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Northrop F-5

April 22, 2023

The Northrop F-5 is a family of supersonic light fighter aircraft initially designed as a privately funded project in the late 1950s by Northrop Corporation. There are two main models, the original F-5A and F-5B Freedom Fighter variants and the extensively updated F-5E and F-5F Tiger II variants. The design team wrapped a small, highly aerodynamic fighter around two compact and high-thrust General Electric J85 engines, focusing on performance and a low cost of maintenance. Smaller and simpler than contemporaries such as the McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II, the F-5 cost less to procure and operate, making it a popular export aircraft. Though primarily designed for a day air superiority role, the aircraft is also a capable ground-attack platform. The F-5A entered service in the early 1960s. During the Cold War, over 800 were produced through 1972 for US allies. Though at the time the United States Air Force (USAF) did not have a need for a light fighter, it did procure approximately 1,200 Northrop T-38 Talon trainer aircraft, which was based on Northrop's N-156 fighter design.

  • F-5A/B Freedom Fighter
  • F-5E/F Tiger II
An F-5E of the Swiss Air Force
Role Light fighter
National origin United States
Manufacturer Northrop Corporation
First flight
  • F-5A: 30 July 1959
  • F-5E: 11 August 1972
Introduction 1962
Status In service
Primary users United States Navy
Produced 1959–1987
Number built
  • A/B/C/D: 1,204
  • E/F: 1,399[1]
Developed from Northrop T-38 Talon
Variants
Developed into

After winning the International Fighter Aircraft Competition, a program aimed at providing effective low-cost fighters to American allies, in 1970 Northrop introduced the second-generation F-5E Tiger II in 1972. This upgrade included more powerful engines, larger fuel capacity, greater wing area and improved leading edge extensions for better turn rates, optional air-to-air refueling, and improved avionics including air-to-air radar. Primarily used by American allies, it remains in US service to support training exercises. It has served in a wide array of roles, being able to perform both air and ground attack duties; the type was used extensively in the Vietnam War.[2] A total of 1,400 Tiger IIs were built before production ended in 1987. More than 3,800 F-5s and the closely related T-38 advanced trainer aircraft were produced in Hawthorne, California.[3] The F-5N/F variants are in service with the United States Navy and United States Marine Corps as adversary trainers.[4] Over 400 aircraft were in service as of 2021.[5][N 1]

The F-5 was also developed into a dedicated reconnaissance aircraft, the RF-5 Tigereye. The F-5 also served as a starting point for a series of design studies which resulted in the Northrop YF-17 and the F/A-18 naval fighter aircraft. The Northrop F-20 Tigershark was an advanced variant to succeed the F-5E which was ultimately canceled when export customers did not emerge.

Design and development

Origins

The design effort was led by Northrop vice president of engineering and aircraft designer Edgar Schmued,[6] who previously at North American Aviation had been the chief designer of the successful North American P-51 Mustang and F-86 Sabre fighters. Schmued recruited a strong engineering team to Northrop.[7]

In December 1953, NATO issued NBMR-1, calling for a lightweight tactical fighter capable of carrying conventional and nuclear weapons and operating from rough airfields. In late 1954, a Northrop team toured Europe and Asia to examine both the NBMR-1 and the needs of SEATO members. From this tour, Schmued gave his team the goal of reversing the trend in fighter development towards greater size and weight in order to deliver an aircraft with high performance, enhanced maneuverability, and high reliability, while still delivering a cost advantage over contemporary fighters.[8][9] Recognizing that expensive jet aircraft could not viably be replaced every few years, he also demanded "engineered growth potential" allowing service longevity in excess of 10 years.[10]

The design began to firm up in 1955 with the introduction of the General Electric J85 turbojet engine. Originally developed for McDonnell's ADM-20 Quail decoy for use on the Boeing B-52 Stratofortress,[11] the J85 had a thrust-to-weight ratio of 6.25 to 7.5 depending on the version, giving it a notable advantage over contemporaries such as the 4.7 ratio of the J79 engine used in the F-4 Phantom.[12]

Design evolution

Using a pair of J85s as the baseline, the team began considering a series of prospective designs. Among the earliest concepts was the N-156TX of March 1955. This mounted the engines in pods, one under each wing about mid-span. The fuselage was quite slim compared to the final design, with a crew of two under a narrow cockpit canopy.[13]

That year, the US Navy expressed an interest in a fighter to operate from its escort carriers, which were too small to operate the Navy's existing jet fighters. Northrop responded with a radical redesign, PD-2706, which placed the engines against the fuselage in short ducts exiting in front of the tail area, like the F-4, and moved the elevator up to form a T-tail. The resulting design had a much shorter fuselage and was quite compact.[13] Development along these lines ended when the Navy decided to withdraw the escort carriers. Northrop continued development of the N-156, both as a two-seat advanced trainer, designated as N-156T, and a single-seat fighter, designated as N-156F.[14]

 
The first Northrop YF-5A prototype

Another highly influential figure was chief engineer Welko Gasich,[15] who convinced Schmued that the engines must be located within the fuselage for maximum performance.[16] This led to the January 1956 PD-2812 version which began to look a lot like the final product, although this version had a long-span low-mounted elevator with notable anhedral. March 1956's PD-2832 moved to a more conventional elevator and had a strongly swept vertical stabilizer. The design underwent several further versions over the next year which experimented with different nose designs and continued to lengthen the fuselage. The final design, PD-2879D, emerged in December 1956.[13]

Gasich also introduced the concept of "life cycle cost" into fighter design, which provided the foundation for the F-5's low operating cost and long service life. A Northrop design study stated "The application of advanced technology was used to provide maximum force effectiveness at minimum cost. This became the Northrop philosophy in the development of the T-38 and F-5 lightweight trainer and fighter aircraft."[16]

Into production

The F-5 earned a reputation for a jet that was hard to discern in the air and when one finally saw it, it was often after a missile or guns kill [by F-5] had already been called.

—Singapore's former Chief of Air Force and F-5 pilot, Major General Ng Chee Khern.[17]

The N-156T was quickly selected by the United States Air Force as a replacement for the T-33 in July 1956. On 12 June 1959, the first prototype aircraft, which was subsequently designated as YT-38 Talon, performed its first flight. By the time production had ended in January 1972, a total of 1,189 Talons had been produced.[18][19] Development of the N-156F continued at a lower priority as a private venture by Northrop; on 25 February 1958, an order for three prototypes was issued for a prospective low-cost fighter that could be supplied under the Military Assistance Program for distribution to less-developed nations. The first N-156F flew at Edwards Air Force Base on 30 July 1959, exceeding the speed of sound on its first flight.[20]

Although testing of the N-156F was successful, demonstrating unprecedented reliability and proving superior in the ground-attack role to the USAF's existing North American F-100 Super Sabres, official interest in the Northrop type waned, and by 1960 it looked as if the program was a failure. Interest revived in 1961 when the United States Army tested it, (along with the Douglas A-4 Skyhawk and Fiat G.91) for reconnaissance and close-support. Although all three types proved capable during army testing, operating fixed-wing combat aircraft was legally the responsibility of the Air Force, which would not agree to allow the Army to operate fixed-wing combat aircraft, a situation repeated with the C-7 Caribou.[21]

In 1962, the Kennedy Administration revived the requirement for a low-cost export fighter, selecting the N-156F as winner of the F-X competition on 23 April 1962, subsequently becoming the "F-5A", and was ordered into production in October that year.[22] It was named under the 1962 United States Tri-Service aircraft designation system, which included a re-set of the fighter number series. Northrop manufactured a total of 624 F-5As, including three YF-5A prototypes,[23] before production ended in 1972. A further 200 F-5B two-seat trainer aircraft, lacking nose-mounted cannons but otherwise combat-capable, and 86 RF-5A reconnaissance aircraft, fitted with four-camera noses, were also built. In addition, Canadair built 240 first generation F-5s under license, CASA in Spain built 70 more aircraft.[24]

F-5E and F-5F Tiger II

 
Official roll-out of first USAF F-5E Tiger II
 
F-5E Tiger II with B83 nuclear bomb at Hill Aerospace Museum

In 1970, Northrop won the International Fighter Aircraft (IFA) competition to replace the F-5A, with better air-to-air performance against aircraft like the Soviet MiG-21. The resultant aircraft, initially known as F-5A-21, subsequently became the F-5E. It had more powerful (5,000 lbf) General Electric J85-21 engines, and had a lengthened and enlarged fuselage, accommodating more fuel. Its wings were fitted with enlarged leading edge extensions, giving an increased wing area and improved maneuverability. The aircraft's avionics were more sophisticated, crucially including a radar (initially the Emerson Electric AN/APQ-153) (the F-5A and B had no radar). It retained the gun armament of two M39 cannons, one on either side of the nose of the F-5A. Various specific avionics fits could be accommodated at a customer's request, including an inertial navigation system, TACAN and ECM equipment.[25] Additionally the two position nose landing gear from the Canadian CF-5 was incorporated to reduce takeoff distance.[26]

The first F-5E flew on 11 August 1972.[26] A two-seat combat-capable trainer, the F-5F, was offered, first flying on 25 September 1974, at Edwards Air Force Base, with a new nose, that was three feet longer, which, unlike the F-5B that did not mount a gun, allowed it to retain a single M39 cannon, albeit with a reduced ammunition capacity.[27] The two-seater was equipped with the Emerson AN/APQ-157 radar, which is a derivative of the AN/APQ-153 radar, with dual control and display systems to accommodate the two-men crew, and the radar has the same range of AN/APQ-153, around 10 nmi. On 6 April 1973, the 425th TFS at Williams Air Force Base, Arizona, received the first F-5E Tiger II.[citation needed]

 
An early series F-5E

A reconnaissance version, the RF-5E Tigereye, with a sensor package in the nose displacing the radar and one cannon, was also offered.

The F-5E eventually received the official name Tiger II; 792 F-5Es, 146 F-5Fs and 12 RF-5Es were eventually built by Northrop.[24] More were built under license overseas: 91 F-5Es and F-5Fs in Switzerland,[28] 68 by Korean Air in South Korea,[29] and 308 in Taiwan.[30]

The F-5E proved to be a successful combat aircraft in service with US allies, but had no combat service with the US Air Force, though the F-5A with modifications, designated F-5C, was flown by the US in Vietnam.[31] The F-5E evolved into the single-engine F-5G, which was rebranded the F-20 Tigershark. It lost out on export sales to the F-16 Fighting Falcon in the 1980s.

Upgrades

The F-5E experienced numerous upgrades in its service life, with the most significant one being adopting a new planar array radar, Emerson AN/APQ-159 with a range of 20 nmi to replace the original AN/APQ-153. Similar radar upgrades were also proposed for F-5F, with the derivative of AN/APQ-159, the AN/APQ-167, to replace the AN/APQ-157, but that was cancelled. The latest radar upgrade included the Emerson AN/APG-69, which was the successor of AN/APQ-159, incorporating mapping capability. However, most nations chose not to upgrade for financial reasons, and the radar saw very little service in USAF aggressor squadrons and Swiss Air Force.[32]

Various F-5 versions remain in service with many nations. Having taken delivery of its first F-5 Tigers in 1979, Singapore operated approximately 49 modernized and re-designated F-5S (single-seat) and F-5T (two-seat) aircraft until the early 2010s when they were retired from service.[33] Upgrades included new FIAR Grifo-F X-band radar from Galileo Avionica (similar in performance to the AN/APG-69), updated cockpits with multi-function displays, and compatibility with the AIM-120 AMRAAM and Rafael Python air-to-air missiles.[17][34][35]

 
NASA F-5E modified for DARPA sonic boom tests

One National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) F-5E was given a modified fuselage shape for its employment in the Shaped Sonic Boom Demonstration program carried out by Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). It is preserved in the Valiant Air Command Warbird Museum at Titusville, Florida.[36]

The Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) had their F-5s undergo an extensive upgrade program, resulting in the aircraft re-designated as F-5T Tigris. They are armed with Python III and IV missiles; and equipped with the Dash helmet-mounted cueing system.[37]

Similar programs have been carried out in Chile and Brazil with the help of Elbit. The Chilean upgrade, called the F-5 Tiger III Plus, incorporated a new Elta EL/M-2032 radar and other improvements. The Brazilian program, re-designated as F-5M, adds a new Grifo-F radar along with several avionics and cockpit refurbishments, including the Dash helmet. The F-5M has been equipped with new weapon systems such as the Beyond Visual Range Derby missile, Python IV short-range air-to-air missile, SMKBs smart bomb,[38] and several other weapons.[39][40][41][42]

Operational history

The first contract for the production F-5A was issued in 1962, the first overseas order coming from the Royal Norwegian Air Force on 28 February 1964.

It entered service with the 4441st Combat Crew Training Squadron, USAF, at Williams Air Force Base, which had the role of training pilots and ground crew for customer nations, including Norway, on 30 April 1964. At that point, it was still not intended that the aircraft be used in significant numbers by the USAF itself.[43]

United States Air Force

 
An F-5B of 602d TFS at Bien Hoa, 1966

USAF doctrine with regard to the F-5 changed following operational testing and limited deployment in 1965. Preliminary combat evaluation of the F-5A began at the Air Proving Ground Center, Eglin AFB, Florida, in mid-1965 under the code name Project Sparrow Hawk. One airframe was lost in the course of the project, through pilot error, on 24 June.[44]

In October 1965, the USAF began a five-month combat evaluation of the F-5A titled Skoshi Tiger. A total of 12 aircraft were delivered for trials to the 4503rd Tactical Fighter Squadron, and after modification with probe and drogue aerial refueling equipment, armor and improved instruments, were redesignated F-5C.[45] Over the next six months, they flew in combat in Vietnam, flying more than 2,600 sorties, both from the 3rd Tactical Fighter Wing at Bien Hoa over South Vietnam and from Da Nang Air Base where operations were flown over Laos. Nine aircraft were lost in Vietnam, seven to enemy ground fire and two to operational causes.[46][47]

Operations with 3rd TFW were declared a success, with the F-5 generally rated as being as capable a ground-attacker as the F-100, albeit having a shorter range.[48] However, the program was more a political gesture that was intended to aid the export of F-5s, than a serious consideration of the type for US service.[45] (Following Skoshi Tiger the Philippine Air Force acquired 23 F-5A and B models in 1965. These aircraft, along with remanufactured Vought F-8 Crusaders, eventually replaced the Philippine Air Force's F-86 Sabre in the air defense and ground attack roles.)

From April 1966, the USAF aircraft continued operations under the auspices of the 10th Fighter Squadron, Commando, with their number boosted to 17 aircraft.

 
USAF F-5F with AIM-9J Sidewinder, AGM-65 Maverick missiles and auxiliary fuel tanks over Edwards Air Force Base, 1976.

In June 1967, the surviving aircraft of the 10th Fighter Squadron, Commando, were transferred to the Republic of Vietnam Air Force (RVNAF). In view of the performance, agility and size of the F-5, it might have appeared to be a good match against the similar MiG-21 in air combat; however, US doctrine was to use heavy, faster and longer-range aircraft like the Republic F-105 Thunderchief and McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II over North Vietnam.

The F-5 was also adopted as an opposing forces (OPFOR) "aggressor" for dissimilar training role because of its small size and performance similarities to the Soviet MiG-21. In realistic trials at Nellis AFB in 1977, called ACEVAL/AIMVAL, the F-14 reportedly scored slightly better than a 2:1 kill ratio against the simpler F-5, while the F-15 scored slightly less.[49][50][51][52] There is some contradiction of these reports, another source reports that "For the first three weeks of the test, the F-14s and F-15s were hopelessly outclassed and demoralized"; after adapting to qualities of the F-5 carrying the new all aspect AIM-9L missile and implementing rule changes to artificially favor long range radar-guided missiles, "the F-14s did slightly better than breaking even with the F-5s in non-1 v 1 engagements; the F-15s got almost 2:1".[53] A 2012 Discovery Channel documentary Great Planes reported that in USAF exercises, F-5 aggressor aircraft were competitive enough with more modern and expensive fighters to only be at small disadvantage in Within Visual Range (WVR) combat.[54]

 
USMC F-5N Tiger IIs from VMFT-401 on standby at the Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort

The F-5E served with the US Air Force from 1975 until 1990, in the 64th Aggressor Squadron and 65th Aggressor Squadron at Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada, and with the 527th Aggressor Squadron at RAF Alconbury in the UK and the 26th Aggressor Squadron at Clark Air Force Base in the Philippines. The US Marines purchased used F-5s from the Air Force in 1989 to replace their F-21s, which served with VMFT-401 at Marine Corps Air Station Yuma. The US Navy used the F-5E extensively at the Naval Fighter Weapons School (TOPGUN) when it was located at NAS Miramar, California. When TOPGUN relocated to become part of the Naval Strike and Air Warfare Center at NAS Fallon, Nevada, the command divested itself of the F-5, choosing to rely on VC-13 (redesignated VFC-13 and which already used F-5s) to employ their F-5s as adversary aircraft. Former adversary squadrons such as VF-43 at NAS Oceana, VF-45 at NAS Key West, VF-126 at NAS Miramar, and VFA-127 at NAS Lemoore have also operated the F-5 along with other aircraft types in support of Dissimilar Air Combat Training (DACT).

