The US Marine Corps (USMC) collected the first aircraft on March 18, 2024, from Emmen Air Force Station, north of Lucerne, aboard a Lockheed Martin KC-130J transport aircraft. 

The sale, which was finalized in 2020, includes 16 single-seat F-5E variants and six twin-seat F-5F variants, along with ground equipment, spare parts, and logistical support for storage and preparation in Switzerland before transport to the US. The transaction’s total value is estimated at $32.4 million. 

This delivery marks another stage in the retirement process of Switzerland’s F-5 fleet, initially acquired in the 1970s and 1980s. 44 F-5s were previously sold to the US Navy in 2008. Initially deployed by the Swiss Air Force for air defense, these former Swiss jets now serve as adversary aircraft in the US Navy. 

While 25 F-5 Tigers remain in the Swiss inventory, only 18 are currently operational.  

“They relieve the burden on the F/A-18 Hornet fleet and are used for target display, for training purposes, as a tow aircraft and for test flights,” armasuisse explained in a . “Around half of the F-5 Tigers are used by the Patrouille Suisse aerobatic team for flight demonstrations.” 

The Patrouille Suisse will continue to fly the F-5 until 2027.?

Transformation of the Swiss Air Force 

In July 2021, the Federal Council of Switzerland announced its decision to acquire Lockheed Martin F-35A fighters to replace the McDonnell Douglas F/A-18C/D Hornets and the few remaining Northrop F-5E/F Tiger II antiques that were still assigned to secondary tasks.  

The decision created an intense political debate in the country, with the ‘Stop F-35′ movement, launched by the Socialist Party, the Greens, as well as the lobby organization ‘Group for a Switzerland without an Army’ (GSsA), actively campaigning to trigger a “popular initiative” ? the Swiss referendum model ? to block the decision.  

The acquisition of Lockheed Martin F-35A fighters for $6.25 billion was finally signed in September 2022 with a delivery scheduled between 2027 and 2030. 

Ja, Oui, Si: Swiss parliament approves F-35 fighter order despite opposition

• Defense

byClement Charpentreau

2022-09-16

The F-5 fighter jets will retire from combat duty by the end of 2023, first reported, quoting a military source. 

However, the current fleet of RF-5E Tigereye jets, a reconnaissance version of the aircraft, will continue their surveillance missions until the Taiwanese Air Force (ROCAF) receives MS-110 reconnaissance pods. Manufactured by Collins Aerospace, these pods can be installed on the ROCAF F-16 fighters or its future MQ-9B drones. 

The AIDC AT-3, also known as the Brave Eagle, is a Taiwanese advanced trainer aircraft domestically designed and manufactured by the Aerospace Industrial Development Corporation (AIDC) to serve as a primary training platform for the ROCAF. As an advanced jet trainer, it will prepare military pilots for high-performance fighter jets.  

The first prototype successfully conducted its maiden flight in June 2020. Since then, AIDC has been steadily delivering these advanced trainers to the ROCAF, which plans to acquire up to 66 aircraft.  

Taiwan shows off Brave Eagle jet trainer in display at Chihhang base

• Defense

byVictoria Bryan

2022-07-07

In line with the introduction of the Brave Eagle and the retirement of the older aircraft, Taiwan has streamlined its flight training program from three different aircraft, the T-34, the AT-3, and the F-5, to only two, the T-34 and the Brave Eagle. Some F-5 jets may still be transferred to training units to serve in other roles such as target drones or aggressors. Others will be used as decoys near Taiwanese military runways. 

Three people died in the crash of an Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force Northrop F-5 fighter jet. 

The decision to upgrade the aircraft was announced in March 2021, shortly after the death of two pilots in a mid-air collision during a training exercise. One pilot managed to eject and was recovered, but later died from his injuries. 

A preliminary examination revealed that the pilot suffered a head trauma causing intracranial hemorrhage. He eventually succumbed to a neurogenic shock. The trauma is suspected to have been caused by the ejection.

In a hearing with the Foreign Affairs and National Defense Committee of the Legislative Yuan, the Taiwanese parliament, chief of staff of the Air Force Huang Zhiwei reported that the contract for 70 Mk16 ejection seats had been signed with Martin-Baker. The same seat is equipping other aircraft such as the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II, the Dassault Rafale, or the Eurofighter Typhoon. 

The first ejection seat should be delivered by the end of 2021 as per the initial schedule. By the end of the following year, all 45 F-5E/F Tiger II fighter jets of the Taiwanese Air Force (ROCAF) should receive the upgrade, according to Huang.

Taiwan was once one of the largest operators of the Tiger, with over 336 F-5E/F in its inventory in the late 1980s. Most of them had been locally produced under license by the Aerospace Industrial Development Corporation.

