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Northrop F-5

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The 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 as of the early 21st century, and the type formed the basis for a number of other aircraft. Production ended in 1972 and 1987 for the F-5A and the upgraded F-5E respectively.

The aircraft family started as a privately funded light fighter by Northrop in the 1950s. The first generation F-5 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 need a trainer and procured about 1,200 of the same basic airframe to this purpose, the T-38 Talon.

The much improved second generation F-5E Tiger II family was, again, primarily used by U.S. cold war allies and in the US as training and aggressor aircraft; the Tiger II family production amounted to 1,400 with production ending in 1987. Many F-5s continuing in service into the 1990s and 2000s have undergone a wide variety of upgrade programs. The major sub-family variants of the F-5 fighter were various dedicated reconnaissance versions, the RF-5 Tigereye.

Design and development

File:F-5 flying.jpg
An early USAF F-5E Tiger II

Originally designed by Northrop (designated N-156) as a low-cost, low-maintenance fighter, there was little market for such a craft. It was designed around a pair of afterburning versions of the General Electric J85, which was originally designed to power the tiny McDonnell ADM-20 Quail decoy carried within a 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).

The F-5 proved to be a successful combat aircraft for US allies, but it never entered front-line service with the US due to diverging priorities of the US services. The USAF did adopt the T-38 Talon trainer version of the airframe as the world's first supersonic trainer, and the design would be the starting point for the YF-17, which was developed into the F/A-18 Hornet. Although the F-5 was a lightweight fighter built around the smallest available engines, the ultimate evolution of the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet is a relatively heavy fighter / attack plane.

Operational history

New Jersey Air National Guard F-4 Phantom II aircraft flying in close formation with a Norwegian Air Force F-5A Freedom Fighter aircraft during an exercise in 1982
File:Vnf-5c-23tw-522fs--bh-1971.jpg
VNAF F-5C Bien Hoa Air Base, 1971

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).

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.

The USAF made a combat evaluation of the F-5A under the Skoshi Tiger ("skoshi" is derived from the Japanese word sukoshi, meaning "little," thus the program was "Little Tiger" [1] [verification needed]) program in 1965. 12 aircraft were delivered for trials to the 4503rd Tactical Fighter Wing (subsequently the 10th Fighter Commando Squadron), redesignated 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. The program was short-lived, more a political gesture than a serious consideration of the type for U.S. service. It may be noted that the double-sonic F-104 Starfighter and the sophisticated F-102 Delta Dagger were also tried, but completely withdrawn from Vietnam.

Following the operational success of Skoshi Tiger, the Philippine Air Force purchased the F-5 in 1965, putting 23 of them into service.

The 10th FCS's surviving aircraft were subsequently turned over to the air force of South Vietnam, which previously only had slow A-37 Dragonfly and prop-driven A-1 Skyraider attack aircraft. The president of Vietnam asked for the 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 over North Vietnam like the F-105 Thunderchief and F-4. Several of the F-5s left-over from the Vietnam war were sent to Poland and Russia, for advanced study of US aviation technology[2], while others were decommissioned and put on display at museums in Vietnam.

A few surplus F-5As and F-5Es have been sold to private owners.

F-5E/F Tiger II

F-5E of the Patrouille Suisse aerobatics team.

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 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 gunless F-5B, it retained a single M39 cannon in the nose, albeit with a reduced ammunition capacity. The F-5F was armed with 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 popular 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 nm 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 in Malaysia (they plan to sell them after being upgraded), 90 F-5Es and -Fs in Switzerland (of which some are currently rented to Austria to bridge the gap between the retirement of the Saab Draken fleet and the delivery of new Eurofighter jets), 68 in South Korea, and 308 in Taiwan.

Various F-5 versions remain in service with many nations. The most advanced are those of Singapore, which has approximately 49 modernized and re-designated F-5S (single-seaters) and F-5T (two-seaters) aircraft. Upgrades include new radar, manufactured by Israel, updated cockpits with multi-function displays, and compatibility with the Rafael Python and AIM-120 AMRAAM air-to-air missiles.

Similar programs have been carried out in Chile (with Israeli assistance) and Brazil, the latter being called the F-5M (Modernized), armed with Python III and 4 (with Dash helmet-mounted cue system) and new radar, cockpit displays and electronics with the former being called the F-5 Plus, with Griffon radar and other improvements. The Brazilian F-5M, is equipped with the Israeli Derby missile, and can now operate in a BVR environment. In the Cruzex 2006 multinational war games, a Brazilian F-5 had "destroyed" three French Mirage-2000, using the Derby. The French Mirages had not detected the F-5, nor the launch of the missiles. The Brazilian F-5 was suppoerted by an AEW&C plane, the Embraer R-99 with a Erieye AESA radar, and the contact report of the French aircraft had been made by datalink to the F-5M.[3]

File:F-5T.jpeg
Thai F-5T Tigris upgrade with new avionics and DASH helmet

Another 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 Dash helmet-mounted cue system) .Unlike other upgrade programs RTAF F-5 cannot operate with BVR.

One NASA F-5E was given a modified fuselage shape for the Shaped Sonic Boom Demonstration program.

United States

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. A small target is much more difficult to see than an aircraft as large as an F-14 Tomcat or F-15 Eagle.

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. Serving with VMFT-401 at Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, the F-5 fleet continues to be modernized with F-5N replacements purchased from Switzerland. The US Navy used the F-5E extensively at The Naval Fighter Weapons School at NAS Miramar, VF-127, VF-43 and VF-45. Currently, the only Navy units flying the F-5 is VFC-13 at NAS Fallon in Nevada and VFC-111 at NAS Key West, Florida. Many of these have been replaced by F-16s which aren't much larger than the F-5.

