01/31/2008. Remarks by Johan Visschedijk: "The 'Q' in the designation stands for Qiangjiji, meaning Attack aircraft, hence the Q-5 designation is sometimes Westernized to A-5. The Q-5 has been derived from the F-6/MiG-19 produced in China, the most obvious difference are the two lateral air intakes replacing the single nose air intake, while the engine and main wing structure remained unchanged.

The Q-5 I has been built for domestic use, and while the developments Q-5 II and Q-5 III have been sold to the Chinese AF, those latter two versions have also been exported (as the A-5B and A-5C respectively) to Bangladesh, Myanmar, North Korea and Pakistan."