The US Navy F-5 fleet continues to be modernized with 36 low-hour F-5E/Fs purchased from Switzerland in 2006. These were updated as F-5N/Fs with modernized avionics and other improved systems. Currently, the only US Navy and US Marine Corps units flying the F-5 are VFC-13 at NAS Fallon, Nevada, VFC-111 at NAS Key West, Florida, and VMFT-401 at MCAS Yuma, Arizona.[4] Currently, VFC-111 operates 18 Northrop F-5N/F Tiger IIs. 17 of these are single-seater F-5Ns and the last is a twin-seater F-5F "FrankenTiger", the product of grafting the older front-half fuselage of an F-5F into the back-half fuselage of a newer low-hours F-5E acquired from the Swiss Air Force. A total of three "FrankenTigers" were made.[55]

According to the FAA, there are 18 privately owned F-5s in the US, including Canadair CF-5Ds.[56][57]

Brazil

In October 1974, the Brazilian Air Force (FAB) ordered 36 F-5E and 6 F-5B aircraft from Northrop for $72 million. The first three aircraft arrived on 12 March 1975.[58] In 1988, FAB acquired 22 F-5E and four F-5F second-hand USAF "aggressor" fighters. A total of 15 of these aircraft were part of the initial batch of 30 aircraft produced by Northrop.[59] In 1990, FAB retired all remaining five F-5Bs; later, they were sent to Brazilian museums around the country.[60]

In 2001, Elbit Systems and Embraer started work on a $230 million Brazilian F-5 modernization program, performed over an eight-year period, upgrading 46 F-5E/F aircraft, re-designated as F-5EM and F-5FM. The modernization centered on several areas: new electronic warfare systems, the Grifo F radar, an air-to-air refueling system, INS/GPS-based navigation, support for new weapons, targeting and self-defense systems, HOTAS, LCD displays, helmet-mounted displays (HMDs), Radar Warning Receiver, encrypted communications, cockpit compatibility for night vision goggles, On-Board Oxygen Generation System (OBOGS) and various new onboard computer upgrades. One important capability is the secure communication with R-99 airborne early warning platforms and ground stations.[61]

Externally, the new aircraft features a larger nose cone that accommodates the larger radar equipment. The first F-5EM was handed over on 21 September 2005.[62] On 7 July 2003, four Rafael Litening III targeting pods were ordered at a cost of US$13 million,[63] to be used on F-5M together with three Rafael Sky Shield jamming pods ordered on 5 July 2006 at a cost of US$42 million.[64]

In 2009, FAB bought eight single-seat and three twin-seat F-5F used aircraft from Jordan in a US$21 million deal. These aircraft were built between 1975 and 1980.[65] On 14 April 2011, a contract of $153 million was signed with Embraer and Elbit to modernize the additional F-5s bought from Jordan, and to supply one more flight simulator as a continuation of the contract signed in 2000. These F-5s will receive the same configuration as those from the initial 46 F-5s currently completing the upgrade process. The first delivery of this second batch of upgraded jet fighters is scheduled for 2013 with expected use to 2030.[66][67]

In 2020, the FAB started implementing the new proprietary Datalink System of the Brazilian Armed Forces on the F-5EM, for integrated communication and real-time sharing battlefield/warfare data with AEW&C R-99/E-99 FAB/Embraer aircraft, other aircraft, ships, helicopters, tanks and front/back-ends battlefield control centers, called Link-BR2.[68]

Ethiopia

Ethiopia received 10 F-5As and two F-5Bs from the US starting in 1966. In addition to these, Ethiopia had a training squadron equipped with at least eight Lockheed T-33 Shooting Stars. In 1970, Iran transferred at least three F-5As and Bs to Ethiopia. In 1975, another agreement was reached with the US to deliver a number of military aircraft, including 14 F-5Es and three F-5Fs; later in the same year eight F-5Es were transferred while the others were embargoed and delivered to a USAF aggressor Squadron due to the changed political situation. The US also withdrew its personnel and cut diplomatic relations. Ethiopian officers contracted a number of Israelis to maintain American equipment.[69]

The Ethiopian F-5 fighters saw combat action against Somali forces during the Ogaden War (1977–1978). The main Somali fighter aircraft was the MiG-21MF delivered in the 1970s, supported by Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-17s delivered in the 1960s by the Soviet Union. Ethiopian F-5E aircraft were used to gain air superiority because they could use the AIM-9B air-to-air missile, while the F-5As were kept for air interdiction and airstrike. During this period Ethiopian F-5Es went on training against Ethiopian F-5As and F-86 Sabres (simulating Somali MiG-21s and MiG-17s).[69]

On 17 July 1977, two F-5s were on combat air patrol near Harer, when four Somali MiG-21MFs were detected nearby. In the engagement, two MiG-21s were shot down while the other two had a midair collision while avoiding an AIM-9B missile. The better-trained F-5 pilots swiftly gained air superiority over the Somali Air Force, shooting down a number of aircraft, while other Somali aircraft were lost to air defense and to incidents. Records indicate that Ethiopian F-5s of the 9th Fighter Squadron "shot down 13 MiGs-17 and 12 MiGs-21 from 20th July until 1st September 1977. All aircraft were hit by Sidewinders (AIM-9)."[70] However at least three F-5s were shot down by air defense forces during attacks against supply bases in western Somalia.[69]

Ethiopian pilots who had flown both the F-5E and the MiG-21 considered the F-5E to be the superior fighter because of its manoeuvrability at low to medium speeds and the fact that it was far easier to fly, allowing the pilot to focus on combat rather than controlling his airplane.[71] This effect was enhanced by the poor quality of pilot training provided by the Soviets, which provided limited flight time and focused exclusively on taking off and landing, with no practical training in air combat.[71][72]

Ethiopia's ace pilot and national hero was Legesse Tefera who is credited with shooting down 6 (or 7) Somali MiGs, thus making him the most successful F-5 pilot ever.[73][74][70]

Iran

 
F-5A Freedom Fighters of the Imperial Iranian Air Force

The Imperial Iranian Air Force (IIAF) received extensive US equipment in the 1960s and 1970s. Iran received its first 11 F-5As and two F-5Bs in February 1965 which were then declared operational in June 1965. Ultimately, Iran received 104 F-5As and 23 F-5Bs by 1972. From January 1974 with the first squadron of 28 F-5Fs, Iran received a total of 166 F-5E/Fs and 15 additional RF-5As with deliveries ending in 1976. While receiving the F-5E and F, Iran began to sell its F-5A and B inventory to other countries, including Ethiopia, Turkey, Greece and South Vietnam; by 1976, many had been sold, except for several F-5Bs retained for training purposes.[75] F-5s were also used by the IIAF's aerobatic display team, the Golden Crown.

After the Iranian revolution in 1979, the new Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force (IRIAF) was partially successful at keeping Western fighters in service during the Iran–Iraq War in the 1980s and the simple F-5 had a good service readiness until late in the war. Initially, Iran took spare parts from foreign sources; later it was able to have its new aircraft industry keep the aircraft flying.[76]

IRIAF F-5s were heavily involved, flying air-to-air and air-to-ground sorties. Iranian F-5s took part in air combat with Iraqi Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21s, MiG-23s, MiG-25s, Su-20/22s, Mirage F1s and Super Etendards. The exact combat record is not known with many differing claims from Iraqi, Iranian, Western, and Russian sources.[citation needed] There are reports that an IRIAF F-5E, piloted by Major Yadollah Javadpour, shot down a MiG-25 on 6 August 1983.[77][78] Russian sources state that the first confirmed kill of a MiG-25 occurred in 1985.[79]

During their first years of service, Iranian F-5s had the advantage in missile technology, using advanced versions of the infrared-homing AIM-9 Sidewinder, later lost with deliveries of new missiles and fighters to Iraq.[citation needed]

Iran Aircraft Manufacturing Industrial Company currently produces three aircraft, the Azarakhsh, Saeqeh, and Kowsar, derived from the F-5.[80]

Kenya

Starting on 16 October 2011 during Operation Linda Nchi, Kenyan Air Force F-5s supported the Kenyan forces fighting in Somalia against Al Shabab Islamists bombing targets inside Somalia and spearheading the ground forces.[81]

Malaysia

 
F-5 Tiger II of the Royal Malaysian Air Force

In 1975, the Royal Malaysian Air Force received 14 F-5Es and two F-5Bs. In 1982, four F-5Fs were received and the two F-5Bs already in Malaysian service were transferred to the Royal Thai Air Force. In 1983, RMAF received two RF-5E Tigereye. Subsequently, two F-5Es (M29-21 & M29-22) and a F-5F (M29-23) which came with the new "shark nose" and with leading edge root extensions (LERX) version were ordered as attrition replacement. The F-5E was the first supersonic fighter in Royal Malaysian Air Force service and it replaced the former RAAF CAC Sabre as the Royal Malaysian Air Force's primary air defense fighter throughout the 1980s and early '90s. It also served in secondary ground attack role alongside the Douglas A-4 Skyhawk. Five F-5Es and one F-5F were lost in the accident with three fatalities (2 pilots in E (1983 & 1995) and 1 in F (1986), all crashed into the sea). In 2000, all the RMAF F-5s were deactivated, but they were reactivated in 2003 as the Tactical Air Reconnaissance Squadron and Reserve. Several upgrade packages were proposed to extend the service life of the aircraft, but none were taken. In 2015, the F-5s was pulled out of service, but some were kept in storage.[citation needed]

Mexico

 
Mexican Air Force F-5 Tiger flying near the Popocatepetl volcano

In 1982, the Mexican Air Force received 10 F-5Es and two F-5Fs after the purchase of 24 IAI Kfir C.1 was blocked by the US, because the Kfir used the American-produced J79 engine. These fighters complemented the Lockheed T-33 and de Havilland Vampire Mk. I (received much earlier), two of the first combat jet aircraft in Mexico. The F-5 gave Mexico its first supersonic warplane, and it saw the formation of Air Squadron 401. On 16 September 1995, after more than 30 military parade flights without incidents, an F-5E collided in midair with three Lockheed T-33s during the military parade for the Independence of Mexico resulting in 10 deaths.[82] As of 2021, the Mexican Air Force has five Northrop F-5E and two F-5F fighters combat ready and for training purposes.[83]

Morocco

The Royal Moroccan Air Force received 22 F-5As, two F-5Bs and two RF-5As from the United States between 1966 and 1974. These entered service with the 1st Fighter Squadron.[84] Two additional F-5As were donated by Iran in 1974, and six F-5As were acquired from Jordan in 1976.[85] Three F-5As were involved in the failed 1972 Moroccan coup attempt, attacking King Hassan II of Morocco's Boeing 727 in mid-air, before strafing and bombing a military airfield and the royal palace.[86] After the failure of the attempted coup, nearly all F-5 pilots were arrested, and most of them disappeared.[87] Another consequence of the failed coup was that the designation system of Moroccan air force units changed from numerical designations to names. From then on, the F-5A squadron was known as the Borak squadron.[85]

Morocco used its F-5s in the Western Sahara War in reconnaissance and bombing missions.[88] Several aircraft were shot down by 9K32 Strela-2 MANPADS, machine-gun fire, and 9K31 Strela-1 (SA-9) and 2K12 Kub (SA-6) self-propelled anti-aircraft systems.[89] To counter the SA-6 threat, AN/ALR-66 radar warning receivers were installed on the RF-5As and F-5Bs around 1981. These aircraft were grouped into a newly established dedicated reconnaissance unit, the Erige squadron; one of its main tasks was to track the Polisario Front's surface-to-air missile systems.[90]

In the same period, Morocco started receiving 16 F-5Es and four F-5Fs, that had been ordered in 1979 thanks to Saudi financing. Deliveries lasted from 1981 to 1983.[91] Shortly after their arrival, the F-5Es were fitted with the same radar warning receivers as the RF-5As and F-5Bs;[92] they also received in-flight refuelling probes.[93] Lastly, Moroccan F-5Es could be equipped with electronic and infrared countermeasures pods, that enhanced their survivability against Polisario surface-to-air missiles.[94] F-5E/Fs were operated by the Borak and Erige squadrons, where they served together with older F-5 versions, as well as the Chahine squadron.[95] During the war in Western Sahara, Moroccan F-5s deployed general-purpose and cluster bombs, unguided rockets, and more rarely AGM-65 Maverick missiles.[96] In total, 15 F-5s are confirmed to have been lost in the course of the Western Sahara War.[89]

Starting in 1990, Morocco received 12 more F-5Es from the United States, a total of 24 F-5Es having been upgraded to the F-5TIII standard.[citation needed]

Netherlands

 
314 Sq RNLAF NF-5B dual

The Royal Netherlands Air Force (RNLAF) received 75 F-5A single seat fighters and 30 F-5B dual–seat trainers. They were license built in Canada by Canadair respectively as NF-5As and Bs in the 1969 CL-226 production line. These aircraft equalled the Canadian CF-5A and CF-5D versions with more powerful engines fitted. The first NF-5A was handed over in October 1969 at Twenthe Air Base for 313 Squadron acting as Operational Conversion Unit. The last aircraft was handed over in March 1972. The NF-5As flew under the Dutch registrations K-3001 / K-3075 and the NF-5Bs under K-4002 / K-4030. They were operational at Twenthe AB (OCU, 313 and 315 Squadrons), Eindhoven AB (314 Squadron) and Gilze-Rijen AB (316 Squadron).

During the RNLAF transition to the F-16, the NF-5s and Bs were stored at Gilze-Rijen and Woensdrecht air bases. 60 aircraft were sold to Turkey, 11 to Greece and 7 to Venezuela. Some aircraft have been written off during their operational life due to crashes and some remaining aircraft are displayed in museums or used in technical schools. The NF-5As and Bs were operational from 1971 to 1991.[citation needed]

Norway

 
Norwegian Air Force F-5A

The Royal Norwegian Air Force received 108 Freedom Fighters: 16 RF-5A, 78 F-5A and 14 F-5B. The first 64 were received as military aid. They were used by six squadrons,[97] the first and last being 336 Squadron receiving the first aircraft in February 1966 (formal handing-over ceremony a month later), and deactivating in August 2000. Three aircraft were kept flying until 2007, serving with Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace for tests in the "Eye of the Tiger" program, supporting development of the Norwegian Penguin anti-ship missile.[97] The aircraft received under military aid were handed off to Greece and Turkey. Of the aircraft bought by the Norwegian government, nine were used in exchange with US authorities for submarines of the Kobben class.[98]

In October 2011 five F-5A single seaters were given to aircraft maintenance schools around the country; including the Skedsmo, Sola, Bodø, and Bardufoss high schools, and the Royal Norwegian Air Force's training center at Kristiansand Airport, Kjevik. The aircraft were disassembled at Moss Airport, Rygge, before delivery to the schools. Of the ten remaining Norwegian F-5s, eight F-5B two-seaters were still for sale as of 2011, six of which were stored in Norway and two in the United States. The two aircraft in the United States had been approved for sale to the American businessman Ross Perot Jr., in 2008, but the deal was blocked by the US government initially.[99] However, in 2015, Perot Jr. got permission and subsequently bought the aircraft for significantly below market price, which caused controversy and public criticism of the government of Norway.[100] Three survivors are exhibited at the Norwegian Armed Forces Aircraft Collection, two at Norsk Luftfartsmuseum in Bodø and one at Flyhistorisk Museum, Sola, near Stavanger.

Philippines

 
Philippine Air Force F-5A at Clark Air Base, c. 1982

The Philippine Air Force acquired 37 F-5A and F-5B from 1965 to 1998.[101] The F-5A/Bs were used by the 6th Tactical Fighter Squadron (Cobras) of the 5th Fighter Wing and the Blue Diamonds aerobatic team, replacing the F-86F Sabre previously used by 1965 and 1968 respectively. The F-5s also underwent an upgrade which equipped it with surplus AN/APQ-153 radars with significant overhaul at the end of the 1970s to stretch their service lives another 15 years.

In 2005, the Philippines decommissioned its remaining F-5A/B fleet, including those received from Taiwan and South Korea.[102]

South Korea

The Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF) purchased F-5A/Bs in 1965, and it purchased F-5Es in August 1974. KF-5 variants were built by Korean Air under license between 1982 and 1986.[citation needed]

The F-5E/Fs and KF-5E/Fs were to be replaced by FA-50s[citation needed] and after 2001, by the plans to eventually field the Korean F-X Phase 3.[103]: 18 

Singapore

 
A Republic of Singapore Air Force F-5S Tiger II taking off from Korat Air Base

Singapore is an important operator of the F-5E/F variant, first ordering the aircraft in 1976 during a massive expansion of the city-state's armed forces; delivery of this first batch of 18 F-5Es and three F-5Fs was completed by late February 1979, equipping the newly formed-up No. 144 Black Kite Squadron at Tengah Air Base. At the end of 1979, an order was placed for six more F-5Es, which were delivered by 1981. In 1982, an order for three more F-5Fs was placed, these were forward delivered in September 1983 to RAF Leuchars in Scotland where they were taken over by pilots of the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF).[17] In 1983, the type took over the duties of airborne interception from the Royal Australian Air Force's Mirage IIIOs detachment (rotated between No. 3 & No. 75 Squadron RAAF) stationed at Tengah.[104]

Another order for six more F-5Es was placed in 1985, these were delivered the same year and would go on to equip the newly formed-up No. 149 Shikra Squadron at Tengah. The following year, the RSAF placed an order for its final batch of three F-5Fs and five F-5Es, these were delivered in December 1987 and July 1989, respectively. In a bid to modernize its air force, the Royal Jordanian Air Force put up seven F-5Es for sale in 1994, these were later acquired by Singapore.[17]

From 1990 to 1991, using jigs and toolings purchased from Northrop, Singapore Aircraft Industries (SAI, now ST Aerospace) converted eight existing F-5Es into RF-5E Tigereye variant. Subsequently, these were used to reequip No. 141 Merlin Squadron, which had traded in their older Hawker Hunter FR.74S for the newer Tigereyes in 1992 and was by then based at Paya Lebar Air Base, after the 144 Squadron had relocated there in 1986. By June 1993, all three squadrons had been relocated to the base, thus consolidating Singapore's F-5E/F operations at Paya Lebar.[17]

In 1991, SAI was awarded a contract as the prime contractor to modernize all RSAF F-5E/Fs (including the 7 ex-Jordanian F-5Es); Elbit Systems was the sub-contractor responsible for systems integration. Upgrades include a new X band multi-mode radar (the Italian FIAR Grifo-F,[34][35] with Beyond-visual-range missile and Look-down/shoot-down capabilities), a revamped cockpit with new MIL-STD-1553R databuses, GEC/Ferranti 4510 Head-up display/weapons delivery system, two BAE Systems MED-2067 Multi-function displays, Litton LN-93 inertial navigation system (similar to the ST Aerospace A-4SU Super Skyhawk) and Hands On Throttle-And-Stick controls (HOTAS) to reduce pilot workload. Reportedly, the Elisra SPS2000 radar warning receiver and countermeasure system was also installed.[105]

In addition, the starboard M39 20 mm cannon mounted in the nose was removed to make way for additional avionics (the sole cannon on the two-seaters was removed because of this), and to improve maneuverability, upgraded aircraft received larger leading edge root extensions (LERX). The process began in March 1996 and was completed by 2001, receiving the new designation of F-5S/T. In 1998, the eight RF-5Es also received the upgrades (except for the radar) and were redesignated as RF-5S.[17] Each F-5S/T upgraded reportedly cost SGD$6 million.[106]

By end of 2009, the type had accumulated more than 170,000 hours of flight time in Singapore service with only two F-5Es being lost in separate accidents (in 1984 and 1991, respectively).[17] As of June 2011, only 141 and 144 Squadron are left operating the RF-5S and F-5S/T, as 149 Squadron has since formally transitioned to the McDonnell Douglas F-15SG Strike Eagles on 5 April 2010.[107] 144 Squadron, the last squadron operating F-5Es, disbanded in September 2015 after the F-5S was retired.[108] The RSAF also used the F-5s as a trainer aircraft.[109]

Switzerland

 
Swiss F-5F with Ericson Vista 5 radar jammer

The Swiss Air Force flies a total of 22 F-5E and 4 F-5F aircraft, down from a peak of 98 and 12 in 1981.[110] They were chosen chiefly because of their excellent performance, suitability for the unique Swiss Air Force mission, and their relatively low maintenance cost per flight hour.

