H-5 [Il-28 BEAGLE (ILYUSHIN)]
The Il 28 was the Soviet Union's standard light bomber, and was in use in all air forces of the Soviet Bloc. These aircraft were produced in China under the nomenclature H-5. Although a portion of China's jet light bomber force could be used in a limited strategic role, the H-5's low performance envelope mitigates against its use for strategic bombing.
The high-mounted wings have a straight leading edge and forward-tapered trailing edge with blunt tips. Two turbojets are mounted beneath the wings in pods. Pods extend beyond wings’ leading and trailing edges. The fuselage is tubular and cigar-shaped tapering to the rear with a rounded, glassed-in nose and bubble canopy. The tail fin is swept-back and tapered with a blunt tip. Flats are low-mounted on the fin, swept-back, and tapered with blunt tips. A glassed-in tail gunner compartment is to the rear of the tail.
The reports of the demise of the H-5 seem somewhat exaggerated. It was asserted without citation in 1995 that the H-5 had been withdrawn from service, but the continued presence of the H-5 in the PLAAF inventory is widely attested by subsequent sources.
The PLA Air Force is equipped with several dozen of special-purpose electronic aircraft, including a few specially modified Hongdian-5 light bombers which have been equipped to support electronic warfare operations. However, the PLAAF remains some 15 years behind world standards in this field.
The SH-5 Aircraft
In 1968, Design Institute 605 and the Harbin Aircraft Factory developed a water-borne variant of the H-5, or the SH-5. Powered by 4 Harbin WJSA engines, the all-weather, sub-sonic aircraft specialized in anti-submarine and anti-ship warfare. The SH-5 possesses a Doppler radar, automatic navigator, omnidirectional warning device, identification friend or foe (IFF), sonobuoys, magnetic anomaly detectors and a remote-controlled electrically operated gun. With a maximum take-off weight of 45 tons, it can carry up to 6 tons of bombs, torpedoes, depth charges and anti-ship missiles. The SH-5 is also capable of maritime reconnaissance, patrol, rescue, and transportation.
The WJSA engine is a more powerful variant of the WJS engine designed specifically for a maritime aircraft. From April 1969 to September 1970, Design Institute 605 was responsible for the design of the SH-5. Harbin Aircraft Factory began trial production during the same time, with the first test aircraft produced in August 1971.
The SH-5 aircraft successfully conducted a waterborne takeoff and landing on April 3, 1976 at the Zhanghe reservoir in Jinmen. Harbin Aircraft Factory continued to produce more test planes. Testing for the SH-5 was completed in September 1984 after 291 flights and 108 hours of flight testing. The SH-5 was delivered to the PLAN in December 1984.
