- One seat
- Tiger II wing and forward-fuselage shape
- Check against the later F-5N
A single-seat Tiger II could be an F-5E or a later F-5N. Use operator and date.
Work through the identification stepsThe F-5E Tiger II kept the F-5's compact twin-engine layout while changing the aircraft where it mattered most. A larger wing, stronger engines, more fuel and integrated radar/fire control set it apart from the earlier F-5A.
At a glance
| Family | Tiger II |
|---|---|
| Crew | One |
| Related two-seat version | F-5F |
| First F-5E flight | August 1972 in NASA's development history |
| Listed maximum speed | Mach 1.64 at 36,000 feet in the NASA account. Performance depends on configuration and conditions. |
What changed from the F-5A
NASA's development history lists J85-21 engines with about 20 percent higher thrust, roughly 9 percent more wing area, maneuvering flaps, larger leading-edge extensions, a larger fuselage with more internal fuel, and an Emerson AN/APQ-153 radar within an integrated fire-control system. [1] These are the clearest reasons to treat the Tiger II as a new generation within the F-5 family.
That compact, agile airframe also found a training role. NASA notes that the U.S. military used the F-5E as an aggressor aircraft to sharpen fighter-pilot skills. [2]
How to recognize one
A single cockpit and Tiger II wing-root shape are useful first clues. Look for the larger leading-edge extensions and compare against a documented early F-5A image. Because upgrades and paint schemes vary, confirm with a serial number or official caption before naming the variant.
NASA's F-5E image collection documents an F-5E used in sonic-boom research. That aircraft has a modified nose. It is useful for its recorded identity, but its nose is not representative of a standard F-5E.