- Yes
- No
IAI F-5E Plus
History:
On September 25, 1974, the purchase of 18 Northrop F-5 Tiger II aircraft, fifteen single-seat F-5E aircraft (J-800 to J-814) and three two-seater F-5F (J-815 to J-817) was authorized for the amount of $44,311,859.00, renamed the “Peace Lama” acquisition project. The aircrafts arrived in Chile between 1976 and 1977, just before the Kennedy amendment began, which in the future would make it impossible to buy spare parts or war material from the United States, thus initiating the Supersonic era of the Chile Air Force. The FACH (Chilean Air Force) indicated that a dorsal fin be added to increase directional stability which differentiates it from the rest of the standard F-5.
During 1978, a war almost occurred between Chile and Argentina due to territorial problems, so the F-5 Tiger II along with the Chilean Hawker Hunters were the main air defense of Chile and the F-5 were armed with AIM-9J Sidewinder missiles, general-purpose bombs of various sizes and weights and also cluster bombs manufactured in Chile by Industrias Cardoen, FFAR and Zuni rockets. So in future modernizations they would keep this weapons among the options available to arm the Chilean F-5.
In 1987 the Peruvian Air Force acquired the Mirage 2000 and also modernized its Mirage 5P, so in order not to be left behind, the FACH decided to modernize its F-5 Tiger II, the company chosen to carry out the modernization was Israel Aerospace Industries with its modernization package called “F-5 Plus”, a company which had already worked in Chile on the modernization of the Mirage 50 Pantera, so they took advantage of the ties already existing with Israel. Thus, in 1990, the “Tifanny Project” began at a cost of 300 million dollars for the modernization of sixteen Chilean F-5s, transferring the F-5E No. 805 and F-5F No. 817 aircraft to Israel to the I.A.I facilities at Ben Gurion Airport to be used as prototypes for the modernization. The modernization carried out in Israel contemplated the following:
- MIL-STD 1553B data bus
- Radar ELTA EL/M-2032
- Two screens Multifunction in the cab
- An INS associated with an El-Op HUD
- Mission Computer
- HOTAS commands
- EWPS-100 integrated electronic warfare system, developed in Chile (DM/A-104 Radar Warning Receiver, DM/A-202 Chaff and Flare Dispenser, A-401 Electronic Interference Self-Protection Disturber)
- Pod LITE with laser head and infrared and TV navigation
- GPS
- 2 new air-to-air missile launchers (can now launch a maximum of 4 missiles)
- Ability to fire AIM-9P Sidewinder and Rafael Python 3
On July 8, 1992, the F-5E Plus prototype could be observed during tests in Israel. The curious thing is that while its new capabilities were being tested the Chilean insignia were covered, only retaining the original Chilean numeral 805 and having a Star of David painted nearby from the tail of the F-5, possibly this was an agreement between the FACH and IAI for promotional purposes.
During later tests the same year, the prototype of the F-5E Plus number 805 was repainted with a new camouflage pattern with blue spots, on the nose of the plane “F-5 Plus” was painted representing the new standard, while on the tail you can see the distinctive blue stripe with the star present on Chilean aircraft as well as the IAI logo and in some photos the logo of the Chilean company ENAER that participated in the modernization, finally you can see a Tiger with a III representing the definitive name that these fighters would carry in Chile, its later name being F-5 Tiger III.
In June 1993 IAI presented at Le Bourget the converted FACH 809 (actually it was 805) retaining the particular camouflage used during tests in Israel, except that the numeral 805 was replaced by 809 by mistake, a large numeral 256 was also added on the front part of the plane.
Finally, on December 15, 1993, the prototypes were delivered to the FACH in Chile where they would be renamed F-5 Tiger III and in later years being even more modernized. Currently these fighters are still in service, being one of the most powerful F-5s in active service in the world and it is expected that they will soon be replaced.
Specifications:
- Crew:
- 1
- Armament:
- Primary: 2x 20 mm M39A3 cannons
- Secondary: 7 hardpoints, 2 wingtip launch rails, 4 underwing pylons and 1 more pylon under the fuselage with a capacity of 3200 kg, to carry a combination of:
- Bombs: Bombs Mk 81/82/83/84, Cardoen Cluster Bombs (CB-130, CB-250-K, CB-500), Snakeeye bombs
- Missiles: AIM-9 J/P Sidewinder, Python III, AGM-65
- Rockets: LAU-10A each with 4 Zuni rockets, LAU-3A each with 19 FFAR Mighty Mouse rockets
- Additional systems: MIL-STD 1553B data bus, ELTA EL/M 2032B radar, El-Op HUD, two monochrome MFD, LITE pod with laser head and infrared and television navigation, Caiquén III RWR, Eclipse flare/chaff pods (45 in total)
- Dimensions:
- Length: 14.45 m
- Wingspan: 8.13 m
- Height: 4.08 m
- Wing area: 17.28 m²
- Empty weight: 4,349 kg
- Loaded weight: 7,157 kg
- Maximum takeoff weight: 9,312 kg
- Performance:
- Powerplant: 2× General Electric J85-GE-21B turbojet.
- Maximum operating speed (Vno): 1,875 km/h
- Normal Thrust: 15.5 kN 3,500 lbf of thrust each.
- Thrust with afterburner: 22.2 kN 5,000 lbf of thrust each.
- Fuel capacity: 2,563 internal liters and up to 3 external tanks of 1,040 liters each.
- Range: 1,405 km
- Range by ferry: 3,800 km
- Service ceiling: 16,800 m
- Rate of climb: 184 m/s (36,220 ft/min)
Photos:
Sources:
- Amazon.com
- https://www.iai.co.il/p/f-5-upgrades
- https://www.fach.mil.cl/images/revista/250.pdf (page 39-40)
- El F-5 cumple 45 años de servicio en la Fuerza Aérea de Chile
- ¿Cómo ha evolucionado la Fuerza Aérea chilena? - Noticias Defensa defensa.com Chile
- DEFENSA CHILENA: F-5 TIGER III PLUS
- 40 Años de la llegada de los F-5 a la Fach | FGMEDIA.cl
- 45 años de la llegada de los primeros F-5E Tigre II de la FACH
- F-5 Tigre III, a 45 años de la entrada de Chile en la era supersónica - Vortexx
- Magazine Air forces of the world - South american forces
- Pucará magazine number 8, July/August 2021
- Janes radar and electronic warfare systems 2002-2003
