F-5A/B Freedom Fighter F-5E/F Tiger II
A late production F-5E Tiger II for the USAF, differentiated by the longer dorsal spine
Role	Fighter / attack aircraft
Manufacturer	Northrop
First flight	F-5A: 30 July 1959 F-5E: 11 August 1972
Introduction	1962
Status	Operational
Primary users	United States Navy Philippine Air Force Brazilian Air Force See Operators for others
Number built	A/B/C: 847[1] E/F: 1,399[2]
Unit cost	F-5E: US$2.1 million[3]
Developed from	T-38 Talon
Variants	Canadair CF-5 F-20 Tigershark

The Northrop F-5A/B Freedom Fighter and F-5E/F Tiger II are part of a family of widely used light supersonic fighter aircraft, designed and built by Northrop in the United States, beginning in 1960s. Hundreds remain in service in air forces around the world in the early 21st Century, and the type has also been the basis for a number of other aircraft.

The F-5 started life as a privately-funded light fighter program by Northrop in the 1950s. The first generation F-5A Freedom Fighter entered service in the 1960s. Over 800 were produced through 1972 for U.S. allies during the Cold War. The USAF had no need for a light fighter, but it did specify a requirement for a supersonic trainer and procured about 1,200 of a derivative airframe for this purpose, the T-38 Talon.

The improved second-generation F-5E Tiger II was also primarily used by American Cold War allies and, in limited quantities, served in US military aviation as a training and aggressor aircraft; Tiger II production amounted to 1,400 of all versions, with production ending in 1987. Many F-5s continuing in service into the 1990s and 2000s have undergone a wide variety of upgrade programs to keep pace with the changing combat environment. The F-5 was also developed into a dedicated reconnaissance version, the RF-5 Tigereye.

The F-5 serves as a starting point for a series of design studies which resulted in the twin-tailed Northrop YF-17 and the F/A-18 series of carrier-based fighters. The F-20 Tigershark was an advanced version of the F-5E that did not find a market. The F-5N/F variants remain in service with the United States Navy as an adversary trainer.^[4]

Contents 1 Design and development 1.1 F-5E and F-5F Tiger II 1.2 Upgrades 2 Operational history 2.1 United States 2.2 Republic of China (Taiwan) 2.3 Iran 2.4 Ethiopia 2.5 Morocco 2.6 Saudi Arabia 2.7 Norway 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 4 Operators 4.1 Former operators 5 Specifications (F-5E Tiger II) 6 Popular culture 7 See also 8 References 8.1 Notes 8.2 Bibliography 9 External links

[edit] Design and development

Northrop designed the F-5 (company designation N-156) to be a low-cost, low-maintenance fighter, but found there was little market for such a craft. It was designed around a pair of an afterburning version of the General Electric J85 engine which was originally designed to power the tiny McDonnell ADM-20 Quail decoy, then carried by the B-52 bomber. This requirement created a very small engine with a very high thrust-to-weight ratio. The U.S. Army expressed interest in it for ground support, but operating fixed-wing aircraft was a task largely taken over by the U.S. Air Force. The Air Force would neither agree to operate the N-156 nor to allow the Army to operate fixed-wing combat aircraft (a situation repeated with the C-7 Caribou).

When the Military Assistance Program under the Kennedy Administration needed a low-cost fighter for distribution to less-developed nations, the N-156F was at the top of the pile, and subsequently became the F-5A. It was named under the 1962 United States Tri-Service aircraft designation system which included a re-set of the fighter number series (the General Dynamics F-111 was the highest sequentially numbered P/F- aircraft to enter service under the old number sequence).