It had been expected these aircraft would be replaced by the Saab JAS 39 Gripen, but in May 2014, a referendum by the Swiss people decided against the purchase of the Gripens.[111]

For the foreseeable future, the Swiss Air Force will continue to fly its present F-5s. There are still plans by the Swiss Air Force and in the Swiss parliament to fly 18 F-5E and four F-5F models. This would also include the continued operation of the Patrouille Suisse, in F-5Es until 2018.[112]

In September 2020 the Swiss people voted yes in a referendum to get a replacement. With 50.1% to 49.9% and only 8670 votes between.[113]

The Swiss Air Force has decided to replace the aircraft with 36 F-35As.[114]

Taiwan

 
The 46th Tactical Fighter Squadron (Aggressor squadron) F-5E 5272 of Republic of China Air Force exhibited on the apron of Zhi-Hang Air Base

The Republic of China Air Force (ROCAF, Taiwan's air force) received its first batch of seven F-5As and two F-5Bs under the US Military Assistance Program in 1965. By 1971, the ROCAF was operating 72 F-5As and 11 F-5Bs.[115] During 1972, the US borrowed 48 ROCAF F-5As to lend to the Republic of Vietnam Air Force before the withdrawal of US forces from Vietnam. By 1973, most of those loaned F-5As were not in flying condition, thus the US opted to return 20 F-5As to Taiwan by drawing nine F-5As from US reserves while repairing 11 from South Vietnam. An additional 28 new F-5Es were issued to Taiwan by May 1975.[116] By 1973, Taiwan's AIDC started local production of a first batch of 100 F-5Es, the first of six Peace Tiger production batches. By end of 1986 when the production line closed after completing Peace Tiger 6, the AIDC had produced 242 F-5Es and 66 F-5Fs. Taiwan was the largest operator of the type at one time, having 336 F-5E/Fs in inventory.[117] The last batch of AIDC F-5E/Fs featured the F-20's shark nose.[118]

With the introduction of 150 F-16s, 60 Mirage 2000-5s and 130 F-CK-1s in the mid-to-late-1990s, the F-5E/F series became second line fighters in ROCAF service and mostly are now withdrawn from service as squadrons converted to new fighters entering ROCAF service. Seven low airframe hours F-5Es were sent to ST Aerospace to convert them to RF-5E standard to fulfill a reconnaissance role previously undertaken by the retiring Lockheed RF-104G in ROCAF service.[119] As of 2009, only about 40 ROCAF F-5E/Fs still remain in service in training roles with about 90–100 F-5E/Fs held in reserve. The other retired F-5E/F are either scrapped, or used as decoys painted in colors representing the main front line F-16, Mirage 2000-5 or F-CK-1 fighters, and deployed around major air bases.[120]

Taiwan also tried to upgrade the F-5E/F fleet with AIDC's Tiger 2000/2001 program. The first flight took place on 24 July 2002. The program would replace the F-5E/F's radar with F-CK-1's GD-53 radar and allow the fighter to carry a single TC-2 BVRAAM on the centerline. But lack of interest from the ROCAF eventually killed the program. The only prototype is on display in AIDC in Central Taiwan.[121][122]

On 22 March 2021, two Taiwanese pilots flying F-5E's crashed into each other during a training mission resulting in the third crash within the last six months. Two pilots died after the crash.[123]

South Vietnam / Vietnam

 
VNAF F-5C Bien Hoa Air Base, 1971

In June 1967, the US donated the surviving aircraft of 10th FCS USAF to South Vietnam. The president of South Vietnam had asked the US for F-4 Phantoms, but these were in high demand and the Republic of Vietnam Air Force (RVNAF) was flying only ground support missions, operating only Douglas A-1 Skyraider attackers at that point. In addition, the North Vietnamese Air Force was not sending aircraft over South Vietnam. Hence the RVNAF did not require an aircraft with advanced air to air capabilities (like the F-4). A dedicated RVNAF unit was formed – the 522nd Fighter Squadron.

When South Vietnam was overrun by NVA forces on 30 April 1975, approximately 877 aircraft were captured by the communists. Of that number, 87 were reported as F-5As and 27 were F-5Es.[124]

In November 1975, the Vietnamese government gave the Soviet military an opportunity to select captured US equipment for research and intelligence purposes. A complete F-5, along with two complete spare engines, spare parts, and ground support equipment, were loaded onto a Soviet cargo ship.[125] Several other F-5s were later transferred by Vietnam to the USSR, Poland and Czechoslovakia.[2][126]

The Vietnam People's Air Force (VPAF) reportedly used 41 F-5s operationally. Others were decommissioned and put on display at museums in Vietnam. The 935th Fighter Regiment of the VPAF 372nd Air Division became the only unit in the world to simultaneously fly both the MiG-21 and F-5.[citation needed] The type was used for combat by the VPAF, in ground–attack sorties against the Khmer Rouge.

Gradually, a lack of critical spare parts in Vietnam caused initially by a US embargo and later by termination of manufacturing and dwindling stocks – grounded the remaining F-5s. However, in May 2017 it was reported that the VNAF was considering upgrading particular systems in some retired aircraft, in order to put them back into service.[124]

Venezuela

 
Venezuela Air Force Northrop (Canadair) VF-5A (CL-226)

After a reorganization of the Venezuelan Air Force in the late 1960s, the government realized that it was time to replace its obsolete de Havilland Vampires and Venoms active at that time, as well as the last surviving F-86 Sabres in active duty. In 1971, 54 Canadian-built CF-5As were put in storage, after the RCAF could not take them due to budget cuts. From this batch, Venezuela acquired 16 CF-5As and two CF-5Ds. In 1972, after all the aircraft were delivered, the F-86s, Venoms, and Vampires were finally scrapped.

The F-5 became the first military plane in Venezuela capable of flying at supersonic speeds. After a legal dispute between Canadair and Northrop, two more CF-5Ds were built and delivered to Venezuela in 1974. Their first base of operations was the General Rafael Urdaneta Air Base in Maracaibo. After 1974, the fleet was relocated to Teniente Vicente Landaeta Gil Air Base in Barquisimeto.

In 1979, after several upgrades to the fleet's communication, navigation and approximation equipment, the aircraft were renamed VF-5s, designating the CF-5As as VF-5As and the CF-5Ds as VF-5Ds. Venezuelan F-5s could also carry weaponry such as the AIM-9 Sidewinder missile, Mk.82 and M117 bombs, and 70mm rocket launchers.

In 1991, after tensions between Colombia and Venezuela almost led to a conflict, the air force started yet another modernization program for the F-5s, called "Proyecto Grifo" (Project Gryphon). Some aircraft (VF-5D number 5681 and VF-5A number 9124) were sent to Singapore for testing, then brought back for upgrade of the remaining airframes. That same year, a small fleet of four NF-5Bs and a single NF-5A, was acquired from the Netherlands to replace aircraft lost in previous years.

In 1992, during the coup d'état attempt against president Carlos Andres Perez, 3 F-5s were lost to a rebel-operated OV-10 Bronco bombing Barquisimeto Air Base. The failed coup delayed the modernization program for a year, finally coming together in 1993. The fleet was equipped with inertial laser navigation systems (similar to those in Venezuelan F-16s), IFFs, HUDs, refueling probes and modernized engines with an estimated lifespan of 22 years.

In 2002, small upgrades were made to the remaining F-5s. The fleet was kept operational until 2010, when a batch of Hongdu JL-8s was delivered as their replacement. By late 2010, it was known that at least one VF-5D was in flight-worthy condition; it is unknown if more aircraft are in operational condition.

Between 1972 and 2002, a total of 9 Venezuelan F-5s were lost.[127][unreliable source?]

Yemen

In March 1979, following North Yemen's defeat in the Yemenite War of 1979, the United States gave Saudi Arabia the permission to transfer four Northrop F-5B trainers to North Yemen. Additionally, Saudi Arabia financed the procurement of twelve F-5E fighters.[128] By the end of the year, all 16 aircraft had arrived. This did not leave enough time to properly train local pilots and ground crews to operate them. Hence, the Saudis agreed with Taiwan to deploy a group of 80 Republic of China Air Force pilots and ground personnel to Sana'a. They formed the 112th Squadron of the Yemen Arab Republic Air Force (YARAF), which was also known as the Desert Squadron. Most of the Squadron's members were Taiwanese until 1985, by when enough Yemenis were trained on the F-5 to take over their duties. However, some Taiwanese personnel remained in the country: in 1990, no less than 700 Taiwanese served in Yemen. They were finally withdrawn in 1991, after the Yemeni unification.[129]

North Yemeni F-5Es have seen combat during the 1994 civil war. On 6 May, two South Yemeni MiG-21s were claimed shot down by Major Nabi Ali Ahmad, using AIM-9 Sidewinder missiles. According to South Yemeni sources, only one MiG-21bis was shot down in an air combat, and its pilot killed. Reportedly, the North Yemenis subsequently deployed their Tiger IIs for air-to-air combat only.[130] On 15 May, two helicopters (probably Mil Mi-8s) were shot down, one of them supposedly by Major Nabi Ali Ahmad.[131] On 28 May, an F-5E was shot down by anti-aircraft fire.[132] On 20 June, a South Yemeni MiG-21 was shot down over Al Anad Air Base in an air combat with two F-5Es, and its pilot was killed.[133] Lastly, on 29 June, an encounter between two YARAF F-5Es and a single South Yemeni MiG-29 was reported. However, neither side opened fire.[134]

Following the North's victory in the civil war, the F-5 fleet was integrated into the unified Yemeni Air Force. However, the number of F-5s in service declined over the years. In 2003, negotiations with Singapore for the overhaul and upgrade of the remaining aircraft. However, nothing came out of it.[135] Around 2010, only six aircraft were operational, partly thanks to US aid packages.[136] In the night of 29–30 March 2015, at least one F-5B and one F-5E were destroyed on the ground at Sanaa International Airport by Royal Saudi Air Force bombardments, in the first days of the Saudi-led intervention.[137]

Others

 
Royal Saudi Air Force F-5F taking off during the Gulf War.

Saudi Arabia deployed F-5Es during the Gulf War, flying close air support and aerial interdiction missions against Iraqi units in Kuwait. One Royal Saudi Air Force F-5E was lost to ground fire on 13 February 1991, resulting in the death of the pilot.[138]

The Hellenic Air Force was the first European air force to receive the Freedom Fighter. The first F-5As were delivered in 1965, and over the next 8 years a total of about 70 F-5A/Bs were operational. The Hellenic Air Force bought an additional 10 F-5A/Bs from Iran in 1975, and around the same period another batch of 10 F-5A/Bs were acquired from Jordan. Another 10 were acquired from Norway in 1986, and a final 10 NF-5As were purchased from the Netherlands in 1991. The total number of F-5s in operation (including the ex-Iranian machines, 34 RF-5As, and 20 F-5Bs) in the Hellenic Air Force was about 120 aircraft, from 1965 to 2002, when the last F-5 was decommissioned and the type went out of operation in the Hellenic Air Force.[139]

AeroGroup, a private commercial company in the US, operates the CF-5B as a fighter lead-in aircraft for training and for other support services. There were 17 aircraft originally purchased from the Canadian Government with US State Department approval and then imported into the US in 2006.[140][141][142]

Since 2013, Tunisian F-5s have been used in strike missions in support of major military offensives in the border region of Mount Chaambi against Ansar al-Sharia and al-Qaeda-linked militants.[143][144][145]

F-5s were used by the Libyan Air Force at Wheelus Air Base in Tripoli, Libya from 1968 to 1969.[citation needed]

Variants

Single-seat versions

 
A trio of USAF aggressor squadron F-5Es in formation
 
Brazilian Air Force F-5EM
N-156F
Single-seat fighter prototype. Only three aircraft were built.
YF-5A
The three prototypes were given the US Air Force designation YF-5A.
F-5A
Single-seat fighter version of F-5, originally without radar, but was later equipped with AN/APQ-153 radar during upgrades.
F-5A (G)
Single-seat fighter version of the F-5A for the Royal Norwegian Air Force.
XF-5A
Designation was given to one aircraft used for static tests.
A.9
Designation of Spanish Air and Space Force Northrop F-5As.
F-5C Skoshi Tiger
Twelve F-5A Freedom Fighters were tested by the US Air Force for four and a half months in Vietnam. Modified at Palmdale plant by adding removable, non retractable air-refueling probe on the left side, 90 lb of external armor plates under the cockpit and engine, and jettisonable stores pylons.[146]
F-5E Tiger II
Single-seat fighter version with AN/APQ-159, replacing earlier AN/APQ-153.
F-5E Tiger III
 
Chilean Air Force F-5E Tiger III
Upgraded version of the F-5E in use by the Chilean Air Force, with EL/M-2032 radar replacing the original AN/APQ-159 and capable of firing advanced versions of the Python missile
F-5E/F
A single, prototype built for the Swiss Air Force, comprising an F-5E fuselage and tail section, with wings from an F-5F. As of 2011, this aircraft was at the Meiringen Air Base Museum.
F-5G
The temporary designation given to the Northrop F-20 Tigershark, equipped with General Electric AN/APG-67 radar.
F-5N
Ex-Swiss Air Force F-5Es used by the US Navy as an "aggressor" aircraft, with AN/APG-69 replacing the original AN/APQ-159. Intended to replace high-time USN/USMC F-5Es in the adversary role, and saw service through 2015.[4]
F-5S
Upgraded version of the F-5E, was in use with the Republic of Singapore Air Force, equipped with the Galileo Avionica's FIAR Grifo-F X-band radar and are capable of firing the AIM-120 AMRAAM.[17][34][35]
F-5TH Super Tigris
Formerly known as the F-5T Tigris before being officially redesignated. An upgraded version of the F-5E of Royal Thai Air Force by Israel, it is equipped with EL/M-2032, tactical datalink, Sky Shield jamming pod and are capable of firing the beyond visual range air-to-air Derby missile.
F-5EM
Upgraded version of the F-5E of Brazilian Air Force equipped with Italian Grifo-F radar.
F-5TIII
Upgraded version of the F-5E, in service with the Royal Moroccan Air Force.
F-5E Tiger 2000
Upgraded version of Taiwan AIDC, equipped with the GD-53 radar, capable of firing the TC-2 Sky Sword II, MIL-STD-1553B Link and GPS/INS. Did not enter service as the ROCAF decided to immediately embark on the ultimately-successful process of acquiring additional F-16s to completely replace its F-5E/Fs.[citation needed]

Reconnaissance versions

RF-5A
Single-seat reconnaissance version of the F-5A fighter. Approximately 120 were built.[147]
RF-5A (G)
Single-seat reconnaissance version of the F-5A fighter for the Royal Norwegian Air Force.
RF-5E Tigereye
Single-seat reconnaissance version of the F-5E fighter. The RF-5E Tigereye was exported to Saudi Arabia and Malaysia.
RF-5E Tigergazer
Seven upgraded single-seat reconnaissance version of the F-5E for Taiwan by ST Aerospace.[17]
RF-5S Tigereye
Single-seat reconnaissance version of the F-5S for the Republic of Singapore Air Force.[17]
AR-9
Spanish reconnaissance aircraft
B.TKh.18
Thai designation of the RF-5A

Two-seat versions

 
A Spanish F-5M Freedom Fighter at Dijon Air Base
 
A Bahraini Air Force F-5F on the taxiway at RAF Alconbury
AE.9
Spanish designation of the Northrop F-5B.
F-5-21
Temporary designation for the YF-5B.
YF-5B
One F-5B was fitted with a 5,000 lbf (2,268 kgf) General Electric J85-GE-21 engine, and used as a prototype for the F-5E Tiger II.
F-5B
Two-seat trainer version.
F-5B(G)
Two-seat trainer version of the F-5B for the Royal Norwegian Air Force.
F-5BM
Two-seat trainer version in use by the Spanish Air and Space Force for air combat training.
F-5D
Unbuilt trainer version.
F-5F Tiger II
Two-seat trainer version of F-5E Tiger II, AN/APQ-167 radar tested, intended to replace AN/APQ-157, but not carried out.
F-5F Tiger III
Upgraded trainer version of the F-5F in use by the Chilean Air Force.
F-5T
Upgraded F-5F, was in service with the Republic of Singapore Air Force.[17]
F-5THF (บ.ข.18 ค)[N 2]
Twin-seat version of F-5TH in service with the Royal Thai Air Force as of May 2020.
F-5FM
Upgraded trainer version of the F-5F for the Brazilian Air Force.

Foreign variants

 
A Canadian Air Force CF-116D

Licensed versions

CF-5
Fighter versions for the Canadian Forces Air Command built under license by Canadair. Its Canadian designation is CF-116.
NF-5A
Single-seat fighter version of the CF-5A for the Royal Netherlands Air Force; 75 built.
NF-5B
Two-seat training version of the CF-5D for the Royal Netherlands Air Force; 30 built.
SF-5A
Single-seat fighter version of the F-5A for the Spanish Air and Space Force; built under license in Spain by CASA.
SRF-5A
Single-seat reconnaissance version of the RF-5A for the Spanish Air and Space Force; built under license in Spain by CASA.
SF-5B
Two-seat training version of the F-5B for the Spanish Air and Space Force. Built under license by CASA in Spain.
VF-5A
Single-seat version of the CF-5A for the Venezuelan Air Force. This designation was given to some Canadair CF-116s which were sold to the Venezuelan Air Force.
VF-5D
Two-seat training version of the CF-5D for the Venezuelan Air Force.
KF-5E
F-5E built in South Korea for the Republic of Korea Air Force. First introduction: September 1982; 48 built.
KF-5F
F-5F built in South Korea for the Republic of Korea Air Force. First introduction: September 1982; 20 built.
Chung Cheng
F-5E/F built in Taiwan for Republic of China Air Force by AIDC. First introduction: 30 October 1974, one day before President Chiang Kai Shek's 88th birthday, and was thus christened "Chung Cheng",[citation needed] an alias of President Chiang; 308 built.

Unlicensed versions

 
Iranian Azarakhsh
Azarakhsh
F-5E built or modified in Iran with unknown changes and mid-wing intakes.[citation needed]
Sa'eqeh
F-5E modified in Iran with canted, twin vertical stabilizers.
Kowsar
Two-seat F-5F built or modified in Iran.

Derivatives

F-20 Tigershark

Main article: Northrop F-20 Tigershark

In comparison to later fighters, the improved F-5E had some weaknesses; these included marginal acceleration, rearward visibility, and fuel fraction, and a lack of Beyond Visual Range (BVR) weapons once such radar–guided missiles became reliable during the 1980s.[148] The F-5G, later renamed the F-20 Tigershark, aimed to correct these weaknesses while maintaining a small size and low cost to produce a competitive fighter. Compared to the F-5E, it had 60% more power, a higher climb rate and acceleration, better cockpit visibility, more modern radar and BVR capability, and competitive performance with fourth generation fighters. Like the F-5, it had better cost–effectiveness as it had the minimum necessary features relative to its competition to perform its air superiority mission. As an example, in the 1960s and early 1970s, the F-5's lack of BVR missiles was not a significant disadvantage as the kill rate of such missiles was approximately 8% to 10%,[149] and the performance and loss of surprise (radar warning to the enemy) cost of carrying them was not practically justified. By the early 1980s, the American AIM-7 Sparrow radar-guided missile in its "M" version was realistically exceeding a 60% kill rate, and was integrated onto the F-20. Brigadier General Chuck Yeager, test pilot and the first man to break the sound barrier, referred to the F-20 as "the finest fighter".[150] Despite its performance and affordable cost, the F-20 lost out for foreign sales against the similarly capable but more expensive F-16, which was being procured in large numbers by the US Air Force and was viewed as having greater support.[151]

Northrop YF-17

Main article: Northrop YF-17

The Northrop YF-17's main design elements date from the F-5 based internal Northrop project N-300. The N-300 featured a longer fuselage, small leading-edge root extensions (LERX), and more powerful GE15-J1A1 turbojets. The wing was moved higher on the fuselage to increase ordnance flexibility. The N-300 further evolved into the P-530 Cobra. The P-530's wing planform and nose section was similar to the F-5, with a trapezoidal shape formed by a sweep of 20° at the quarter-chord line, and an unswept trailing edge, but was over double the area. While the YF-17 lost its bid for the USAF lightweight fighter, it would be developed into the larger McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet.

Shaped Sonic Boom Demonstration

Main article: Shaped Sonic Boom Demonstration

A single ex-USN F-5E was modified to carry out research into reducing noise from supersonic flight by shaping the shock waves produced by the aircraft.

