It would have been a more cost-effective alternative to the F-16 with comparable performance characteristics if it had gone into full production. This refers to the Northrop F-20 Tigershark. Honestly, had it entered full production, it would have been an excellent match for the Philippine Air Force’s multi-role fighter requirement. However, this fighter aircraft never entered production.
The Northrop F-20 Tigershark, initially known as the F-5G, was a light fighter aircraft designed and built by Northrop Corporation in the 1970s and 1980s. It aimed to be a significant evolutionary leap from the successful F-5E Tiger II, offering improved performance, advanced avionics, and multirole capabilities. Despite its promising attributes, the Tigershark never saw mass production, falling victim to political and economic factors.
Development and Design
Born from a private venture by Northrop, the F-20 shared some aesthetic similarities with the F-5E. However, it was a largely new design featuring a single, powerful General Electric F404 turbofan engine replacing the twin J85s of the F-5E. This change translated to vastly improved performance, including a significant increase in speed and agility.
The F-20 also boasted a modern avionics suite, including a pulse-Doppler radar, digital navigation system, and head-up display. This enhanced its situational awareness and weapon delivery capabilities. The aircraft offered multirole flexibility, equipped to handle air-to-air and air-to-ground operations with a diverse range of weaponry.
Two F-20 prototypes were built and conducted over 1,500 test flights, showcasing impressive performance and maneuverability. Northrop actively marketed the Tigershark to various air forces worldwide, highlighting its cost-effectiveness compared to contemporary fighters like the F-16 Fighting Falcon.
Despite its merits, the F-20 faced several challenges. The project coincided with the US Air Force’s preference for the F-16, leading to limited domestic interest. Internationally, political considerations like US relations with Taiwan impacted potential sales. Ultimately, the lack of substantial orders forced Northrop to terminate the program in the early 1990s.
Though never operational, the F-20’s design elements influenced later aircraft like the F-21 Lion (a follow-up project by Northrop) and contributed to the overall evolution of fighter technology.
Specifications
| Feature | Specification |
|---|---|
| Length | 46.6 ft (14.2 m) |
| Wingspan | 32.8 ft (9.97 m) |
| Height | 16.0 ft (4.88 m) |
| Empty Weight | 15,620 lb (7,080 kg) |
| Maximum Takeoff Weight | 24,500 lb (11,113 kg) |
| Engine | 1 x General Electric F404 turbofan |
| Thrust | 17,000 lbf (75.6 kN) |
| Maximum Speed | Mach 2.2 (1,414 km/h) |
| Combat Radius | 580 mi (933 km) |
| Service Ceiling | 52,500 ft (16,000 m) |
| Armament | 2 x 20 mm M39 cannon, various air-to-air and air-to-ground weapons |
Difference Between the F-5 and F-20
Engine:
- F-5E: Two General Electric J85-21 afterburning turbojet engines with a combined thrust of 16,000 lbf (71 kN).
- F-20: Single General Electric F404-A-400 afterburning turbofan engine with 17,000 lbf (75.6 kN) of thrust. This translates to significantly improved performance for the F-20, with a higher thrust-to-weight ratio, faster speed (Mach 2.2 vs. Mach 1.8), and better climb rate.
Avionics:
- F-5E: Analog instruments and a basic radar system.
- F-20: Advanced digital avionics suite featuring a pulse-Doppler radar, head-up display, digital navigation system, and advanced weapons delivery capabilities. This gives the F-20 superior situational awareness and targeting accuracy.
Capabilities:
- F-5E: Primarily designed for air-to-air combat.
- F-20: Multirole aircraft capable of both air-to-air and air-to-ground operations. It could carry a wider range of weaponry, including guided bombs and missiles.
Design:
- F-5E: Smaller and lighter.
- F-20: Slightly larger and heavier with a modified wing design incorporating leading-edge extensions for improved maneuverability.
Other:
- Production: Over 1,300 F-5Es built, while only two F-20 prototypes were ever constructed.
- Price: F-20 was slightly more expensive than the F-5E, but still aimed to be cost-effective.
The F-20 Tigershark offered a significant leap in performance, avionics, and multirole capabilities compared to the F-5E. However, it never achieved widespread adoption due to various factors, including competition from other fighters like the F-16 and political complexities surrounding potential sales.
First love never dies. I fell in love with airplanes and aviation when I was a kid. My dream was to become a pilot, but destiny led me to another path: to be an aviation digital media content creator and a small business owner. My passion for aviation inspires me to bring you quality content through my website and social accounts. Aviation is indeed in my blood and blog!
