- Yes
- No
F-5E - Trials behind the Iron Curtain
F-5E undergoing design study.
Introduction
During the Cold War, the Soviet Union had a keen interest in evaluating Western military technology, particularly aircraft. One of the most notable acquisitions was the Northrop F-5E Tiger II, a lightweight, supersonic fighter jet used extensively by the United States and its allies. The F-5E was captured in Vietnam and later transferred to the Soviet Union for comprehensive testing. This provided Soviet engineers and pilots with a rare opportunity to study an American-designed jet firsthand, allowing them to assess its capabilities, strengths, and weaknesses in comparison to their own aircraft.
The Soviet Air Force put the F-5E through rigorous evaluations, testing its maneuverability, speed, avionics, and weapon systems against their frontline fighters, including the MiG-21 and MiG-23. The aircraft’s simple yet effective design, ease of maintenance, and exceptional handling characteristics impressed Soviet testers. They noted its agility in dogfights and its relatively advanced avionics for a lightweight fighter. However, its limited firepower and lack of sophisticated radar made it inferior to some Soviet designs in long-range engagements.
The insights gained from these tests contributed to Soviet aircraft development, particularly in designing lightweight multirole fighters. While the F-5E did not revolutionize Soviet aviation, its evaluation helped shape future designs and countertactics against Western aircraft in potential conflicts
F-5E 73-00807 undergoing testing in the USSR.
History
Gaining firsthand knowledge of enemy aircraft has always been a priority for nations with advanced aviation industries. From evaluating captured aircraft during the Spanish Civil War in the 1930s to studying German jet technology after World War II, the Soviet Union consistently sought to analyze foreign designs. During the Vietnam War, the USSR had the chance to examine modern Western aircraft and helicopters, including conducting rare flight tests of the Northrop F-5E Tiger II. For years, details about these tests at the Air Force Research Institute in Akhtubinsk remained largely unknown. When information surfaced in the early 1990s, its unexpected and controversial nature left many skeptical.
In the mid-1990s, an unusual cockpit from an American F-5E fighter jet was transferred from the Sukhoi Design Bureau to Hangar 101 at the Moscow Aviation Institute. This aircraft was one of several American military planes gifted to the Soviet Union by North Vietnamese authorities after the Vietnam War. The specific F-5E, bearing serial number 73-00807, was manufactured by Northrop in Palmdale, California, on June 2, 1974, making it one of the most advanced fighters in the South Vietnamese Air Force. In total, the USSR received 27 F-5 Tigers. Additionally, one aircraft was sent to Poland and another to Czechoslovakia, where they remain prized exhibits in aviation museums. However, in Russia, only the cockpit section remains, and it is rarely accessible for public viewing.
Cabin F-5E 73-00807 in MAI.
The F-5E was delivered disassembled aboard an An-22 transport aircraft, which landed at Chkalovsky Airfield near Moscow. Initially, plans were likely in place to test the aircraft at the Gromov Flight Research Institute in Zhukovsky. However, for secrecy reasons, the decision was made to conduct evaluations at the Air Force Research Institute in Akhtubinsk. A dedicated team of flight and engineering specialists was assembled for the task. Since the aircraft arrived from Vietnam without technical manuals or documentation, the team had to familiarize themselves with its operation independently. Despite this challenge, by late July 1976, the F-5E—an unusual sight in Soviet skies—was undergoing test flights over Akhtubinsk. To maintain secrecy and avoid drawing attention from Soviet citizens, the aircraft was repainted with red stars and a red tail number “10” while retaining its South Vietnamese camouflage. The most experienced test pilots, including N.I. Stogov, A.S. Bezhevets, and V.N. Kondaurov, were selected to fly the American jet. Once they had familiarized themselves with the aircraft, evaluation training battles against MiG-21 fighters commenced to assess its combat capabilities.
