The retirement of the oldest fighter jet in the Brazilian Air Force (FAB) is already planned and will occur near its 60th anniversary.
With the arrival of the new F-39 Gripen fighter jets, manufactured by the Swedish SAAB, the FAB will renew its inventory and retire the AMX A-1M and F-5 Tiger II fighters, reports our affiliated media in Brazil, Aeroin.
The Italian-Brazilian AMX will be the first to go, according to military sources speaking to the magazine Tecnologia & Defesa.
It is expected that the FAB’s only ground attack jet will operate for another two years and will be retired from service in 2025.
In turn, a few years later, in 2029, it will be the turn of the F-5E Tiger II, the first of all the Tiger IIs in the world that are in the FAB, and whose retirement is planned when it turns 57.
This schedule, however, is a prediction, since the F-5 itself had its lifespan postponed by several decades, and others such as the Mil Mi-35M Hind (AH-2 Sabre) and the Mirage 2000 remained in service for less than 10 years, less than initially planned.
Review of the F-5
The Northrop F-5 is a lightweight and versatile fighter aircraft that has served in several air forces around the world since its introduction in the 1960s. Its history begins in the 1950s, when the United States Air Force requested a lightweight and affordable fighter aircraft for training and support missions. The winning design was developed by Northrop Corporation and became the F-5 Freedom Fighter, which entered service in 1962. Since then, the F-5 has been used by more than 30 countries, including the United States, Canada, Mexico, Switzerland, South Korea, and Taiwan.
The F-5 is a highly maneuverable aircraft, with an empty weight of around 5,000 kilograms and a maximum speed of Mach 1.6. It is designed to be easily operated and maintained, with a spacious cockpit and intuitive controls. The aircraft is armed with 20 mm cannons and can carry a variety of air-to-air and air-to-ground missiles, making it capable of performing interception, attack, and air defense missions.
In addition to its use as a fighter aircraft, the F-5 has also been used for pilot training and as a platform for weapon testing. The latest version of the F-5, the F-5E Tiger II, was introduced in the 1970s and became the most widely used model, with over 800 units built. The F-5 has been modified and upgraded several times throughout its history and remains a popular aircraft worldwide.
In summary, the F-5 is a lightweight and versatile fighter aircraft that has had a long and successful career worldwide. Its intuitive design, high maneuverability, and armament capabilities make it suitable for a variety of missions, including pilot training and air defense.
Despite its age, it remains a popular choice in many air forces, although it is being replaced by a new generation of advanced trainers/lightweight fighters such as the FA-50, T-7A Red Hawk, or the Hürjet.
See also: KAI and Lockheed Martin partner to promote an upgraded version of the FA-50 in the US.
Overall, the retirement of the F-5 marks the end of an era for the Brazilian Air Force. The F-5 has served the FAB for almost six decades, providing a reliable and cost-effective platform for air defense and pilot training. Its successor, the F-39 Gripen, is a state-of-the-art fighter aircraft that will provide a significant upgrade in capabilities, including advanced radar systems and air-to-air missiles.
The retirement of the F-5 also highlights the need for air forces to continually modernize their fleets to keep pace with evolving threats and technologies. As air warfare becomes increasingly complex and reliant on advanced technology, air forces must ensure that their fighter aircraft remain capable and effective in a rapidly changing operational environment.
In conclusion, the F-5 has had a long and successful career, but it is time for the Brazilian Air Force to retire this venerable fighter aircraft and embrace the next generation of advanced fighter jets. The F-39 Gripen represents a significant upgrade in capabilities and will help ensure that the FAB remains a formidable force in the years to come.
