Q-5A

Q-5A

Q-5 early

Q-5L

Q-5A

Q-5 early

Q-5L

China

VI Rank

Battle rating:

AB	RB	SB
10.0	9.7	10.3

Class:

Strike aircraft

Research:160 000

Purchase:450 000

Show in game

Description

The Q-5A is a rank VI Chinese jet fighter with a battle rating of 10.0 (AB), 9.7 (RB), and 10.3 (SB). It was introduced in Update "New Power".

General info

Flight performance

Describe how the aircraft behaves in the air. Speed, manoeuvrability, acceleration and allowable loads - these are the most important characteristics of the vehicle.

Characteristics	Max Speed (km/h at 7,000 m)		Max altitude (metres)	Turn time (seconds)		Rate of climb (metres/second)		Take-off run (metres)
	AB	RB		AB	RB	AB	RB
Stock	1,434	1,430	16500	25.4	25.7	139.4	129.4	850
Upgraded	___	___		__._	__._	__._	__._

Details

Features
Combat flaps	Take-off flaps	Landing flaps	Air brakes	Arrestor gear	Drogue chute
X	✓	✓	✓	X	✓

Limits
Wings (km/h)	Gear (km/h)	Flaps (km/h)			Max Static G
		Combat	Take-off	Landing	+	-
1260	577	___	___	___	~__	~__

Optimal velocities (km/h)
Ailerons	Rudder	Elevators	Radiator
< ___	< ___	< ___	N/A

Survivability and armour

Examine the survivability of the aircraft. Note how vulnerable the structure is and how secure the pilot is, whether the fuel tanks are armoured, etc. Describe the armour, if there is any, and also mention the vulnerability of other critical aircraft systems.

Armaments

Offensive armament

The Q-5A is armed with:

• 2 x 23 mm Type 23-2K cannons, wing-mounted (120 rpg = 240 total)

Suspended armament

The Q-5A can be outfitted with the following ordnance:

• Without load
• 4 x 250 kg Type 250-2 bombs (1,000 kg total)
• 14 x Type 90-1 rockets
• 14 x Type 90-1 rockets + 4 x 250 kg Type 250-2 bombs (1,000 kg total)
• 8 x Type 130-2 rockets
• 8 x Type 130-2 rockets + 4 x 250 kg Type 250-2 bombs (1,000 kg total)

Usage in battles

Describe the tactics of playing in the aircraft, the features of using aircraft in a team and advice on tactics. Refrain from creating a "guide" - do not impose a single point of view, but instead, give the reader food for thought. Examine the most dangerous enemies and give recommendations on fighting them. If necessary, note the specifics of the game in different modes (AB, RB, SB).

Modules

Tier	Flight performance		Survivability	Weaponry
I	Fuselage repair	Compressor		Offensive 23 mm		Q-5B RWR
II	New boosters		Airframe		Type 250	Q-5B RWR/Flares
III	Wings repair			New 23 mm cannons		HF-14
IV	G-suit	Engine	Cover		HF-6

Pros and cons

Pros:

• High acceleration
• Decent climb rate
• Decent top speed at sea level
• Fantastic energy retention
• Good ammunition stock
• With some luck, the 23 mm cannons can make quick work of enemy aircraft
• Good sustained manoeuvrability, can out-turn F-4 Phantoms and keep up with MiG-21s
• Well-placed cannons in the wing roots

Cons:

• Gun-fighter only, no missiles despite high rank placement
• Average roll rate
• Tail locks up at high speeds
• Easily beaten in manoeuvrability by aircraft such as the Mirage, Draken and MiG-19
• The 23 mm cannons sometimes fall short in damage
• New players may experience difficulty with aiming the 23 mm cannons of such type (found also on the MiG-15bis and MiG-17)
• Less powerful ordnance than contemporaries like the Su-7B or F-100D

History

The Nanchang Q-5A ‘Fantan’ was the first variant of the Chinese ground attack aircraft, which has seen over 50 years of continuous service.{1} Developed in the early 1950s as a replacement for ageing Soviet-made Il-10 attack aircraft, the plane was developed from the MiG-19 airframe. Though it entered service relatively late due to the effects of the cultural revolution, it still saw extensive service as the primary attack aircraft of the Chinese air force. As well, it was exported to several countries including Pakistan, Bangladesh and Myanmar. Though it has now been retired from active Chinese service, the aircraft remains in service with the Myanmar Air Force.

Design and development

In the early 1950s, China lacked and needed a new ground attack aircraft. While other nations were re-equipping with advanced attack aircraft such as the A-4 Skyhawk and F-100 Super Sabre, the Chinese air force still used the obsolete propeller-powered Il-10, a relic of the Second World War. As a result, the Chinese air force started studying concepts for a new supersonic jet-powered attack aircraft. As the state of Chinese aircraft technology was far behind from other nations, and as a result, existing designs were studied; these included the Soviet Su-7 and MiG-19, which was already in service as the Shenyang J-6. As a result, the final design was based on the MiG-19, and shared many of its characteristics.

The Q-5 shared the MiG-19’s aft section and engines, but had a completely redesigned forward section making it 25% longer. As a result, the aircraft had a significantly reduced top speed, though it was still capable of flying supersonic. The nose was redesigned and featured the air intakes on the sides, behind the cockpit, while the cockpit canopy was adjusted as well. The armament was changed to two 23-mm cannons in place of the MiG-19’s NR-30s.

The Q-5’s construction was delayed due to the effects of the Great Leap forward and the Cultural revolution. Thus, the first Q-5 prototype flew on June 4th, 1965.

Operational history

Nanchang Q-5 in reflective white paint scheme.

The first Q-5As entered in the early 1970s in limited quantities, and was unique as the first Chinese ground-attack aircraft designed to carry nuclear weapons. The Q-5A was designed to carry a single nuclear bomb semi-recessed in the fuselage, and was indeed used in this manner in a nuclear bomb test in January of 1972.The Q-5As used in this role are easily identifiable because of the bright-white anti-flash paint scheme that protected the aircraft from nuclear flash.

The Q-5A saw little combat action due to it’s relatively short time in service before being superseded by later variants of the aircraft. However, it remained the backbone of China’s tactical nuclear strike force for several years. Though it has since been superseded in the nuclear strike role by the JH-7 Flying Leopard, late variants of the Q-5 remain in service with the Myanmar air force.

Media

Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.

See also

Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:

• reference to the series of the aircraft;
• links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.

External links

Works Cited

• Peck, M. (2019, October 18). Meet the Nanchang Q-5: China's Nuclear Bomber. Retrieved November 20, 2020, from https://nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/meet-nanchang-q-5-chinas-nuclear-bomber-89681
• Eastern Order of Battle. (n.d.). Nanchang Q-5 Fantan attack aircraft at the People's Liberation Army Air Force Part One. Retrieved November 20, 2020, from http://www.easternorbat.com/html/nanchang_q-5_fantan_01_eng.html
• Staff Writer. (2020, April 27). Nanchang Q-5 (Fantan) Ground Attack / Close-Air Support (CAS) Aircraft. Retrieved November 20, 2020, from https://www.militaryfactory.com/aircraft/detail.asp?aircraft_id=568