Operators

 
CF-5 of the Botswana Defence Force
 
A Honduran Air Force F-5E
 
Jordanian F-5E Tiger II
 
Kenya Air Force F-5E Tiger II and a USAF C-5 Galaxy in the background
 
Royal Moroccan Air Force F-5E Tiger II during an aerial refueling mission in exercise African Lion 2009
 
F-5F Tiger II of the Indonesian Air Force preserved at the Dirgantara Mandala Museum, Yogyakarta
 
An Austrian Air Force F-5E Tiger II
 
A Hellenic Air Force F-5A
 
A South Korean Air Force KF-5E takes off
 
A Royal Thai Air Force Northrop F-5E Tiger II
 
Turkish Air Force F-5B
  Bahrain
  Botswana
  • Botswana Air Force purchased 10 upgraded CF-5As and 3 CF-5Ds from Canada in 1996.[153] A further three CF-5A and two CF-5D were purchased in 2000.[154][155] 11 CF-5A and 4 CF-5D were in service as of December 2021.[156]
  Brazil
  Chile
  • Chilean Air Force: Chile purchased 15 F-5Es and 3 F-5Fs in the 1970s, these being upgraded to Tiger III standard from 1993.[160][161] A total of 10 F-5s are in use as of 2009.[162] In March 2013, the Uruguayan Air Force initiated talks for procuring 12 surplus F-5 Tiger III aircraft from Chile for $80 million.[163] However, 13 aircraft continue in service with the Chilean Air Force in December 2021.[156]
  Honduras
  • Honduran Air Force: The United States delivered 10 F-5E and 2 F-5Fs starting in 1987,[164] as replacements of Dassault Super Mystére, which were reassigned to airstrike as they were in their last years of service.[citation needed] The F-5 were refurbished former United States Air Force aircraft.[164] Three F-5Es and 2F-5Fs remain in service as of December 2021.[165]
  Iran
  Kenya
  • Kenya Air Force: In July 2008, it was reported that Kenya will spend KSh.1.5 billion/= to buy 15 former Jordanian Air Force F-5s, 13 F-5E and two F-5F upgraded with Rockwell Collins avionics[167] (plus training and spare parts). They will be added or eventually replace the existing F-5 fleet.[168] Seventeen F-5Es and six F-5Fs remain in service as of December 2021.[169]
  South Korea
  Mexico
  • Mexican Air Force received 12 F-5s in 1982.[171] They operated eight F-5Es and two F-5F until being retired in 2017.[172] Three Mexican F-5Es and one F-5F were in service as of December 2021.[173]
  Morocco
  • Royal Moroccan Air Force operates 12 F-5A/Bs upgraded with Tiger II avionics and 24 upgraded F-5 Tiger III.[174] 22 F-5Es and 4 F-5Fs remain in service as of December 2021.[173]
  Spain
  Switzerland
  • Swiss Air Force: Operating 42 F-5E and 12 F-5F Tiger II.[176] The Swiss chose the F-5 because it was simpler to maintain than the F-16.[177]
  Taiwan (Republic of China)
  • Republic of China Air Force: Received 115 F-5A and B from 1965, 48 were transferred to South Vietnam before 1975. From 1973 to 1986, Taiwan produced 308 F-5E/Fs under license.[30] Later batches of locally AIDC licensed production of Tiger IIs were fitted with flare/chaff dispensers, plus handling qualities upgrades with enlarged LEX and F-20's shark nose, and radar warning receivers(RWR).[118][178]
  Thailand
  • Royal Thai Air Force: 30 F-5A/B/C retired. Now operating about 40 F-5E/F/T, F-5s from 701st Sq. retired and replaced by 12 JAS 39 Gripens. The last F-5 fleet, upgraded into F-5TH and F-5THF in 211st Sq. continue to serve until 2025–2030.[citation needed]
  Tunisia
  • Tunisian Air Force: Eight F-5E and four F-5F Tiger II were delivered in 1984–1985. The TAF received five ex-USAF F-5E in 1989.[citation needed] Eleven F-5Es and 3 F-5Fs were in service as of December 2021.[179]
  Turkey
  • Turkish Air Force: More than 200 F-5A/Bs and NF-5A/Bs were bought from various countries. Between 40 and 50 of them were upgraded to F-5/2000 standard during the 2000s (decade). The F-5/2000 remains active of which 10 F-5A and two F-5Bs belong to the Turkish Stars aerobatic display team.[180] On 7 April 2021, a NF-5 crashed during training exercises for the Turkish Stars aerobatic display team in Konya, Turkey.[181] The aircraft is planned to be replaced with TAI Hurjet.[182]
  Yemen

Former operators

  Austria
  Canada
  Ethiopia
  Greece
  • Hellenic Air Force received the first 55 F-5As in 1965. In 1975, 10 aircraft were bought from Iran and later, another 10 followed from Jordan. In 1986, nine aircraft were donated by Norway and in 1991, 10 NF-5As were donated by the Netherlands. During 1967 and 1968 this type of aircraft was used by the 3rd Hellenic Aerobatic Team "New Hellenic Flame". The last NF-5As were retired in 2002.[184]
  Indonesia
  • Indonesian Air Force: Received in 1980, upgraded in Belgium in the middle to late 1990s. All 16 F-5E/Fs have been retired since 3 May 2016 per directive from Chief of Indonesian Air Force due to safety issues.[185]
  Jordan
  Libya
  Malaysia
  • Royal Malaysian Air Force used 4 F-5F as trainer aircraft while another 16 of its Northrop F-5E Tiger IIs were upgraded for reconnaissance purposes.[187]
  Netherlands
  • Royal Netherlands Air Force: received 75 Canadair-built NF-5A (single-seat fighter version) and 30 NF-5B (two-seat training version) between 7 October 1969 and 20 March 1972.[188] After the aircraft were phased out and replaced by the F-16 Fighting Falcon, the aircraft were initially stored at Gilze-Rijen Air Base and Woensdrecht Air Base, until 60 aircraft were sold to Turkey, 11 to Greece and 7 to Venezuela.[188] Several of the remaining aircraft can be found in aviation museums and technical schools.
    • No. 313 Squadron; Twenthe Air Base. Formed September 1972, transitioned to F-16 in 1987.[189]
    • No. 314 Squadron; Eindhoven Air Base. Converted from F-84F from June 1970, and was fully equipped in November that year. The squadron transitioned to the F-16 in April 1990.[189]
    • No. 315 Squadron, Operation Conversion Unit (OCU); Twenthe Air Base (transitioned to F-16 in 1986)
    • No. 316 Squadron; Gilze-Rijen Air Base (transitioned to F-16 in 1991)
    • Field Technic Training Unit NF-5 (1971–1984); Twenthe Air Base
  North Yemen
  • Yemen Arab Republic Air Force: four F-5B trainers were transferred from Saudi Arabia, and twelve F-5E fighters delivered from the United States (but also paid for by Saudi Arabia) in 1979.[128] Several additional aircraft were later donated by the Saudis as attrition replacements. The surviving aircraft were passed on to the reunified Yemeni Air Force in 1994.
  Norway
  • Royal Norwegian Air Force: received a total of 108 F-5A, F-5B and RF-5A from 1966-1971.
    • No. 332 Squadron; Rygge Air Station.
    • No. 334 Squadron; Bodø Air Station. Transitioned to F-16 in 1982.
    • No. 336 Squadron; Rygge Air Station. Operated F-5 until 2000.
    • No. 338 Squadron; Ørland Air Station. Primary air-to-ground missions. Transitioned to F-16 in 1985.
    • No. 717 Squadron; Rygge Air Station. Reconnaissance squadron. Operated RF-5A until 1979.
    • No. 718 Squadron; Sola Air Station.
  Philippines
  • Philippine Air Force received 19 F-5A (single seat) and three F-5B (two seat) aircraft in 1965–1967. In 1989, the PAF received three ex-Taiwanese F-5A and one F-5B.[190] In the 1990s, at least eight ex-South Korean F-5A and two Jordanian F-5A were acquired. The Philippines decommissioned its F-5A/B fleet in 2005.[102]
  Saudi Arabia
  Singapore
  South Vietnam
  • Republic of Vietnam Air Force received a fleet of 158 former US, South Korean, Iranian, and Taiwanese F-5A Freedom Fighters, 10 RF-5A and eight F-5B trainers, USA also provided newer F-5E Tiger IIs, most of F-5s were evacuated to Thailand in 1975, but many were captured by People's Army.
    • 538th Fighter Squadron, Da Nang AB, F-5A/B Freedom Fighter
    • 522nd Fighter Squadron, Bien Hoa AB, F-5A/B and RF-5A Freedom Fighter
    • 536th Fighter Squadron, Bien Hoa AB, F-5A/B Freedom Fighter and F-5E Tiger II
    • 540th Fighter Squadron, Bien Hoa AB, F-5A Freedom Fighter and F-5E Tiger II
    • 542nd Fighter Squadron, Bien Hoa AB, F-5A Freedom Fighter
    • 544th Fighter Squadron, Bien Hoa AB, F-5A Freedom Fighter
    • 716th Reconnaissance Squadron, Tan Son Nhut AB, RF-5A Freedom Fighter
  Soviet Union
  • F-5Es were received from Vietnam and the Derg regime in Ethiopia for performance tests and evaluation flights. They were tested in mock combat against MiG-21 and MiG-23 aircraft, ultimately aiding in the development of the MiG-23MLD and the MiG-29.[195][196]
  Sudan
  • Sudanese Air Force: 10 F-5Es and two F-5F were delivered in 1978, One of the F-5Fs was sold to Jordan. Further, two F-5s defected to Sudan from Ethiopia during the Ogaden crisis.[28]
  United States
 
F-5N in service with US Navy aggressor squadron VFC-111
  Venezuela
  Vietnam

Aircraft on display

Brazil

F-5B
F-5E

Czech Republic

F-5E

Greece

F-5A
RF-5A
  • 69-7170 – Hellenic Air Force Museum[205]

Indonesia

 
Indonesian Air Force F-5E Tiger II of the Skadron Udara 14 at Dirgantara Mandala Museum Yogyakarta
F-5E
F-5F

Norway

F-5A

Philippines

F-5A
F-5B

Poland

F-5E

Spain

F-5BM

Switzerland

 
J-3096 outside Flieger Flab Museum, in Patrouille Suisse paint
F-5E
F-5F
  • J-3202 at the Flieger-Flab-Museum[224]

Thailand

 
F-5B in Royal Thai Air Force Museum, the first F-5B produced
 
RTAF F-5E at Royal Thai Air Force Museum
F-5A
F-5B
F-5E
  • 21134 - Royal Thai Air Force Museum

Turkey

F-5A
NF-5A
  • 3022/22 – Istanbul Aviation Museum[225]
  • 3070/3-070 – Istanbul Aviation Museum[225]
RF-5A
  • 97147/5-147 – Istanbul Aviation Museum[225]

United States

YF-5A
F-5A
F-5B
F-5E

Vietnam

F-5A

Specifications (F-5E Tiger II)

 
3-view drawing of F-5E Tiger II
 
M39A2 cannon in the right side of the nose of an F-5E
 
F-5 external fuel tank cutview
 
Cockpit of a Norwegian F-5A

Data from Jane's all the World's Aircraft 1976–77,[241] The Complete Book of Fighters,[242] Quest for Performance[243]

General characteristics

  • Crew: 1
  • Length: 48 ft 2.25 in (14.6876 m)
  • Wingspan: 26 ft 8 in (8.13 m)
27 ft 11.875 in (8.53123 m) with wing-tip missiles
  • Height: 13 ft 4.5 in (4.077 m)
  • Wing area: 186 sq ft (17.3 m2)
  • Aspect ratio: 3.86
  • Airfoil: NACA 65A004.8[244]
  • Empty weight: 9,583 lb (4,347 kg)
  • Gross weight: 15,745 lb (7,142 kg) clean
  • Max takeoff weight: 24,675 lb (11,192 kg)
  • Fuel capacity:
  • Internal fuel: 677 US gal (564 imp gal; 2,560 l)
  • External fuel: up to 3x 275 US gal (229 imp gal; 1,040 l) drop-tanks

Performance

  • Maximum speed: Mach 1.63 (1,741 km/h; 1,082 mph) at 36,000 ft (11,000 m)
  • Maximum cruise speed: Mach 0.98 (1,050 km/h; 650 mph) at 36,000 ft (11,000 m)
  • Economical cruise speed: Mach 0.8 (850 km/h; 530 mph) at 36,000 ft (11,000 m)
  • Stall speed: 124 kn (143 mph, 230 km/h) 50% internal fuel, flaps and wheels extended
  • Never exceed speed: 710 kn (820 mph, 1,310 km/h) IAS
  • Range: 481 nmi (554 mi, 891 km) clean
  • Combat radius (20 min reserve): 120 nmi (140 mi; 220 km) with 2x Sidewinders + 5,200 lb (2,400 kg) ordnance, with 5 minutes combat at max power at sea level
  • Ferry range: 2,010 nmi (2,310 mi, 3,720 km) [245]
  • Ferry range (20 min reserve): 1,385 nmi (1,594 mi; 2,565 km) drop tanks retained
  • Ferry range (20 min reserve): 1,590 nmi (1,830 mi; 2,940 km) drop tanks jettisoned
  • Service ceiling: 51,800 ft (15,800 m)
  • Service ceiling one engine out: 41,000 ft (12,000 m)
  • Rate of climb: 34,500 ft/min (175 m/s)
  • Lift-to-drag: 10:1
  • Wing loading: 133 lb/sq ft (650 kg/m2) maximum
  • Thrust/weight: 0.4 take-off thrust at maximum take-off weight
  • Take-off run: 2,000 ft (610 m) with two Sidewinders at 15,745 lb (7,142 kg)
  • Take-off run to 50 ft (15 m): 2,900 ft (884 m) with two Sidewinders at 15,745 lb (7,142 kg)
  • Landing run from 50 ft (15 m): 3,701 ft (1,128 m) without brake-chute
  • Landing run from 50 ft (15 m): 2,500 ft (762 m) with brake-chute

Armament

  • Guns: 2× 20 mm (0.787 in) M39A2 Revolver cannon in the nose, 280 rounds/gun
  • Hardpoints: 7 total (only pylon stations 3, 4 and 5 are wet-plumbed): 2× wing-tip AAM launch rails, 4× under-wing & 1× under-fuselage pylon stations with a capacity of 7,000 pounds (3,200 kg), with provisions to carry combinations of:

Avionics

Notable appearances in media

Main article: Aircraft in fiction § F-5 Freedom Fighter.2FTiger II

See also

Related development

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

Related lists

References

Notes

  1. ^ The 412 F-5s in service as of December 2021 made it the tenth most common active fighter and attack jet, comprising about three percent of the world's tactical jet warplanes.[5]
  2. ^ The designation THF is unofficial since the Royal Thai Air Force only designated it in Thai, not in English.[citation needed]

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External links

 
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Northrop F-5.

