Q-5A
Nanchang Aircraft Manufacturing Company · China · first flew 1970 · fighter
The Q-5A (NATO: Fantan) is an improved production variant of the Nanchang Q-5 ground-attack aircraft, incorporating an internal bomb bay and upgrades over the initial Q-5 standard, serving as the backbone of the PLAAF attack fleet through the Cold War.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, swept |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 2 × turbojet, fuselage-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | Area-ruled waisted fuselage with solid nose containing internal weapons bay |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Area-ruled waisted fuselage with solid nose containing internal weapons bay
- Mid-set swept wings with prominent wing fence
- Twin lateral air intakes flanking the lower fuselage nose
The Coke-bottle area-ruled fuselage waist is immediately obvious in any view. The solid nose with lateral intakes is the most distinctive recognition feature compared to other Chinese fighters, which use nose or chin intakes. The wing fence visible on the upper wing surface is characteristic.
Specifications
- The Q-5A has a length of 15.65 m (51 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 9.68 m (32 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 1190 km/h (739 mph).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
The Q-5A represented the first major production refinement of the Q-5 design, incorporating lessons from initial service with the PLAAF. The internal bomb bay, retained from the original Q-5, was a distinctive feature allowing nuclear weapon carriage. The A standard entered production in the early 1970s and became the most numerous Q-5 variant of the era.
Variants
The Q-5 family includes the original Q-5, Q-5A, Q-5I, Q-5IA, Q-5II, Q-5III, Q-5M (export designation A-5M with French avionics), and the Q-5J two-seat trainer. The internal bomb bay was deleted in later variants to allow greater fuel carriage.
Where you'll see it
The Q-5A served with the People's Liberation Army Air Force and was also exported to Pakistan (as A-5) and North Korea. It constituted a significant proportion of PLAAF light-attack strength before progressive replacement by later types and the Q-5III.
Related aircraft
AircraftIQ — the aircraft field guide: 4,893 recognition guides, live overhead identification, works offline.