- Yes
- No
G’day lads. I want to suggest a upgraded, yet sadly cancelled F-5 variant from the ROC for War Thunder, now having a PD radar, upgraded missiles, etc… And that would be the AIDC F-5E Tiger 2000 :)
Description:
Spoiler
The ROCAF F-5E Tiger 2000 is an enhanced version of the Northrop F-5E Tiger II, developed under the Tiger 2000 project to upgrade the aircraft’s capabilities for modern combat requirements. This program included structural refurbishments to address corrosion and aging issues, advanced avionics with a new radar system, HUD, and digital cockpit, improved navigation and targeting systems with laser inertial navigation and compatibility with advanced missiles, and upgraded systems integration with a databus for enhanced radar warning receivers and countermeasures. Additionally, composite materials were used for certain structural components to extend the service life of the fleet and enhance air-to-air and air-to-ground combat effectiveness.
History:
Spoiler
Initially, the ROCAF ordered 60 F-5A/B fighters to replace their outdated F-86F Sabre jets, with the first delivery arriving in 1964. These aircraft, part of the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) and Military Aid Program (MAP), equipped three squadrons of the 1st Tactical Fighter Wing.
In 1973, the ROCAF, in cooperation with the US government, initiated the Peace Tiger program to co-produce 100 F-5E Tiger II fighters. The first locally-built F-5E was completed in 1974, and production eventually totaled 242 single-seat F-5Es and 66 two-seat F-5Fs. By the 1980s, the F-5E/F had become the backbone of the ROCAF fighter fleet, with around 300 aircraft in service across six wings.
The F-5E Tiger 2000 upgrade program was launched to enhance the capabilities of the F-5E/F aircraft. This project included structural refurbishments, advanced avionics, improved navigation and targeting systems, and enhanced systems integration. The prototype first took flight in July 2002, featuring compatibility with AIM-9P4 Sidewinder and Sky Sword II missiles to improve air-to-air combat effectiveness. Despite these successful upgrades, budget constraints and the introduction of newer aircraft led the ROCAF to ultimately not adopt the Tiger 2000 program. One Tiger 2000 now stands on the AIDC campus if I’m not mistaken, located at Taichung
Armaments:
Spoiler
1 M39A3 20mm cannons with 280 rounds
TC-1 AAM
TC-2 AAM
Aim-9P4/5 AAM
Mk32 Zuni rockets
FFAR Mighty Mouse rockets
AGM-65B Mavericks
500-2000lb Mk-series dumb bombs
Drop tanks
GD-53 (APG-67) PD radar
MIL-STD-1553B
ARN-153
(If any other weapon is missing, then please do tell me!)
Specifications:
Spoiler
The Tiger has a length of 47 feet and 4.75 inches (14.45 meters), a wingspan of 26 feet and 8 inches (8.13 meters), and a height of 13 feet and 4.5 inches (4.08 meters). The empty weight of the aircraft is 9558 pounds (4349 kilograms) and the maximum takeoff weight is 24664 pounds (11187 kilograms). The aircraft is powered by two GE J85-GE-21B turbojet engines, each providing a maximum dry thrust of 3500 pounds and 5000 pounds with afterburner. Thanks to it’s engines, it can go up to Mach 1.6.
Sources:
Spoiler
https://gromit629.pixnet.net/blog/post/10064126
https://www.airdefensenews.com/post/tiger2000計畫簡史
https://www.reddit.com/r/Warthunder/comments/s3zar1/aidc_f5e_tiger_2000_the_forgotten_tiger/
[History] F-5 “Freedom Fighters” in the ROCAF | War Thunder Wiki
Thanks a lot for reading! If you have any extra information, then feel free to share them in the replies! As always, have a good day :)