Northrop F-5: Difference between revisions

ň{{short description|Lightweight low cost fighter aircraft based on Northrop T-38 Talon trainer}}

The '''Northrop F-5''' is a family of [[supersonic]] [[light fighter]] aircraft initially designed as a privately funded project in the late 1950s by [[Northrop Corporation]]. There are two main models, the original '''F-5A''' and '''F-5B Freedom Fighter''' variants and the extensively updated '''F-5E''' and '''F-5F Tiger II''' variants. The design team wrapped a small, highly aerodynamic fighter around two compact and high-thrust [[General Electric J85]] engines, focusing on performance and a low cost of maintenance. Smaller and simpler than contemporaries such as the [[McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II]], the F-5 cost less to procure and operate, making it a popular export aircraft. Though primarily designed for a 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 US allies. Though at the time the [[United States Air Force]] (USAF) did not have a need forrequire a light fighter, it did procure approximately 1,200 [[Northrop T-38 Talon]] trainer aircraft, which was based on Northrop's N-156 fighter design.

After winning the International Fighter Aircraft Competition, a program aimed at providing effective low-cost fighters to American allies, in 1972 Northrop introduced the second-generation F-5E Tiger II. This upgrade included more powerful engines, larger fuel capacity, greater wing area and improved leading edge extensions for better turn rates, optional air-to-air refuelingrefuelling, 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 the [[Vietnam War]].<ref name="joebaugher.com">{{cite web |last= Baugher |first= Joseph ‘Joe’ |url= http://www.joebaugher.com/usaf_fighters/f5_40.html |title= Northrop F-5E/F Tiger II in Service with Vietnam |access-date= 17 December 2015 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20151222123857/http://www.joebaugher.com/usaf_fighters/f5_40.html |archive-date= 22 December 2015 |url-status= dead}}</ref> A total of 1,400 Tiger IIs were built before production ended in 1987. More than 3,800 F-5s and the closely related T-38 advanced trainer aircraft were produced in [[Hawthorne, California]].<ref name= AvWeek_F-5_T-38_update>"Military Aircraft Update: Northrop F-5/T-38. ''Aviation Week & Space Technology'' (Aviation Week Intelligence Network), Vol. 175, Issue 39, 21 November 2013, p. 89.</ref> The F-5N/F variants are in service with the [[United States Navy]] and [[United States Marine Corps]] as [[Dissimilar air combat training|adversary trainers]].<ref name= "USN F-5N" /> Over 400 aircraft were in service as of 2021.<ref name="waf22p10">{{harvnb|Hoyle|2021|p=10}}</ref>{{refn|The 412 F-5s in service as of December 2021 made it the tenth most common active fighter and attack jet, comprising about three percent of the world's tactical jet warplanes.<ref name="waf22p10"/>|group=N}}

The F-5 was also developed into a dedicated [[reconnaissance aircraft]], 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 Hornet|F/A-18]] naval fighter aircraft. The [[Northrop F-20 Tigershark]] was an advanced variant to succeed the F-5E which was ultimately canceledcancelled when export customers did not emerge.

In December 1953, [[NATO]] issued [[NBMR-1]], calling for a lightweight tactical fighter capable of carrying conventional and nuclear weapons and operating from rough airfields. In late 1954, a Northrop team toured Europe and Asia to examine both the NBMR-1 and the needs of [[SEATO]] members. From this tour, Schmued gave his team the goal of reversing the trend in fighter development towards greater size and weight in order to deliver an aircraft with high performance, enhanced maneuverability, and high reliability, while still delivering a cost advantage over contemporary fighters.<ref>{{harvnb|Stuart|1978|pp=5–7}}.</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last= |date=1987-01-16 |title=Era of the F-5 Ends After Three Decades |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1987-01-16-fi-3612-story.html |access-date=2024-01-25 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}}</ref> Recognizing that expensive jet aircraft could not viably be replaced every few years, he also demanded "engineered growth potential" allowing service longevity in excess of 10 years.<ref>{{harvnb|Wagner|2000|p=197}}.</ref>