The Lavochkin La5 (Лавочкин Ла5) was a Soviet fighter aircraft of World War II. It was a development and refinement of the LaGG3, replacing the earlier model's inline engine with the much more powerful Shvetsov ASh82 radial engine. During its time in service, it was one of the Soviet Air Force's most capable types of warplane, able to fight German designs on an equal footing.

The La5 descended from the LaGG1 and LaGG3, aircraft designed by Vladimir Gorbunov before the Second World War. The LaGG1 was underpowered, and the LaGG3 with a lighter airframe and a stronger engine did not solve the problem. By early 1942, the LaGG3's shortcomings led to Lavochkin falling out of Joseph Stalin's favour, and LaGG3 factories converting to Yakovlev Yak1 and Yak7 production.

During the winter of 1941–1942, Lavochkin worked unofficially to improve the LaGG3. Design work was conducted in a small hut beside an airfield. In early 1942, Gorbunov replaced a LaGG3's inline engine with the stronger Shvetsov ASh82 radial engine. The nose was replaced with the nose of the ASh82powered Sukhoi Su2. The new engine required work to maintain the aircraft's balance. The prototype first flew in March, and demonstrated surprisingly acceptable performance; air force test pilots considered it to be superior to the Yak7, and intensive flight tests began in April. The aircraft was named LaG5; the change from LaGG was because Mikhail Gudkov, one of the original LaGG designers, was no longer with the programme. By July, it was called La5, although Gorbunov was still involved.

By July, the La5 was ordered into full production, including the conversion of incomplete LaGG3 airframes. Production based on the prototype began almost immediately in factories in Moscow and the Yaroslav region. Changes to the main production model included slats to improve allround performance. The La5 was inferior to the best German fighters at higher altitudes, but equal at lower altitudes; it was suitable for air combat over the Eastern Front which typically took place at altitudes under 5,000 m (16,404 ft).

The aircraft received further modifications. The La5F improved the pilot's exterior visibility with a cut down rear fuselage. The definitive La5FN had a fuelinjected engine, a different engine air intake, and was further lightened. A full circle turn took 18–19 seconds. Very lateproduction La5FN had two 20mm Berezin B20 cannon installed in the cowling in place of the heavier two 20mm ShVAK; both were capable of a salvo weight of 3.4 kg/s.

9,920 La5s of all variants were built, including dedicated trainer versions, designated La5UTI.

The La5 was the basis for the further improved Lavochkin La7.

A number of La5s continued in the service of Eastern Bloc nations after the end of the war, including Czechoslovakia.

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