The Q-5, J-7, J-8 and older PLAAF aircraft

Quickie · Jan 22, 2018

Hendrik_2000 said:
Finally it is the end of an era
Thanks to this military reform, the PLA Air Force's Q-5 was all retired

OedoSoldier added,
OedoSoldier @ OedoSoldier
Q-5C / D / L / N will be all retired this year

What version of the Q-5x is this? Its canopy outline from the side is similar to that of Fourth Generation fighter.

PanAsian · Jan 23, 2018

Hendrik_2000 said:
Finally it is the end of an era
Thanks to this military reform, the PLA Air Force's Q-5 was all retired

OedoSoldier added,
OedoSoldier @ OedoSoldier
Q-5C / D / L / N will be all retired this year

About time, I will miss it as an example of well done indigenization and innovation in leaner times but the 053H3 will be around to humor my sentimentality.

Totoro · Jan 23, 2018

So with some j16 going to fighter regiments and with j16 overall probably not reaching much over 70 airframes by the end of the year, is it safe to assume that most of q5 regiments will simply not get a manned aircraft replacement and will be shut down?

Deino · Jan 23, 2018

james smith esq · Jan 23, 2018

Deino said:
Yes

any news or gossip regarding a new platform to fulfill the CAS role? j-16 isn't quite suited to that.

Totoro · Jan 23, 2018

This is only my speculation, but i believe there will be no dedicated CAS planes anymore. The j10 and j16, being multirole, will do the support missions. And perhaps some of the personnel (or even some bases) housing Q5 previously may get some UAVs. Which again won't be purely for CAS but may to a small degree also be trained for that role.

jobjed · Jan 23, 2018

james smith esq said:
any news or gossip regarding a new platform to fulfill the CAS role? j-16 isn't quite suited to that.

JL-10s, most likely. There are already plenty of pictures and video footage of JL-10s with rocket pods, gun pods, targeting pods, and PGMs. The JL-9 can also function in that role to some degree.

Deino · Jan 23, 2018

Totoro said:
This is only my speculation, but i believe there will be no dedicated CAS planes anymore. The j10 and j16, being multirole, will do the support missions. And perhaps some of the personnel (or even some bases) housing Q5 previously may get some UAVs. Which again won't be purely for CAS but may to a small degree also be trained for that role.

Exactly ... for most of the former CAs roles, helicopters like the new Z-10K and UAVs and probably as pointed out the JL-10 are used.

siegecrossbow · Jan 23, 2018

james smith esq said:
any news or gossip regarding a new platform to fulfill the CAS role? j-16 isn't quite suited to that.

I think UCAVs and attack helicopters like the WZ-10 will take over the CAS role.

schenkus · Jan 23, 2018

Do we know how many Q5s are currently still active ?

The Q-5, J-7, J-8 and older PLAAF aircraft

Quickie

Colonel

PanAsian

Major

Totoro

Major

Deino

Lieutenant General

james smith esq

Senior Member

Totoro

Major

jobjed

Captain

Deino

Lieutenant General

siegecrossbow

General

schenkus

Junior Member