Northrop F-5 Freedom Fighter

The Northrop F-5A/B Freedom Fighter and F-5E/F 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/F 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.

Users

 * Austria
 * Austrian Air Force
 * Bahrain
 * Royal Bahraini Air Force
 * Botswana
 * Botswana Air Force
 * Brazil
 * Brazilian Air Force
 * Canada
 * Royal Canadian Air Force - see Canadair CF-5 Freedom Fighter
 * Chile
 * Chilean Air Force
 * Republic of China
 * Republic of China Air Force
 * Ethiopia
 * Ethiopian Air Force
 * Greece
 * Hellenic Air Force
 * Honduras
 * Honduran Air Force
 * Indonesia
 * Indonesian Air Force
 * Iran
 * Imperial Iranian Air Force/Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force - see also HESA Azarakhsh and HESA Saeqeh
 * Jordan
 * Royal Jordanian Air Force
 * Republic of Korea
 * Republic of Korea Air Force
 * Libya
 * Libyan Air Force
 * Malaysia
 * Royal Malaysian Air Force
 * Mexico
 * Mexican Air Force
 * Morocco
 * Royal Moroccan Air Force
 * Netherlands
 * Royal Netherlands Air Force
 * Norway
 * Royal Norwegian Air Force
 * Philippines
 * Philippine Air Force
 * Saudi Arabia
 * Royal Saudi Air Force
 * Singapore
 * Republic of Singapore Air Force
 * Soviet Union
 * Soviet Air Force
 * Spain
 * Spanish Air Force
 * Sudan
 * Sudanese Air Force
 * Switzerland
 * Swiss Air Force
 * Thailand
 * Royal Thai Air Force
 * Tunisia
 * Tunisian Air Force
 * Turkey
 * Turkish Air Force
 * United States
 * United States Air Force
 * United States Marine Corps
 * United States Navy
 * Venezuela
 * Venezuelan Air Force
 * Vietnam
 * Republic of Vietnam Air Force
 * Vietnam People's Air Force
 * Yemen
 * Yemen Air Force