Northrop F-5A Freedom Fighter F-5E Tiger II F-20 Tigershark Light Tactical Fighter

DESKRIPSI:
Northrop mulai proyek pesawat tempur ringan ini pada 1953 yang disebut dengan N-156F Freedom Fighter. Walaupun tidak dibeli oleh Militer AS, pemerintah AS mendukung penjualan 879 pesawat F-5A kepada 21 negara sahabat. 320 pesawat lain dibuat di bawah lisensi di beberapa negara lain. F-5E Tiger II muncul pada awal 1970an dengan mesin yang lebih bertenaga, kapasitas bahan bakar yang lebih besar dan pengembangan aerodinamisnya. Lebih dari 1400 pesawat ini terjual, termasuk beberapa dibeli oleh AL dan AU AS untuk program Tog Gun dan Aggressor untuk simulasi pesawat dan taktik musuh.
Pengembangan selanjutnya dari F-5 adalah F-20 Tigershark, yang similar performansinya dengan F-16. Akan tetapi, F-20 gagal menarik perhatian konsumen pada pasar pesawat tempur yang kompetitif pada akhir 1980an. Sekitar 2.700 pesawat ini dibuat untuk AS dan 30 negara lain dengan waktu produksi berakhir pada 1987. Mungkin varian F-5 yang paling terkenal adalah T-38 Talon yang merupakan pesawat trainer dua-tempat duduk yang digunakan oleh AU AS dan NASA.

HISTORY:
First Flight: (F-5A) 30 July 1959; (RF-5A) May 1968; (F-5E) 11 August 1972; (RF-5E) 29 January 1979; (F-5F) 25 September 1974
Service Entry: (F-5E) April 1973

CREW: 1 pilot

ESTIMATED COST: (T-38) $756,000

AIRFOIL SECTIONS:
Wing Root: NACA 65A004.8
Wing Tip: NACA 64A004.8

DIMENSIONS:
Length: 47.38 ft (14.45 m)
Wingspan: 28.67 ft (8.13 m)
Height: 13.25 ft (4.06 m)
Wing Area: 186 ft2 (17.2 m2)
Canard Area: not applicable

WEIGHTS:
Empty: 9,723 lb (4,410 kg)
Normal Takeoff: unknown
Max Takeoff: 24,722 lb (11,214 kg)
Fuel Capacity: internal: 2,541 L; external: unknown
Max Payload: (F-5) 7,000 lb (3,175 kg); (F-20) 8,000 lb (3,630 kg)

PROPULSION:
Powerplant: two General Electric J85-21A afterburning turbojets
Thrust: 10,000 lb (44.48 kN)

PERFORMANCE:
Max Level Speed: at altitude: 1,085 mph (1,745 km/h) at 36,000 ft (10,975 m), Mach 1.64; at sea level: unknown
Initial Climb Rate: 34,500 ft (10,500 m) / min
Service Ceiling: 51,800 ft (15,790 m)
Range: typical: 240 nm (445 km); ferry: 1,545 nm (2,865 km)
g-Limits: unknown

ARMAMENT:
Gun: two 20-mm M39A2 cannons (280 rds ea)
Stations: five external hardpoints and two wingtip rails
Air-to-Air Missile: AIM-9 Sidewinder
Air-to-Surface Missile: AGM-65 Maverick
Bomb: Mk 82/83/84 GP, BLU-107 Durandal, CBU-52 cluster
Other: ECM pods, rocket pods

KNOWN VARIANTS:
F-5A: Production one-seat Freedom Fighter; 1,200 built
CF-5A: Freedom Fighter license built by Canadair in Canada, also equipped for reconnaissance duties; 89 built
NF-5A: Freedom Fighter license built by Canadair for the Netherlands and Venezuela, also fitted with reconnaissance equipment; 75 built
RF-5A: Reconnaissance model based on the F-5A; 89 built
SRF-5A: Reconnaissance model license built by CASA for Spain; 17 built
F-5B: Two-seat trainer
F-5E: Tiger II, intended to fulfill a need for a lightweight, low-cost fighter to be exported to US allies, included modifications to improve manueverability and STOL performance, increased fuel capacity, and improved fire-control; about 1,400 built
RF-5E: TigerEye reconnaissance model with more advanced cameras and infrared scanners in an enlarged nose, purchased by Malaysia and Saudi Arabia; at least 12 built
F-5F: Two-seat combat-capable trainer with a lengthened fuselage
F-5G or F-20: Tigershark, advanced F-5 with one F404 turbofan engine, increased payload, and much improved avionics; 3 prototypes built but did not enter production
T-38: Two-seat trainer; 1,114 built for USAF

KNOWN COMBAT RECORD:
Vietnam War (South Vietnam, 1965-1975)
Iran-Iraq War (Iran, 1980-1988)

KNOWN OPERATORS:
US Air Force
US Navy
Bahrain
Brazil
Canada
Chile
Ethiopia
Greece
Honduras
Indonesia
Iran
Jordan
Kenya
Libya
Malaysia
Mexico
Morocco
Netherlands
Norway
Philippines
Saudi Arabia
Singapore
South Korea
Spain
Sudan
Switzerland
Taiwan
Thailand
Tunisia
Turkey
Venezuela
Vietnam