Shenyang F-5

Shenyang F-5

Shenyang F-5

China

VI Rank

Battle rating:

AB	RB	SB
9.3	9.3	9.3

Class:

PREMIUM

Fighter

Jet fighter

Purchase:8 910

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This page is about the Chinese license-built jet fighter Shenyang F-5. For other versions, see MiG-17 (Family).

Description

The Shenyang F-5 is a gift rank VI Chinese jet fighter with a battle rating of 9.3 (AB/RB/SB). It was introduced in Update 1.91 "Night Vision".

General info

Flight performance

The MiG-17 was the solution to upgrading the MiG-15 and naturally with it being a successful fighter which was mass-produced, variants eventually became available for other nations to purchase. China was one of the countries which sought to acquire the later versions of the MiG-17 which utilized the VK-1F style afterburning engines. With its sleek frame, swept-back wings and tailplane, the F-5 though a bit heavier than the typical MiG-17 is a powerhouse in the sky. Compared to many other aircraft, using the afterburner will allow the F-5 to outclimb many of its contemporaries including the F-86 variants. Many pilots who hope to catch an F-5 in a climb will be disappointed when they stall out only to see the F-5 dropping in on them from above for an easy shot.

Though not built for fast turns, at the top of a climbing arc, the F-5 can make a relatively quick reversal as they nose over and begin to descend, pulling back on the throttle, extending flaps and air brakes, the F-5 can set themselves up for a shot at a stalled out fighter or can manoeuvre to end up as the hunter in chase of its prey.

When diving in this fighter, it is crucial to watch the aircraft's speed, as it is possible to go slightly supersonic and at that point the control stiffening becomes excessive, making it extremely difficult to execute any finite movements.

As an air-to-air fighter, it is possible to include two PL-2 air-to-air missiles in conjunction with the guns, or you can eliminate the missiles and entirely rely on the 37 mm and 2 x 23 mm autocannons. The gun placement on the underside of the fuselage is ideal for not needing to worry about convergence; however, the pilot will need to compensate for the different drop rates of the 37 and 23 mm cannons to ensure both will impact the enemy fighter without one or the other over-shooting or under-shooting.

With this fighter sporting an afterburner, it is essential to either watch the fuel level or take more into battle. The afterburner will consume fuel much faster than the aircraft without it. One advantage of this fighter as it consumes its fuel is that the plane becomes lighter and can eke out a bit more speed.

Characteristics	Max Speed (km/h at 2,000 m)		Max altitude (meters)	Turn time (seconds)		Rate of climb (meters/second)		Take-off run (meters)
	AB	RB		AB	RB	AB	RB
Stock	___	___	15500	__._	__._	__._	__._	475
Upgraded	1,125	1,114		21.2	21.5	61.8	50

Details

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

Limits
Wings (km/h)	Gear (km/h)	Flaps (km/h)			Max Static G
		Combat	Take-off	Landing	+	-
0	450	N/A	650	450	~12	~5

Optimal velocities (km/h)
Ailerons	Rudder	Elevators	Radiator
< 600	< 700	< 750	N/A

Engine performance

Engine			Aircraft mass
Engine name		Number	Empty mass		Wing loading (full fuel)
Shenyang Liming WP-5		1	3,868 kg		230 kg/m2
Engine characteristics			Mass with fuel (no weapons load)			Max Takeoff Weight
Weight (each)	Type		8m fuel	20m fuel	27m fuel
892 kg	Afterburning centrifugal-flow turbojet		4,369 kg	4,889 kg	5,192 kg	5,485 kg
Maximum engine thrust @ 0 m (RB / SB)			Thrust to weight ratio @ 0 m (WEP)
Condition	100%	WEP	8m fuel	20m fuel	27m fuel	MTOW
Stationary	2,380 kgf	2,932 kgf	0.67	0.60	0.56	0.53
Optimal	2,380 kgf (0 km/h)	2,932 kgf (0 km/h)	0.67	0.60	0.56	0.53

Survivability and armour

• 60 mm Bulletproof Glass - Front canopy windshield
• 16 mm Steel Plates - Pilot's seat back and headrest
• 10 mm Steel Plate - in the nose of the aircraft before the cockpit

The F-5 has just enough armour protection to protect the pilot from machine-gun fire, smaller cannon fire and even some more substantial indirect cannon hits. Though not a guarantee of the pilot's survivability, the 10 mm steel plate in conjunction with the 60 mm bulletproof glass will aid in protecting the pilot in the event, he happens upon a bomber with defensive turrets or ends up in a head-on attack against another fighter. The 16 mm steel plates in the seat back and headrest will provide minimal protection as if ammunition fire from the rear penetrates that far, it is likely that the aircraft will already be experiencing catastrophic engine or structural failure.

Armaments

Offensive armament

The Shenyang F-5 is armed with:

• 1 x 37 mm N-37D cannon, chin-mounted (40 rpg)
• 2 x 23 mm NR-23 cannons, chin-mounted (80 rpg = 160 total)

Suspended armament

The Shenyang F-5 can be outfitted with the following ordnance:

• Without load
• 2 x 250 kg OFAB-250-270 bombs (500 kg total)
• 2 x PL-2 missiles

Usage in battles

After taking off, best practice is to fly in a straight line while engaging WEP. Once you achieve a high speed, pull back on the control stick and take the fighter into a climb. Due to the low ammunition count found on this aircraft, it is recommended to also load out the 2 x PL-2 air-to-air missiles.

