Tiger, Tiger, (still) burning bright
November 17, 2024
Some of the Brazilian Air Force’s 42 F-5EM and 4 F-5FM aircraft participated in the Cruzex exercise, alongside the JAS39E Gripens that will eventually replace them.
And at the Bahrain International Air Show, the F-5Es of played a prominent part. These aircraft are used by the 6th Tactical Fighter Squadron in the lead-in fighter training role, taking pilots from the BAE Hawk Mk 129s of the 5th Squadron and preparing them for the F-16.
The Commander of the RBAF, Major General Sheikh Hamad bin Abdullah al Khalifa said that: “We are keeping the F-5s, to prepare pilots for the F-16s.”
Elsewhere F-5Es and F-5Fs remain in service in Chile (about 12 upgraded to F-5E/F Tiger III Plus standards), Honduras (about five F-5E/F), Iran (about 48 F-5E/F plus local HESA Saeqeh and HESA Azarakhsh derivatives), Kenya (about 20 F-5E/F, plus plans to add 15 ex-Jordanian aircraft), Mexico (a handful may still be in use), Morocco (about 24 F-5E/F upgraded to Tiger III standards), South Korea (about 60 remain in use), Switzerland (54 F-5E/F)), Thailand (about 35 F-5TH and F-5THF), Tunisia (about 14 F-5E/F-5F) and Yemen (about 12 F-5E/F remain in use). Older F-5A/B Freedom Fighter variants remain in service in Botswana (15 CF-5A/D), Spain (19 F-5BM) and Turkey (about 20 F-5/2000).
Our thanks go to AGN’s good friend Tim Robinson, editor of the Royal Aeronautical Society’s magazine, ‘Aerospace’ for generously providing the photo accompanying this piece. Thanks Tim!
