Shenyang J-5
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| J-5 | |
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 J-5 |
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| Type | Fighter aircraft |
| National origin | People's Republic of China |
| Manufacturer | Shenyang Aircraft Corporation |
| Introduction | 1956 |
| Retired | 1992 (China) |
| Status | Retired |
| Primary users | People's Liberation Army Air Force North Korean Air Force Pakistan Air Force Vietnamese Air Force |
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.
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[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 JJ-5 still serves with the Chinese air force in small numbers, although the JL-8 trainer is now replaced the JJ-5 in some flying academies. 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 military 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. J-5s remain in storage with the Albanian military.
[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. Both MiG-17s and J-5s fly with the Sudanese 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. Vietnamese MiG-17s flew with the Vietnamese air force until the 1990s where along with the MiG-19 were retired, and replaced with newer MiG-21s and Su-27s.
[edit] Zimbabwe
The J-5s in the Zimbabwe Air Force were first piloted by Pakistani pilots.
[edit] Operators
[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
- Maximum speed: 1,145 km/h at 3000 m
- Cruise speed: 800 km/h
- Range: 1560 km with secondary fuel tank, 1020 km without secondary fuel tank ()
- Rate of climb: 75.8 m/s ()
[edit] See also
Related development
Comparable aircraft
Related lists
[edit] References
[edit] External links
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