Nanchang Q - 5 Fantan The Nanchang Q - 5 ( Qiangji - 5 , or Qiang - 5 ; export name : A - 5 ; NATO reporting name : Fantan ) is a twin - engine , single - seat , supersonic ground attack aircraft developed by Nanchang - based Hongdu Aircraft Industry Group . The main roles of the aircraft are air interdiction and close air support . Early variants of the Q - 5 in service with the PLAAF and PLA Navy have now been replaced by the upgraded variants with improved navigation and precision strike capability . The PLA has been seeking a replacement to this forty - year - old design since the 1970s , but with no success . Instead , the aircraft has been steadily upgraded with new weapons and avionics to extend its service life . Description . The Q - 5 was developed from the Shenyang J - 6 ( MiG - 19 Farmer copy ) fighter . The Q - 5 inherited the wing and tail of the J - 6 , but has a redesigned fuselage featuring a solid nose with lateral air intakes . The increased airframe weight and modified profile have resulted in the Q - 5 being less manoeuvrable . The Q - 5 is 1 , 360 kg heavier than the J - 6 and its maximum speed is 0 . 23 Mach slower . The Q - 5 is also inferior to the J - 6 in maximum climb rate and service ceiling , and requires longer runway for take - off and landing . Additionally , in order to give room for additional avionics and armaments , the internal fuel capacity had to be reduced , resulting in a shorter combat radius . The Q - 5 has a downward - sloping profile nose that provides the pilot with better visibility . The wings are mid - mounted , sharply swept - back , and tapered . The tails are also swept - back and tapered . Early variants of the Q - 5 has a fuselage weapon bay but this was removed on the later variant to accommodate more fuel in internal tanks . Two Wopen - 6 turbojet engines are mounted side - by - side in rear of the fuselage with two hydraulically actuated nozzles . The semicircular lateral air intakes have small splitter plates . The cockpit and internal tanks have armour protections . The cockpit is fitted with a 3 - piece windscreen and a rear - hinged canopy . The Q - 5 is equipped with the radio compass , radio altimeter , beacon receiver , and optical firing / bomb sight . The aircraft is equipped with a low - speed ejection seat identical to that of the J - 6 / MiG - 19 , which can operate at speeds between 250 ~ 850 km / h . The aircraft is powered by two WP - 6 turbojet engines , each rated at 25 . 5 kN ( 2 , 600 kg , 5 , 733 lb ) dry and 31 . 87 kN ( 3250 kg , 7 , 165 lb ) with afterburning . The aircraft can fly at near sonic speeds when carrying 1 , 000 kg weapon load in its internal weapon bay without external payloads . When carrying a pair of 760 external fuel tanks , the aircraft can only fly at subsonic speeds . The Q - 5 usually adopts a “ lo - lo - lo ” flight profile , which gives a maximum combat radius of 400 km , or 600 km when using a “ lo - lo - hi ” profile . The flight manual of the Q - 5 also instructs that the flight speed should not exceed 0 . 98 Mach when flying at low altitudes . Variants . Q - 5A . The Q - 5A is the nuclear weapon bomber variant , featuring a semi - recessed weapon bay to carry a single KuangBiao 1 air - dropped thermal nuclear ( hydrogen ) bomb . The internal fuel capacity was increased by 2 , 155 litre and the external fuel capacity was increased by 1 , 560 litre to achieve extended range . The aircraft was fitted with nuclear weapon check and control system , an nuclear weapon ejection mount produced by 124 Factory , and a special optical sight developed by 5714 Factory . Only a small number of the Q - 5A was built and the PLAAF no longer operates this variant in active duty . The Q - 5A uses a method of loft bombing ( also known as toss bombing ) , where the attacking aircraft pulls upwards and releases its bomb load . This method enables the aircraft evading enemy radar detection by flying at low altitudes when approaching the target . The bomb load is then released at an angle between 45 ~ 90 degrees above the horizontal , enabling it to gain some altitude to cover a larger blast killing zone in spite of its low release . The aircraft could even conduct ‘ over - the - shoulder bombing ’ release , where the bomb is released past the vertical so it is tossed back towards the target . On 30 December 1970 , a Q - 5A ‘ 11264 ’ flown by PLAAF pilot YANG Guoxiang carried China ’ s first operational thermal nuclear ( hydrogen ) bomb to Lop Nor nuclear test site . However , the aircraft ’ s weapon mount failed to release the bomb over the target zone . Two subsequent attempts to release the bomb using emergency procedures also failed . YANG flew the aircraft with the bomb back to the base