April 22, 2023
northrop, family, supersonic, light, fighter, aircraft, initially, designed, privately, funded, project, late, 1950s, northrop, corporation, there, main, models, original, freedom, fighter, variants, extensively, updated, tiger, variants, design, team, wrapped. The Northrop F 5 is a family of supersonic light fighter aircraft initially designed as a privately funded project in the late 1950s by Northrop Corporation There are two main models the original F 5A and F 5B Freedom Fighter variants and the extensively updated F 5E and F 5F Tiger II variants The design team wrapped a small highly aerodynamic fighter around two compact and high thrust General Electric J85 engines focusing on performance and a low cost of maintenance Smaller and simpler than contemporaries such as the McDonnell Douglas F 4 Phantom II the F 5 cost less to procure and operate making it a popular export aircraft Though primarily designed for a day air superiority role the aircraft is also a capable ground attack platform The F 5A entered service in the early 1960s During the Cold War over 800 were produced through 1972 for US allies Though at the time the United States Air Force USAF did not have a need for a light fighter it did procure approximately 1 200 Northrop T 38 Talon trainer aircraft which was based on Northrop s N 156 fighter design F 5A B Freedom FighterF 5E F Tiger IIAn F 5E of the Swiss Air ForceRole Light fighterNational origin United StatesManufacturer Northrop CorporationFirst flight F 5A 30 July 1959F 5E 11 August 1972Introduction 1962Status In servicePrimary users United States NavyRepublic of China Air ForceRepublic of Korea Air ForceIslamic Republic of Iran Air ForceProduced 1959 1987Number built A B C D 1 204E F 1 399 1 Developed from Northrop T 38 TalonVariants Canadair CF 5Shaped Sonic Boom DemonstrationDeveloped into Northrop F 20 TigersharkHESA AzarakhshHESA SaeqehHESA KowsarAfter winning the International Fighter Aircraft Competition a program aimed at providing effective low cost fighters to American allies in 1970 Northrop introduced the second generation F 5E Tiger II in 1972 This upgrade included more powerful engines larger fuel capacity greater wing area and improved leading edge extensions for better turn rates optional air to air refueling and improved avionics including air to air radar Primarily used by American allies it remains in US service to support training exercises It has served in a wide array of roles being able to perform both air and ground attack duties the type was used extensively in the Vietnam War 2 A total of 1 400 Tiger IIs were built before production ended in 1987 More than 3 800 F 5s and the closely related T 38 advanced trainer aircraft were produced in Hawthorne California 3 The F 5N F variants are in service with the United States Navy and United States Marine Corps as adversary trainers 4 Over 400 aircraft were in service as of 2021 5 N 1 The F 5 was also developed into a dedicated reconnaissance aircraft the RF 5 Tigereye The F 5 also served as a starting point for a series of design studies which resulted in the Northrop YF 17 and the F A 18 naval fighter aircraft The Northrop F 20 Tigershark was an advanced variant to succeed the F 5E which was ultimately canceled when export customers did not emerge Contents 1 Design and development 1 1 Origins 1 2 Design evolution 1 3 Into production 1 4 F 5E and F 5F Tiger II 1 5 Upgrades 2 Operational history 2 1 United States Air Force 2 2 Brazil 2 3 Ethiopia 2 4 Iran 2 5 Kenya 2 6 Malaysia 2 7 Mexico 2 8 Morocco 2 9 Netherlands 2 10 Norway 2 11 Philippines 2 12 South Korea 2 13 Singapore 2 14 Switzerland 2 15 Taiwan 2 16 South Vietnam Vietnam 2 17 Venezuela 2 18 Yemen 2 19 Others 3 Variants 3 1 Single seat versions 3 2 Reconnaissance versions 3 3 Two seat versions 3 4 Foreign variants 3 4 1 Licensed versions 3 4 2 Unlicensed versions 3 5 Derivatives 3 5 1 F 20 Tigershark 3 5 2 Northrop YF 17 3 5 3 Shaped Sonic Boom Demonstration 4 Operators 4 1 Former operators 5 Aircraft on display 5 1 Brazil 5 2 Czech Republic 5 3 Greece 5 4 Indonesia 5 5 Norway 5 6 Philippines 5 7 Poland 5 8 Spain 5 9 Switzerland 5 10 Thailand 5 11 Turkey 5 12 United States 5 13 Vietnam 6 Specifications F 5E Tiger II 7 Notable appearances in media 8 See also 9 References 9 1 Notes 9 2 Citations 9 3 Bibliography 10 External linksDesign and development EditOrigins Edit The design effort was led by Northrop vice president of engineering and aircraft designer Edgar Schmued 6 who previously at North American Aviation had been the chief designer of the successful North American P 51 Mustang and F 86 Sabre fighters Schmued recruited a strong engineering team to Northrop 7 In December 1953 NATO issued NBMR 1 calling for a lightweight tactical fighter capable of carrying conventional and nuclear weapons and operating from rough airfields In late 1954 a Northrop team toured Europe and Asia to examine both the NBMR 1 and the needs of SEATO members From this tour Schmued gave his team the goal of reversing the trend in fighter development towards greater size and weight in order to deliver an aircraft with high performance enhanced maneuverability and high reliability while still delivering a cost advantage over contemporary fighters 8 9 Recognizing that expensive jet aircraft could not viably be replaced every few years he also demanded engineered growth potential allowing service longevity in excess of 10 years 10 The design began to firm up in 1955 with the introduction of the General Electric J85 turbojet engine Originally developed for McDonnell s ADM 20 Quail decoy for use on the Boeing B 52 Stratofortress 11 the J85 had a thrust to weight ratio of 6 25 to 7 5 depending on the version giving it a notable advantage over contemporaries such as the 4 7 ratio of the J79 engine used in the F 4 Phantom 12 Design evolution Edit Using a pair of J85s as the baseline the team began considering a series of prospective designs Among the earliest concepts was the N 156TX of March 1955 This mounted the engines in pods one under each wing about mid span The fuselage was quite slim compared to the final design with a crew of two under a narrow cockpit canopy 13 That year the US Navy expressed an interest in a fighter to operate from its escort carriers which were too small to operate the Navy s existing jet fighters Northrop responded with a radical redesign PD 2706 which placed the engines against the fuselage in short ducts exiting in front of the tail area like the F 4 and moved the elevator up to form a T tail The resulting design had a much shorter fuselage and was quite compact 13 Development along these lines ended when the Navy decided to withdraw the escort carriers Northrop continued development of the N 156 both as a two seat advanced trainer designated as N 156T and a single seat fighter designated as N 156F 14 The first Northrop YF 5A prototype Another highly influential figure was chief engineer Welko Gasich 15 who convinced Schmued that the engines must be located within the fuselage for maximum performance 16 This led to the January 1956 PD 2812 version which began to look a lot like the final product although this version had a long span low mounted elevator with notable anhedral March 1956 s PD 2832 moved to a more conventional elevator and had a strongly swept vertical stabilizer The design underwent several further versions over the next year which experimented with different nose designs and continued to lengthen the fuselage The final design PD 2879D emerged in December 1956 13 Gasich also introduced the concept of life cycle cost into fighter design which provided the foundation for the F 5 s low operating cost and long service life A Northrop design study stated The application of advanced technology was used to provide maximum force effectiveness at minimum cost This became the Northrop philosophy in the development of the T 38 and F 5 lightweight trainer and fighter aircraft 16 Into production Edit The F 5 earned a reputation for a jet that was hard to discern in the air and when one finally saw it it was often after a missile or guns kill by F 5 had already been called Singapore s former Chief of Air Force and F 5 pilot Major General Ng Chee Khern 17 The N 156T was quickly selected by the United States Air Force as a replacement for the T 33 in July 1956 On 12 June 1959 the first prototype aircraft which was subsequently designated as YT 38 Talon performed its first flight By the time production had ended in January 1972 a total of 1 189 Talons had been produced 18 19 Development of the N 156F continued at a lower priority as a private venture by Northrop on 25 February 1958 an order for three prototypes was issued for a prospective low cost fighter that could be supplied under the Military Assistance Program for distribution to less developed nations The first N 156F flew at Edwards Air Force Base on 30 July 1959 exceeding the speed of sound on its first flight 20 Although testing of the N 156F was successful demonstrating unprecedented reliability and proving superior in the ground attack role to the USAF s existing North American F 100 Super Sabres official interest in the Northrop type waned and by 1960 it looked as if the program was a failure Interest revived in 1961 when the United States Army tested it along with the Douglas A 4 Skyhawk and Fiat G 91 for reconnaissance and close support Although all three types proved capable during army testing operating fixed wing combat aircraft was legally the responsibility of the Air Force which would not agree to allow the Army to operate fixed wing combat aircraft a situation repeated with the C 7 Caribou 21 In 1962 the Kennedy Administration revived the requirement for a low cost export fighter selecting the N 156F as winner of the F X competition on 23 April 1962 subsequently becoming the F 5A and was ordered into production in October that year 22 It was named under the 1962 United States Tri Service aircraft designation system which included a re set of the fighter number series Northrop manufactured a total of 624 F 5As including three YF 5A prototypes 23 before production ended in 1972 A further 200 F 5B two seat trainer aircraft lacking nose mounted cannons but otherwise combat capable and 86 RF 5A reconnaissance aircraft fitted with four camera noses were also built In addition Canadair built 240 first generation F 5s under license CASA in Spain built 70 more aircraft 24 F 5E and F 5F Tiger II Edit Official roll out of first USAF F 5E Tiger II F 5E Tiger II with B83 nuclear bomb at Hill Aerospace Museum In 1970 Northrop won the International Fighter Aircraft IFA competition to replace the F 5A with better air to air performance against aircraft like the Soviet MiG 21 The resultant aircraft initially known as F 5A 21 subsequently became the F 5E It had more powerful 5 000 lbf General Electric J85 21 engines and had a lengthened and enlarged fuselage accommodating more fuel Its wings were fitted with enlarged leading edge extensions giving an increased wing area and improved maneuverability The aircraft s avionics were more sophisticated crucially including a radar initially the Emerson Electric AN APQ 153 the F 5A and B had no radar It retained the gun armament of two M39 cannons one on either side of the nose of the F 5A Various specific avionics fits could be accommodated at a customer s request including an inertial navigation system TACAN and ECM equipment 25 Additionally the two position nose landing gear from the Canadian CF 5 was incorporated to reduce takeoff distance 26 The first F 5E flew on 11 August 1972 26 A two seat combat capable trainer the F 5F was offered first flying on 25 September 1974 at Edwards Air Force Base with a new nose that was three feet longer which unlike the F 5B that did not mount a gun allowed it to retain a single M39 cannon albeit with a reduced ammunition capacity 27 The two seater was equipped with the Emerson AN APQ 157 radar which is a derivative of the AN APQ 153 radar with dual control and display systems to accommodate the two men crew and the radar has the same range of AN APQ 153 around 10 nmi On 6 April 1973 the 425th TFS at Williams Air Force Base Arizona received the first F 5E Tiger II citation needed An early series F 5E A reconnaissance version the RF 5E Tigereye with a sensor package in the nose displacing the radar and one cannon was also offered The F 5E eventually received the official name Tiger II 792 F 5Es 146 F 5Fs and 12 RF 5Es were eventually built by Northrop 24 More were built under license overseas 91 F 5Es and F 5Fs in Switzerland 28 68 by Korean Air in South Korea 29 and 308 in Taiwan 30 The F 5E proved to be a successful combat aircraft in service with US allies but had no combat service with the US Air Force though the F 5A with modifications designated F 5C was flown by the US in Vietnam 31 The F 5E evolved into the single engine F 5G which was rebranded the F 20 Tigershark It lost out on export sales to the F 16 Fighting Falcon in the 1980s Upgrades Edit The F 5E experienced numerous upgrades in its service life with the most significant one being adopting a new planar array radar Emerson AN APQ 159 with a range of 20 nmi to replace the original AN APQ 153 Similar radar upgrades were also proposed for F 5F with the derivative of AN APQ 159 the AN APQ 167 to replace the AN APQ 157 but that was cancelled The latest radar upgrade included the Emerson AN APG 69 which was the successor of AN APQ 159 incorporating mapping capability However most nations chose not to upgrade for financial reasons and the radar saw very little service in USAF aggressor squadrons and Swiss Air Force 32 Various F 5 versions remain in service with many nations Having taken delivery of its first F 5 Tigers in 1979 Singapore operated approximately 49 modernized and re designated F 5S single seat and F 5T two seat aircraft until the early 2010s when they were retired from service 33 Upgrades included new FIAR Grifo F X band radar from Galileo Avionica similar in performance to the AN APG 69 updated cockpits with multi function displays and compatibility with the AIM 120 AMRAAM and Rafael Python air to air missiles 17 34 35 NASA F 5E modified for DARPA sonic boom tests One National Aeronautics and Space Administration NASA F 5E was given a modified fuselage shape for its employment in the Shaped Sonic Boom Demonstration program carried out by Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency DARPA It is preserved in the Valiant Air Command Warbird Museum at Titusville Florida 36 The Royal Thai Air Force RTAF had their F 5s undergo an extensive upgrade program resulting in the aircraft re designated as F 5T Tigris They are armed with Python III and IV missiles and equipped with the Dash helmet mounted cueing system 37 Similar programs have been carried out in Chile and Brazil with the help of Elbit The Chilean upgrade called the F 5 Tiger III Plus incorporated a new Elta EL M 2032 radar and other improvements The Brazilian program re designated as F 5M adds a new Grifo F radar along with several avionics and cockpit refurbishments including the Dash helmet The F 5M has been equipped with new weapon systems such as the Beyond Visual Range Derby missile Python IV short range air to air missile SMKBs smart bomb 38 and several other weapons 39 40 41 42 Operational history EditThe first contract for the production F 5A was issued in 1962 the first overseas order coming from the Royal Norwegian Air Force on 28 February 1964 It entered service with the 4441st Combat Crew Training Squadron USAF at Williams Air Force Base which had the role of training pilots and ground crew for customer nations including Norway on 30 April 1964 At that point it was still not intended that the aircraft be used in significant numbers by the USAF itself 43 United States Air Force Edit An F 5B of 602d TFS at Bien Hoa 1966 USAF doctrine with regard to the F 5 changed following operational testing and limited deployment in 1965 Preliminary combat evaluation of the F 5A began at the Air Proving Ground Center Eglin AFB Florida in mid 1965 under the code name Project Sparrow Hawk One airframe was lost in the course of the project through pilot error on 24 June 44 In October 1965 the USAF began a five month combat evaluation of the F 5A titled Skoshi Tiger A total of 12 aircraft were delivered for trials to the 4503rd Tactical Fighter Squadron and after modification with probe and drogue aerial refueling equipment armor and improved instruments were redesignated F 5C 45 Over the next six months they flew in combat in Vietnam flying more than 2 600 sorties both from the 3rd Tactical Fighter Wing at Bien Hoa over South Vietnam and from Da Nang Air Base where operations were flown over Laos Nine aircraft were lost in Vietnam seven to enemy ground fire and two to operational causes 46 47 Operations with 3rd TFW were declared a success with the F 5 generally rated as being as capable a ground attacker as the F 100 albeit having a shorter range 48 However the program was more a political gesture that was intended to aid the export of F 5s than a serious consideration of the type for US service 45 Following Skoshi Tiger the Philippine Air Force acquired 23 F 5A and B models in 1965 These aircraft along with remanufactured Vought F 8 Crusaders eventually replaced the Philippine Air Force s F 86 Sabre in the air defense and ground attack roles From April 1966 the USAF aircraft continued operations under the auspices of the 10th Fighter Squadron Commando with their number boosted to 17 aircraft USAF F 5F with AIM 9J Sidewinder AGM 65 Maverick missiles and auxiliary fuel tanks over Edwards Air Force Base 1976 In June 1967 the surviving aircraft of the 10th Fighter Squadron Commando were transferred to the Republic of Vietnam Air Force RVNAF In view of the performance agility and size of the F 5 it might have appeared to be a good match against the similar MiG 21 in air combat however US doctrine was to use heavy faster and longer range aircraft like the Republic F 105 Thunderchief and McDonnell Douglas F 4 Phantom II over North Vietnam The F 5 was also adopted as an opposing forces OPFOR aggressor for dissimilar training role because of its small size and performance similarities to the Soviet MiG 21 In realistic trials at Nellis AFB in 1977 called ACEVAL AIMVAL the F 14 reportedly scored slightly better than a 2 1 kill ratio against the simpler F 5 while the F 15 scored slightly less 49 50 51 52 There is some contradiction of these reports another source reports that For the first three weeks of the test the F 14s and F 15s were hopelessly outclassed and demoralized after adapting to qualities of the F 5 carrying the new all aspect AIM 9L missile and implementing rule changes to artificially favor long range radar guided missiles the F 14s did slightly better than breaking even with the F 5s in non 1 v 1 engagements the F 15s got almost 2 1 53 A 2012 Discovery Channel documentary Great Planes reported that in USAF exercises F 5 aggressor aircraft were competitive enough with more modern and expensive fighters to only be at small disadvantage in Within Visual Range WVR combat 54 USMC F 5N Tiger IIs from VMFT 401 on standby at the Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort The F 5E served with the US Air Force from 1975 until 1990 in the 64th Aggressor Squadron and 65th Aggressor Squadron at Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada and with the 527th Aggressor Squadron at RAF Alconbury in the UK and the 26th Aggressor Squadron at Clark Air Force Base in the Philippines The US Marines purchased used F 5s from the Air Force in 1989 to replace their F 21s which served with VMFT 401 at Marine Corps Air Station Yuma The US Navy used the F 5E extensively at the Naval Fighter Weapons School TOPGUN when it was located at NAS Miramar California When TOPGUN relocated to become part of the Naval Strike and Air Warfare Center at NAS Fallon Nevada the command divested itself of the F 5 choosing to rely on VC 13 redesignated VFC 13 and which already used F 5s to employ their F 5s as adversary aircraft Former adversary squadrons such as VF 43 at NAS Oceana VF 45 at NAS Key West VF 126 at NAS Miramar and VFA 127 at NAS Lemoore have also operated the F 5 along with other aircraft types in support of Dissimilar Air Combat Training DACT The US Navy F 5 fleet continues to be modernized with 36 low hour F 5E Fs purchased from Switzerland in 2006 These were updated as F 5N Fs with modernized avionics and other improved systems Currently the only US Navy and US Marine Corps units flying the F 5 are VFC 13 at NAS Fallon Nevada VFC 111 at NAS Key West Florida and VMFT 401 at MCAS Yuma Arizona 4 Currently VFC 111 operates 18 Northrop F 5N F Tiger IIs 17 of these are single seater F 5Ns and the last is a twin seater F 5F FrankenTiger the product of grafting the older front half fuselage of an F 5F into the back half fuselage of a newer low hours F 5E acquired from the Swiss Air Force A total of three FrankenTigers were made 55 According to the FAA there are 18 privately owned F 5s in the US including Canadair CF 5Ds 56 57 Brazil Edit A Brazilian Air Force F 5M In October 1974 the Brazilian Air Force FAB ordered 36 F 5E and 6 F 5B aircraft from Northrop for 72 million The first three aircraft arrived on 12 March 1975 58 In 1988 FAB acquired 22 F 5E and four F 5F second hand USAF aggressor fighters A total of 15 of these aircraft were part of the initial batch of 30 aircraft produced by