The F-5 is essentially a MiG-17 with an afterburner and air-to-air missiles; those familiar with the MiG-17/J-4 should find the handling characteristics familiar, but the new features make the aircraft much more formidable. When fighting peer or lower-ranked opponents, its superior acceleration and firepower make combat easier. However, in full up-tiers, the speed will be very inadequate compared to the likes of the supersonic jets (some of which can fly more than twice as fast as the F-5). Work with teammates, take advantage of the aircraft's agility, and try to go after distracted enemies stuck in dogfights.

The PL-2 missiles are primitive and difficult to use, with poor tracking capabilities and agility. They will often be spoofed by the sun or heat reflections from the ground. In combat, missiles can be used to force an opponent to break off and burn energy or alternatively to finish off targets that do not have enough energy to dodge them.

The main gun armament is potentially very lethal. A few hits are sufficient for dismembering most enemy aircraft. That said, the relatively low muzzle velocity (which varies between the 37 mm and 23 mm guns), rate of fire, and ammo counts make getting these hits a challenge, especially when fighting faster aircraft. Trigger discipline is a must.

At the start of the match, it may be a good idea to load more fuel than the minimum since using the afterburner dramatically increases fuel consumption. One indication that your fuel is getting low is that the aircraft will be a bit more manoeuvrable and will be able to hit higher speeds as it becomes lighter.

Modules

Tier	Flight performance		Survivability	Weaponry
I	Fuselage repair	Compressor		Offensive 23 mm
II	New boosters		Airframe		Offensive 37 mm	D-4-50
III	Wings repair			New 23 mm cannons
IV	G-suit	Engine	Cover		New 37 mm cannons	PL-2
This is a premium vehicle: all modifications are unlocked on purchase

Pros and cons

Pros:

• Hard-hitting armament
• Decent manoeuvrability
• Access to decent anti-aircraft missiles
• Faster than most jets it will encounter thanks to powerful afterburner
• Difficult to break wings in turns
• Effective airbrakes
• Premium bonuses
• Can completely change the tide of a game in the hands of a skilled pilot

Cons:

• Flaps break at speeds above 530 km/h (330 mph)
• Afterburner chews through fuel
• Poor low-speed manoeuvrability (below 355 km/h (220 mph))
• Guns have low velocity and different shell arcs which requires pilot practice to learn to use effectively
• Low ammunition count for guns
• Will have to deal with Phantoms and other supersonic aircraft with better weapons and speed
• Needs a skilled pilot to compete in up-tiers

History

The Soviet MiG-17 was used quite extensively by the PLAAF in the early Cold War era. A production license for the more advanced MiG-17F model, which featured an afterburner, was obtained in the mid-1950s, and the result was the domestic Shenyang J-5, which made its first flight in 1956. In 1961, plans were obtained for the license production of the radar-equipped MiG-17PF model, but the ongoing Sino-Soviet split led to issues with the Chinese industry that delayed the first flight of the "J-5A" to 1964. At this point, the aircraft was rather obsolete, with the supersonic age being well underway, and production only continued for a few more years. Fewer J-5s were produced than the later J-6.

A unique trainer variant called the JJ-5 was produced by combining the cockpit of the MiG-15UTI with J-5 airframe elements and reduced armament; there was no trainer version of the MiG-17 since the Soviet Union saw no issue with using the MiG-15UTI for training new MiG-17 pilots.

The J-5 was exported under the designation of F-5 (not to be confused with the American F-5 Freedom Fighter) to numerous countries, including Albania, North Korea, Bangladesh, and Pakistan. The majority of these operators have retired the F-5 at the time of writing, with the lone exception being North Korea. J-5s remaining in the PLAAF inventory have been converted to target drones.

The vehicle represented in War Thunder is painted in the livery of the North Korean Air Force and has apparently been modified to use PL-2 air-to-air missiles.

Media

Videos

Is the Shenyang F-5 Worth Your Money? - DEFYN

Shenyang F-5 -It's a Long Way To The Top - Napalmratte

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

Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:

• topic on the official game forum;
• encyclopedia page on the aircraft;
• other literature.

Shenyang Aircraft Corporation (中航工业沈阳飞机工业(集团)有限公司)
Jet Fighters
MiG-15	J-2*
MiG-17	J-4*
MiG-19	J-6A*
J-8	J-8B · J-8F
Su-27 variants	J-11* · J-11A*
Export	Shenyang F-5*
	*Licensed Note: "J-2" and "J-4" are not official designations
See Also	Mikoyan-Gurevich Design Bureau

China premium aircraft
Fighters	␗A6M2 · D.510C · ␗F-47N-25-RE · H-81A-2 · Hawk III · ␗Ki-45 hei/tei · ␗Ki-84 ko · ␗P-51C-11-NT
Jet fighters	Shenyang F-5 · J-7D
Strike aircraft	A-5C · ␗F-84G-31-RE