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.

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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
Kenya
- Kenyan 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

Northrop F-5 Freedom Fighter

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