Israel Aircraft Industries F-5E Plus - The prototype of Israel

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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.

Chile’s F-5E Tiger II showing off some of its armament before being modernized

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

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Modernized cockpit of the Chilean F-5 Plus

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.

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F-5E number 805 with Chilean insignia covered and with the star of David near the tail

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.

Chilean F-5E Plus Prototype flying alongside a Kfir C.2 during tests in Israel

F-5E Plus prototype number 805 with the new camouflage scheme, you can see the ENAER insignia along with the IAI insignia near the tail

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.

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F-5E Plus prototype at Le Bourget, France, 1993

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.

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IAI advertising poster where they promote the F-5 Plus package using the Chilean F-5 as an example

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)

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Radar specifications and features

Photos:


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Sources:

9 Likes

Pretty cool

2 Likes

Yes!

1 Like

It would be great to see this prototype in the tree of Israel

4 Likes

nice plane!

1 Like

I’m glad you like it, I think it’s a unique fighter

I’m going to say this here Israel and Chile are really close up to a point where they are helping each other out with upgrades over numerous airframes.

Chile also has some Israeli domestic aircraft and tanks from Israel too.

I wouldn’t mind if Chile was a sub tree with Israel at all tbh.

4 Likes

Then you will like to read about these suggestions I made about a sub tree from Chile for Israel

2 Likes

Yea I’m currently reading the air one and I’m already in love

2 Likes

This would be awesome, absolutely cancerous to face (as with all F-5’s) but fantastic nonetheless.

2 Likes

This’ll be a +1 from me
More F-5s are always appreciated, especially modernized ones (I especially love this one because of the tailfin fairing lol)

4 Likes

Automatic +1

3 Likes

Hell yeah, +1
MODs! Add it right now! 💀

2 Likes

Forgot to ask this yesterday but, Is it capable of carrying 4 total pythons on the underwing stations? Or just 2 in total. Perfect gap filler for Israel at 11.7 with just its IR missiles and HMD capabilities.

1 Like

The photos during his tests in Israel only carried 2 Python 3 but he can carry more of course, in fact when he returned to Chile he was armed with 4 Python 4 under the wings

6 Likes

I find it funny how we have essentially received this in game, as the F-5E ICU.

1 Like

It is true, both F-5s are quite similar although some things change such as the bombs, the radar, the cockpit design, etc. What I like most about this F-5 is the aesthetics it has, it seems very representative of Israel having the IAI logo in the paint and it could be a perfect 11.3 on the Israeli air tree

3 Likes

It could be the Kfir C.7 at home (that doesn’t rip by just pulling full elevator for 3 seconds haha…)

Sidenote; it gets HMD/HMS right? Do you think that would warrant 11.7? Or do you think it would be fine just being a better FCU at the same BR kinda like the Mirage 2000-CS4/CS5?

2 Likes

I’m not sure if this prototype used HMD but when it arrived in Chile it was used, here are some photos of the Israeli DASH helmet that has that capability (in the cover photo of this prototype suggestion you can see the pilot wearing a similar helmet)

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This is the evolution of this prototype, it is the final version used here in Chile called F-5 Tiger III Plus

2 Likes

IAI advertising poster for the F-5 Plus

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2 Likes