A-5

An A-5 of the Bangladesh Air Force
Role	Ground-attack aircraft
National origin	People's Republic of China
Manufacturer	Nanchang Aircraft Mfg. Co.
First flight	4 June 1965
Introduction	1970
Retired	2011 by Pakistan Air Force
Status	Out of production. Active service.
Primary users	PLA Air Force Pakistan Air Force (historical) Myanmar Air Force
Produced	1969–2012
Number built	1,300 (approx.)[1]
Developed from	Shenyang J-6

Design and development

The Nanchang Q-5 (Chinese: 强-5; pinyin: Qiang-5; NATO reporting name: Fantan), also known as the A-5 in its export versions, is a Chinese-built jet ground-attack aircraft based on the Soviet MiG-19. Its main role is close air support.

The PRC was an enthusiastic user of the MiG-19, which it manufactured locally as the Shenyang J-6 from 1958. In August 1958 the People's Liberation Army requested development of a jet attack aircraft for the air support role.

Operational history[edit]

During the 1996-2001 phase of the Afghan civil war Pakistan Air Force A-5s (of the now disbanded 16th and 26th Squadrons) are reported to have flown strike missions against Northern Alliance positions as part of the Pakistani support to the Taliban.^[5]

In March 2015, some Myanmar Air Force A-5C jets accidentally dropped bombs on a Chinese village in Gengma County, Yunnan inside the Chinese border, killing 4 villagers, with the PLA responding by deploying HQ-12 surface-to-air missiles and fighter jets.^[6]

Fixed armament of the Q-5 was reduced to two Type 23-1 23 mm cannon with 100 rounds per gun, mounted in the wing roots. Two pylons under each wing and two pairs of tandem pylons under the engines were provided in addition to the weapons bay. A total of 1,000 kg (2,205 lb) of ordnance could be carried internally, with an additional 1,000 kg externally. On many aircraft the weapons bay is now used primarily for an auxiliary fuel tank.