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

Shenyang F-6, various Asian users

 

The Shenyang J-6 (F-6 denomination for the export variants) is the Chinese-built version of the Soviet Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-19. It started as a "pure" copy of the MiG, but it evolved until being a fighter of its own. As it has been massively produced, it has been also, exported to various countries around the globe, among them, the following ones:

• Bangladesh: Beginning in 1978 the Bangladesh Air Force (BAF) received at least 40 F-6C and FT-6 as a gift from Pakistan as they were phased out of service with the Pakistan Air Force. The F-6C was operated by the No.25 Squadron "Trendsetters" based initially at Patenga Air Base and later at other various air bases scattered around the country. By 1998 the types were being retired with the FT-6 being replaced in the trainer role by the Czech Albatross L-39ZA and the F-6C were replaced by Russian built MiG-29s.
• Burma/Myanmar: The Burmese Air Force ordered 36 F-6s, together with some Guizhou F-7M (the Chinese copy of the Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21F-13) from China in 1990. However, by 1991 none of them were delivered. As with many other cases in this blog, we drawn it in Burmese colours in an imaginative exercise.
• Iraq: In 1983 Iraq bought 40 ex-Egyptian F-6C machines to supplement their MiG-19S. Their fate is unknown because many times they are taken by MiG-19s. However, it's most likely that many of them were destroyed during the First Gulf War and other sold to various customers like Uganda and North Korea. As we couldn't find graphical evidence of a Shenyang F-6C in Iraqi colours, the drawing should be considered as speculative.
• Iran: Apparently the Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force (IRIAF) acquired 24 F-6 fighter-bombers from North Korea which arrived via a cargo ship in April 1983. Apparently, during the Iran-Iraq they saw some action against Iraqi forces as they served as ground-attackers. Later, they bought additional FT-6 trainers. As we couldn't find any photo or pic of Iran's F-6 nor fighters, nor trainers, the FT-6 depicted below should be considered as speculative.
• North Korea: In 1988 (some sources claim 1980) as the North Korean Air Force (NKAF) looked on expanding the size of their air force, they acquired 100 F-6 fighter-bombers which were delivered in 1988 and 1989. They are still active nowadays based around the various air bases around the country.

Sources:

1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shenyang_J-6

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

3. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_aircraft_of_the_Iranian_Air_Force

4. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_historic_Bangladesh_military_aircraft

5. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Korean_People%27s_Army_Air_and_Anti-Air_Force

6. Salamander Books - The Complete Book of Fighters