The F-5E Tiger II Was a Powerhouse in the Sky

We support our Publishers and Content Creators. You can view this story on their website by CLICKING HERE.

Key Points and Summary: The F-5E Tiger II fighter, an outgrowth of the F-5, boasted an unparalleled production record: delivered on schedule, within budget, and meeting promised performance.

-First flown in 1972, this sleek fighter, with a speed of 1,083 mph and a ceiling of 52,000 feet, was designed to counter the Soviet MiG-21.

-Its global appeal was evident, with 68 units sold to South Korea and 308 to Taiwan, where it served until 2023.

-Known for reliability, affordability, and versatility, the F-5E was an export success, a stalwart trainer, and an adversary aircraft, though it never saw U.S. combat. It remains a model of efficient military acquisition.

F-5E Tiger II: The Fighter Jet That Stood the Test of Time

As a long-time defense acquisition analyst, one thing that jumped out at me while researching the F-5E Tiger II fighter was its sterling manufacturing record.

 From the first flight of the original F-5 in 1963 until its last delivery in 1989, the program delivered every airplane “on schedule, at or below the contract price, and with performance as promised,” according to the manufacturer Northrop Grumman. 

That is a sterling production record since so many acquisition programs have ballooning costs and schedule slips. So, the F-5E Tiger II was a rarity.

F-5E Specs Were Impressive

The F-5E fighter jet was an outgrowth of the F-5. The F-5E was a beautiful and sleek airplane. It was 47 feet long. The wingspan was 26 feet long, and the aircraft itself was 13 feet high. Its loaded weight was 15,745 pounds. The F-5E Tiger could hit 1,083 miles per hour with two 5,000-pound thrust General Electric J85-GE-21A after burning turbojets. Its ceiling was nearly 52,000 feet, and the maximum range with drop tanks was 1,543 miles.   

The one-seat F-5E had two 20mm M39A2 cannons in the nose and could carry two AIM-9 Sidewinder missiles under the wings. The Tiger II could also drop 7,000 pounds of bombs.

The F-5E was made to fight the Soviet MiG-21. The fuselage was lengthened over the F-5A so it could carry more fuel. The wings were given extensions for greater maneuverability. It had improved avionics and, finally, an Emerson Electric-designed radar – something the F-5A lacked.

Northrop Built Nearly 800 F-5Es 

The F-5E first flew in 1972. There was a two-seat trainer model called the F-5F and a reconnaissance variant dubbed the RF-5E Tigereye. Northrop loved all the orders it received from the Air Force, and over 792 F-5Es were built, all coming in on time and on budget. Despite all the improvements, the F-5E never served in combat with the Air Force. It was the F-5C that received all the combat experience. 

The F-5E served as an adversarial “aggressor” aircraft during training and wargame simulations and was painted in Soviet camouflage. 

It Was With South Korea and Taiwan That the F-5E Really Shined

The F-5E was popular on the export market with 68 bought by the Korean Air Force and a whopping 308 sent to the Taiwanese Air Force in 1974. Taiwan amazingly flew the F-5E Tiger II until 2023. The Tiger II served for nearly 50 years in various roles. Taiwan once flew the F-5E in Yemen under what was called the “Great Desert Program.” Taiwan converted some F-5E to recon birds called Tigergazers. Five Tigergazers are still in service with the Taiwanese Air Force. The F-5E had some accidents and mishaps over the years, but the Taiwanese refused to give up on the fighter and continued to provide various upgrades during its 50 year service life.

South Korean F-5Es Had an Enviable Service Record

South Korea also flew F-5E fighters since the 1970s. They were replaced by F-35 stealth fighters and KF-21 Boramae warplanes in the last few years. Until recently, the South Korean Air Force had 150 F-5Es in service. This is a remarkable service record as the F-5E was ever-vigilant against the North Korean Air Force.

A U.S. Air Force F-35 Lightning II aircraft assigned to the 34th Fighter Squadron receives fuel from a KC-10 Extender aircraft over Poland, February 24, 2022. U.S. Air Force/Senior Airman Joseph Barron/Handout via REUTERS THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY. TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY

They patrolled the peninsula with confidence for many years. The South Koreans loved the F-5E because it was easy and cheap to maintain and keep in the air. The ROK Air Force liked to mount it with air-to-air missiles and ground fire rockets along with precision-guided and “dumb” bombs. 

Not Without Accidents

The South Koreans also had a license to produce F-5Es in 1980, and they were renamed the Skymaster. In 2022, an F-15E had a fatal accident in South Korea. The aircraft crashed into a mountain in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Province, and the pilot failed to eject after the engine caught fire.

Overall, the F-5E was an excellent airplane. There were some accidents over the years with the Taiwanese and South Koreans, but mishaps are inevitable with that kind of long service life. It did not fly any combat for the U.S. Air Force, but it served well in training and simulation missions. There were no examples of waste, fraud, and abuse which was amazing for a warbird that has been in service for so long.

 Due to these factors, the F-5E II should be considered an overall success.

About the Author: Dr. Brent M. Eastwood 

Brent M. Eastwood, PhD, is the author of Don’t Turn Your Back On the World: a Conservative Foreign Policy and Humans, Machines, and Data: Future Trends in Warfare, plus two other books. Brent was the founder and CEO of a tech firm that predicted world events using artificial intelligence. He served as a legislative fellow for U.S. Senator Tim Scott and advised the senator on defense and foreign policy issues. He has taught at American University, George Washington University, and George Mason University. Brent is a former U.S. Army Infantry officer. He can be followed on X @BMEastwood.