F-5A (China)

␗F-5A

␗F-104G

␗F-5E

␗F-5A

␗F-104G

␗F-5E

China

VII Rank

Battle rating:

AB	RB	SB
11.3	10.7	10.7

Class:

Fighter

Jet fighter

Research:300 000

Purchase:830 000

Description

The ␗F-5A Freedom Fighter is a rank VII Chinese jet fighter with a battle rating of 11.3 (AB) and 10.7 (RB/SB). It was introduced in Update "Ixwa Strike".

General info

Flight performance

Air brakes

Allows you to dramatically reduce the flight speed by releasing special flaps

Drogue parachute

Reduces braking distance when landing on any runway

Max speed

at 10 668 m1 444 km/h

Turn time27 s

Max altitude15 240 m

Engine2 х General Electric J85-GE-13

TypeJet

Cooling systemAir

Take-off weight24 t

The F-5A is a really maneuverable aircraft, easily hitting 13 G turns without losing much energy, but try to stay above 800 km/h, if you go below that your speed starts dropping rapidly. You don't really have to care about ripping your wings. The aoa in a turn stays really low, due to not having delta wins and cause it's really light. The aircraft is not fast in top speed and acceleration.

Characteristics	Max Speed (km/h at 10,668 m)		Max altitude (metres)	Turn time (seconds)		Rate of climb (metres/second)		Take-off run (metres)
	AB	RB		AB	RB	AB	RB
Stock	1,430	1,422	15240	27.1	28.3	112.5	99.3	850
Upgraded	___	___		__._	__._	__._	__._

Details

Features
Combat flaps	Take-off flaps	Landing flaps	Air brakes	Arrestor gear	Drogue chute
✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓

Limits
Wings (km/h)	Gear (km/h)	Flaps (km/h)			Max Static G
		Combat	Take-off	Landing	+	-
1458	444	926	559	555	~11	~4

Optimal velocities (km/h)
Ailerons	Rudder	Elevators	Radiator
< 680	< 750	< 700	N/A

Survivability and armour

Flares/Chaff

Aircraft countermeasures to distract IR and radar-guided missiles and also AA radar

Crew1 person

Speed of destruction

Structural1 458 km/h

Gear444 km/h

• No armour
• Self-sealing fuel tanks (2 large ones in the rear fuselage)

Modifications and economy

Repair costBasic → Reference

AB2 949 → 3 984

RB9 174 → 12 394

SB9 411 → 12 714

Total cost of modifications264 000

410 000

Talisman cost2 900

Crew training240 000

Experts830 000

Aces3 000

Research Aces1 140 000

Reward for battleAB / RB / SB

100 / 320 / 600 %

238 / 238 / 238 %

Modifications

Flight performance	Survivability	Weaponry
Fuselage repair Research: 11 000 Cost: 17 000 370 Compressor Research: 11 000 Cost: 17 000 370 New boosters Research: 12 000 Cost: 19 000 410 Wings repair Research: 16 000 Cost: 25 000 540 Engine Research: 16 000 Cost: 25 000 540 G-suit Research: 17 000 Cost: 26 000 580	Airframe Research: 12 000 Cost: 19 000 410 Cover Research: 17 000 Cost: 26 000 580	Flares/Chaff Research: 11 000 Cost: 17 000 370 Mk82 Research: 11 000 Cost: 17 000 370 BLU-1 Research: 11 000 Cost: 17 000 370 t_160_belt_pack Research: 12 000 Cost: 19 000 410 M117 Research: 12 000 Cost: 19 000 410 LAU-3/A Research: 12 000 Cost: 19 000 410 Mk83 Research: 16 000 Cost: 25 000 540 LAU-10/A Research: 16 000 Cost: 25 000 540 t_160_new_gun Research: 17 000 Cost: 26 000 580 Mk84 Research: 17 000 Cost: 26 000 580 AGM-12B Bullpup Research: 17 000 Cost: 26 000 580

