Q-5I
Nanchang Aircraft Manufacturing Company · China · first flew 1977 · fighter
The Q-5I removed the internal bomb bay of earlier Q-5 variants in favour of increased fuel tankage, trading nuclear delivery capability for substantially greater combat radius with conventional weapons on underwing pylons.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, swept |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 2 × turbojet, fuselage-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | Area-ruled Coke-bottle fuselage with enlarged internal fuel sections |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Area-ruled Coke-bottle fuselage with enlarged internal fuel sections
- Solid nose with lateral intakes flanking forward fuselage
- Internal bomb bay deleted versus Q-5A, giving cleaner belly line
Visually very similar to the Q-5A. The deletion of the internal bomb bay gives a smoother lower-fuselage line but this is difficult to detect without close inspection. The area-ruled fuselage waist and lateral nose intakes remain the primary recognition cues common to all Q-5 variants.
Specifications
- The Q-5I 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
By the mid-1970s the PLAAF recognised that the internal bomb bay consumed space better used for fuel. The Q-5I redesign closed the bomb bay and replaced it with an integral fuel tank, extending range and endurance. This trade-off reflected a shift in doctrine from nuclear strike to conventional close air support. The Q-5I entered service around 1977.
Variants
The Q-5I is directly related to the Q-5IA which added additional fuel and minor systems improvements. The Q-5I standard also formed the basis for export variants supplied to Pakistan as the A-5C.
Where you'll see it
The Q-5I served with the PLAAF alongside earlier Q-5A aircraft, gradually replacing them in front-line units. Pakistan's Air Force received export A-5C aircraft of essentially Q-5I standard. The type saw active service over Bangladesh in the 1971 conflict in earlier form.
Related aircraft
- Q-5IA
- Q-5II
- Q-5A
- Q-5III
- CASA C-101 Aviojet
- General Dynamics F-16B Block 1 Fighting Falcon
- Lockheed Have Blue
- MiG-23P
AircraftIQ — the aircraft field guide: 4,893 recognition guides, live overhead identification, works offline.