The plucky little F-5!

Here’s an oft forgotten little jet that does sterling work in a lot of parts of the world: the Northrop F-5.

The F-5A first flew in 1959 while the radar equipped F-5E first flew in 1972.

A lot of airforces “grew up” on the F-5 – it was often their first supersonic jet and for some their first licence produced/assembled jet. For a lot of operators it will be their last.

They’ve seen a lot of combat – Vietnam, Sino-Vietnamese War, Morrocco (Polisario War), Iran-Iraq, Yemen, Sudan, Ogaden War. I think some Morrocans ones even saw service in 1973 Yom Kippur but never engaged in air to air combat against IDF/AF.

And a lot are still in service not just with third world operaters but major airforces ala South Korea, Brazil, Singapore and Taiwan. Oh and the USN still uses them as aggressors, having brought ex-Swiss ones in 2000s.

Even older F-5A/B derivatives still fly with Botswana, Turkey and Spain, often as Lead In Fighter Trainers.

The higher end users have upgraded theirs to pack all manner of advanced mainly Israeli electronics as well as advanced AAMs ala Python IV or AMRAAM.

And recent news is that Uruguay has been presented with an offer for 12 Chilean Tiger IIIs.