight.co.uk/user/fleet/north-korea-af-nanchang-q-5-ia-fantan.htm

3. https://www.valka.cz/Nan-cchang-Q-5-kod-NATO-Fantan-t9349 (translated)

4. https://www.valka.cz/topic/view/187717 (translated)

5. Midland Publishing - Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-19 - The Soviet Union's First Production Supersonic Fighter