Northrop F-20 Tigershark

History of the Northrop F-20 Tigershark

The Northrop F-20 Tigershark is an evolution of the F-5 Tiger II series, specifically the F-5E model series. The F-20 emerged from a program called "FX" in 1975 as part of an effort by the United States Air Force (USAF). The machine was originally born as the "F-5G" of the Tiger II series and gradually evolved into its own design.

At its core, the F-20 was envisioned as a low-cost, export-friendly front-line fighter capable of dealing with the latest threats to the Soviet Unionprimarily the very capable Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 "fish bed". The F-20 would allow the United States to sell its new aircraft to allies without exposing its advanced technology to enemies. However, the F-20 came at a time when the United States welcomed a new government, and General Dynamics' F-16 Fighting Falcon proved to be an affordable alternative to a similar multirole fighter. Ultimately, the F-20 existed in three complete prototype form, and the line was never sold to any foreign party.

The entire program was abandoned in 1986, and the F-16 became the Cold War-era light fighter that the F-20 could become.

The F-20 prototype first flew on August 30, 1982, and was named the Tiger Shark in 1983. Compared to the previous F-5, the F-20 features an all-new engine that provides better performance, a new radar system that allows the use of the latest U.S. air-to-air munitions, ground attack capability, and modernized Avionics.

More powerful than its predecessor, the F-5, the F-20 seemed like a good bet from Northrop, which developed the F-20 as a private company for a final project price of $1. $2 billion.

In terms of armament, the F-20 comes standard with a 2 x 20mm Pontiac M39A2 internal cannon in the nose assembly. Each cannon can receive 280 projectiles for melee or ground attack.

The aircraft received 5 hardpoints for up to 8,000 pounds of underwater munitions via the fuselage centerline location and two underwing hardpoints on each wing attachment. There are also wingtip hardpoints, but these are unique to the Sidewinder series.

Therefore, the F-20 can be equipped with air-to-air or air-to-surface munitions capability, depending on the operator's requirements. The aircraft and its onboard systems support the AIM-9 Sidewinder air-to-air missile as well as the AGM-65 Maverick air-to-surface missile, a proven weapon for defeating ground targets, including tanks.

Typical drop mass is also inherent in supporting unguided munitions such as the Mark 80 bomb family. Additional support is provided for the use of CBU-type cluster bomb weapons and practice guns.

In addition to rockets and bombs, the F-20 is allowed to launch various types of rocket pods for air-to-ground engagements.

Tigershark was eventually sold to a variety of potential applicants including the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Navy (USN). The U.S. Navy is looking for a new aggressor aircraft - the TOP GUN - for its air combat training program - specifically a new generation of Western fighter pilots that can mimic the capabilities of Soviet fighter jets at the time.

Like everyone else, the U.S. Navy has opted for an excellent line of F-16s. The USAF's choice not to buy the F-20 at all -- in fact doomed for further development and acceptance in the world market -- is seen by many as an indictment of its value by the USAF's lack of recognition of the Northrop aircraft.

Morocco initially agreed to order 20 F-20s, but that was later cancelled, along with a smaller order from Bahrain.

Specification

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