History:

The Q-5 (Qiang-5) is a single-seat, twin-engine supersonic fighter. It is based on the J-6 fighter and the original program started in 1958. The first flight of the Q-5 prototype was on 04 June 1965. Many modifications were found necessary and the serial production was finally approved at the end of 1969. The Q-5 was especially designed to assist ground troops in attacking targets on land or ships near the coast at low and super-low altitudes. It can carry various kinds of bombs, rockets and spare fuel tanks in its hold and in the racks under its wings. For intercepting enemy aircrafts, a 23 mm cannon is mounted in each wing and some of the hardpoints under the wings can be loaded with air-to-air weapons. The upgrade of the Q-5 aircraft to the Q-5A version included the installation of French inertial guidance and attack systems, including a heads-up display and a laser range-finder. This laser-range finder has greatly improved the strike accuracy (a range precision of 5 meters at a distance of 10,000 meters).
Altogether, about 1,000 Fantans were built, of which 60% were upgraded to the Q-5A version. A few dozens of the Q-5As were even modified to carry nuclear weapons.