It’s also important to keep in mind that the Chilean army, in general, has always tried to keep its military equipment as secret as possible. Even retired veterans are very reserved when it comes to providing information about the 1980s and 90s because, given that we almost went to war, they’re very paranoid. To this day, it’s difficult to find photos of weaponry, and we only get them when they themselves post them on social media. It’s not unreasonable to think that they kept the Derby missiles secret for a long time until they were decommissioned due to the arrival of the AIM-120s.
Israel Aerospace Industries F-5E Tiger III Plus - One of the most powerful Northrop F-5 in the world
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During Salitre 2026, a multinational exercise held in Chile involving various nations from the Americas, F-5 Tiger III Plus aircraft were spotted sporting a special livery commemorating the fighter’s 50 years of service with the Chilean Air Force. If this fighter is added to the game, it would be great to see that livery included as an alternative camouflage.
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An image was shared today showing a Chilean F-5 Tiger III Plus carrying a radar-guided AIM-120 missile, that significantly alters the combat capabilities of this Chilean fighter. I am not sure whether it is the AIM-120 B or C variant; I would appreciate help identifying it, given that Chile currently operates the AIM-120C5 and C7 versions.
Now it could even have a BR slightly higher than the Thai F-5 in the game, since the missile is better than the Derby.
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F-5 I have to say is a near immortal airframe +1
Surprised no one used it for the bases of a loyal wingman put better engines kick out the pilot would work wonders.
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They’re also on the wingtips, for a potential four ARH missiles compared to the F-5TH’s two.
Then again the F-5TH only lost the wingtip missiles because Gaijin didn’t believe these heavier could be carried there (even if the barely lighter Python 4 is actively used on the wingtips). So more likely both would get four ARH missiles now that we have this, unless there’s structural reinforcements the TH is missing.
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That’s true, though I’m not sure if Gaijin ever confirmed that was the reason they decided not to add the Derbys to the wingtips; this photo proves that the Chilean version, at least, can carry them there, although it’s worth noting that the Chilean F-5 underwent structural reinforcement by the company Kellstrom Defense. So, in theory, it can carry four AIM-120s; by the way, judging by the model in the photo, they appear to be the A or B version.
Here is a video of the structural work carried out on the Chilean F-5s.
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It is 120B because it doesn’t have the clipped fins, but ingame this would make the missile better
Though if added now it would be the best F-5 in the game
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I don’t believe this is the case. There’s no information I’ve come across suggesting the wingtip rails (I forget their designation, it’s been awhile) are compatible with the Derby, yet we’ve seen photographic evidence of Pythons being carried on them.
Other than the lack of written or documented evidence, there also no visual evidence I’ve seen (unless the F-16s use the same wingtip pylon, but again I can’t remember). The Brazilian F-5s, which are the only F-5s to actually field the Derby, have never been seen using them on any stations other than the underwing stations.
That’s going off the assumption it can use Aim-120 compatible rails on the underwing stations, which I don’t believe it can (actually slight correction, might be possible if the rails it uses for the IR missiles can carry them). The Brazilian F-5 uses a Rafael made launcher/pylon, and the Thai one ingame uses this model as well. I don’t believe they’re AMRAAM compatible. It would be 2 Aim-120Bs on the wingtips unless proven otherwise, alongside the 2 underwing Derbys following the compatibility logic.
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i mean i doubt it, the OG F-5s (A/Cs) and T-38s were made to be able to carry the wingtip tanks which weigh up to 490ish pounds when full, with derby’s weighing roughly half that, with the E model having redesigned wings made to be stronger (perhaps due to the hosing being moved to use bigger underwing tanks) the strength is still there for the weight, the question is the computer data feeding and rail compatibility, however, if i know 1 thing about nato aircraft is that recomputability and modularity are the core to everything, anything that can mount onto the 33 inch rail standard could be mounted on anything that has it, the only question is the computers and if they are programed to house/use that missile/weapon system
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At least the rails should be the same for Python 4 / Derby, so that isn’t the issue here. Only potentially wiring / software limitations could still be, but it could also just be the case that standard loadouts just happen to have IR missiles there instead.
At least for Thailand, it mostly just carries IR missiles on the wingtips, with the underwing rails just not used at all. I’m not sure if Derby was even purchased yet, we only know it’s compatible from promotional material.
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