{
 "icao": "F5",
 "name": "Northrop F-5E Tiger II",
 "manufacturer": "Northrop",
 "category": "military",
 "military": true,
 "family": null,
 "url": "https://aircraft.intelsystems.ai/aircraft/F5/",
 "json": "https://aircraft.intelsystems.ai/aircraft/F5.json",
 "drawings": {
  "profile": {
   "view": "profile",
   "url": "https://aircraft.intelsystems.ai/images/northrop-f-5e-tiger-ii-profile.webp",
   "format": "webp",
   "width": 1200,
   "height": 318,
   "bytes": 39292,
   "sha256": "5317afd6a71b77bfb5250e18ec70b591565fb08fc88c8e4aa416313946bcb866"
  },
  "top": {
   "view": "top",
   "url": "https://aircraft.intelsystems.ai/images/northrop-f-5e-tiger-ii-top.webp",
   "format": "webp",
   "width": 1200,
   "height": 668,
   "bytes": 63594,
   "sha256": "0336dfc90fdfb98bb107aa06c70d63b2138bfe56e07363d3385e2bc26f8afced"
  }
 },
 "liveries": [],
 "specifications": {
  "length_m": 14.69,
  "wingspan_m": 8.13,
  "mtow_t": 11.192,
  "max_kmh": 1739,
  "range_km": 891,
  "ceiling_m": 15789,
  "first_flight": 1972,
  "engine": "2 × General Electric J85-GE-21 afterburning turbojet engines",
  "power": "3,500 lbf (16 kN) thrust each dry, 5,000 lbf (22 kN) with afterburner",
  "cruise_kmh": 850
 },
 "specifications_source": "AirwayControl spec register, curated from Wikipedia and manufacturer pages",
 "wikipedia": {
  "title": "Northrop F-5",
  "summary": "The Northrop F-5 is a family of supersonic light fighter aircraft initially designed as a privately funded project in the late 1950s by Northrop Corporation. There are two main models: the original F-5A and F-5B Freedom Fighter variants, and the extensively updated F-5E and F-5F Tiger II variants. The design team wrapped a small, highly aerodynamic fighter around two compact General Electric J85 engines, focusing on performance and a low cost of maintenance. Smaller and simpler than contemporaries such as the McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II, the F-5 costs less to procure and operate, making it a popular export aircraft. Though primarily designed for a day air superiority role, the aircraft is also a capable ground-attack platform. The F-5A entered service in the early 1960s. During the Cold War, over 800 were produced through 1972 for US allies. Despite the United States Air Force (USAF) not needing a light fighter at the time, it did procure approximately 1,200 Northrop T-38 Talon trainer aircraft, which were based on Northrop's N-156 fighter design.",
  "url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northrop_F-5",
  "license": "CC BY-SA 4.0",
  "license_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/",
  "retrieved": "2026-10-11"
 },
 "license": {
  "drawings": "CC BY 4.0",
  "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "attribution": "Drawing of the Northrop F-5E Tiger II by AirwayControl Aircraft Library (https://aircraft.intelsystems.ai/aircraft/F5/), CC BY 4.0"
 },
 "source": "AirwayControl Aircraft Library",
 "updated": "2026-10-11"
}