[edit] F-5E and F-5F Tiger II

In 1970 Northrop won a competition for an improved International Fighter Aircraft (IFA) to replace the F-5A. The resultant aircraft, initially known as F-5A-21, subsequently became the F-5E. It was lengthened and enlarged, with increased wing area and more sophisticated avionics, initially with an Emerson Electric AN/APQ-153 radar (the F-5A and B had no radar). Various specific avionics fits could be accommodated at customer request. A two-seat combat-capable trainer, the F-5F, was offered. Unlike the F-5B which did not mount a gun, it retained a single M39 cannon in the nose, albeit with a reduced ammunition capacity (the F-5E was equipped with two M39 cannon, one on either side of the nose). The F-5F 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 nm. A reconnaissance version, the RF-5E Tigereye, with a sensor package in the nose displacing the radar and one cannon, was also offered. 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 due to financial reasons, and the radar only saw very limited service in USAF aggressor squadrons and Swiss air force.

The F-5E eventually received the official name Tiger II. 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 was never carried out.

Northrop built 792 F-5Es, 140 F-5Fs and 12 RF-5Es. More were built under license overseas: 56 F-5Es and -Fs plus 5 RF-5Es were manufactured in Malaysia, which plans to sell the aircraft after upgrading them; 90 F-5Es and -Fs in Switzerland; 68 in South Korea, and 308 in Taiwan.

The F-5 proved to be a successful combat aircraft for US allies, but had only limited combat service with the US Air Force in Vietnam. The two-seat F-5B actually preceded the F-5A and was actually a fighter development of the T-38 Talon supersonic trainer. The design was grown into the F-20 Tigershark, which lost out on export sales to the F-16 in the 1980s.

[edit] Upgrades

Various F-5 versions remain in service with many nations. Singapore has approximately 49 modernized and re-designated F-5S (single-seat) and F-5T (two-seat) aircraft. Upgrades include 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.^[5][6]

Similar programs have been carried out in Chile and Brazil with the help of Elbit. The Chilean upgrade, called the F-5 Plus, incorporated a new Elta 2032 radar and other improvements. The Brazilian program, whose product is called the F-5M (Modernized), is armed with Python V coupled to the DASH helmet-mounted cue system, and new GRIFO radar, cockpit displays and navigation electronics. The Brazilian F-5M is also equipped with the Israeli Derby missile and can operate in a BVR environment. In the Cruzex 2006 multinational war games, a Brazilian F-5 made simulated kills on two French Air Force Dassault Mirage 2000N aircraft, which were supported by an E-3 Sentry and escorted by other two Mirage 2000C. This result was achieved by using the Derby and the information relayed by datalink from an AEW&C plane, the Embraer R-99, fitted with the Erieye AESA radar.^[7]

Other upgrade programs have been carried out in Royal Thai Air Force by Israel being called the F-5T Tigris, armed with Python III and 4 (with the Dash helmet-mounted cueing system). Unlike other F-5s which have undergone updates, the RTAF aircraft cannot use BVR missiles.

One NASA F-5E was given a modified fuselage shape for its employment in the Shaped Sonic Boom Demonstration program carried out by DARPA. It is preserved in the Valiant Air Command Museum at Titusville, Florida.

[edit] Operational history

[edit] United States

The first contract for the production F-5A was issued in 1962, the first overseas order coming from the Royal Norwegian Air Force in February 1964. 636 F-5As were built before production ended in 1972. These were accompanied by 200 two-seat F-5B aircraft. These were operational trainers, lacking the nose-mounted cannon but otherwise combat-capable.

In October 1965 the USAF began a five-month combat evaluation of the F-5A titled Skoshi Tiger. Twelve aircraft were delivered for trials to the 4503rd Tactical Fighter Wing and redesignated as the F-5C. They performed combat duty in Vietnam, flying more than 3,500 sorties from the 3rd Tactical Fighter Wing at Bien Hoa in South Vietnam. Two aircraft were lost in combat. Though declared a success, the program was more a political gesture than a serious consideration of the type for U.S. service. From April 1966 the aircraft continued operations as 10th Fighter Commando Squadron with their number boosted to seventeen aircraft. (Following Skoshi Tiger the Philippine Air Force acquired F-5A and B models in 1965, putting twenty-three into service. These aircraft, along with remanufactured F-8 Crusaders, eventually replaced the F-86 Sabre in the air defense and ground attack roles.)

