Northrop F-5F Tiger II

Manufacturer: Northrop Corporation, Hawthonre, California, USA
Final construction: Federal aircraft construction plant Emmen
Year of Manufacture: 1976 and 1983/84
Purpose: Zone protection
Crew: 1 Pilot
Commenced service: 1976
Number of aircraft procured: 12
Number of aircraft still in service: 12 (as per April 2011)

Registration: J-3201 to J-3212

Since the jet pilot training system (JEPAS) was introduced with the Pilatus PC-21 in the middle of 2008, the F-5F Tiger double seaters are no longer used for military pilot candidates. The F-5E/F Tiger II combat aircraft are still flown by the three militia squadrons and the Patrouille Suisse.

To save maintenance costs major checks have been shelved for eight aircraft. Until these services are due, these F-5F will be flown to exhaustion and subsequently kept operational with reduced maintenance. Of the twelve procured F-5F Tiger II four will be retained for regular flight service and will be primarily used for SIGINT & EW exercises (signal intelligence and electronic warfare), target flights for air defence, schooling and training flights of militia pilots and photograph missions. For SIGINT & EW operations the F-5F are equipped with Saab Vista-5 pods (jammer transmitters).