safely . On 7 January 1972 , YANG flying the same Q - 5A dropped the nuclear bomb at Lop Nor nuclear test site and the bomb detonated successfully , indicating that China ’ s thermal nuclear weapon was ready for operational use . Q - 5B . Nanchang began to evaluate the concept of a naval variant Q - 5 for the PLA Naval Air Force in 1965 . Three basic variant Q - 5s were converted into torpedo bombers for trial and evaluations . These aircraft were fitted with special weapon mounts under the wings to carry two torpedoes . Upon successful tests of these aircraft , the PLA Navy finally approved the Q - 5B development programme in 1968 . The Q - 5B had two special weapon mounts to carry two Yu - 2 ( Soviet 56 - 45 copy ) torpedoes or 1 , 000 ~ 1 , 500 kg free - fall bombs . The landing gears were enhanced to support the increased overall weight of the aircraft . The cockpit was raised and the conical nose was rounded . The wing area was also increased for better aerodynamic performance . The aircraft was powered by two more powerful WP - 6A turbojets rated at 36 . 8 kN ( 3 , 750 kg ) with afterburning . The fuselage weapon bay was removed to give more space for internal fuel . In addition , the aircraft was also to be fitted with four avionics improvements , including the Jia - 13 radar , Doppler navigation radar , No . 45 optical sight , and KJ - 4 autopilot . The Q - 5B first flew on 29 September 1970 , but the aircraft could not be commissioned due to the slow progress in the development of the avionics equipments . By 1979 the torpedo was deemed too obsolete and the Q - 5B project was subsequently cancelled after only six examples delivered to the PLA Navy . Q - 5BII . This variant was developed as an alternative to the original Q - 5B in the late 1970s . The aircraft was designed to carry two YJ - 81 anti - ship missiles under the wings . The aircraft has a Type 317A fire - control radar accommodated in the nose . The development project was later cancelled as the aircraft ’ s performance could not meet the requirements . Q - 5II / IA / II / A - 5B . Nanchang began to develop the first major improved variant of the Q - 5 in 1977 . The programme was intended to tackle the short range of the basic variant Q - 5 . The aircraft ’ s original internal weapon bay was removed to give space for additional fuel . The main internal tank was enlarged and was added with a soft fuel tank . The aircraft has four under - wing stores stations , each capable of carrying up to 250 kg bomb . This variant was designated Q - 5I by the PLAAF . The Q - 5I was powered by the improved WP - 6AIII turbojet originally developed for the J - 6III fighter . The engine is rated at 29 . 4 kN ( 2 , 998 kg , 6 , 609 lb ) dry and 36 . 8 kN ( 3 , 752 kg , 8 , 273 lb ) with afterburning . The land gears were enhanced to support extra weight . The break chute was relocated at base of rudder to improve the landing performance and shorten run . The aircraft was fitted with Type - I ejection seat and sea survival equipment . An 50W HF single sideband radio was added for extended range communications . The Q - 5I made its maiden flight in August 1979 , with five examples were produced for testing by late 1980 . The results of the flight tests showed a 26 % increase in range and 35 % increase in low - altitude combat radius over the basic variant Q - 5 . The aircraft ’ s take - off and landing distance are 130m shorter , and its climb rate and maximum speed were also increased . In December 1983 , the Q - 5I was officially certified for design finalisation . In the second phase of the programme , the aircraft was added with improved equipments and avionics , including the tail radar warning receiver , chaff dispenser , new firing / bomb sight , and pressured fuelling system . The aircraft is also capable of carrying a range of free - fall bombs and unguided air - to - surface rocket launcher pods . The Q - 5IA was design certified in 1985 . Later Nanchang added the Q - 5IA with an all - aspect radar warning receiver and some other minor improvements , and gave the aircraft a new designation Q - 5II . The aircraft was available in the export market under the designation A - 5B . This variant may have been exported to North Korea . Q - 5III . The Q - 5III was developed from the Q - 5IA for the export market and has been given a westernised designation A - 5C . The aircraft received its first order from the Pakistani Air Force ( PAF ) in April 1981 . Three prototypes rolled out in 1982 and the first flight took place on 7 September 1982 . The aircraft passed its trial review in January 1983 and the delivery of the first batch of the aircraft began in March 1983 . The A - 5C in the PAF service featured 32 modifications to