In June 1967 the 10th FCS's surviving aircraft were turned over to the air force of South Vietnam, which previously had only A-37 Dragonfly and A-1 Skyraider attack aircraft. This new VNAF squadron was titled the 522nd. The president of Vietnam had originally asked for F-4 Phantoms used by the Americans, but the VNAF flew primarily ground support as the communist forces employed no opposing aircraft over South Vietnam, MiG or otherwise. Ironically, when Bien Hoa was later overrun by Communist forces, several of the aircraft were captured and used operationally by the NVAF, in particular against Khmer Rouge. 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 F-105 Thunderchief and F-4 Phantom II over North Vietnam. Several of the F-5s left over from the Vietnam war were sent to Poland and Russia, for advanced study of US aviation technology,^[8] while others were decommissioned and put on display at museums in Vietnam.

Although the United States does not use the F-5 in a front line role, it was adopted for an opposing forces (OPFOR) "aggressor" for dissimilar training role because of its small size and performance similarities to the Soviet MiG-21.

The F-5E saw service with the US Air Force from 1975 until 1990, serving in the 64th Aggressor Squadron and 65th Aggressor Squadron at Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada, and with the 527th Aggressor Squadron at Alconbury RAF Base in the UK and the 26th Aggressor Squadron at Clark Air Force Base in the Philippines. The Marines purchased ex-USAF models in 1989 to replace their F-21s, which served with VMFT-401 at Marine Corps Air Station Yuma. The U.S. 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 U.S. 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 U.S. Navy units flying the F-5 are VFC-13 at NAS Fallon, Nevada and VFC-111 at NAS Key West, Florida.^[4]

[edit] Republic of China (Taiwan)

The Republic of China 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.^[9][10] During 1972, the US decided to borrow 48 F-5As from Taiwan to boost the South Vietnam Air Force strength before withdrawing US forces from South Vietnam. By 1973 most of those loaned F-5As in South Vietnam were not in flying shape consequently the US decided to return 20 F-5As to Taiwan by drawing nine F-5As from US reserves while repairing a further 11 from those still in flying shape in South Vietnam, These were sent to Taiwan to make necessary repairs, with gave 28 F-5Es issued to Taiwan by May 1975 in return.^[11][12] By 1973, Taiwan's AIDC started local production of first batch of 100 F-5Es in Taiwan, this was the first of six Peace Tiger batches. By end of 1986 when the production line closed after completing Peace Tiger 6, the AIDC had produced 242 F-5E and 66 F-5F, making Taiwan the largest F-5E/F operator at one time.^[13]

With the introduction of 150 F-16s, 60 Mirage 2000-5s and 130 F-CK-1s in 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 the new fighters entering ROCAF service. Seven low airframe hours F-5Es were sent to Singapore Aerospace to convert them to RF-5E standard to fulfill a reconnaissance role previously undertaken by the retiring RF-104G in ROCAF service.^[14] 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.^[15][16]

Taiwan also tried to upgrade 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 Taiwan/ROC Air Force eventually killed the program. The only prototype is on display in AIDC in Central Taiwan.^[17][18][19]

The only air combat actions ROCAF F-5E/F pilots saw were not over Taiwan, but in North Yemen. In 1979, a flareup between North and South Yemen prompted the US to sell F-5E/Fs to North Yemen to boost its air defense. Since no one in North Yemen know how to fly the F-5E, US and Saudi Arabia arranged to have 80+ ROCAF F-5E pilots plus ground crew and anti-air defense units sent to North Yemen, from 1979 to 1985. The F-5E scored a few kills in a few air battles, but the ground early warning radar crews and anti-air units also suffered from air attacks from South Yemen, the aircraft being piloted by Soviet crews.^[20]

[edit] Iran

The Imperial Iranian Air Force received extensive US equipment in the 1960s and 1970s. Iran received its first 11 F-5A and two F-5Bs in February 1965 which were then declared operational in June 1965. Ultimately, Iran received 104 F-5A 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/F and 15 additional RF-5Es with deliveries ending in 1976. While receiving the F-5E and F, Iran started selling its F-5A and Bs to other countries including Ethiopia, Turkey, Greece and South Vietnam; by 1976, they were all sold apart from some F-5Bs retained for training.