Northrop 59 In 1990 FAB retired all remaining five F 5Bs later they were sent to Brazilian museums around the country 60 In 2001 Elbit Systems and Embraer started work on a 230 million Brazilian F 5 modernization program performed over an eight year period upgrading 46 F 5E F aircraft re designated as F 5EM and F 5FM The modernization centered on several areas new electronic warfare systems the Grifo F radar an air to air refueling system INS GPS based navigation support for new weapons targeting and self defense systems HOTAS LCD displays helmet mounted displays HMDs Radar Warning Receiver encrypted communications cockpit compatibility for night vision goggles On Board Oxygen Generation System OBOGS and various new onboard computer upgrades One important capability is the secure communication with R 99 airborne early warning platforms and ground stations 61 Externally the new aircraft features a larger nose cone that accommodates the larger radar equipment The first F 5EM was handed over on 21 September 2005 62 On 7 July 2003 four Rafael Litening III targeting pods were ordered at a cost of US 13 million 63 to be used on F 5M together with three Rafael Sky Shield jamming pods ordered on 5 July 2006 at a cost of US 42 million 64 In 2009 FAB bought eight single seat and three twin seat F 5F used aircraft from Jordan in a US 21 million deal These aircraft were built between 1975 and 1980 65 On 14 April 2011 a contract of 153 million was signed with Embraer and Elbit to modernize the additional F 5s bought from Jordan and to supply one more flight simulator as a continuation of the contract signed in 2000 These F 5s will receive the same configuration as those from the initial 46 F 5s currently completing the upgrade process The first delivery of this second batch of upgraded jet fighters is scheduled for 2013 with expected use to 2030 66 67 In 2020 the FAB started implementing the new proprietary Datalink System of the Brazilian Armed Forces on the F 5EM for integrated communication and real time sharing battlefield warfare data with AEW amp C R 99 E 99 FAB Embraer aircraft other aircraft ships helicopters tanks and front back ends battlefield control centers called Link BR2 68 Ethiopia Edit Ethiopia received 10 F 5As and two F 5Bs from the US starting in 1966 In addition to these Ethiopia had a training squadron equipped with at least eight Lockheed T 33 Shooting Stars In 1970 Iran transferred at least three F 5As and Bs to Ethiopia In 1975 another agreement was reached with the US to deliver a number of military aircraft including 14 F 5Es and three F 5Fs later in the same year eight F 5Es were transferred while the others were embargoed and delivered to a USAF aggressor Squadron due to the changed political situation The US also withdrew its personnel and cut diplomatic relations Ethiopian officers contracted a number of Israelis to maintain American equipment 69 The Ethiopian F 5 fighters saw combat action against Somali forces during the Ogaden War 1977 1978 The main Somali fighter aircraft was the MiG 21MF delivered in the 1970s supported by Mikoyan Gurevich MiG 17s delivered in the 1960s by the Soviet Union Ethiopian F 5E aircraft were used to gain air superiority because they could use the AIM 9B air to air missile while the F 5As were kept for air interdiction and airstrike During this period Ethiopian F 5Es went on training against Ethiopian F 5As and F 86 Sabres simulating Somali MiG 21s and MiG 17s 69 On 17 July 1977 two F 5s were on combat air patrol near Harer when four Somali MiG 21MFs were detected nearby In the engagement two MiG 21s were shot down while the other two had a midair collision while avoiding an AIM 9B missile The better trained F 5 pilots swiftly gained air superiority over the Somali Air Force shooting down a number of aircraft while other Somali aircraft were lost to air defense and to incidents Records indicate that Ethiopian F 5s of the 9th Fighter Squadron shot down 13 MiGs 17 and 12 MiGs 21 from 20th July until 1st September 1977 All aircraft were hit by Sidewinders AIM 9 70 However at least three F 5s were shot down by air defense forces during attacks against supply bases in western Somalia 69 Ethiopian pilots who had flown both the F 5E and the MiG 21 considered the F 5E to be the superior fighter because of its manoeuvrability at low to medium speeds and the fact that it was far easier to fly allowing the pilot to focus on combat rather than controlling his airplane 71 This effect was enhanced by the poor quality of pilot training provided by the Soviets which provided limited flight time and focused exclusively on taking off and landing with no practical training in air combat 71 72 Ethiopia s ace pilot and national hero was Legesse Tefera who is credited with shooting down 6 or 7 Somali MiGs thus making him the most successful F 5 pilot ever 73 74 70 Iran Edit F 5A Freedom Fighters of the Imperial Iranian Air Force An F 5E of the Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force The Imperial Iranian Air Force IIAF received extensive US equipment in the 1960s and 1970s Iran received its first 11 F 5As and two F 5Bs in February 1965 which were then declared operational in June 1965 Ultimately Iran received 104 F 5As and 23 F 5Bs by 1972 From January 1974 with the first squadron of 28 F 5Fs Iran received a total of 166 F 5E Fs and 15 additional RF 5As with deliveries ending in 1976 While receiving the F 5E and F Iran began to sell its F 5A and B inventory to other countries including Ethiopia Turkey Greece and South Vietnam by 1976 many had been sold except for several F 5Bs retained for training purposes 75 F 5s were also used by the IIAF s aerobatic display team the Golden Crown After the Iranian revolution in 1979 the new Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force IRIAF was partially successful at keeping Western fighters in service during the Iran Iraq War in the 1980s and the simple F 5 had a good service readiness until late in the war Initially Iran took spare parts from foreign sources later it was able to have its new aircraft industry keep the aircraft flying 76 IRIAF F 5s were heavily involved flying air to air and air to ground sorties Iranian F 5s took part in air combat with Iraqi Mikoyan Gurevich MiG 21s MiG 23s MiG 25s Su 20 22s Mirage F1s and Super Etendards The exact combat record is not known with many differing claims from Iraqi Iranian Western and Russian sources citation needed There are reports that an IRIAF F 5E piloted by Major Yadollah Javadpour shot down a MiG 25 on 6 August 1983 77 78 Russian sources state that the first confirmed kill of a MiG 25 occurred in 1985 79 During their first years of service Iranian F 5s had the advantage in missile technology using advanced versions of the infrared homing AIM 9 Sidewinder later lost with deliveries of new missiles and fighters to Iraq citation needed Iran Aircraft Manufacturing Industrial Company currently produces three aircraft the Azarakhsh Saeqeh and Kowsar derived from the F 5 80 Kenya Edit Starting on 16 October 2011 during Operation Linda Nchi Kenyan Air Force F 5s supported the Kenyan forces fighting in Somalia against Al Shabab Islamists bombing targets inside Somalia and spearheading the ground forces 81 Malaysia Edit F 5 Tiger II of the Royal Malaysian Air Force In 1975 the Royal Malaysian Air Force received 14 F 5Es and two F 5Bs In 1982 four F 5Fs were received and the two F 5Bs already in Malaysian service were transferred to the Royal Thai Air Force In 1983 RMAF received two RF 5E Tigereye Subsequently two F 5Es M29 21 amp M29 22 and a F 5F M29 23 which came with the new shark nose and with leading edge root extensions LERX version were ordered as attrition replacement The F 5E was the first supersonic fighter in Royal Malaysian Air Force service and it replaced the former RAAF CAC Sabre as the Royal Malaysian Air Force s primary air defense fighter throughout the 1980s and early 90s It also served in secondary ground attack role alongside the Douglas A 4 Skyhawk Five F 5Es and one F 5F were lost in the accident with three fatalities 2 pilots in E 1983 amp 1995 and 1 in F 1986 all crashed into the sea In 2000 all the RMAF F 5s were deactivated but they were reactivated in 2003 as the Tactical Air Reconnaissance Squadron and Reserve Several upgrade packages were proposed to extend the service life of the aircraft but none were taken In 2015 the F 5s was pulled out of service but some were kept in storage citation needed Mexico Edit Mexican Air Force F 5 Tiger flying near the Popocatepetl volcano In 1982 the Mexican Air Force received 10 F 5Es and two F 5Fs after the purchase of 24 IAI Kfir C 1 was blocked by the US because the Kfir used the American produced J79 engine These fighters complemented the Lockheed T 33 and de Havilland Vampire Mk I received much earlier two of the first combat jet aircraft in Mexico The F 5 gave Mexico its first supersonic warplane and it saw the formation of Air Squadron 401 On 16 September 1995 after more than 30 military parade flights without incidents an F 5E collided in midair with three Lockheed T 33s during the military parade for the Independence of Mexico resulting in 10 deaths 82 As of 2021 the Mexican Air Force has five Northrop F 5E and two F 5F fighters combat ready and for training purposes 83 Morocco Edit The Royal Moroccan Air Force received 22 F 5As two F 5Bs and two RF 5As from the United States between 1966 and 1974 These entered service with the 1st Fighter Squadron 84 Two additional F 5As were donated by Iran in 1974 and six F 5As were acquired from Jordan in 1976 85 Three F 5As were involved in the failed 1972 Moroccan coup attempt attacking King Hassan II of Morocco s Boeing 727 in mid air before strafing and bombing a military airfield and the royal palace 86 After the failure of the attempted coup nearly all F 5 pilots were arrested and most of them disappeared 87 Another consequence of the failed coup was that the designation system of Moroccan air force units changed from numerical designations to names From then on the F 5A squadron was known as the Borak squadron 85 Morocco used its F 5s in the Western Sahara War in reconnaissance and bombing missions 88 Several aircraft were shot down by 9K32 Strela 2 MANPADS machine gun fire and 9K31 Strela 1 SA 9 and 2K12 Kub SA 6 self propelled anti aircraft systems 89 To counter the SA 6 threat AN ALR 66 radar warning receivers were installed on the RF 5As and F 5Bs around 1981 These aircraft were grouped into a newly established dedicated reconnaissance unit the Erige squadron one of its main tasks was to track the Polisario Front s surface to air missile systems 90 In the same period Morocco started receiving 16 F 5Es and four F 5Fs that had been ordered in 1979 thanks to Saudi financing Deliveries lasted from 1981 to 1983 91 Shortly after their arrival the F 5Es were fitted with the same radar warning receivers as the RF 5As and F 5Bs 92 they also received in flight refuelling probes 93 Lastly Moroccan F 5Es could be equipped with electronic and infrared countermeasures pods that enhanced their survivability against Polisario surface to air missiles 94 F 5E Fs were operated by the Borak and Erige squadrons where they served together with older F 5 versions as well as the Chahine squadron 95 During the war in Western Sahara Moroccan F 5s deployed general purpose and cluster bombs unguided rockets and more rarely AGM 65 Maverick missiles 96 In total 15 F 5s are confirmed to have been lost in the course of the Western Sahara War 89 Starting in 1990 Morocco received 12 more F 5Es from the United States a total of 24 F 5Es having been upgraded to the F 5TIII standard citation needed Netherlands Edit 314 Sq RNLAF NF 5B dual The Royal Netherlands Air Force RNLAF received 75 F 5A single seat fighters and 30 F 5B dual seat trainers They were license built in Canada by Canadair respectively as NF 5As and Bs in the 1969 CL 226 production line These aircraft equalled the Canadian CF 5A and CF 5D versions with more powerful engines fitted The first NF 5A was handed over in October 1969 at Twenthe Air Base for 313 Squadron acting as Operational Conversion Unit The last aircraft was handed over in March 1972 The NF 5As flew under the Dutch registrations K 3001 K 3075 and the NF 5Bs under K 4002 K 4030 They were operational at Twenthe AB OCU 313 and 315 Squadrons Eindhoven AB 314 Squadron and Gilze Rijen AB 316 Squadron During the RNLAF transition to the F 16 the NF 5s and Bs were stored at Gilze Rijen and Woensdrecht air bases 60 aircraft were sold to Turkey 11 to Greece and 7 to Venezuela Some aircraft have been written off during their operational life due to crashes and some remaining aircraft are displayed in museums or used in technical schools The NF 5As and Bs were operational from 1971 to 1991 citation needed Norway Edit Norwegian Air Force F 5A The Royal Norwegian Air Force received 108 Freedom Fighters 16 RF 5A 78 F 5A and 14 F 5B The first 64 were received as military aid They were used by six squadrons 97 the first and last being 336 Squadron receiving the first aircraft in February 1966 formal handing over ceremony a month later and deactivating in August 2000 Three aircraft were kept flying until 2007 serving with Kongsberg Defence amp Aerospace for tests in the Eye of the Tiger program supporting development of the Norwegian Penguin anti ship missile 97 The aircraft received under military aid were handed off to Greece and Turkey Of the aircraft bought by the Norwegian government nine were used in exchange with US authorities for submarines of the Kobben class 98 In October 2011 five F 5A single seaters were given to aircraft maintenance schools around the country including the Skedsmo Sola Bodo and Bardufoss high schools and the Royal Norwegian Air Force s training center at Kristiansand Airport Kjevik The aircraft were disassembled at Moss Airport Rygge before delivery to the schools Of the ten remaining Norwegian F 5s eight F 5B two seaters were still for sale as of 2011 six of which were stored in Norway and two in the United States The two aircraft in the United States had been approved for sale to the American businessman Ross Perot Jr in 2008 but the deal was blocked by the US government initially 99 However in 2015 Perot Jr got permission and subsequently bought the aircraft for significantly below market price which caused controversy and public criticism of the government of Norway 100 Three survivors are exhibited at the Norwegian Armed Forces Aircraft Collection two at Norsk Luftfartsmuseum in Bodo and one at Flyhistorisk Museum Sola near Stavanger Philippines Edit Philippine Air Force F 5A at Clark Air Base c 1982 The Philippine Air Force acquired 37 F 5A and F 5B from 1965 to 1998 101 The F 5A Bs were used by the 6th Tactical Fighter Squadron Cobras of the 5th Fighter Wing and the Blue Diamonds aerobatic team replacing the F 86F Sabre previously used by 1965 and 1968 respectively The F 5s also underwent an upgrade which equipped it with surplus AN APQ 153 radars with significant overhaul at the end of the 1970s to stretch their service lives another 15 years In 2005 the Philippines decommissioned its remaining F 5A B fleet including those received from Taiwan and South Korea 102 South Korea Edit The Republic of Korea Air Force ROKAF purchased F 5A Bs in 1965 and it purchased F 5Es in August 1974 KF 5 variants were built by Korean Air under license between 1982 and 1986 citation needed The F 5E Fs and KF 5E Fs were to be replaced by FA 50s citation needed and after 2001 by the plans to eventually field the Korean F X Phase 3 103 18 Singapore Edit A Republic of Singapore Air Force F 5S Tiger II taking off from Korat Air Base Singapore is an important operator of the F 5E F variant first ordering the aircraft in 1976 during a massive expansion of the city state s armed forces delivery of this first batch of 18 F 5Es and three F 5Fs was completed by late February 1979 equipping the newly formed up No 144 Black Kite Squadron at Tengah Air Base At the end of 1979 an order was placed for six more F 5Es which were delivered by 1981 In 1982 an order for three more F 5Fs was placed these were forward delivered in September 1983 to RAF Leuchars in Scotland where they were taken over by pilots of the Republic of Singapore Air Force RSAF 17 In 1983 the type took over the duties of airborne interception from the Royal Australian Air Force s Mirage IIIOs detachment rotated between No 3 amp No 75 Squadron RAAF stationed at Tengah 104 Another order for six more F 5Es was placed in 1985 these were delivered the same year and would go on to equip the newly formed up No 149 Shikra Squadron at Tengah The following year the RSAF placed an order for its final batch of three F 5Fs and five F 5Es these were delivered in December 1987 and July 1989 respectively In a bid to modernize its air force the Royal Jordanian Air Force put up seven F 5Es for sale in 1994 these were later acquired by Singapore 17 From 1990 to 1991 using jigs and toolings purchased from Northrop Singapore Aircraft Industries SAI now ST Aerospace converted eight existing F 5Es into RF 5E Tigereye variant Subsequently these were used to reequip No 141 Merlin Squadron which had traded in their older Hawker Hunter FR 74S for the newer Tigereyes in 1992 and was by then based at Paya Lebar Air Base after the 144 Squadron had relocated there in 1986 By June 1993 all three squadrons had been relocated to the base thus consolidating Singapore s F 5E F operations at Paya Lebar 17 In 1991 SAI was awarded a contract as the prime contractor to modernize all RSAF F 5E Fs including the 7 ex Jordanian F 5Es Elbit Systems was the sub contractor responsible for systems integration Upgrades include a new X band multi mode radar the Italian FIAR Grifo F 34 35 with Beyond visual range missile and Look down shoot down capabilities a revamped cockpit with new MIL STD 1553R databuses GEC Ferranti 4510 Head up display weapons delivery system two BAE Systems MED 2067 Multi function displays Litton LN 93 inertial navigation system similar to the ST Aerospace A 4SU Super Skyhawk and Hands On Throttle And Stick controls HOTAS to reduce pilot workload Reportedly the Elisra SPS2000 radar warning receiver and countermeasure system was also installed 105 In addition the starboard M39 20 mm cannon mounted in the nose was removed to make way for additional avionics the sole cannon on the two seaters was removed because of this and to improve maneuverability upgraded aircraft received larger leading edge root extensions LERX The process began in March 1996 and was completed by 2001 receiving the new designation of F 5S T In 1998 the eight RF 5Es also received the upgrades except for the radar and were redesignated as RF 5S 17 Each F 5S T upgraded reportedly cost SGD 6 million 106 By end of 2009 the type had accumulated more than 170 000 hours of flight time in Singapore service with only two F 5Es being lost in separate accidents in 1984 and 1991 respectively 17 As of June 2011 only 141 and 144 Squadron are left operating the RF 5S and F 5S T as 149 Squadron has since formally transitioned to the McDonnell Douglas F 15SG Strike Eagles on 5 April 2010 107 144 Squadron the last squadron operating F 5Es disbanded in September 2015 after the F 5S was retired 108 The RSAF also used the F 5s as a trainer aircraft 109 Switzerland Edit Swiss F 5F with Ericson Vista 5 radar jammer The Swiss Air Force flies a total of 22 F 5E and 4 F 5F aircraft down from a peak of 98 and 12 in 1981 110 They were chosen chiefly because of their excellent performance suitability for the unique Swiss Air Force mission and their relatively low maintenance cost per flight hour It had been expected these aircraft would be replaced by the Saab JAS 39 Gripen but in May 2014 a referendum by the Swiss people decided against the purchase of the Gripens 111 For the foreseeable future the Swiss Air Force will continue to fly its present F 5s There are still plans by the Swiss Air Force and in the Swiss parliament to fly 18 F 5E and four F 5F models This would also include the continued operation of the Patrouille Suisse in F 5Es until 2018 112 In September 2020 the Swiss people voted yes in a referendum to get a replacement With 50 1 to 49 9 and only 8670 votes between 113 The Swiss Air Force has decided to replace the aircraft with 36 F 35As 114 Taiwan Edit The 46th Tactical Fighter Squadron Aggressor squadron F 5E 5272 of Republic of China Air Force exhibited on the apron of Zhi Hang Air Base The Republic of China Air Force ROCAF Taiwan s air force received its first batch of seven F 5As and two F 5Bs under the US Military Assistance Program in 1965 By 1971 the ROCAF was operating 72 F 5As and 11 F 5Bs 115 During 1972 the US borrowed 48 ROCAF F 5As to lend to the Republic of Vietnam Air Force before the withdrawal of US forces from Vietnam By 1973 most of those loaned F 5As were not in flying condition thus the US opted to return 20 F 5As to Taiwan by drawing nine F 5As from US reserves while repairing 11 from South Vietnam An additional 28 new F 5Es were issued to Taiwan by May 1975 116 By 1973 Taiwan s AIDC started local production of a first batch of 100 F 5Es the first of six Peace Tiger production batches By end of 1986 when the production line closed after completing Peace Tiger 6 the AIDC had produced 242 F 5Es and 66 F 5Fs Taiwan was the largest operator of the type at one time having 336 F 5E Fs in inventory 117 The last batch of AIDC F 5E Fs featured the F 20 s