The results were astonishing. The MiG-21, which was known for its decent horizontal maneuverability at the time, was decisively outmatched in turn-based dogfights. Despite having a superior thrust-to-weight ratio and a radar sight, it could not keep up with the F-5E. The American jet incorporated the latest aerodynamic advancements, including sophisticated wing mechanization with a combat maneuvering mode, leading-edge extensions, and vortex generators. These features provided the Tiger with a significant advantage in horizontal combat. However, once engagements shifted to vertical maneuvers, the MiG-21 regained the upper hand.
To further evaluate the F-5E, the MiG-23M was brought into testing. Even this newer Soviet fighter struggled against the American aircraft in horizontal fights. The findings were shocking, prompting officials to classify the reports and store them in the Air Force Research Institute archives. The F-5E was then sent to Moscow, first to TsAGI for static testing, where its performance challenged long-standing Soviet aerodynamic theories. The need to incorporate deflectable leading edges, vortex aerodynamics, and other design refinements became evident. These findings contradicted previous Soviet beliefs, which had even led to an unsuccessful MiG-23 variant without leading-edge slats, rendering it dangerously unstable.
After its evaluation at TsAGI, the aircraft was transferred to the P. O. Sukhoi Design Bureau for further study. Engineers analyzed its design to extract valuable insights for future Soviet aircraft. Notably, several concepts from the F-5E were later integrated into the development of the Su-25 and Su-27, contributing to their aerodynamic advancements.
After an in-depth evaluation, efforts were made to transfer the aircraft to the Air Force Museum. However, the museum management at the time showed little interest in an aircraft that was heavily dismantled. As a result, the F-5E was scrapped, with only the cockpit and a few key components preserved. A combat manual was later issued for Soviet Air Force pilots, detailing strategies for engaging the F-5, which was operated by Denmark, Norway, the Netherlands, South Korea, and other U.S. allies. This guide proved invaluable to Soviet military advisers in Africa during the Ethiopia-Somalia conflict, where they had to quickly develop tactics for MiG-21 pilots facing F-5E fighters.
Specifications
General Information:
- Manufacturer: Northrop Corporation
- Captured By: Soviet Union (from South Vietnam, post-Vietnam War)
- First Evaluated: 1976 at the Air Force Research Institute in Akhtubinsk
Dimensions:
- Length: 14.45 m (47 ft 5 in)
- Wingspan: 8.13 m (26 ft 8 in)
- Height: 4.06 m (13 ft 4 in)
- Wing Area: 17.28 m² (186 ft²)
Weight:
- Empty Weight: 4,349 kg (9,590 lb)
- Maximum Takeoff Weight: 11,187 kg (24,671 lb)
Powerplant:
- Engines: 2 × General Electric J85-GE-21B turbojet engines
- Thrust: 2,268 kgf (5,000 lbf) per engine
Performance:
- Maximum Speed: 1,700 km/h (1,060 mph, Mach 1.6)
- Combat Radius: 550 km (342 mi)
- Ferry Range: 2,400 km (1,491 mi) with drop tanks
- Service Ceiling: 15,800 m (51,800 ft)
- Rate of Climb: 175 m/s (34,500 ft/min)
Armament Options:
- Guns: 2 × 20 mm M39A2 revolver cannons
- Hardpoints: 7 total (2 wingtip, 4 underwing, 1 centerline)
- Missiles: AIM-9 Sidewinder
- Bombs/Rockets: Various air-to-ground ordnance, including Mk 82 bombs and unguided rockets
Avionics:
- Radar: AN/APQ-159
- Countermeasures: Radar warning receiver, chaff and flare dispensers
Sources
Вьетнамский трофей: Как новый американский истребитель в СССР испытывали и что из этого вышло - ТЕХНОСФЕРА РОССИЯ
post heavily based on this archive :D
Northrop F-5 - Wikipedia
https://www.reddit.com/r/WarplanePorn/comments/1aqpd2v/soviet_f5e_album/
Soviet Pilot who test flew captured F-5 against MiG-21, MiG-23 explains why the Tiger beat the Fishbed, Flogger in every engagement - The Aviation Geek Club
Did the Soviet Union ever capture American airplanes during the cold w - General Discussion - ARC Discussion Forums
