Northrop F-5
| F-5A/B Freedom Fighter F-5E/F Tiger II |
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|---|---|
 |
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| 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 Republic of China Air Force Republic of Korea Air Force Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force |
| Produced | 1959–1987 |
| Number built | A/B/C: 847 E/F: 1,399 |
| Unit cost |
F-5E: US$2.1 million
|
| Developed from | Northrop T-38 Talon |
| Variants |
Canadair CF-5 Shaped Sonic Boom Demonstration |
| Developed into |
Northrop F-20 Tigershark HESA Saeqeh HESA Azarakhsh |
The Northrop F-5A and F-5B Freedom Fighter and the F-5E and F-5F Tiger II are part of a supersonic light fighter family, initially designed in the late 1950s by Northrop Corporation. Being smaller and simpler than contemporaries such as the McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II, the F-5 cost less to both procure and operate, making it a popular export aircraft. The F-5 started life as a privately funded light fighter program by Northrop in the 1950s. The design team wrapped a small, highly aerodynamic fighter around two compact and high-thrust General Electric J85 engines, focusing on performance and low cost of maintenance. Though primarily designed for the 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 U.S. allies. Though the USAF had no acknowledged need for a light fighter, it did procure roughly 1,200 Northrop T-38 Talon trainer aircraft, which were directly based on the F-5A.
After winning the International Fighter Aircraft competition in 1970, a program aimed at providing effective low-cost fighters to American allies, Northrop introduced the second-generation F-5E Tiger II in 1972. This upgrade included more powerful engines, higher fuel capacity, greater wing area and improved leading edge extensions for a better turn rate, 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 Vietnam. A total of 1,400 Tiger IIs were built before production ended in 1987. More than 3,800 F-5 and the closely related T-38 advanced trainer aircraft were produced in Hawthorne, California. The F-5N/F variants are in service with the United States Navy and United States Marine Corps as an adversary trainer. Approximately 500 aircraft are in service as of 2014.
The F-5 was also developed into a dedicated reconnaissance version, 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 navalized 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.
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