shark nose 118 With the introduction of 150 F 16s 60 Mirage 2000 5s and 130 F CK 1s in the mid to late 1990s the F 5E F series became second line fighters in ROCAF service and mostly are now withdrawn from service as squadrons converted to new fighters entering ROCAF service Seven low airframe hours F 5Es were sent to ST Aerospace to convert them to RF 5E standard to fulfill a reconnaissance role previously undertaken by the retiring Lockheed RF 104G in ROCAF service 119 As of 2009 only about 40 ROCAF F 5E Fs still remain in service in training roles with about 90 100 F 5E Fs held in reserve The other retired F 5E F are either scrapped or used as decoys painted in colors representing the main front line F 16 Mirage 2000 5 or F CK 1 fighters and deployed around major air bases 120 Taiwan also tried to upgrade the F 5E F fleet with AIDC s Tiger 2000 2001 program The first flight took place on 24 July 2002 The program would replace the F 5E F s radar with F CK 1 s GD 53 radar and allow the fighter to carry a single TC 2 BVRAAM on the centerline But lack of interest from the ROCAF eventually killed the program The only prototype is on display in AIDC in Central Taiwan 121 122 On 22 March 2021 two Taiwanese pilots flying F 5E s crashed into each other during a training mission resulting in the third crash within the last six months Two pilots died after the crash 123 South Vietnam Vietnam Edit VNAF F 5C Bien Hoa Air Base 1971 In June 1967 the US donated the surviving aircraft of 10th FCS USAF to South Vietnam The president of South Vietnam had asked the US for F 4 Phantoms but these were in high demand and the Republic of Vietnam Air Force RVNAF was flying only ground support missions operating only Douglas A 1 Skyraider attackers at that point In addition the North Vietnamese Air Force was not sending aircraft over South Vietnam Hence the RVNAF did not require an aircraft with advanced air to air capabilities like the F 4 A dedicated RVNAF unit was formed the 522nd Fighter Squadron When South Vietnam was overrun by NVA forces on 30 April 1975 approximately 877 aircraft were captured by the communists Of that number 87 were reported as F 5As and 27 were F 5Es 124 In November 1975 the Vietnamese government gave the Soviet military an opportunity to select captured US equipment for research and intelligence purposes A complete F 5 along with two complete spare engines spare parts and ground support equipment were loaded onto a Soviet cargo ship 125 Several other F 5s were later transferred by Vietnam to the USSR Poland and Czechoslovakia 2 126 The Vietnam People s Air Force VPAF reportedly used 41 F 5s operationally Others were decommissioned and put on display at museums in Vietnam The 935th Fighter Regiment of the VPAF 372nd Air Division became the only unit in the world to simultaneously fly both the MiG 21 and F 5 citation needed The type was used for combat by the VPAF in ground attack sorties against the Khmer Rouge Gradually a lack of critical spare parts in Vietnam caused initially by a US embargo and later by termination of manufacturing and dwindling stocks grounded the remaining F 5s However in May 2017 it was reported that the VNAF was considering upgrading particular systems in some retired aircraft in order to put them back into service 124 Venezuela Edit This section needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources in this section Unsourced material may be challenged and removed March 2017 Learn how and when to remove this template message Venezuela Air Force Northrop Canadair VF 5A CL 226 After a reorganization of the Venezuelan Air Force in the late 1960s the government realized that it was time to replace its obsolete de Havilland Vampires and Venoms active at that time as well as the last surviving F 86 Sabres in active duty In 1971 54 Canadian built CF 5As were put in storage after the RCAF could not take them due to budget cuts From this batch Venezuela acquired 16 CF 5As and two CF 5Ds In 1972 after all the aircraft were delivered the F 86s Venoms and Vampires were finally scrapped The F 5 became the first military plane in Venezuela capable of flying at supersonic speeds After a legal dispute between Canadair and Northrop two more CF 5Ds were built and delivered to Venezuela in 1974 Their first base of operations was the General Rafael Urdaneta Air Base in Maracaibo After 1974 the fleet was relocated to Teniente Vicente Landaeta Gil Air Base in Barquisimeto In 1979 after several upgrades to the fleet s communication navigation and approximation equipment the aircraft were renamed VF 5s designating the CF 5As as VF 5As and the CF 5Ds as VF 5Ds Venezuelan F 5s could also carry weaponry such as the AIM 9 Sidewinder missile Mk 82 and M117 bombs and 70mm rocket launchers In 1991 after tensions between Colombia and Venezuela almost led to a conflict the air force started yet another modernization program for the F 5s called Proyecto Grifo Project Gryphon Some aircraft VF 5D number 5681 and VF 5A number 9124 were sent to Singapore for testing then brought back for upgrade of the remaining airframes That same year a small fleet of four NF 5Bs and a single NF 5A was acquired from the Netherlands to replace aircraft lost in previous years In 1992 during the coup d etat attempt against president Carlos Andres Perez 3 F 5s were lost to a rebel operated OV 10 Bronco bombing Barquisimeto Air Base The failed coup delayed the modernization program for a year finally coming together in 1993 The fleet was equipped with inertial laser navigation systems similar to those in Venezuelan F 16s IFFs HUDs refueling probes and modernized engines with an estimated lifespan of 22 years In 2002 small upgrades were made to the remaining F 5s The fleet was kept operational until 2010 when a batch of Hongdu JL 8s was delivered as their replacement By late 2010 it was known that at least one VF 5D was in flight worthy condition it is unknown if more aircraft are in operational condition Between 1972 and 2002 a total of 9 Venezuelan F 5s were lost 127 unreliable source Yemen Edit In March 1979 following North Yemen s defeat in the Yemenite War of 1979 the United States gave Saudi Arabia the permission to transfer four Northrop F 5B trainers to North Yemen Additionally Saudi Arabia financed the procurement of twelve F 5E fighters 128 By the end of the year all 16 aircraft had arrived This did not leave enough time to properly train local pilots and ground crews to operate them Hence the Saudis agreed with Taiwan to deploy a group of 80 Republic of China Air Force pilots and ground personnel to Sana a They formed the 112th Squadron of the Yemen Arab Republic Air Force YARAF which was also known as the Desert Squadron Most of the Squadron s members were Taiwanese until 1985 by when enough Yemenis were trained on the F 5 to take over their duties However some Taiwanese personnel remained in the country in 1990 no less than 700 Taiwanese served in Yemen They were finally withdrawn in 1991 after the Yemeni unification 129 North Yemeni F 5Es have seen combat during the 1994 civil war On 6 May two South Yemeni MiG 21s were claimed shot down by Major Nabi Ali Ahmad using AIM 9 Sidewinder missiles According to South Yemeni sources only one MiG 21bis was shot down in an air combat and its pilot killed Reportedly the North Yemenis subsequently deployed their Tiger IIs for air to air combat only 130 On 15 May two helicopters probably Mil Mi 8s were shot down one of them supposedly by Major Nabi Ali Ahmad 131 On 28 May an F 5E was shot down by anti aircraft fire 132 On 20 June a South Yemeni MiG 21 was shot down over Al Anad Air Base in an air combat with two F 5Es and its pilot was killed 133 Lastly on 29 June an encounter between two YARAF F 5Es and a single South Yemeni MiG 29 was reported However neither side opened fire 134 Following the North s victory in the civil war the F 5 fleet was integrated into the unified Yemeni Air Force However the number of F 5s in service declined over the years In 2003 negotiations with Singapore for the overhaul and upgrade of the remaining aircraft However nothing came out of it 135 Around 2010 only six aircraft were operational partly thanks to US aid packages 136 In the night of 29 30 March 2015 at least one F 5B and one F 5E were destroyed on the ground at Sanaa International Airport by Royal Saudi Air Force bombardments in the first days of the Saudi led intervention 137 Others Edit Royal Saudi Air Force F 5F taking off during the Gulf War Saudi Arabia deployed F 5Es during the Gulf War flying close air support and aerial interdiction missions against Iraqi units in Kuwait One Royal Saudi Air Force F 5E was lost to ground fire on 13 February 1991 resulting in the death of the pilot 138 The Hellenic Air Force was the first European air force to receive the Freedom Fighter The first F 5As were delivered in 1965 and over the next 8 years a total of about 70 F 5A Bs were operational The Hellenic Air Force bought an additional 10 F 5A Bs from Iran in 1975 and around the same period another batch of 10 F 5A Bs were acquired from Jordan Another 10 were acquired from Norway in 1986 and a final 10 NF 5As were purchased from the Netherlands in 1991 The total number of F 5s in operation including the ex Iranian machines 34 RF 5As and 20 F 5Bs in the Hellenic Air Force was about 120 aircraft from 1965 to 2002 when the last F 5 was decommissioned and the type went out of operation in the Hellenic Air Force 139 AeroGroup a private commercial company in the US operates the CF 5B as a fighter lead in aircraft for training and for other support services There were 17 aircraft originally purchased from the Canadian Government with US State Department approval and then imported into the US in 2006 140 141 142 Since 2013 Tunisian F 5s have been used in strike missions in support of major military offensives in the border region of Mount Chaambi against Ansar al Sharia and al Qaeda linked militants 143 144 145 F 5s were used by the Libyan Air Force at Wheelus Air Base in Tripoli Libya from 1968 to 1969 citation needed Variants EditThis section needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources in this section Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Northrop F 5 news newspapers books scholar JSTOR July 2020 Learn how and when to remove this template message Single seat versions Edit A trio of USAF aggressor squadron F 5Es in formation Brazilian Air Force F 5EM N 156F Single seat fighter prototype Only three aircraft were built YF 5A The three prototypes were given the US Air Force designation YF 5A F 5A Single seat fighter version of F 5 originally without radar but was later equipped with AN APQ 153 radar during upgrades F 5A G Single seat fighter version of the F 5A for the Royal Norwegian Air Force XF 5A Designation was given to one aircraft used for static tests A 9 Designation of Spanish Air and Space Force Northrop F 5As F 5C Skoshi Tiger Twelve F 5A Freedom Fighters were tested by the US Air Force for four and a half months in Vietnam Modified at Palmdale plant by adding removable non retractable air refueling probe on the left side 90 lb of external armor plates under the cockpit and engine and jettisonable stores pylons 146 F 5E Tiger II Single seat fighter version with AN APQ 159 replacing earlier AN APQ 153 F 5E Tiger III Chilean Air Force F 5E Tiger III Upgraded version of the F 5E in use by the Chilean Air Force with EL M 2032 radar replacing the original AN APQ 159 and capable of firing advanced versions of the Python missile F 5E F A single prototype built for the Swiss Air Force comprising an F 5E fuselage and tail section with wings from an F 5F As of 2011 this aircraft was at the Meiringen Air Base Museum F 5G The temporary designation given to the Northrop F 20 Tigershark equipped with General Electric AN APG 67 radar F 5N Ex Swiss Air Force F 5Es used by the US Navy as an aggressor aircraft with AN APG 69 replacing the original AN APQ 159 Intended to replace high time USN USMC F 5Es in the adversary role and saw service through 2015 4 F 5S Upgraded version of the F 5E was in use with the Republic of Singapore Air Force equipped with the Galileo Avionica s FIAR Grifo F X band radar and are capable of firing the AIM 120 AMRAAM 17 34 35 F 5TH Super Tigris Formerly known as the F 5T Tigris before being officially redesignated An upgraded version of the F 5E of Royal Thai Air Force by Israel it is equipped with EL M 2032 tactical datalink Sky Shield jamming pod and are capable of firing the beyond visual range air to air Derby missile F 5EM Upgraded version of the F 5E of Brazilian Air Force equipped with Italian Grifo F radar F 5TIII Upgraded version of the F 5E in service with the Royal Moroccan Air Force F 5E Tiger 2000 Upgraded version of Taiwan AIDC equipped with the GD 53 radar capable of firing the TC 2 Sky Sword II MIL STD 1553B Link and GPS INS Did not enter service as the ROCAF decided to immediately embark on the ultimately successful process of acquiring additional F 16s to completely replace its F 5E Fs citation needed Reconnaissance versions Edit RF 5A Single seat reconnaissance version of the F 5A fighter Approximately 120 were built 147 RF 5A G Single seat reconnaissance version of the F 5A fighter for the Royal Norwegian Air Force RF 5E Tigereye Single seat reconnaissance version of the F 5E fighter The RF 5E Tigereye was exported to Saudi Arabia and Malaysia RF 5E Tigergazer Seven upgraded single seat reconnaissance version of the F 5E for Taiwan by ST Aerospace 17 RF 5S Tigereye Single seat reconnaissance version of the F 5S for the Republic of Singapore Air Force 17 AR 9 Spanish reconnaissance aircraft B TKh 18 Thai designation of the RF 5ATwo seat versions Edit A Spanish F 5M Freedom Fighter at Dijon Air Base A Bahraini Air Force F 5F on the taxiway at RAF Alconbury AE 9 Spanish designation of the Northrop F 5B F 5 21 Temporary designation for the YF 5B YF 5B One F 5B was fitted with a 5 000 lbf 2 268 kgf General Electric J85 GE 21 engine and used as a prototype for the F 5E Tiger II F 5B Two seat trainer version F 5B G Two seat trainer version of the F 5B for the Royal Norwegian Air Force F 5BM Two seat trainer version in use by the Spanish Air and Space Force for air combat training F 5D Unbuilt trainer version F 5F Tiger II Two seat trainer version of F 5E Tiger II AN APQ 167 radar tested intended to replace AN APQ 157 but not carried out F 5F Tiger III Upgraded trainer version of the F 5F in use by the Chilean Air Force F 5T Upgraded F 5F was in service with the Republic of Singapore Air Force 17 F 5THF b kh 18 kh N 2 Twin seat version of F 5TH in service with the Royal Thai Air Force as of May 2020 F 5FM Upgraded trainer version of the F 5F for the Brazilian Air Force Foreign variants Edit A Canadian Air Force CF 116D Licensed versions Edit CF 5 Fighter versions for the Canadian Forces Air Command built under license by Canadair Its Canadian designation is CF 116 NF 5A Single seat fighter version of the CF 5A for the Royal Netherlands Air Force 75 built NF 5B Two seat training version of the CF 5D for the Royal Netherlands Air Force 30 built SF 5A Single seat fighter version of the F 5A for the Spanish Air and Space Force built under license in Spain by CASA SRF 5A Single seat reconnaissance version of the RF 5A for the Spanish Air and Space Force built under license in Spain by CASA SF 5B Two seat training version of the F 5B for the Spanish Air and Space Force Built under license by CASA in Spain VF 5A Single seat version of the CF 5A for the Venezuelan Air Force This designation was given to some Canadair CF 116s which were sold to the Venezuelan Air Force VF 5D Two seat training version of the CF 5D for the Venezuelan Air Force KF 5E F 5E built in South Korea for the Republic of Korea Air Force First introduction September 1982 48 built KF 5F F 5F built in South Korea for the Republic of Korea Air Force First introduction September 1982 20 built Chung Cheng F 5E F built in Taiwan for Republic of China Air Force by AIDC First introduction 30 October 1974 one day before President Chiang Kai Shek s 88th birthday and was thus christened Chung Cheng citation needed an alias of President Chiang 308 built Unlicensed versions Edit Iranian Azarakhsh Azarakhsh F 5E built or modified in Iran with unknown changes and mid wing intakes citation needed Sa eqeh F 5E modified in Iran with canted twin vertical stabilizers Kowsar Two seat F 5F built or modified in Iran Derivatives Edit F 20 Tigershark Edit Main article Northrop F 20 Tigershark In comparison to later fighters the improved F 5E had some weaknesses these included marginal acceleration rearward visibility and fuel fraction and a lack of Beyond Visual Range BVR weapons once such radar guided missiles became reliable during the 1980s 148 The F 5G later renamed the F 20 Tigershark aimed to correct these weaknesses while maintaining a small size and low cost to produce a competitive fighter Compared to the F 5E it had 60 more power a higher climb rate and acceleration better cockpit visibility more modern radar and BVR capability and competitive performance with fourth generation fighters Like the F 5 it had better cost effectiveness as it had the minimum necessary features relative to its competition to perform its air superiority mission As an example in the 1960s and early 1970s the F 5 s lack of BVR missiles was not a significant disadvantage as the kill rate of such missiles was approximately 8 to 10 149 and the performance and loss of surprise radar warning to the enemy cost of carrying them was not practically justified By the early 1980s the American AIM 7 Sparrow radar guided missile in its M version was realistically exceeding a 60 kill rate and was integrated onto the F 20 Brigadier General Chuck Yeager test pilot and the first man to break the sound barrier referred to the F 20 as the finest fighter 150 Despite its performance and affordable cost the F 20 lost out for foreign sales against the similarly capable but more expensive F 16 which was being procured in large numbers by the US Air Force and was viewed as having greater support 151 Northrop YF 17 Edit Main article Northrop YF 17 The Northrop YF 17 s main design elements date from the F 5 based internal Northrop project N 300 The N 300 featured a longer fuselage small leading edge root extensions LERX and more powerful GE15 J1A1 turbojets The wing was moved higher on the fuselage to increase ordnance flexibility The N 300 further evolved into the P 530 Cobra The P 530 s wing planform and nose section was similar to the F 5 with a trapezoidal shape formed by a sweep of 20 at the quarter chord line and an unswept trailing edge but was over double the area While the YF 17 lost its bid for the USAF lightweight fighter it would be developed into the larger McDonnell Douglas F A 18 Hornet Shaped Sonic Boom Demonstration Edit Main article Shaped Sonic Boom Demonstration A single ex USN F 5E was modified to carry out research into reducing noise from supersonic flight by shaping the shock waves produced by the aircraft Operators Edit CF 5 of the Botswana Defence Force A Honduran Air Force F 5E Jordanian F 5E Tiger II Kenya Air Force F 5E Tiger II and a USAF C 5 Galaxy in the background Royal Moroccan Air Force F 5E Tiger II during an aerial refueling mission in exercise African Lion 2009 F 5F Tiger II of the Indonesian Air Force preserved at the Dirgantara Mandala Museum Yogyakarta An Austrian Air Force F 5E Tiger II A Hellenic Air Force F 5A A South Korean Air Force KF 5E takes off A Royal Thai Air Force Northrop F 5E Tiger II Turkish Air Force F 5B BahrainBahrain Air Force received eight F 5Es and two F 5Fs in between 1985 and 1987 152 BotswanaBotswana Air Force purchased 10 upgraded CF 5As and 3 CF 5Ds from Canada in 1996 153 A further three CF 5A and two CF 5D were purchased in 2000 154 155 11 CF 5A and 4 CF 5D were in service as of December 2021 156 BrazilBrazilian Air Force purchased 78 F 5s of different variants from 1974 citation needed Operates 42 F 5EM and 4 F 5FM as of December 2021 156 to be withdrawn gradually between 2017 and 2030 157 158 replaced by the JAS 39E F Gripen 159 ChileChilean Air Force Chile purchased 15 F 5Es and 3 F 5Fs in the 1970s these being upgraded to Tiger III standard from 1993 160 161 A total of 10 F 5s are in use as of 2009 162 In March 2013 the Uruguayan Air Force initiated talks for procuring 12 surplus F 5 Tiger III aircraft from Chile for 80 million 163 However 13 aircraft continue in service with the Chilean Air Force in December 2021 156 HondurasHonduran Air Force The United States delivered 10 F 5E and 2 F 5Fs starting in 1987 164 as replacements of Dassault Super Mystere which were reassigned to airstrike as they were in their last years of service citation needed The F 5 were refurbished former United States Air Force aircraft 164 Three F 5Es and 2F 5Fs remain in service as of December 2021 165 IranIslamic Republic of Iran Air Force 49 F 5E and F operational as of December 2021 166 Iran originally had received a total of 127 F 5A B by 1972 which soon began to be phased out sold to other countries By 1976 Iran had received a total of 181 of the improved F 5E F RF A delivered to the Imperial Iranian Air Force Unknown numbers of HESA Saeqeh and HESA Azarakhsh fighters derived from the F 5 design KenyaKenya Air Force In July 2008 it was reported that Kenya will spend KSh 1 5 billion to buy 15 former Jordanian Air Force F 5s 13 F 5E and two F 5F upgraded with Rockwell Collins avionics 167 plus