The jet was reportedly performing air-to-air combat training in the role of an aggressor for the Air Force’s F/A-18. As the paint scheme shows, the aircraft belonged to the Patrouille Suisse aerobatics team.

The crash occurred in the morning of May 26, 2021, in a mountainous area of the canton of Obwalden, near the village Melchsee-Frutt.

The cause of the crash is yet unclear and, according to the Swiss military, an investigation has been launched. 

Eyewitness’ photos show the jet engulfed in flames in the air and the pilot ejecting. The aircraft fell into the snow and remained relatively undamaged after the crash.

For my international mil-twitter audience:

Today aF-5E Tiger II crashed while on a training flight with an F/A-18 Hornet. The pilot was able to safely eject & the crash occurred away from any people and buildings.

Cause yet unclear but an eyewitness took these photos .

— Oliver Hegglin (@HegglinOliver)

Eyewitness said the jet simply hit the snow as if it were cotton. There was no explosion & the plane appears to be intact.

An aviation expert spoke of a “controlled crash” and pointed out the age of the aircraft.

It’s a “red and white” Tiger also used for

— Oliver Hegglin (@HegglinOliver)

The Northrop F-5E Tiger II was introduced into the Swiss Air Force in 1979. The service still maintains around 20 jets of this type and has mostly relegated them to demonstration and training purposes. 

50.1% of Swiss voters approve the acquisition of new fighter jets

• Defense

byClement Charpentreau

2020-09-28

 

The jet trainer, relatively intact, was transported to the Port of Kaohsiung. Its recovery will help the investigators shine the light on the reasons behind the crash, which have yet to be identified.

What happened?

On October 29, 2020, an F-5E fighter jet of the 7th Flight Training Wing crashed off the coast of Taitung, southeastern Taiwan.

The accident took place shortly after the fighter took off from Chihhang Air Force Base of the Taiwan Air Force (ROCAF) in Taitung County for a training mission. After reporting an engine problem, the pilot managed to eject and was recovered but later died of his injuries.

Consequently, the ROCAF fleet of F-5E trainers was grounded while an investigation was carried out.?

On March 22, 2021, two Taiwanese F-5 Tiger II fighter jets crashed into the sea after what appeared to be a mid-air collision. One pilot was recovered but died of his injuries, while the second one was lost at sea. Upon examination of the deceased pilot, the ROCAF concluded that he was likely killed by the ejection.?

During a press conference held following the crash, Huang Zhiwei, the Chief of Staff of the Taiwanese Air Force (ROCAF), stated that $21 million would be spent to upgrade the F-5 fleet with Martin-Baker Mk16 ejection seats.?

Taiwan suspects ejection killed F-5E pilot, plans to replace seats

• Defense

byClement Charpentreau

2021-03-23

An aging fighter fleet

Taiwan was once one of the largest operators of the Tiger, with over 336 F-5E/Fs in its inventory in the late 1980s. Most of them had been locally produced under license by the state company Aerospace Industrial Development Corporation (AIDC).?

Taiwan is currently operating around 25 of the aging fighters, mainly as trainers, as a complement to the more modern fleet of F-16 jets. 66 of the latter are currently on order, while the ones already in the ROCAF arsenal are undergoing upgrades. In November 2020, the ROCAF also lost an F-16 fighter jet in a crash. In addition, the fighter fleet also includes 50 Mirage 2000s and around 100 F-CK-1s, an indigenous aircraft based on the F-16.

AIDC is developing a new advanced jet trainer, the T-5 “Brave Eagle” based on the F-CK-1 called to replace the F-5. In 2017, it was also contracted to design a new fighter with a new engine, though not much has been communicated on the aircraft since then.

Taiwan grounds F-16 fleet after fighter goes missing

• Defense

byClement Charpentreau

2020-11-18

Taiwan military under increased pressure

Due to an increase in Chinese military activity around the island, the Taiwan military has been under increased pressure in recent years. Throughout 2020, the Taiwanese Ministry of National Defense reported that the Chinese People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) flew about 380 sorties into the country’s air defense identification zone (ADIZ) ? the highest number since 1996.

On April 12, 2021, the Taiwanese government reported that 25 Chinese military aircraft entered the country’s air defense identification zone, the largest number in a year. It marked the tenth consecutive day of Chinese aerial incursion.

Taiwan reports record incursion of Chinese military aircraft

• Defense

byClement Charpentreau

2021-04-13

“One of our NF-5 aircraft belonging to our Air Force, which made a training flight in Konya, suffered an accident at 14:15 for an unknown reason,” the Turkish Ministry of National Defense reported. “Necessary investigation has been initiated on the incident.”