After the revolution, the new Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force was partially successful keeping Western fighters in service during the war with Iraq 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.^[21]

During the war with Iraq, IRIAF F-5s were heavily involved, flying air-to-air and air-to-ground sorties. Iranian F-5s took part in many air combats with Iraqi MiG-21, MiG-23, MiG-25, Su-20/22, Mirage F-1 and Super Etendards scoring many victories but alternately suffering many losses. However the exact combat record is not known with many different claims from Iraqi, Iranian and even Western and Russian sources. Also, it appears that many IRIAF pilots were victims of their own unstable regime - in many cases, they were imprisoned and executed by the Iranian government itself, often on vague charges. Adding to the haze surrounding the F-5's combat record is that many of the IRIAF's confirmed air-to-air kills were, for political reasons, attributed to the Revolutionary Guards. Nonetheless there are reports that an F-5E, piloted by Major Yadollah Javadpour, managed to shoot down a MiG-25.^[22]

From a general standpoint, during the first years of service, Iranian F-5 fighter aircraft had the advantage in missile technology, using advanced versions of the IR seeking Sidewinder, later lost with deliveries of new missiles and fighters to Iraq.^[23]

Today, Iran produces an indigenous aircraft titled the "Saegeh" which is built on the same platform as the F5.

[edit] Ethiopia

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Ethiopia received 10 F-5A, 2 F-5B, from USA starting in 1966. In addition to these, Ethiopia had a training squadron equipped with at least 8 T33A. Later in 1970, Iran transferred at least 3 F-5As and Bs to Ethiopia. In 1975, another agreement was reached with USA to deliver a number of military aircraft including 14 F-5E and 3 F-5F and so later in the same year 8 F-5E were transferred while the other were embargoed and delivered to a USAF aggressor Squadron due to changed political situation. The USA withdrew its personnel and cut diplomatic relations too. Ethipioan officers contracted a number of Israelis to maintain American equipment.

The Ethiopian F-5 fighters saw combat action against Somali forces and air force during the Ogaden War (1977-1978). The main Somali fighter aircraft was the MiG-21MF delivered in the 1970s supported by MiG-17 delivered in the 1960s by the Soviet Union.

Ethiopian F-5E were used to gain air superiority because they could use the AIM-9B air to air missile, while the F-5A were kept for air interdiction and air strike and F-86 for close air support. During this period Ethiopian F-5E were on training against Ethiopian F-5A and F-86 (simulating Somali MiG-21 and MiG-17).

On 17 July 1977, two Ethiopian 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 a AIM-9B missile. The nationality of the F-5 pilots (Israeli or Ethiopian) is disputed. The better trained Ethiopian Air Force 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. However at least three F-5s were shot down by air defense forces during attacks against supply bases in western Somalia.^{[24][unreliable source?]}

[edit] Morocco

F-5A/B took part to the Polisario War in Western Sahara in the 1980s. During the war, the Polisario Front was aided by East European, Cuban and Algerian advisers. They were armed with heavy weapons and even with sophisticated heavy SA-6 anti-aircraft systems. Morocco and France which was supporting Morocco lost many aircraft to SA-6, SA-7, AAA and small arms fire, among them 14 were F-5, lost to SA-7 alone.24 F-5E has been upgraded to F-5TIII.^[25]

[edit] Saudi Arabia

During the Gulf War, Saudi F-5Es flew close air support and aerial interdiction missions against Iraqi units in Kuwait. One RSAF F-5E was lost to ground fire on February 13, 1991.^[26] In Saudi Arabian service, approximately 20 Tigers have been lost to various causes over the years.

[edit] Norway

The Royal Norwegian Air Force currently have 15 F-5As on the ground. Three aircraft used only for test flights (weapon evaluation of Naval Strike Missile, 2003-2005). Currently for sale.^[27]

[edit] Variants

[edit] Single-seat versions

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 the F-5A.

