Northrop F-5

  • F-5A/B Freedom Fighter
  • F-5E/F Tiger II
An F-5E of the Swiss Air Force
General information
TypeLight fighter
National originUnited States
ManufacturerNorthrop Corporation
StatusIn service
Primary usersUnited States Navy
Number built
  • A/B/C/D: 1,204
  • E/F: 1,399[1]
History
Manufactured1959–1987
Introduction date1964
First flight
  • F-5A: 30 July 1959
  • F-5E: 11 August 1972
Developed fromNorthrop T-38 Talon
Variants
Developed into

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 costs 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. Despite the United States Air Force (USAF) not needing a light fighter at the time, it did procure approximately 1,200 Northrop T-38 Talon trainer aircraft, which were based on Northrop's N-156 fighter design.

After winning the International Fighter Aircraft Competition, a program aimed at providing effective low-cost fighters to American allies, in 1972 Northrop introduced the second-generation F-5E Tiger II. 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.

  1. ^ Johnsen 2006, p. 90.
  2. ^ 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.
  3. ^ "Military Aircraft Update: Northrop F-5/T-38". Aviation Week & Space Technology (Aviation Week Intelligence Network), Vol. 175, Issue 39, 21 November 2013, p. 89.
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference USN F-5N was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ a b Hoyle 2021, p. 10.


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