J-5 Fresco

The Shenyang J-5 is a Chinese-built single-seat jet interceptor and fighter aircraft derived from the Soviet Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-17. Originally designated Dongfeng-101 and Type 56, the aircraft received the designation J-5 in 1964, while export models were designated F-5. Development began in 1955 when the People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) acquired plans, pattern aircraft, knockdown kits, and parts for the MiG-17F. The first Chinese-built MiG-17F, produced at the Shenyang factory, first flew on 19 July 1956 with test pilot Wu Keming at the controls. In 1961, China obtained plans for the radar-equipped MiG-17PF interceptor, which was produced as the J-5A. Due to the Sino-Soviet split, the first J-5A did not fly until 1964. Production ended in 1969 after the manufacture of 767 J-5 and J-5A aircraft. Chengdu also manufactured 1,061 JJ-5 twin-seat trainers between 1968 and 1986.

Design

The single-seat J-5A has a length of 11.09 meters, a wingspan of 9.628 meters, and a maximum speed of 1,130 km/h at 5,000 meters. Power is provided by a single Wopen WP-5 turbojet engine producing 25.5 kN of dry thrust and 33.8 kN with afterburning. The standard armament for the J-5A consists of three Type 23-1 23 mm aircraft cannons. The two-seat JJ-5 trainer variant deleted the internal armament of the fighter and instead carried a single Nudelman-Richter NR-23 23 mm cannon in a ventral pack. A single torpedo-bomber variant was modified to carry a centerline torpedo, which required the removal of the central cannon and some fuel storage.

Operational History

The J-5 and JJ-5 served with the PLAAF and the People's Liberation Army Naval Air Force until replaced by J-6 and J-7 aircraft. Export customers operated the type across several regions. North Korea remains an operator with 106 F-5s and 135 FT-5s. Albania operated 70 F-5s and eight FT-5s, using them against Yugoslav air incursions before retiring them. Vietnam utilized J-5s for interception missions until their retirement in the 1990s. Pakistan operated over 25 FT-5 trainers from 1975 until 2012. Other operators included Bangladesh, Cambodia (where the fleet was destroyed on the ground by a North Vietnamese attack in 1971), Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

Variants

• Shenyang J-5: Single-seat production fighter, originally designated Type 56 and Dongfeng-101.
• Shenyang J-5A: Radar-equipped interceptor variant based on the MiG-17PF.
• Chengdu JJ-5: Tandem twin-seat trainer version combining the J-5 airframe with a MiG-15UTI cockpit section.
• Shenyang J-5 torpedo bomber: A single aircraft modified with a centerline torpedo rack, reduced fuel storage, and a removed central cannon.
• F-5: Export designation for the single-seat J-5 fighter.