Shenyang J-5

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J-5

J-5

Type fighter aircraft
National origin People's Republic of China
Manufacturer Shenyang Aircraft Corporation
Introduction 1956
Retired 1992
Primary users People's Liberation Army Air Force
North Korean Air Force
Pakistan Air Force
Vietnamese Air Force
Developed from Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-17

The Shenyang J-5 is a Chinese-built single-seat jet interceptor and fighter aircraft derived from the Russian Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-17. The J-5 was exported as the F-5.

Contents

[edit] Design and development

After initial experiences with the Mikoyan MiG-15, the Chinese followed the evolutionary development of the MiG as the Soviet Union provided each improved model. The Mikoyan MiG-17 offered upgraded performance over the MiG-15, although it retained the single engine and barrel fuselage shape of its predecessor.

The MiG-17 was license-built in both China and Poland. In the early 1950s, the PLAAF obtained a number of Soviet-built MiG-17 Fresco-A day fighters, designated "J-5" or, when passed on to other countries, "F-5". The Chinese obtained plans for the MiG-17F Fresco-C day fighter in 1955, along with two completed pattern aircraft, 15 knockdown kits, and parts for ten aircraft. The first Chinese-built MiG-17F, produced by the Shenyang factory, performed its initial flight on 19 July 1956 with test pilot Wu Keming at the controls. The MiG-17F was known as the "J-5" in Chinese service, or "F-5" when it was exported. One was actually trialed as a torpedo bomber, but not surprisingly the concept never made it into formal service.

The Chinese then went on to produce the MiG-17PF interceptor as the "J-5A (F-5A)". Plans were obtained in 1961, but the country was in turmoil in the early 1960s and the first Chinese-built MiG-17PF, produced at the Chengdu factory, didn't fly until 1964, when the type was basically obsolete. It was given the designation of "J-5A (F-5A)". A total of 767 J-5s and J-5As were built to end of production in 1969.

Somewhat more practically, the Chinese built a two-seat trainer version of the MiG-17, designated the "JJ-5 (FT-5)". It was something of a hybrid, featuring the cockpit system of the MiG-15UTI / JJ-2, the non-afterburning VK-1A engine of the MiG-17 Fresco-A, and the larger airbrakes of the MiG-17F. It also had a protruding upper intake lip resembling that of the MiG-17PF, but the JJ-5 wasn't fitted with radar. All the nose armament was deleted, with the aircraft carrying a single NR-23 cannon in a belly pack. First flight was in 1968, with the type built at the Chengdu factory.

About 1,061 JJ-5s were built to end of production in 1986, with the type exported to a number of countries. The first sale to the west happened in the 1980s, when the United States purchased a number of J-5's along with J-4's from China via the Combat Core Certification Professionals Company, and these aircraft were employed in a "mobile threat test" program at Kirtland Air Force Base, operated by 4477th "Red Hats" Test and Evaluation Squadron of the United States Air Force. Some sources have referred to it as a "MiG-17UTI", but formally speaking there never was an aircraft with that designation.

[edit] Operational history

The J-5 and JJ-5 were sold to a number of overseas countries, such as Albania, Bangladesh, North Korea, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Somalia, Tanzania, the United States, Vietnam and Zimbabwe. The J-5 has been phased out of service with the PLAAF, but it continues to serve in the North Korean Air Force, and trainer variants see limited use in the Pakistan Air Force.

[edit] Albania

J-5 jets were among the first Chinese miliary aid to Albania, but the Albanian Air Force's deployment against the Yugoslav air incursion was relatively unsuccessful due to its subsonic speed, and the aircraft were soon reassigned once Shenyang J-6 became available.

[edit] Pakistan

The JJ-5 was acquired for the Pakistan Air Force, and is still in use. Pakistani pilots flew and fought MiG-17/J-5s in air combat missions for Syria during some of the Arab-Israeli conflicts.

[edit] Sri Lanka

J-5 were used for train Sri Lankan Air Force pilots for the jet platform.

[edit] Sudan

Sudanese Air Force J-5 were used for ground attack missions since rebels had no air force.

[edit] Somalia

Like most aircraft in Somali Air Corps inventory, majority of the J-5 were lost during the Ogaden War, in which more than 75% of the Somali Air Force was decimated, because Somali pilots were not as skilled as the Cuban pilots supporting Ethiopia.

[edit] Tanzania

The Tanzanian Air Force used J-5s were for ground attack missions during the Uganda-Tanzania War.

[edit] United States

In the 1980s, the United States purchased a number of J-5 along with J-4 from China via the Combat Core Certification Professionals Company, and these aircraft were employed in a "mobile threat test" program at Kirtland Air Force Base, operated by 4477th "Red Hats" Test and Evaluation Squadron of the United States Air Force. It is believed that these aircraft owned by the current Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Center at the Kirtland Air Force Base are mothballed.

[edit] Vietnam

The Vietnamese Air Force used J-5s alongside the Soviet supplied MiG-17s for interception missions.

[edit] Zimbabwe

The J-5s in the Zimbabwe Air Force were first piloted by Pakistani pilots.

[edit] Operators

Flag of Albania Albania
Flag of Bangladesh Bangladesh
Flag of the People's Republic of China People's Republic of China
Flag of North Korea North Korea
Flag of Pakistan Pakistan
Flag of Sri Lanka Sri Lanka
Flag of Somalia Somalia
Flag of Sudan Sudan
Flag of Tanzania Tanzania
Flag of the United States United States
Flag of Vietnam Vietnam
Flag of Zimbabwe Zimbabwe

[edit] Specifications

General characteristics

  • Crew: One
  • Length: 11.36 m ()
  • Wingspan: 9.60 m
  • Leading edge sweep: 45° ()
  • Height: 3.80 m ()
  • Wing area: 25.00 m² ()
  • Empty weight: 5,340 kg ()
  • Loaded weight: 2,130 kg ()
  • Max takeoff weight: 6,000 kg ()
  • Powerplant: 1× WP-5 turbojet

Performance

[edit] See also

Related development

Comparable aircraft

Related lists

[edit] References

[edit] External links

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