F-5A (G)

Single-seat fighter version of the F-5A for the Royal Norwegian Air Force.

XF-5A

This designation was given to one aircraft used for static tests.

A-9

Designation of Spanish built F-5A which served in the Ejército del Aire

F-5C Skoshi Tiger

12 F-5A Freedom Fighters, were tested by the US Air Force for four and a half months in Vietnam.

F-5E Tiger II

Single-seat fighter version.

F-5E Tiger III

Upgraded version of the F-5E in use by the Chilean Air Force.

F-5G

The temporary designation given to the F-20 Tigershark.

F-5N

Ex-Swiss Air Force F-5Es used by the US Navy as "aggressor" aircraft, intended to replace high-time USN/USMC F-5Es in the adversary role, and see service through to 2015.^[4]

F-5S

Upgraded version of the F-5E in use by 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.^[5][6]

F-5T Tigris

Upgraded version of the F-5E of Royal Thai Air Force by Israel.

F-5EM

Upgraded version of the F-5E of Brazilian Air Force.

F-5TIII Upgraded version of the F-5E,in service with the Royal moroccan air force.

[edit] Reconnaissance versions

RF-5A

Single-seat reconnaissance version of the F-5A fighter.

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, Iran and Malaysia.

RF-5E Tigergazer

Seven upgraded single-seat reconnaissance version of the F-5E for Taiwan by Singapore Aerospace.

RF-5S Tigereye

Single-seat reconnaissance version of the F-5S for the Republic of Singapore Air Force.

AR-9

Spanish reconnaissance aircraft

[edit] Two-seat versions

F-5-21

Temporarily designation given to 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 fighter version for the Republic of Korea Air Force.

F-5B(G)

Two-seat trainer version of the F-5B for the Royal Norwegian Air Force.

F-5D

Unbuilt trainer version.

F-5F Tiger II

Two-seat trainer version of F-5E Tiger II.

F-5F Tiger III

Upgraded trainer version of the F-5F in use by the Chilean Air Force.

F-5T

Upgraded F-5F in use by the Republic of Singapore Air Force.

F-5FM

Upgraded trainer version of the F-5F for the Brazilian Air Force.

[edit] Foreign variants

[edit] 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 Force. Built under licence in Spain by CASA.

SRF-5A

Single-seat reconnaissance version of the RF-5A for the Spanish Air force. Built under license in Spain By CASA.

SF-5B

Two-seat training version of the F-5B for the Spanish Air Force. Built under license in Spain by CASA.

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 Republic of Korea Air Force. First introduction Time : September, 1982.

KF-5F

F-5F built in South Korea for Republic of Korea Air Force. First introduction Time : September, 1982.

[edit] Unlicensed versions

Azarakhsh 

F-5E built in Iran with unknown modifications and a mid wing.^[28]

Sa'eqeh 

F-5E modified in Iran with canted, twin vertical stabilizers.

[edit] Derivatives

[edit] F-20 Tigershark

Northrop attempted to develop an advanced version of the F-5E, originally designated F-5G, as an export competitor for the F-16 Fighting Falcon. The F-5G was later redesignated the F-20 Tigershark. It received favorable reviews as a less expensive but capable alternative to early-block variants of the F-16 (and superior to the similarly never-purchased export variant F-16/79), but it never had the appeal of the much newer fighter design even at a lower cost.

[edit] Northrop YF-17

The Northrop YF-17's aircraft'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 F/A-18 Hornet, and the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet currently in production.

[edit] Operators

 Austria

• Austrian Air Force: On loan from Switzerland - all aircraft returned and replaced by Eurofighters

 Bahrain

• Bahrain Air Force

 Botswana

• Botswana Air Force

 Brazil

• Brazilian Air Force: Operating 54 F-5Es.^[29]

 Chile

• Chilean Air Force: The 16 F-5E Tigre IIIs are going to be replaced in 2009 by 16 F-16 MLU T5.^[30]

 Ethiopia

• Ethiopian Air Force

 Honduras

• Honduran Air Force

 Indonesia

• Indonesian Air Force: All 16 F-5Es have been retired since late 2005 but are in reserve in case of future use.

