Facts summary and sources
Northrop F-5 Tiger II: speed field: Mach 1.6 (Published specification). First flight: 1972. F-5E Tiger II first flight; earlier F-5 family dates differ.
This is a secondary compilation. A source-check date applies only to the listed claim, not to the whole page or its translation. A page update is not a source check.
Sources and check records
- US Air Force historical chronology — F-5E Tiger II first flight in 1972; do not substitute 1959 family or 1974 Taiwan production milestones. [Variant-specific first flight] · Source checked for this claim: 2026-09-28
- Taiwan Air Force journal, issue 668 — The F-5E specification is Mach 1.6; the article is not a maximum-speed test report. [Published specification] · Source checked for this claim: 2026-09-28
✈️ Full Specifications
| Country | ✈️ United States |
| First flight | 1972 |
| First-flight context | F-5E Tiger II first flight; earlier F-5 family dates differ. |
| Length | 14.38 m (47.2 ft) |
| Max Speed (Mach) | 1.6 |
| Speed evidence basis | Published specification |
Northrop F-5 Tiger II
The F-5 was designed as a low-cost, easy-to-maintain supersonic fighter for export to US allies. Its simplicity and reliability made it one of the most widely exported American fighters.
🐯 The Aggressor
The US Navy and Air Force famously used F-5s as aggressor aircraft to simulate Soviet MiGs in training — including at the legendary TOPGUN school. Its small size and agility made it a convincing MiG stand-in. The F-5 also served as the basis for the T-38 Talon trainer and the YF-17, which evolved into the F/A-18 Hornet.
📋 Specifications
- Max Speed: Mach 1.6 (F-5E published specification; source and limits below)
- Range: 1,405 km
- Engines: 2x GE J85-21 turbojets
- First Flight: 1972 (F-5E Tiger II; earlier F-5-family dates differ)
- Production scope: F-5A/B, F-5E/F and T-38 totals must be counted separately.
- Country: United States
🎬 Video
Frequently Asked Questions
How fast is the F-5 Tiger II?
A Taiwan Ministry of National Defense-hosted Air Force journal article lists Mach 1.6 for the F-5E. This is a published specification, not a newly measured record. Values such as Mach 1.63 in other references use different precision; a universal km/h conversion cannot be assigned without atmospheric conditions.
Why is the F-5 so popular for export?
Designed to be affordable, easy to maintain, and simple to fly — ideal for smaller air forces with low operating costs.
How many F-5s were built?
Totals depend on whether the source counts the earlier Freedom Fighter, Tiger II or related T-38 trainer. For a clearly bounded example, the same Taiwan Air Force article records 242 F-5E and 66 F-5F aircraft produced in Taiwan, a total of 308; this is not the worldwide family total.
Is the F-5 still in service?
Yes. The US military uses F-5s as aggressor aircraft. Several nations still operate upgraded variants.
Date and variant note: The US Air Force historical chronology records the first F-5E flight in 1972. Taiwan’s later assembly and first-flight milestones are different events.