- Yes
- No
F-5E Tiger III 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
In June 1993 the I.A.I. presented in Le Bourget the converted FACH 809 (in reality it was the 805), which had a very special camouflage; On the front of the plane you can see painted “F-5 PLUS” and on the back a “III with a tiger”. Once the 2 prototypes were delivered to Chile, the rest of the fleet was modernized in Chile by ENAER and the F-5 were renamed F-5 Tiger III.
In January 1997, a contract was signed with the Tiger Century company of the United States to install in-flight refueling probes under Project Romulus. The works were carried out in the facilities of Enaer and completed in 1998. By then, they also received the ability to fire Python 4 missiles, which was adopted on the F-5 Tiger III, becoming its primary missile, and Elbit’s DASH III helmets began to be used.
Chilean F-5E Tiger III Plus pilot wearing Elbit’s DASH III helmet
In 2002 the last modernizations would begin, this time new multifunction screens were added, a RADA Ground Debriefing System, a new data link and the ability to launch the Rafael Derby missile, after these modernizations the fighter would have its definitive name, now called F-5 Tiger III Plus. The F-5E Tiger III plus is a unique variant in the world that to this day serves in Chile, although it is expected that they will soon be replaced.
F-5E Tiger III Plus during FIDAE 2024 in Chile (video taken by me)
Specifications:
- Crew:
- 1
- Armament:
- Primary: 2x Pontiac M39A3 20mm cannons, 20 mm Gun Pod
- 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-500), Snakeeye bombs, LGB Griffin.
- Missiles: AIM-9 J/P Sidewinder, Python III, Python IV, Rafael Derby, AGM-65 F/G Maverick.
- 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, Elbit DASH III helmet, Caiquén III RWR, Eclipse flare/chaff pods (45 in total), New multifunction screens, New mission digital debriefing system (RADA), New datalink, Mid-air refueling lance.
- 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: 9,545 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
- 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 Tigres a la Fach. (F-5E/F) - FGMEDIA.cl
- 45 años de la llegada de los primeros F-5E Tigre II de la FACH
- Magazine Air forces of the world - South american forces
- Pucará magazine number 8, July/August 2021
- Janes radar and electronic warfare systems 2002-2003