Konya’da e?itim u?u?u yapan Hava Kuvvetlerimize ait bir NF-5 u?a??m?z saat 14.15’te henüz bilinmeyen bir nedenle kaza k?r?ma u?ram??t?r. Konuyla ilgili gerekli inceleme ba?lat?lm??t?r.

— T.C. Mill? Savunma Bakanl??? (@tcsavunma)

The NF-5 was initially developed by Canadair for the Royal Netherlands Air Force. Based on the F-5 Freedom Fighter, it was selected in 1987 to be used for aerobatic flight. The Turkish Stars were formed in 1992 and have flown the NF-5 ever since. They operate 20 single-seater NF-5A jets and a pair of NF-5B twin-seat trainers. The team is stationed at the Konya Air Base in central Turkey.

The last incident involving the Turkish Stars dates back to March 13, 2012, when a pilot was killed during a training session, also in Konya Province.

A preliminary examination revealed that the late pilot suffered a head trauma causing intracranial hemorrhage. He eventually succumbed to a neurogenic shock. The trauma was likely due to the ejection.

During a press conference held following the crash, Huang Zhiwei, Chief of Staff of the Taiwanese Air Force (ROCAF), stated that $21 million would be spent to upgrade the F-5 fleet with Martin-Baker Mk16 ejection seats, with the first retrofit expected by the end of 2021. It is the same seat equipping aircraft such as the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II, the Dassault Rafale, or the Eurofighter Typhoon. According to Huang, the seats will be fitted on other aircraft once the F-5 fleet is retired, though he did not precise which ones.

The 7th Flight Training Wing of the Taiwanese Air Force (ROCAF), to which both fighter jets belonged, is composed of three squadrons of F-5 Tiger II fighter jets, including an aggressor squadron. 

Taiwan was once one of the largest operators of the Tiger, with over 336 F-5E/F in its inventory in the late 1980s. Most of them had been locally produced under license by the  Aerospace Industrial Development Corporation. 

精东影业 News reached out to Martin-Baker for comment and did not receive any answer at the time of publication.

Taiwanese F-5 fighter jets crash after colliding mid-air

• Defense

byClement Charpentreau

2021-03-22

The crash was seemingly due to a mid-air collision. Both pilots were able to eject from their aircraft. A UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter was dispatched for search and rescue. One of the pilots was recovered but later died of his injuries, the other is still missing.

Chihhang Air Force Base also known as Taitung Air Force Base houses the 7th Flight Training Wing of the Taiwanese Air Force (ROCAF). It is composed of three squadrons of F-5 Tiger II fighter jets, including an aggressor squadron.

It is the second incident involving a Taiwanese F-5 in less than six months. In October 2020, an F-5E fighter jet crashed off the coast of Taitung, southeastern Taiwan. The fleet of F-5E trainers was temporarily grounded following the crash. A month later, the ROCAF also lost an F-16 fighter jet in a crash. 

Taiwan grounds F-16 fleet after fighter goes missing

• Defense

byClement Charpentreau

2020-11-18

Due to an increase in Chinese military activity around the island, the Taiwan military has been under increased pressure in recent years. Throughout 2020, the Taiwanese Ministry of National Defense reported that the Chinese People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) flew about 380 sorties into the country’s air defense identification zone (ADIZ) ? the highest number since 1996.

Hours after the crash on March 22, 2021, the Ministry reported yet another Chinese incursion. Two PLA J-10 fighter jets were identified in the southwest of the island. A combat air patrol was dispatched for an interception.

Two PLA J-10 entered ’s southwest ADIZ in the morning of Mar. 22, 2021. Please check our official website for more information:

— 國防部 Ministry of National Defense, R.O.C. (@MoNDefense)

The accident took place shortly after the fighter took off from Chihhang Air Force Base of the Taiwan Air Force (ROCAF) in Taitung County for a training mission. When the aircraft malfunctioned, the pilot guided it away from a nearby settlement. He then managed to eject and was recovered. However, he suffered a cardiac arrest and could not be resuscitated, according to local news.

The ROCAF fleet of F-5E trainers was grounded following the crash, while a preliminary investigation is being carried out. Taiwan has been operating 25 of the aging fighters as a complement to the more modern fleet of F-16 jets. 66 of the latter are currently on order, while the ones already in the ROCAF arsenal are undergoing upgrades.

China does not recognize the sovereignty of Taiwan. With Chinese incursions past the strategic central line of the Taiwan Strait becoming increasingly frequent, the United States government could soon sell over $7 billion in weapons, including surveillance drones, sea mines, and cruise missiles.

Taiwan scrambles fighters to intercept Chinese strategic bombers

• Defense

byClement Charpentreau

2020-09-18

Taiwan accuses China of second airspace breach, simulating attack

• Defense

byValius Venckunas

2020-09-21