With a design based on the MiG-19, the Nanchang Q-5 'Fantan' is China's most important close support aircraft in service today and has been operational for well over three decades with both the PLAAF and PLANAF. Unlike the J-6 which is a nearly direct copy of the MiG-19, the Q-5 has a noticeably distinct and more modern airframe with the most prominent differences being a twin-engine configuration with lateral inlents, a concial nose, and different fuselage and wing dimensions. It was only until the 1980s when the West became aware of this new aircraft and production was intensified thereafter to satisfy both Chinese and foreign demands while at the same time it has been constantly upgraded to improve its attack capabilities. The Q-5 has been exported to Bangladesh, Burma, North Korea and Pakistan, many of which are equipped with Western avionics.

First flight of the Q-5 prototype was on 4 June 1965 after a brief lull due to the Cultural Revolution. It would enter service during the early 70s although production was limited at the time after which the basic design was improved as the Q-5 I with a fuel storage tank in lieu of the earlier internal weapons bay. Later variants include the Q-5 IA with two extra underwing hardpoints and the Q-5 II with a radar warning receiver and it is speculated that further improved models are now in service which include all-weather perfomance (Q-5D) and precision strike capability (Q-5E/Q-5F). Export versions are designated A-5 and are based on Chinese variants, these are the A-5A (Q-5 I), the A-5B (Q-5 II) and the A-5C which were supplied to Pakistan with Western avionics (a further variant known as the A-5M was cancelled).