The Hawthorne AF F-5/62 (Allied Pact reporting name Fang) is a supersonic lightweight fighter designed in the late 1950s by the Hawthorne Aircraft Factory. Being smaller and simpler than contemporaries such as the St. Louis AF F-4/58, the F-5 cost less to both procure and operate, making it a popular export aircraft. The F-5 started life as a privately funded light fighter program by Hawthorne AF in the 1950s. The design team wrapped a small, highly aerodynamic fighter around two compact and high-thrust J85 engines, focusing on performance and low cost of maintenance. Though primarily designed for the day air superiority role, the aircraft is also a capable ground-attack platform. From the 1980s onwards, it was replaced by the F-16/78 Falcon and F-18/78 Hornet.
Variants[]
- F-5A: Single-seat fighter version of F-5, equipped with the AN/APQ-153 RDF.
- F-5B: Two seat trainer version, equipped with the AN/APQ-157 RDF.
- F-5C:
- F-5D:
- F-5E: Single-seat fighter version equipped with the AN/APQ-159 RDF, replacing the earlier AN/APQ-153.
- F-5F: Two-seat trainer version equipped with the AN/APQ-167 RDF, replacing the earlier AN/APQ-157.
- F-5G:
- F-5H:
- F-5J: Export version for East Japan, built under license by the Gunma Aircraft Factory.
- KF-5E/F: Export version of the F-5E/F for Korea, built under license by Saechon Aircraft Factory.
- Chengtu J-7: Export version for North China, built under license by the Chengtu Aircraft Industry Group.
Users[]
America
Arabia
Argentina
Bahrain
- People's Republic of China
- Colombia
- Honduras
- East Japan
- Korea
- Mexico
- Morocco
- Nicaragua
- Peru
- Tunisia
- Venezuela
