Northrop F-5 Supersonic Light Fighter Aircraft

Efran Syah       Fighter Aircraft    Comment   

Northrop F-5F (Tail No. 00889). (National Museum of USAF)

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.

Northrop F-5E (Tail No. 11418). (National Museum of USAF)

The F-5 is an agile, highly maneuverable, reliable supersonic fighter, combining advanced aerodynamic design, engine performance and low operating costs. More than 2,600 were built by Northrop Grumman and under co-production and licensing agreements with Canada, the Republic of China, the Republic of Korea, Spain and Switzerland.

Northrop F-5E (Tail No. 11419). (National Museum of USAF)

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 U.S. allies.

Though at the time the United States Air Force (USAF) did not have a need for 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.

Northrop F-5F (Tail No. 00889). (National Museum of USAF)

After winning the International Fighter Aircraft Competition, a program aimed at providing effective low-cost fighters to American allies, in 1970 Northrop introduced the second-generation F-5E Tiger II in 1972.

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 refueling, and improved avionics including air-to-air radar. 

Formation of seven F-5E aggressors. (National Museum of USAF)

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 naval 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.

Chile Air Force Northrop F-5E Tiger III, 11 November 2008

The aircraft costs are low and can be easily maintained compared to the F-15 and F-16 aircraft. It was used in the Cold War by the US Air Force (USAF) for training and war purposes. The aircraft can accommodate a single pilot.

Swiss Air Force/Patrouille Suisse Northrop F-5E Tiger II display team at ILA Berlin Air Show 2016, 3 June 2016. (Julian Herzog)

The aircraft is powered by two General Electric J85-GE-21B turbojet engines. Each engine can produce a thrust after burner of 22.2kN. The engine is principally used in commercial and military models for training and tactical purposes. It provides a maximum thrust-to-weight ratio compared to any other aircraft engine in the world.

The engine is currently serving 35 countries worldwide.

Four F-5N Tiger IIs of VMFT-401, MCAS Yuma, March 2018, showing three of the four main camouflage schemes worn by these aircraft. These represent the types of colours worn by potential adversary aircraft, 17 March 2018. (Paul Bradley)

The F-5E can climb at the rate of 175 m/s. The maximum speed of the aircraft is 1,700 km/h. The ferry and normal ranges of the aircraft are 3,700 km and 1,405 km respectively. The service ceiling is 15,800 m. The aircraft weighs around 4,349 kg and the maximum take-off weight is 11,187 kg.

Malaysia Northrop F5 Tiger II. (Carl Brent)

Specifications (F-5E Tiger II)

General characteristics

• Crew: 1
• Length: 14.68 m
• Wingspan: 8.13 m (8.53 m with wing-tip missiles)
• Height: 4.077 m
• Wing area: 17.3 m2
• Aspect ratio: 3.86
• Empty weight: 4,347 kg
• Gross weight: 7,142 kg
• Max takeoff weight: 11,192 kg
• Lift-to-drag ratio: 10.0
• Powerplant: 2 × General Electric J85-GE-21 afterburning turbojet engines, 3,500 lbf (16 kN) thrust each dry, 5,000 lbf (22 kN) with afterburner

Performance

• Maximum speed: Mach 1.63 (1,740 km/h; 1,080 mph) at 11,000 m
• Maximum cruise speed: Mach 0.98 (1,050 km/h; 650 mph) at 11,000 m
• Combat radius (20 min reserve): 120 nmi (140 mi; 220 km) with 2x Sidewinders + 5,200 lb (2,400 kg) ordnance, with 5 minutes combat at max power at sea level
• Ferry range: 2,010 nmi (2,310 mi, 3,720 km)
• Service ceiling: 51,800 ft (15,800 m)
• Rate of climb: 34,500 ft/min (175 m/s)
• Lift-to-drag: 10:1
• Wing loading: 133 lb/sq ft (650 kg/m2) maximum
• Thrust/weight: 0.4 take-off thrust at maximum take-off weight

Armament

• Guns: 2× 20 mm (0.787 in) M39A2 Revolver cannon in the nose, 280 rounds/gun
• Hardpoints: 7 total (only pylon stations 3, 4 and 5 are wet-plumbed): 2× wing-tip AAM launch rails, 4× under-wing & 1× under-fuselage pylon stations with a capacity of 7,000 pounds (3,200 kg),with provisions to carry combinations of rockets, missiles, bombs and other.

Avionics

• Emerson Electric AN/APQ-153 radar on early batch of F-5E
• Emerson Electric AN/APQ-159 radar on later production F-5E
• Emerson Electric AN/APQ-157 radar on F-5F
• Emerson Electric AN/APG-69 radar on US Navy F-5N (ex-Swiss Air Force F-5E) aggressors role
• AN/AVQ-27 Laser Target Designator Set (LTDS), for F-5B and F-5F only.