https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northrop_F-5
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.
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
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 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 School of the USAF, which
had the role of training pilots and ground crew for customer nations, on 30
April that year. At that point, it was still not intended that the aircraft be
used in significant numbers by the USAF itself.
In June 1967, the 10th FCS's surviving aircraft were supplied to the air force
of South Vietnam, which previously had only Cessna A-37 Dragonfly and Douglas
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. When Bien Hoa was later
overrun by Communist forces, several 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, U.S. 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. 41 F-5s were captured
by the NVA when they defeated South Vietnam on 30 April 1975; of the captured
equipment, the Soviets took delivery of a complete F-5E, along with various
spare parts and support equipment; aircraft would arrive in Poland and Russia
for study of U.S. aviation technology, while others were decommissioned and put
on display at museums in Vietnam.
Specifications (F-5E Tiger II)
General characteristics
Crew: 1
Wingspan: 26 ft 8 in (8.13 m)
Airfoil: NACA 65A004.8 root, NACA 64A004.8 tip
Empty weight: 9,558 lb (4,349 kg)
Loaded weight: 15,745 lb (7,157 kg)
Max. takeoff weight: 24,722 lb (11,214 kg)
kN) each
Thrust with afterburner: 5,000 lbf (22.2 kN) each
Zero-lift drag coefficient: 0.0200
Aspect ratio: 3.82
Internal fuel: 677 U.S. gal (2,563 L)
External fuel: 275 U.S. gal (1,040 L) per tank in up to 3 tanks
Performance
Maximum speed: 917 kn (Mach 1.6, 1,060 mph, 1,700 km/h) ; at altitude
Range: 760 nmi (870 mi, 1,405 km)
Ferry range: 2,010 nmi (2,310 mi, 3,700 km)
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
a capacity of 7,000 pounds (3,200 kg) and provisions to carry combinations of:
Rockets:
respectively); or
Missiles:
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:
extended range/loitering time.
Avionics
Emerson Electric AN/APQ-153 radar on early batch of F-5E
Emerson Electric AN/APQ-159 radar on later production F-5E
AN/AVQ-27 Laser Target Designator Set (LTDS), for F-5B and F-5F only.
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