Variants

Single-seat versions

Royal Thai Air Force F-5 and USAF F-15 in the background
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.
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.
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-5F Tiger II
Single-seat version for the Tunisian Air Force
F-5G
The temporarily designation given to the F-20A Tigershark.
F-5N
Ex-Swiss Air Force F-5Es used by the US Navy as "aggressor" aircraft, intended to replace USN/USMC F-5Es in the adversary role, and see service through to 2015.
F-5S
Upgraded version of the F-5E in use by the Republic of Singapore Air Force. Capable of firing the AIM-120 AMRAAM.
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.

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
Upgraded single-seat reconnaissance version of the F-5E. The Tigergazer is now in service with Taiwan.
RF-5S Tigereye
Single-seat reconnaissance version of the F-5S for the Republic of Singapore Air Force.

Two-seat versions

Chilean F-5F Tiger II just after delivery (1977).
F-5-21
Temporarily designation given to the YF-5B.
YF-5B
One F-5B was fitted with a 5,000 lb s.t (2,268 kg) General Electric J85-GE-21 engine, and used as a prototype for the F-5E Tiger II.
F-5B
Two-seat training version.
F-5B(G)
Two-seat training version of the F-5B for the Royal Norwegian Air Force.
F-5D
Unbuilt training version.
F-5F Tiger II
Two-seat training version.
F-5F Tiger III
Upgraded 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 version of the F-5F of Brazilian Air Force.

Foreign variants

CF-116

Licensed versions

CF-5A
Single-seat fighter version for the Canadian Forces. Built under license in Canada by Canadair as the CF-116 Freedom Fighter. Canadian designation CF-116A. 89 built.
CF-5A(R)
Single-seat reconnaissance version of the CF-5A. Built in very small numbers for the Canadian Forces. Canadian designation CF-116A(R).
CF-5D
Two-seat training version for the Canadian Forces. Canadian designation CF-116D. 46 built.
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.
KF-5F
F-5F built in South Korea for Republic of Korea Air Force.

Unlicensed versions

File:Apbat.jpg
Iran Air force F-5E
Azarakhsh
F-5E built in Iran with unknown modifications.[4]
Sa'eqeh
F-5E modified in Iran with canted, twin vertical stabilizers.

Derivatives

The F-5 design has seen two major evolutionary spinoffs:

YF-17 Cobra

Main article: YF-17 Cobra

The F-5 also formed the starting point for a series of design revisions. Starting from the F-5E, Northrop developed the N-300, and later, the P530 designs incorporating leading-edge root extensions (LERX), a larger fuselage and wings, and more powerful engines. The eventual result was the YF-17 Cobra, a competitor in the U.S. Air Force's Light Weight Fighter program, and basis for the F/A-18 Hornet fighter.

F-20 Tigershark

Main article: F-20 Tigershark

The F-5 has long been regarded as an entry level fighter that was not suitable to frontline use by the US armed forces. 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.

Operators

Operators of Northrop F-5 Tiger
File:Honduran F5E.jpg
Honduran F-5E Tiger preparing for takeoff
Kenya Air Force F-5E Tiger II and an USAF C-5 Galaxy in the background
Norwegian F-5A Tiger
 Austria
On loan from Switzerland
 Bahrain
 Botswana
 Brazil
 Canada
 Chile
 Ethiopia
 Greece
 Honduras
 Indonesia
 Iran
 Jordan
 Kenya
 Libya
 Malaysia
 Mexico
Operating 11 F-5s
 Morocco
 Netherlands
 Norway
 Pakistan
Temporarily borrowed from other countries during a war against India.
 Paraguay
 Philippines
most of the F-5 are retired by end of 2006, except F-5B for extended upgrade - TBD
 Republic of China (Taiwan)
First received F-5A/B in 1965. From 1973 to 1986, Taiwan produced 308 F-5E/F under license. Later batches have F-20 style flattened nose and enlarged LERX. [5]
 South Korea
 Saudi Arabia
 Singapore
 Spain
 South Vietnam
 Vietnam
 Switzerland
 Thailand
 Tunisia
 Turkey
 United States
 Venezuela
 Yemen

Specifications (F-5E Tiger II)

An orthographically projected diagram of the F-5 Freedom Fighter.
An orthographically projected diagram of the F-5 Freedom Fighter.

Data from Quest for Performance[6]

General characteristics

Performance

Armament

  • Apocalypse Now features 4 F-5 aircraft dropping napalm on a battlefield. These belonged to the Philippine Air Force which provided numerous aircraft, including the helicopters, for the film. The aircraft are portrayed as American in the film.
  • Top Gun features a number of F-5Es and F-5Fs as the fictional MiG-28s that battle against US Navy F-14 Tomcats.

References

  1. ^ Joe Baugher F-5A service page
  2. ^ Photo of a Northrop F-5E Tiger II in Cracow, Poland a gift of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam.
  3. ^ FAB buys Derby. DefesaNet. Retrieved September 11, 2007.
  4. ^ GlobalSecurity.org Azarakhsh (Lightning)
  5. ^ Joe Baugher. Northrop F-5E/F in Service with Taiwan
  6. ^ Loftin, LK, Jr. "Quest for performance: The evolution of modern aircraft. NASA SP-468". Retrieved 2006-04-22.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)

Related content

Wikimedia Commons has media related to F-5 Freedom Fighter.

Related development

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

Related lists

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