 Iran

• Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force: 60 or 75 F-5E and F operational; 140 originally delivered
• Unknown numbers of HESA Saeqeh and HESA Azarakhsh fighters derived from the F-5 design

 Jordan

• Royal Jordanian Air Force

 Kenya

• Kenya Air Force: In July 2008, it was reported that Kenya will spend 1.5 billion KSh to buy 15 former Jordanian Air Force F-5, 13 F-5E and 2 F-5F^[31] (plus training and spare parts). They will be added or eventually replace the current F-5 fleet ^[32]

 Mexico

• Mexican Air Force: Operating eight F-5 E and two F-5Fs^[33]

 Morocco

• Royal Moroccan Air ForceOperates 33F-5A/B, 9 F-5E/F and 24 upgraded F-5TIII.

 Norway

• Royal Norwegian Air Force

 Pakistan

• Pakistan Air Force: On loan from the Royal Jordanian Air Force during a conflict against India.

 Paraguay

• Paraguayan Air Force: In 1996 Taiwan announced the donation of 10 F-5E and 2 F-5F to the FAP. The donation never materialized because the Paraguayan government in 1998 preferred more Bell UH-1H helicopters instead. Taiwan donated 10 UH-1H between 1996 and 2003.

 Republic of China (Taiwan)

• Republic of China Air Force: First received the F-5A and B in 1965. From 1973 to 1986, Taiwan produced 308 F-5E and Fs under license. Later batches have F-20 style flattened nose and enlarged LERX.^[34]

 Saudi Arabia

• Royal Saudi Air Force: 110× F-5E/Fs withdrawn from active service aside from in the trainer role, some squadrons such as #10 based in Taif will be replaced with Eurofighter Typhoons.

 Singapore

• Republic of Singapore Air Force

 South Korea

• Republic of Korea Air Force

 Spain

• Spanish Air Force, as advanced trainers

 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.^[35][36]

 Switzerland

• Swiss Air Force

 Thailand

• Royal Thai Air Force: Older F-5A/B & F-5E/F slated for retirement in 2011, to be replaced by the JAS 39 Gripen. Upgraded F-5T Tigris will continue to serve on for the foreseeable future.

 Tunisia

• Tunisian Air Force

 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; Turkish Stars aerobatic team.^[37] In total, 50 NF-5A and 25 NF-5B remain operational.^[38]

 United States

• United States Marine Corps
• United States Navy

 Venezuela

• Venezuelan Air Force

 Vietnam

• Vietnam People's Air Force (several captured ex-VNAF aircraft). One F-5E (s/n 73-00867) was transferred to the Soviet Union for evaluation flights, i.e. against the MiG-21bis.^[39]

 Yemen

• Yemen Air Force

[edit] Former operators

 Canada

• Canadian Armed Forces - see Canadair CF-5

 Greece

• Hellenic Air Force

 Malaysia

• Royal Malaysian Air Force

 Netherlands

• Royal Netherlands Air Force

 Philippines

• Philippine Air Force
  • 1967 22 F-5A (single seat) 8 F-5B (two seater), retired from service in 2006. Two F-5Bs are for upgrade. Received at least eight ex-Taiwanese F-5A in 1988/1989.^[40]

 South Vietnam

• Vietnam Air Force

 United States

• United States Air Force

[edit] Specifications (F-5E Tiger II)

Data from Quest for Performance^[41]