training and spare parts They will be added or eventually replace the existing F 5 fleet 168 Seventeen F 5Es and six F 5Fs remain in service as of December 2021 169 South KoreaRepublic of Korea Air Force Received a total of 340 F 5s 88 F 5A 30 F 5B 8 RF 5A 126 F 5E 20 F 5F 48 KF 5E and 20 KF 5F During the Vietnam War 36 F 5As and 8 RF 5As were transferred to the Republic of Vietnam Air Force in exchange of F 4 Phantom II from the United States Air Force 5 RF 5As were brought back to Korea before the war ended The last Freedom Fighter retired in 2005 and 8 F 5As were donated to the Philippine Air Force The ROKAF plans to replace the US made F 5E Fs with 60 new FA 50 aircraft and KAI KF X citation needed 156 F 5Es and 29 F 5Fs remain in service as of December 2021 170 MexicoMexican Air Force received 12 F 5s in 1982 171 They operated eight F 5Es and two F 5F until being retired in 2017 172 Three Mexican F 5Es and one F 5F were in service as of December 2021 173 MoroccoRoyal Moroccan Air Force operates 12 F 5A Bs upgraded with Tiger II avionics and 24 upgraded F 5 Tiger III 174 22 F 5Es and 4 F 5Fs remain in service as of December 2021 173 SpainSpanish Air and Space Force operates 19 F 5BM as trainers for fighter school Initially 70 fighters version A and B were delivered 175 SwitzerlandSwiss Air Force Operating 42 F 5E and 12 F 5F Tiger II 176 The Swiss chose the F 5 because it was simpler to maintain than the F 16 177 Taiwan Republic of China Republic of China Air Force Received 115 F 5A and B from 1965 48 were transferred to South Vietnam before 1975 From 1973 to 1986 Taiwan produced 308 F 5E Fs under license 30 Later batches of locally AIDC licensed production of Tiger IIs were fitted with flare chaff dispensers plus handling qualities upgrades with enlarged LEX and F 20 s shark nose and radar warning receivers RWR 118 178 ThailandRoyal Thai Air Force 30 F 5A B C retired Now operating about 40 F 5E F T F 5s from 701st Sq retired and replaced by 12 JAS 39 Gripens The last F 5 fleet upgraded into F 5TH and F 5THF in 211st Sq continue to serve until 2025 2030 citation needed TunisiaTunisian Air Force Eight F 5E and four F 5F Tiger II were delivered in 1984 1985 The TAF received five ex USAF F 5E in 1989 citation needed Eleven F 5Es and 3 F 5Fs were in service as of December 2021 179 TurkeyTurkish Air Force More than 200 F 5A Bs and NF 5A Bs were bought from various countries Between 40 and 50 of them were upgraded to F 5 2000 standard during the 2000s decade The F 5 2000 remains active of which 10 F 5A and two F 5Bs belong to the Turkish Stars aerobatic display team 180 On 7 April 2021 a NF 5 crashed during training exercises for the Turkish Stars aerobatic display team in Konya Turkey 181 The aircraft is planned to be replaced with TAI Hurjet 182 YemenYemeni Air Force inherited North Yemen s F 5 fleet in 1994 Only half a dozen F 5s were still operational as of the early 2010s 183 Former operators Edit AustriaAustrian Air Force On loan from Switzerland all aircraft returned and replaced by Eurofighter Typhoons CanadaCanadian Forces see Canadair CF 5 EthiopiaEthiopian Air Force first delivery in 1966 it has operated the A B and E variants GreeceHellenic Air Force received the first 55 F 5As in 1965 In 1975 10 aircraft were bought from Iran and later another 10 followed from Jordan In 1986 nine aircraft were donated by Norway and in 1991 10 NF 5As were donated by the Netherlands During 1967 and 1968 this type of aircraft was used by the 3rd Hellenic Aerobatic Team New Hellenic Flame The last NF 5As were retired in 2002 184 IndonesiaIndonesian Air Force Received in 1980 upgraded in Belgium in the middle to late 1990s All 16 F 5E Fs have been retired since 3 May 2016 per directive from Chief of Indonesian Air Force due to safety issues 185 JordanRoyal Jordanian Air Force retired in 2015 Replaced by F 16A B and Hawk Mk 63 Sold 11 to Brazil for 21 million in 2009 186 LibyaRoyal Libyan Air Force to 1969 10 F 5s May have been sold to Turkey after 1969 MalaysiaRoyal Malaysian Air Force used 4 F 5F as trainer aircraft while another 16 of its Northrop F 5E Tiger IIs were upgraded for reconnaissance purposes 187 NetherlandsRoyal Netherlands Air Force received 75 Canadair built NF 5A single seat fighter version and 30 NF 5B two seat training version between 7 October 1969 and 20 March 1972 188 After the aircraft were phased out and replaced by the F 16 Fighting Falcon the aircraft were initially stored at Gilze Rijen Air Base and Woensdrecht Air Base until 60 aircraft were sold to Turkey 11 to Greece and 7 to Venezuela 188 Several of the remaining aircraft can be found in aviation museums and technical schools No 313 Squadron Twenthe Air Base Formed September 1972 transitioned to F 16 in 1987 189 No 314 Squadron Eindhoven Air Base Converted from F 84F from June 1970 and was fully equipped in November that year The squadron transitioned to the F 16 in April 1990 189 No 315 Squadron Operation Conversion Unit OCU Twenthe Air Base transitioned to F 16 in 1986 No 316 Squadron Gilze Rijen Air Base transitioned to F 16 in 1991 Field Technic Training Unit NF 5 1971 1984 Twenthe Air Base North YemenYemen Arab Republic Air Force four F 5B trainers were transferred from Saudi Arabia and twelve F 5E fighters delivered from the United States but also paid for by Saudi Arabia in 1979 128 Several additional aircraft were later donated by the Saudis as attrition replacements The surviving aircraft were passed on to the reunified Yemeni Air Force in 1994 NorwayRoyal Norwegian Air Force received a total of 108 F 5A F 5B and RF 5A from 1966 1971 No 332 Squadron Rygge Air Station No 334 Squadron Bodo Air Station Transitioned to F 16 in 1982 No 336 Squadron Rygge Air Station Operated F 5 until 2000 No 338 Squadron Orland Air Station Primary air to ground missions Transitioned to F 16 in 1985 No 717 Squadron Rygge Air Station Reconnaissance squadron Operated RF 5A until 1979 No 718 Squadron Sola Air Station PhilippinesPhilippine Air Force received 19 F 5A single seat and three F 5B two seat aircraft in 1965 1967 In 1989 the PAF received three ex Taiwanese F 5A and one F 5B 190 In the 1990s at least eight ex South Korean F 5A and two Jordanian F 5A were acquired The Philippines decommissioned its F 5A B fleet in 2005 102 Saudi ArabiaRoyal Saudi Air Force From 1974 to 1985 received a total of 20 F 5Bs 109 F 5E Fs and 10 RF 5Es 191 192 SingaporeRepublic of Singapore Air Force operated 32 F 5S 9 F 5T and 8 RF 5S fighters in 2011 17 Mostly retired by 2014 except a few left for training 193 before retiring all in 2015 194 South VietnamRepublic of Vietnam Air Force received a fleet of 158 former US South Korean Iranian and Taiwanese F 5A Freedom Fighters 10 RF 5A and eight F 5B trainers USA also provided newer F 5E Tiger IIs most of F 5s were evacuated to Thailand in 1975 but many were captured by People s Army 538th Fighter Squadron Da Nang AB F 5A B Freedom Fighter 522nd Fighter Squadron Bien Hoa AB F 5A B and RF 5A Freedom Fighter 536th Fighter Squadron Bien Hoa AB F 5A B Freedom Fighter and F 5E Tiger II 540th Fighter Squadron Bien Hoa AB F 5A Freedom Fighter and F 5E Tiger II 542nd Fighter Squadron Bien Hoa AB F 5A Freedom Fighter 544th Fighter Squadron Bien Hoa AB F 5A Freedom Fighter 716th Reconnaissance Squadron Tan Son Nhut AB RF 5A Freedom Fighter Soviet UnionF 5Es were received from Vietnam and the Derg regime in Ethiopia for performance tests and evaluation flights They were tested in mock combat against MiG 21 and MiG 23 aircraft ultimately aiding in the development of the MiG 23MLD and the MiG 29 195 196 SudanSudanese Air Force 10 F 5Es and two F 5F were delivered in 1978 One of the F 5Fs was sold to Jordan Further two F 5s defected to Sudan from Ethiopia during the Ogaden crisis 28 United StatesUnited States Air Force Continental United States based units 64th Aggressor Squadron 1976 1988 Nellis Air Force Base Nevada 65th Aggressor Squadron 1975 1989 Nellis Air Force Base Nevada 425th Tactical Fighter Training Squadron 1973 1989 Luke Air Force Base Arizona United States Air Forces Europe USAFE 527th Aggressor Squadron 1976 1988 RAF Alconbury England Pacific Air Forces PACAF 4503rd Tactical Fighter Squadron October 1965 April 1966 Bien Hoa AB and Da Nang AB Republic of Vietnam 10th Fighter Commando Squadron April 1966 June 1967 26th Aggressor Squadron 1977 1988 Clark Air Base Philippines F 5N in service with US Navy aggressor squadron VFC 111 United States Navy VFC 13 VF 43 VF 45 VFC 111 VF 126 VFA 127 United States Marine Corps VMFT 401 VenezuelaVenezuelan Air Force 27 aircraft acquired 16 CF 5As 4 CF 5Ds 1 NF 5A 6 NF 5Bs 9 lost to accidents The last unit recorded to have flown did it in 2010 197 unreliable source VietnamVietnam People s Air Force several captured ex RVNAF aircraft One F 5E s n 73 00867 was transferred to the Soviet Union for evaluation flights i e against the MiG 21bis 40 F 5E F C were in VNAF s service 198 After the Vietnam War Vietnamese forces used the captured F 5 fleet against Chinese forces during Sino Vietnamese War Aircraft on display EditBrazil Edit F 5BFAB 4805 Brazilian Air Force Santa Cruz Air Force Base Rio de Janeiro 199 F 5EFAB 4879 Brazilian Air Force CINDACTA II Curitiba 200 Czech Republic Edit F 5E73 00878 Vietnam Air Force Prague Aviation Museum Kbely Prague 201 Greece Edit F 5A68 9071 Athens War Museum 202 69 132 Hellenic Air Force Museum 203 13 353 Thessaloniki War Museum 204 RF 5A69 7170 Hellenic Air Force Museum 205 Indonesia Edit Indonesian Air Force F 5E Tiger II of the Skadron Udara 14 at Dirgantara Mandala Museum Yogyakarta F 5ETS 0501 Tri Matra Monument Tanjungpinang Riau Islands 206 Formerly at Adisutjipto Air Force Base 207 TS 0502 Ade Irma Suryani Nasution Traffic Park Bandung West Java 208 TS 0503 Dirgantara Mandala Museum Sleman Regency Special Region of Yogyakarta 209 TS 0508 Indonesian Air Force Academy Sleman Regency Special Region of Yogyakarta TS 0509 As gate guardian at Iswahyudi Air Force Base Magetan East Java 210 211 TS 0510 In front of Indonesian National Air Defense Forces Command Halim Perdanakusuma International Airport East Jakarta Jakarta 209 TS 0511 SMA Pradita Dirgantara high school Boyolali Regency Central Java 212 TS 0512 Indonesian Air Force Command and Staff College West Bandung Regency West Java 213 F 5FTS 0513 Madiun Regency Plaza Madiun Regency East Java 214 TS 0515 Third Air Force Operations Command Headquarters Biak Numfor Regency Papua 215 Norway Edit F 5A69 7134 Norwegian Aviation Museum 216 68 9102 Norwegian Aviation Museum 216 AH M Sola Aviation Museum 217 594 Norwegian Armed Forces Aircraft Collection 218 Philippines Edit F 5A64 13326 Philippine Air Force Museum Pasay citation needed 65 10499 FA 499 Basa Air Base Pampanga citation needed 65 10507 Clark Air Base Pampanga citation needed F 5B40780 Clark Air Base Pampanga Ex RoCAF 1117 citation needed Poland Edit F 5E73 00852 R1033 Vietnam Air Force Polish Aviation Museum Krakow 219 Spain Edit F 5BMAR9 053 Elder Museum of Science and Technology Gran Canaria 220 Switzerland Edit J 3096 outside Flieger Flab Museum in Patrouille Suisse paint F 5EJ 3096 Gate Guard as J 3013 in Patrouille Suisse paint at the Flieger Flab Museum 221 J 3098 at the Flieger Flab Museum 222 J 3099 Gate Guard as J 3008 at Meiringen Air Base 223 F 5FJ 3202 at the Flieger Flab Museum 224 Thailand Edit F 5B in Royal Thai Air Force Museum the first F 5B produced RTAF F 5E at Royal Thai Air Force Museum F 5A97158 Royal Thai Air Force Museum citation needed F 5B38438 Royal Thai Air Force Museum the first F 5B produced citation needed 01603 Wing 23 gate Udon Thani International Airport citation needed F 5E21134 Royal Thai Air Force MuseumTurkey Edit F 5A14460 Istanbul Aviation Museum 225 NF 5A3022 22 Istanbul Aviation Museum 225 3070 3 070 Istanbul Aviation Museum 225 RF 5A97147 5 147 Istanbul Aviation Museum 225 United States Edit YF 5A59 4987 Museum of Flight at Boeing Field in Seattle Washington 226 59 4989 National Museum of the United States Air Force at Wright Patterson AFB near Dayton Ohio 227 F 5A66 9207 Western Museum of Flight in Torrance California 228 229 F 5B63 8447 Phillip and Patricia Frost Museum of Science Miami Florida Formerly on display at Octave Chanute Aerospace Museum at the former Chanute AFB Rantoul Illinois 230 231 Displayed completely covered in chrome 232 72 0441 Pima Air and Space Museum adjacent to Davis Monthan AFB in Tucson Arizona 233 F 5E72 1387 Pacific Coast Air Museum Santa Rosa California 234 73 01640 Hill Aerospace Museum Ogden Utah 235 74 1558 later US Navy 741558 Fort Worth Aviation Museum Fort Worth Texas 236 74 1564 later US Navy US Marine Corps 741564 Flying Leatherneck Aviation Museum at MCAS Miramar in San Diego California 237 74 1571 Nellis Air Force Base Las Vegas Nevada 238 Carries the markings of the 57th Fighter Weapons Wing with Bort Code 65 238 141540 Marine F 5E Aggresor at Hickory Aviation Museum citation needed 239 Vietnam Edit F 5A66 9170 War Remnants Museum Ho Chi Minh City Vietnam 240 Specifications F 5E Tiger II Edit 3 view drawing of F 5E Tiger II M39A2 cannon in the right side of the nose of an F 5E F 5 external fuel tank cutview Cockpit of a Norwegian F 5A Data from Jane s all the World s Aircraft 1976 77 241 The Complete Book of Fighters 242 Quest for Performance 243 General characteristicsCrew 1 Length 48 ft 2 25 in 14 6876 m Wingspan 26 ft 8 in 8 13 m 27 ft 11 875 in 8 53123 m with wing tip missiles dd dd Height 13 ft 4 5 in 4 077 m Wing area 186 sq ft 17 3 m2 Aspect ratio 3 86 Airfoil NACA 65A004 8 244 Empty weight 9 583 lb 4 347 kg Gross weight 15 745 lb 7 142 kg clean Max takeoff weight 24 675 lb 11 192 kg Fuel capacity Internal fuel 677 US gal 564 imp gal 2 560 l External fuel up to 3x 275 US gal 229 imp gal 1 040 l drop tanksLift to drag ratio 10 0 Zero lift drag coefficient CD0 0200 Frontal area 3 4 sq ft 0 32 m2 Powerplant 2 General Electric J85 GE 21 afterburning turbojet engines 3 500 lbf 16 kN thrust each dry 5 000 lbf 22 kN with afterburnerPerformance Maximum speed Mach 1 63 1 741 km h 1 082 mph at 36 000 ft 11 000 m Maximum cruise speed Mach 0 98 1 050 km h 650 mph at 36 000 ft 11 000 m Economical cruise speed Mach 0 8 850 km h 530 mph at 36 000 ft 11 000 m Stall speed 124 kn 143 mph 230 km h 50 internal fuel flaps and wheels extended Never exceed speed 710 kn 820 mph 1 310 km h IAS Range 481 nmi 554 mi 891 km clean Combat radius 20 min reserve 120 nmi 140 mi 220 km with 2x Sidewinders 5 200 lb 2 400 kg ordnance with 5 minutes combat at max power at sea level Ferry range 2 010 nmi 2 310 mi 3 720 km 245 Ferry range 20 min reserve 1 385 nmi 1 594 mi 2 565 km drop tanks retained Ferry range 20 min reserve 1 590 nmi 1 830 mi 2 940 km drop tanks jettisoned Service ceiling 51 800 ft 15 800 m Service ceiling one engine out 41 000 ft 12 000 m Rate of climb 34 500 ft min 175 m s Lift to drag 10 1 Wing loading 133 lb sq ft 650 kg m2 maximum Thrust weight 0 4 take off thrust at maximum take off weight Take off run 2 000 ft 610 m with two Sidewinders at 15 745 lb 7 142 kg Take off run to 50 ft 15 m 2 900 ft 884 m with two Sidewinders at 15 745 lb 7 142 kg Landing run from 50 ft 15 m 3 701 ft 1 128 m without brake chute Landing run from 50 ft 15 m 2 500 ft 762 m with brake chuteArmament Guns 2 20 mm 0 787 in M39A2 Revolver cannon in the nose 280 rounds gun Hardpoints 7 total only pylon stations 3 4 and 5 are wet plumbed 2 wing tip AAM launch rails 4 under wing amp 1 under fuselage pylon stations with a capacity of 7 000 pounds 3 200 kg with provisions to carry combinations of Rockets 2 LAU 61 LAU 68 rocket pods each with 19 7 Hydra 70 mm rockets respectively or 2 LAU 5003 rocket pods each with 19 CRV7 70 mm rockets or 2 LAU 10 rocket pods each with 4 Zuni 127 mm rockets or 2 Matra rocket pods each with 18 SNEB 68 mm rockets Missiles 2 AIM 9 Sidewinder air to air missile on wingtips initial F 5E Tiger II loadout 246 4 AIM 9 Sidewinder or 4 AIM 120 AMRAAM 247 air to air missile F 5S and modernized F 5E 4 AGM 65 Maverick air to surface missiles on upgraded F 5 after 1995 248 AA 8 Aphid AA 10 Alamo AA 11 Archer and other Russian Chinese AAMs Iranian ver Bombs A variety of air to ground ordnance such as the Mark 80 series of unguided bombs including 3 kg and 14 kg practice bombs CBU 24 49 52 58 cluster bomb munitions napalm bomb canisters and M129 Leaflet bomb and laser guided bombs of Paveway family Other up to 3 150 275 US gallons 570 1 040 l 125 229 imp gal Sargent Fletcher drop tanks for ferry flight or extended range loitering time 2 GPU 5 A 30mm cannon pods fitted only on Thai F 5s Avionics Emerson Electric AN APQ 153 radar on early batch of F 5E 249 Emerson Electric AN APQ 159 radar on later production F 5E 249 Emerson Electric AN APQ 157 radar on F 5F 250 Emerson Electric AN APG 69 radar on US Navy F 5N ex Swiss Air Force F 5E aggressors role 251 Leonardo S p A Grifo F radar on Singaporean Air Force upgraded F 5E 251 Notable appearances in media EditMain article Aircraft in fiction F 5 Freedom Fighter 2FTiger IISee also Edit Aviation portalGrumman X 29Related development Northrop T 38 Talon Canadair CF 5 HESA Azarakhsh HESA Saeqeh HESA Kowsar Northrop F 20 Tigershark Northrop YF 17 Shaped Sonic Boom DemonstrationAircraft of comparable role configuration and era Aeritalia G 91 Dassault Mirage F1 Mikoyan Gurevich MiG 21Related lists List of military aircraft of the United States List of fighter aircraftReferences EditNotes Edit The 412 F 5s in service as of December 2021 made it the tenth most common active fighter and attack jet comprising about three percent of the world s tactical jet warplanes 5 The designation THF is unofficial since the Royal Thai Air Force only designated it in Thai not in English citation needed Citations Edit Johnsen 2006 p 90 a b Baugher Joseph Joe Northrop F 5E F Tiger II in Service with Vietnam Archived from the original on 22 December 2015 Retrieved 17 December 2015 Military Aircraft Update Northrop F 5 T 38 Aviation Week amp Space Technology Aviation Week Intelligence Network Vol 175 Issue 39 21 November 2013 p 89 a b c F 5N F Adversary aircraft fact file Archived 7 March 2008 at the Wayback Machine U S Navy Retrieved 15 May 2010 a b Hoyle 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Losses in Southeast Asia 1961 1973 2001 Midland Publishing ISBN 1 85780 115 6 Hoyle Craig 2021 World Air Forces 2022 Flight International Retrieved 12 December 2021 Jenkins Dennis R and Tony R Landis Experimental amp Prototype U S Air Force Jet Fighters North Branch Minnesota USA Specialty Press 2008 ISBN 978 1 58007 111 6 Johnsen Frederick A 2006 Northrop F 5 F 20 T 38 Warbird Tech Vol 44 North Branch Minnesota Specialty Press ISBN 1 58007 094 9 Knaack Marcelle Size Encyclopedia of U S Air Force Aircraft and Missile Systems Volume 1 Post World War II Fighters 1945 1973 Washington DC Office of Air Force History 1978 ISBN 0 912799 59 5 Knott Chris and Tim Spearman Photo Report Botswana Defence Force International Air Power Review Volume 9 Summer 2003 pp 76 79 Norwalk Connecticut USA AIRtime Publishing ISBN 1 880588 56 0 ISSN 1473 9917 Lake Jon ed 1998 Grumman F 14 Tomcat Shipborne Superfighter Aerospace Publishing p 85 Lake Jon Hewson Richard Summer 1996 Northrop F 5 World Air Power Journal London Aerospace Publishing 25 46 109 ISBN 1 874023 79 4 ISSN 0959 7050 Pace Steve X Fighters USAF Experimental and Prototype Fighters XP 59 to YF 23 St Paul Minnesota Motorbooks International 1991 ISBN 0 87938 540 5 Paloque Gerard 2013 Northrop F 5 Freedom Fighter and Tiger II Paris Histoire amp Collections ISBN 978 2 35250 276 0 Scutts Jerry Northrop F 5 F 20 London Ian Allan 1986 ISBN 0 7110 1576 7 Shaw Robbie F 5 Warplane for the World St Paul Minnesota Motorbooks International 1990 ISBN 0 87938 487 5 Sprey Pierre Comparing the Effectiveness of Air to Air Fighters F 86 to F 18 Archived 27 August 2021 at the Wayback Machine April 1982 Stuart William G 1978 Northrop F 5 Case Study in Aircraft Design West Falls Church Virginia Northrop Corporation Aircraft Group Thompson Warren 1996 Skoshi Tiger The Northrop F 5 in Vietnam Wings of Fame Vol 5 London Aerospace Publishing pp 4 23 ISBN 1 874023 90 5 ISSN 1361 2034 Thompson Warren E May 2003 Skoshi Tiger Test and evaluation of the F 5 Freedom Fighter in Vietnam Air Enthusiast Vol 105 pp 13 27 ISSN 0143 5450 Toperczer Istvan MiG 21 Units of the Vietnam War Osprey 2001 No 29 ISBN 978 1 84176 263 0 Van Gent C J De Northrop NF 5 De geschiedenis van de NF 5 in Nederland Alkmaar Netherlands Uitgeverij De Alk 1992 ISBN 90 6013 518 0 Wagner Raymond 2000 Chapter 9 Northrop Launches a New Fighter Mustang Designer Edgar Schmued and the P 51 New York Orion Books pp 192 207 ISBN 978 1 56098 994 3 Retrieved 28 February 2023 Wilson David Seek and Strike 75 Squadron RAAF 1942 2002 Maryborough Australia Banner 2002 ISBN 1 875593 23 3 Yeager Chuck and Leo Janos Yeager An Autobiography New York Bantam 1985 ISBN 978 0 553 25674 1 External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Northrop F 5 U S Navy Fact File on F 5N F adversary aircraft Archived 7 March 2008 at the Wayback Machine F 5 Tiger page on Northrop Grumman site F 5 page at the USAF National Museum of the United States Air Force site F 5E Marine Corps Adversary trainer exhibit aircraft Flying Leatherneck Aviation Museum Taiwan Air Power F 5E F page Northrop F 5E Walkaround Swiss Air Force Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Northrop F 5 amp oldid 1150266819, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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