Fantan A-5, Q-5 (NanChang) of Pakistan Air Force

[Tornado23]

PAF only had A-5B and C and they did not have any targeting pods and used normal Bomb sights.The variants like the Q5E/F were capable of precision strikes they had Pods under the fuselage and could carry 2 LS-500J laser guided bombs but these variants were developed in the late 90s.

Understood. Thank you.

 

[Bilal Khan (Quwa)]

The A-5Cs were the best we could afford in the 1980s as the PAF set the bulk of its funding towards new F-16s. I suspect the goal was to use the A-5Cs as a stopgap until we had enough F-16s to allocate for the air-to-ground role. In fact, the PAF foot the bill for integrating the ATLIS targeting pod to the F-16 and tried securing other compatible munitions, especially the Penguin AShM.

In the 1970s, the PAF had sought a dedicated attack fighter. It selected the A-7 Corsair II and was in negotiations with the US for 110 A-7s. However, that deal fell through due to America's concerns about our nuclear weapons program. By the 1980s rolled around, a single multirole workhorse (i.e. F-16) was a better idea than specialized aircraft.

tbh I think the real shame was the Italian-Brazilian AMX. It came 10 years too early. Had the AMX entered production in the 2000s, I think the PAF would've acquired it (instead of Mirage ROSE-II/III) for precision strikes, SOW deployment, CAS, CT/COIN, etc.

 

[GriffinsRule]

Did the PAF A5 come with a CCIP or a targeting pod of sorts for precision bombing strikes? If so, can i have a source please?

Nope just simple gravity bombs and rockets.

 

[GriffinsRule]

The A-5Cs were the best we could afford in the 1980s as the PAF set the bulk of its funding towards new F-16s. I suspect the goal was to use the A-5Cs as a stopgap until we had enough F-16s to allocate for the air-to-ground role. In fact, the PAF foot the bill for integrating the ATLIS targeting pod to the F-16 and tried securing other compatible munitions, especially the Penguin AShM.

In the 1970s, the PAF had sought a dedicated attack fighter. It selected the A-7 Corsair II and was in negotiations with the US for 110 A-7s. However, that deal fell through due to America's concerns about our nuclear weapons program. By the 1980s rolled around, a single multirole workhorse (i.e. F-16) was a better idea than specialized aircraft.

tbh I think the real shame was the Italian-Brazilian AMX. It came 10 years too early. Had the AMX entered production in the 2000s, I think the PAF would've acquired it (instead of Mirage ROSE-II/III) for precision strikes, SOW deployment, CAS, CT/COIN, etc.

Actually F-16s and A-5Cs were inducted just a day apart from one another into the PAF lol

 

[Bilal Khan (Quwa)]

Actually F-16s and A-5Cs were inducted just a day apart from one another into the PAF lol

Yeah but the A-5Cs were the low-cost stopgap until we got more F-16s (i.e. the Peace Gate III/IV tranches). From the day they signed the Peace Gate I order, the PAF was always planning to build a large (150-ish) F-16 fleet. It sounds wild, but at the time, that was the direction most F-16 operators were heading.

 

[Gripen9]

Yeah but the A-5Cs were the low-cost stopgap until we got more F-16s (i.e. the Peace Gate III/IV tranches). From the day they signed the Peace Gate I order, the PAF was always planning to build a large (150-ish) F-16 fleet. It sounds wild, but at the time, that was the direction most F-16 operators were heading.

Yes. We had ordered 8 2-seaters in the first order of 40 with aim of have a substantial strength of pilots already converted on the platform when the III/IV trances started flowing later on.

 

[ghazi52]

A-5C ...

 

[ghazi52]

Nanchang A-5C, NATO Code Fantan.

Pakistan was one of the largest operators of A-5C entered the arsenal of the 7th, 16th and 26th squadrons, but in 2011 they were withdrawn from the arsenal.

 

[ghazi52]

An A-5C Belonging To No 26 "Black Spiders" Squadron Well Camouflaged Against The Tropical Trees Surrounding Peshawar Air Base.

 

[ghazi52]

A-5c Fantan Ground Attack Aircraft Armed With Four HAFR-2 Anti-runway Bombs On A Training Mission.

Note - Grounded From Active Service

 

[ghazi52]

Ground crew busy working on an A-5 before a sortie.

 

[ghazi52]

A-5c Fantan From No-7 Squadron.

 

[ghazi52]

...

Nanchang A5-III 3W-149 No 26 Sqn Pakistan Air Force 11-02-91, Peshawar Air Base.
© Peter Foster..

..
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[ghazi52]

....
o.16 Squadron A-5s in1980's....

 

[AeroEngineer]