The Northrop F-5N is one of the US’s “Adversary” or “Aggressor” aircraft used for training purposes. Originally bought from Switzerland as F-5E’s, the US upgraded them with all new modernised avionics and systems to ensure they are a worthy opponent when training new pilots.
History
The F-5 began it’s career with it’s first flight in 1963 at Edwards AFB after the need for a lightweight tactical fighter was called for by NATO. The USAF would adopt the F-5 soon thereafter however. In October of 1965 the F-5 would start a five month combat evaluation where it proved a success after missions over Vietnam.
The F-5 would then go on to be adopted as OPFOR units to train pilots against in varying situations. These flew in the 64th and 65th Aggressor squadrons based out of Nellis AFB in Nevada. They would also be used by the US Marines to serve with VMFT-401 at Marine Cops Air Station Yuma and also with the US Navy which used them extensively in the Naval Fighter Weapons School, better know as TOPGUN.
The F-5 would also go on to be a popular choice by other nations such as Taiwan, Brazil, Greece, Norway, Netherlands, Singapore, and most importantly (for this suggestion) Switzerland. Switzerland originally bought their F-5E’s in the 1970’s.
The F-5N was originally designated as Swiss F-5E’s which had bought bought from the US in the late 70’s. However by the early 2000’s the US was looking to upgrade their aging F-5E’s that were being used in adversary roles so they decided to buy back 36 F-5E/F’s that Switzerland had surplus. Once delivered the US began modernising them with all new avionics such as a new radar, the AN/APG-69, and the ability to carry more modernised air-air missiles such as later AIM-9 Sidewinder variants such as the AIM-9L. More recently a new batch of Swiss F-5’s have been purchased by the US in order to supplement and further modernise the F-5N with an improved cockpit, and various warning systems such as a ground-proximity warning system.
Specifications
Size:
- Length: F-5N: 47 feet 4.7 inches (14.4 meters)
- Wingspan: 26 feet 8 inches (8.1 meters)
- Height: F-5N: 13 feet 4.25 inches (4.1 meters)
Weight:
- Weight: Max. gross, take-off: 24,722 pounds (11,214 kg)
Engine:
- 2 x J85-GE-21C afterburning turbojet engines each producing 5,000 pounds (2,273 kg) of thrust
Max Speed:
- Mach 1.64 at 36,000 feet
Ceiling:
- 50,000+ feet (15,420 +meters)
Armament
Guns
- 2 x 20mm M39A2 Revolver Cannon, 280 rounds per gun
Air-to-Air
- AIM-9 Sidewinders (believed to be up to AIM-9L)
Air-to-Ground
- Hydra 70mm rockets
- Zuni rockets
- AGM-65 Maverick
- Yes
- No
- Tech Tree
- Event
- Squadron
- Premium
- I said no
- 10.3
- 10.7
- 11.0
- 11.3
- 11.7
- 12.0+
- I said no
Sources
US Navy - F-5N/F Adversary Aircraft
NAVAIR - F-5 Tiger II
Flight Global - US Navy releases photos of first Swiss F-5E fighter destined for aggressor duty
Wikipedia - Northrop F-5
The War Zone - First Navy F-5 Aggressor Begins Upgrade That Will Make The Entire Fleet Far More Potent
The War Zone - Marine F-5 Aggressors Becoming Far More Threatening Via “Red Net” Data Link Upgrade