Armaments

Offensive armament

The F-5A (China) is armed with:

• 2 x 20 mm M39A2 cannons, nose-mounted (280 rpg = 560 total)

Suspended armament

The F-5A (China) can be outfitted with the following ordnance:

• Without load
• 18 x 250 lb LDGP Mk 81 bombs (4,500 lb total)
• 5 x 500 lb LDGP Mk 82 bombs (2,500 lb total)
• 5 x 750 lb M117 cone 45 bombs (3,750 lb total)
• 3 x 1,000 lb LDGP Mk 83 bombs (3,000 lb total)
• 1 x 2,000 lb LDGP Mk 84 bomb (2,000 lb total)
• 76 x FFAR Mighty Mouse rockets
• 4 x AGM-12B Bullpup missiles
• 2 x AIM-9P Sidewinder missiles + 18 x 250 lb LDGP Mk 81 bombs (4,500 lb total)
• 2 x AIM-9P Sidewinder missiles + 5 x 500 lb LDGP Mk 82 bombs (2,500 lb total)
• 2 x AIM-9P Sidewinder missiles + 5 x 750 lb M117 cone 45 bombs (3,750 lb total)
• 2 x AIM-9P Sidewinder missiles + 3 x 1,000 lb LDGP Mk 83 bombs (3,000 lb total)
• 2 x AIM-9P Sidewinder missiles + 1 x 2,000 lb LDGP Mk 84 bomb (2,000 lb total)
• 2 x AIM-9P Sidewinder missiles + 76 x FFAR Mighty Mouse rockets
• 2 x AIM-9P Sidewinder missiles + 2 x AGM-12B Bullpup missiles
• 2 x AIM-9P Sidewinder missiles
• 2 x AIM-9P Sidewinder missiles + 76 x FFAR Mighty Mouse rockets + 6 x 250 lb LDGP Mk 81 bombs (1,500 lb total)
• 2 x AIM-9P Sidewinder missiles + 2 x AGM-12B Bullpup missiles + 3 x 500 lb LDGP Mk 82 bombs (1,500 lb total)
• 2 x AIM-9P Sidewinder missiles + 2 x AGM-12B Bullpup missiles + 3 x 750 lb M117 cone 45 bombs (2,250 lb total)
• 2 x AIM-9P Sidewinder missiles + 76 x FFAR Mighty Mouse rockets + 1 x 1,000 lb LDGP Mk 83 bomb (1,000 lb total)
• 2 x AIM-9P Sidewinder missiles + 76 x FFAR Mighty Mouse rockets + 1 x 750 lb M117 cone 45 bomb (750 lb total)
• 2 x AIM-9P Sidewinder missiles + 38 x FFAR Mighty Mouse rockets + 3 x 750 lb M117 cone 45 bombs (2,250 lb total)
• 2 x AIM-9P Sidewinder missiles + 2 x AGM-12B Bullpup missiles + 38 x FFAR Mighty Mouse rockets + 1 x 750 lb M117 cone 45 bomb (750 lb total)
• 2 x AIM-9P Sidewinder missiles + 2 x AGM-12B Bullpup missiles + 38 x FFAR Mighty Mouse rockets + 1 x 500 lb LDGP Mk 82 bomb (500 lb total)
• 2 x AIM-9P Sidewinder missiles + 2 x AGM-12B Bullpup missiles + 38 x FFAR Mighty Mouse rockets + 1 x 1,000 lb LDGP Mk 83 bomb (1,000 lb total)

Usage in battles

Describe the tactics of playing in the aircraft, the features of using aircraft in a team and advice on tactics. Refrain from creating a "guide" - do not impose a single point of view, but instead, give the reader food for thought. Examine the most dangerous enemies and give recommendations on fighting them. If necessary, note the specifics of the game in different modes (AB, RB, SB).