meet the requirements of the PAF , including Martin - Baker ejection seat , updated avionics ( RWR , IFF , UHF radio ) , and hardpoints modified for Western weapons such as R550 Magic or AIM - 9 Sidewinder . Over 100 examples were delivered to the PAF in the 1980s . The aircraft was also export to Bangladesh , Burma and Sudan . Q - 5M . In July 1986 , Nanchang signed a contract with the Italian company Aeritalia ( now Alenia ) to co - develop an improved variant known as Q - 5M . The aircraft was developed on the Q - 5IA airframe , but upgraded with 17 items of avionics provided by Aeritalia . The upgrade package was based on the avionic suite of the AMX International AMX ground attack aircraft , featuring inertial navigation system ( INS ) , head - up display , ranging radar , air data computer , and two central mission computers , all of which are connected by a MIL - STD - 1553B data bus . For surface attack missions , the Q - 5M could carry eleven types of free - fall bombs and / or four types of unguided rockets . The avionics upgrade package enables the aircraft deliver these weapons accurately over long distance flight in all weather conditions . For self - defence , the Q - 5M could also carry two PL - 5 , PL - 7 or French R550 IR - guidance short - range air - to - air missiles . To improve the aircraft ’ s survivability in the battlefield against enemy air defence weaponry , the Q - 5M was equipped with an electronic countermeasures ( ECM ) suite , including the all - aspect radar warning receiver and chaff / flare dispenser . The warning receiver and the dispenser are correlated so that the aircraft could automatically launch the chaff and flares immediately when a threat is detected . If necessary , the launch of the chaffs and flares could also be manually controlled by the pilot . Modification of a Q - 5IA began in August 1986 . The first prototype flew successfully on 30 August 1987 and the aircraft was displayed in the 1987 Paris Air Show and 1988 Farnborough Air Show . Although the project was later cancelled during the aftermath of the 1989 incident , its technologies are believed to have been used on the development of the Q - 5D . Q - 5K . The Q - 5K is the version produced under the joint Sino - French agreement signed in 1987 to provide an alternative to the Q - 5M , with prototype trials beginning in September 1991 . The Q - 5K features a Thomson - CSF VE - 110 HUD and TMV - 630 laser rangefinder , as well as other improvements . The project was cancelled in the 1990s due to political and economic reasons . Q - 5D . As the PLAAF failed to find a suitable successor to the ageing Q - 5 , Nanchang ( Hongdu ) began to develop a further improved variant Q - 5D in the 1990s , possibly based on the technologies of the cancelled Q - 5M programme . The aircraft was reported to first fly in the late 1990s , with a small number delivered to the PLAAF to replace the ageing Q - 5I and Q - 5IA . The Q - 5D in service with the PLAAF can be identified by its deep green colour scheme in contrast to the light grey and alloy silver on early variants . Inside the fuselage the aircraft is fitted with an instrument compartment located in front of the nose landing gear . The compartment may accommodate a new Doppler navigation radar or a TV camera . The aircraft is also fitted with improved avionics including HUD , GPS / INS navigation , RWR , TACAN , and chaff / flare launcher . The aircraft is also said to have a longer range and can carry more types of bombs , though the precision strike capability is still not fitted on this plane as standard . Q - 5 Precision Strike . The PLAAF has been seeking to add the Q - 5 with precision strike capability for many years . This effort has led to the introduction of a new precision strike variant Q - 5 in 2007 . The variant features an under - chin laser target designator and carries two indigenous 500 kg laser - guided bombs ( comparable to the U . S . Paveway - I ) under the wings . A conformal fuel tank is mounted under the fuselage to give the aircraft extended range . However , such modification may further increase the weight of the airframe and thus reduce the aircraft ’ s aerodynamic performance . The latest Internet - source photo confirmed that this variant is already operational with the PLAAF 5th Air Division . Q - 5J . Hongdu developed the twin - seat trainer variant Q - 5J to replace the obsolete JJ - 6 fighter - trainer for Q - 5 pilot training . The aircraft has a redesigned forward fuselage and enlarged tail fin to improve stability . The first flight took place on 28 February 2005 . The project was funded by Hongdu with no support from the PLAAF . It is not known whether the PLAAF would eventually accept this design .