In the realm of fighter aircraft, designers have long pursued the ideal blend of high speed, affordability, and reliable combat capability. Northrop Corporation believed the F-5 hit that sweet spot. Lightweight, cost-effective, and easy to maintain, it was embraced by numerous U.S. allies and remains in service in several countries today. Yet despite its strong performance and international popularity, the U.S. Air Force showed little enthusiasm for adopting the F-5 into its own fleet.
Developing a lighter, faster and smaller supersonic fighter
The origins of the Northrop F-5 trace all the way back to the 1950s, when Edgar Schmued—Northrop Corporation’s vice president of engineering and a veteran aircraft designer—challenged his team to defy convention. While rival companies focused on producing large, complex jets, Schmued wanted something different: a sleek, agile fighter that was dependable, cost-effective, and easy to maintain.
It was an ambitious vision, but the team was up to the challenge. They also had help along the way from Walko Gasich, Northrop’s chief engineer, who brought innovative ideas to the table. Gasich suggested integrating the engines into the fuselage for better aerodynamics and performance. He also introduced the idea of managing a plane’s “life cycle cost,” giving the design team a practical and strategic foundation to build on.
More interested in a trainer than a combat aircraft
Northrop Corporation originally envisioned the F-5, initially designated as the N-156F, catching the interest of the US Air Force. However, the Air Force shifted its focus away from a combat aircraft, and instead they were more interested in a trainer model, the two-seater YT-38 Talon.
Undeterred by the Air Force’s preference for the YT-38, Northrop decided to continue developing the N-156F independently. In February 1958, the Military Assistance Program approved funding for three prototypes, aiming to explore export opportunities for US allies. Although initial interest was lukewarm, the project gained momentum under President John F. Kennedy‘s administration. By 1964, the Royal Norwegian Air Force became the first to field operational F-5s.
Northrop F-5A/B Freedom Fighter vs. F-5E/F Tiger II
The first iterations of the Northrop F-5 were the “A” and “B” Freedom Fighter models. As aforementioned, they entered service in the 1960s, during the height of the Cold War, with more than 800 being manufactured and delivered to international partners.
Following the International Fighter Aircraft Competition, the Northrop Corporation introduced a more advanced version of the F-5. The “E” and “F” variants – the Tiger II – featured several upgrades, including a better fuel capacity, advanced avionics, a greater wing area with improved leading edge extensions, an inertial navigation system and the air-to-air refueling capabilities.
Similarly to the previous versions of the fighter, the F-5E/F was (and continues to be) operated by American allies. While some units are flown by branches of the US military, this is in more of a training capacity. By the time production ceased in 1987, the total number of aircraft produced under these two variants was around 1,400.
Northrop F-5E/F Tiger II specs.
As aforementioned, the Northrop F-5E/F Tiger II is the more advanced version of this lightweight fighter – but how is it different from its “A” and “B” predecessors? Well, for starters, it features a much more powerful pair of engines, replacing the original J85 power plants with more capable J-85-GE-21s. These allow the F-5E/F to reach a maximum speed of Mach 1.63, with a 140-mile range when carrying weaponry on its hard points.
Speaking of weaponry, the F-5E/F makes use of a combination of aircraft-mounted cannons and droppable munitions that allow it to hit targets both in the air and on the ground. It’s primary armaments are two 20 mm M39A2 Revolvers at the nose, while its seven hard points (one under the fuselage, four at the wing-tips and four under the wings) allow for the equipping of a variety of missiles and rocket pods and/or the storing of drop fuel tanks and air-to-ground ordnance.
Operational service over the decades
Despite being designed in the 1950s, the Northrop F-5 continues to see active service around the world, with the likes of Brazil, Mexico, Thailand, Honduras, Iran and others still equipping it.
In regards to the US Air Force, the fighter first entered service as a trainer with the 4441st Combat Crew Training Squadron at the former Williams Air Force Base, Arizona. The following year, the F-5 underwent a combat exercise in Vietnam with the 4503rd Tactical Fighter Squadron and South Vietnamese forces. Dubbed Skoshi Tiger, it saw 12 modified aircraft, redesignated the F-5C, fly more than 2,500 combat sorties in the skies over Vietnam.
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Nine of the fighters were lost during the five-to-six-month period the test ran. While overall deemed a success, the Air Force still failed to show enough interest to utilize the F-5 outside of its training capacity.