General characteristics

• Crew: 1
• Length: 47 ft 4¾ in (14.45 m)
• Wingspan: 26 ft 8 in (8.13 m)
• Height: 13 ft 4½ in (4.08 m)
• Wing area: 186 ft² (17.28 m²)
• Airfoil: NACA 65A004.8 root, NACA 64A004.8 tip
• Empty weight: 9,558 lb (4,349 kg)
• Max takeoff weight: 24,664 lb (11,187 kg)
• Powerplant: 2× General Electric J85-GE-21B turbojet
  • Dry thrust: 3,500 lbf (15.5 kN) each
  • Thrust with afterburner: 5,000 lbf (22.2 kN) each
• *Zero-lift drag coefficient: 0.0200
• Drag area: 3.4 ft² (0.32 m²)
• Aspect ratio: 3.86
• Internal fuel: 677 US gal (2,563 L)
• External fuel: 275 US gal (1,040 L) per tank in up to 3 tanks

Performance

• Maximum speed: 917 kn (1,060 mph, 1,700 km/h, mach 1.6)
• Range: 760 nmi (870 mi, 1,405 km)
• Ferry range: 2,010 nmi (2,310 mi, 3,700 km^[42])
• Service ceiling: 51,800 ft (15,800 m)
• Rate of climb: 34,400 ft/min (175 m/s)
• Lift-to-drag ratio: 10.0

Armament

• Guns: 2× 20 mm (0.787 in) Pontiac M39A2 cannons in the nose, 280 rounds/gun
• Hardpoints: 7 total (3× wet): 2× wing-tip AAM launch rails, 4× under-wing & 1× under-fuselage pylon stations holding up to 7,000 lb (3,200 kg) of payload.
• 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:
  
  • Air-to-air missile:
    • 4× AIM-9 Sidewinders or
    • 4× AIM-120 AMRAAMs
  • Air-to-surface missile:
    • 2× AGM-65 Mavericks
• Bombs: A variety of air-to-ground ordnance such as the Mark 80 series of unguided iron bombs (including 3 kg and 14 kg practice bombs), CBU-24/49/52/58 cluster bomb munitions, napalm bomb canisters and M129 Leaflet bomb
• Others: up to 3× 150/275 US gallon Sargent Fletcher drop tanks for ferry flight or extended range/loitering time.

Avionics

• AN/APQ-153 radar on early batch of F-5E
• AN/APQ-159 radar on later production F-5E

[edit] Popular culture

Prior to the scene of the very famous line "I love the smell of napalm in the morning" in the 1979 classic movie Apocalypse Now, four F-5 fighters were shown dropping napalm on a battlefield. These aircraft belonged to the Philippine Air Force which provided not only the F-5s,^{[citation needed]} but also the UH-1H helicopters,^{[citation needed]} for the film. The aircraft were portrayed as American in the film. Top Gun (1986) features a number of F-5Es and F-5Fs in latex wash-off paint as the fictional MiG-28s that battle against US Navy F-14 Tomcats.

[edit] See also

Related development

• T-38 Talon
• Canadair CF-5
• F-20 Tigershark
• Grumman X-29
• YF-17 Cobra
• SSBD Demonstrator
• HESA Saeqeh
  

Comparable aircraft

• Aeritalia G.91
• Dassault Étendard
• Mikoyan MiG-21
  

Related lists

• List of military aircraft of the United States
• List of fighter aircraft
  

[edit] References

[edit] Notes

[edit] Bibliography

[edit] External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Northrop F-5

• USN Fact File on F-5N/F Adversary aircraft
• F-5 page at the National Museum of the United States Air Force
• F-5 Series Reference at Cybermodeler.com
• F-5E Marine Corps Adversary trainer exhibit aircraft, Flying Leatherneck Aviation Museum
• Taiwan Air Power F-5E/F Page

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v • d • e United States tri-service fighter designations post-1962 F-1C/F-1E • F-2 • F-3 • F-4 • F-5 • F-6 • F-7  • F-8  • F-9 • F-10 • F-11 • YF-12 • (F-13 not assigned) • F-14 • F-15 / F-15E • F-16 • YF-17 • F/A-18 / F/A-18E/F • (F-19 not assigned) • F-20 • F-21 • F-22 • YF-23 • (F-24 to F-34 not assigned) • F-35 See also: F-117 • Pre-1962 list

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