Pros and cons

Pros:

• Many payload options
• AIM-9P missiles are quite effective
• Highly manoeuvrable
• Amazing energy retention, even in high-G manoeuvres
• Hard to rip the wings
• Can be used in many roles, such as fighter, attacker and base bomber
• Competitive speed at sea level, on par with MiG-21s
• Reasonable ammo pool for the cannons

Cons:

• No flares
• Low top speed, acceleration, and climb rate compared to its counterparts

History

Design

The design of the F-5 was led by Northrop Edgar Schmued. The goal with the F-5 was to reverse the trend of creating increasingly heavier and bigger aircraft to increase performance. Northrop recognized that such expensive jets could not be replaced every few years. Northrop also wanted that the aircraft had a great potential for upgrades in the future to stay up to date. for these requirements Schmued realized he needed a new engine with a high trust to weight ratio and new aerodynamic technology. Like the General Electric J85 and the newly discovered area rule.

The chief engineer Welko Gasich, convinced Schmued to locate the engines in to the fuselage for maximum performance. Gasich also introduced the concept of "life cycle cost" into fighter design. This provided the foundation of the low operating cost and long service life of the F-5. The philosophy of Northrop was to use new technology to provide maximum performance at minimum cost.

The development of the F-5 was formally started in the mid 1950's by the Northrop corporation to develop a low cost low maintenance fighter. The first design was called the N-156 witch was partly intended to meet the navy's requirements for a jet fighter that can operate from the navy's escort carriers, witch where to small for the existing jet fighters to takeoff from. The requirements disappeared when the navy decided to withdraw it's escort carrier's, however the development of the N-156 continued. both as a two seat trainer designated as the N-156T and as an single seat fighter designated as N-156F.

The N-156T was quickly selected as a new trainer for the United States Airforce. On 12 June 1959 the first prototype trainer took flight with the designation YT-38 Talon. Production ended in 1972 in total there where 1 158 T-38's produced. The development of the N-156F continued at a lower priority as a private venture by Northrop. On 25 February 1958, there was an order of three prototypes issued for a low cost fighter that could be supplied to less developed nations under the Militarily Assistance Program. The first N-156F flew on 30 July 1959 at Edwards Airforce Base, even exceeding the speed of sound on it's first flight.

Although the testing of the N-156F went successful showing great reliability and a better air to ground capability than the existing F-100 Super Saber's the interest in the aircraft was decreasing, and in 1960 it looked like the program was failing. Interest rose again in 1961 when the United States Army Airforce tested it alongside the A-4 Skyhawk and the G-91 for an CAS and reconnaissance role. Although the three aircraft proved successful in these roles the program ended because the USAAF was not allowed by the USAF to fly fixed wing aircraft anymore.

In 1962, the Kennedy Registration revived the requirement of a low cost export fighter. The N-156F was the winner of the F-X competition on 23 April 1962, and becoming the F-5. The F-5 was ordered in to production in October that year. It was named under the 1962 United States Tri-Service aircraft designation system, which included a re-set of fighter number series. Production of the F-5A ended in 1972, Northrop produced a total of 624 F-5A including the three YF-5A prototypes.

Operation

The Republic of China Air Force (ROCAF, Taiwan's air force) received it first batch of seven F-5As and Bs under the U.S. Military Assistance Program in 1965. In 1971 the ROCAF was operating 72 F-5As. During 1972 the U.S. borrowed 48 F-5As to lend to the Republic of Vietnam Air Force before the withdraw of the U.S. forces from Vietnam. By 1973 most of the loaned F-5As where not in flying condition. Thus the U.S. opted to return 20 F-5As to the ROCAF by drawing 9 from U.S. reserves and repairing 11 from Vietnam. In 1973 Taiwan started to replace the F-5As by the newer F-5Es.

Media

Skins

• Skins and cammoflages for the F-5A from live.warthunder.com.

Video's

Insert Video's about the F5-A

See also

Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:

• reference to the series of the aircraft;
• links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.

External links

• Official data sheet - more details about the performance