F-5E Tiger II

The development of the Northrop F- 5 began as far back as 1954 when a Northrop team toured Europe and Asia to examine the defense needs of NATO and SEATO countries.
Three proto-types under the company designation N-156F were built by Northrop in 1958. The USAF serial numbers were 59-4987/4989. The first N-156F (59-4987) was rolled out on 31 May 1959 and was shipped to Edwards Air Force Base. It took off on its maiden flight on 30 July 1959?with test pilot Lew Nelson at the controls. On 9th August 1962, the N-156F was given the official designation of F-5A?and also the official name "Freedom Fighter".
The Northrop F-5 family of fighters is unique among American military aircrafts. Although produced in large numbers, not one F- 5 serves in an American combat squadron. They are used mainly for two very different training roles. The best known of these roles is that of a threat simulator in the Air Force and Navy Aggressor squadrons. In this capacity, the F- 5E Tiger

and F-5F ( also known as Tiger II ) aircrafts are used to represent the much-feared Soviet MiG-21 "Fishbed" and Mig-23 "Flogger" fighters. The Tiger IIs are flown by "aggressor" pilots of the 64th Fighter Weapons Squadron at Nellis AFB. For many years the "aggressors" adopted strictly Soviet tactics and flight profiles with aircraft adorned in typical Soviet-style camouflage complete with the intimidating "Red Star". When flown properly by experienced pilots, the Tiger IIs can defeat just about any fighters in the air as proven by the Aggressor pilots. It is not a superior aircraft but is a capable one.
The second form of training in which the Tiger IIs are used, is for the training of foreign pilots in the United States. The Tiger IIs were primarily designed for export and not for use with the US forces.
Few American aircraft have enjoyed as much success in allied air forces and many F- 5s are still employed around the world (see table below). However, even big cats succumb to old age and the Tigers are now slowly being replaced by more advanced designs.

F- 5E Tiger II Specifications
Length:	14.72 m
Height:	4.08 m
Wingspan:	8.13 m
Wing Area:	17.28 sq. m
Empty Weight:	6,984.0 kg
Gross Weight:	11,559.0 kg
Perfomance
Cruise Speed:	1,038 km/h
Maximum Speed:	1,731 km/h
Range:	3,726.0 km
Climb:	9,631.21 m/minute
Service Ceiling:	15,849.0 m
Propulsion
Powerplant:	Two General Electric J85-GE-21 turbojets
Armament
Guns :	- Two M- 39 20mm cannons in the nose with 280 rounds each.
Rockets :	- Four LAU-3A on wing pylons - Four LAU-3A on wing pylons - One TDU-11/B on wing tip - One SUU-20A/A on centerline
Bombs :	- One MK-84 G.P. - Five M-117A1/D G.P. - Five CBU-24, CBU-49 - Two BLU-27/B, 32/B - Five MK-82 G.P.
Missiles :	- Two AIM-9 Sidewinders are carried on wingtip launch rails.

F- 5 Designations ( All variants produced )
N-156	Pre-production variant
F- 5A	Freedom Fighter single-seat variant
F- 5B	Freedom Fighter two-seat variant
RF- 5A	Tactical Reconnaissance
CF- 5A	Canadian Armed Forces single-seat variant
CF- 5B	Canadian Armed Forces two-seat variant
SF- 5A	Spanish Air Force single-seat variant
SF- 5B	Spanish Air Force two-seat variant
NF- 5A	Netherlands Air Force single-seat variant
NF- 5B	Netherlands Air Force two-seat variant
F- 5E	Single-seat Tiger II
F- 5F	Two-seat Tiger II
RF- 5E	Tiger Eye reconnaissance aircraft
F- 5G	Also known as the F-20 Tigershark

Countries that have operated the F- 5s
Bahrain	Malaysia	Sudan
Brazil	Mexico	Switerzland
Canada	Morocco	Taiwan
Chile	Netherlands	Taiwan
Ethiopa	Norway	Thailand
Greece	Pakistan	Tunisia
Honduras	Philippines	Turkey
Indonesia	Poland	USA
Iran	Saudi Arabia	Venezuela
Jordan	Singapore	Vietnam
Kenya	South Korea	Yemen
Libya	Spain