The F-20 Tigershark (initially F-5G) was a privately financed light fighter, designed and built by Northrop. Its development began in 1975, aiming to create a capable yet cost-effective aircraft for the international market. The F-20 fighter aircraft project represented a significant evolution from Northrop’s earlier F-5E Tiger II, incorporating substantial upgrades to enhance its performance and combat capabilities.
Development and Design Enhancements
Compared to its predecessor, the F-5E, the F-20 Tigershark featured a new, more powerful engine that dramatically improved its overall performance characteristics, including speed and climb rate. It was also equipped with a modern avionics suite that included a powerful and flexible radar system. This modernization provided the F-20 with beyond-visual-range (BVR) air-to-air capability and a full suite of air-to-ground modes, allowing it to effectively deploy most U.S. weapons.
alt=”Northrop F-20 Tigershark light fighter aircraft prototype flying”
These significant improvements made the F-20 competitive with contemporary designs like the General Dynamics F-16/79, an export-oriented version of the F-16A/B specifically modified to use the older General Electric J79 turbojet engine. Crucially, the F-20 was significantly less expensive to purchase and operate than many of its competitors, making it an attractive option for nations seeking modern aerial capabilities without the high costs associated with premier front-line fighters. While technically a third-generation fighter, the F-20 was designed to compete in a market increasingly dominated by 4th gen fighter aircrafts.
A Pilot’s Perspective
Legendary test pilot Chuck Yeager, the first person to break the sound barrier, held Northrop’s F-5 series in high regard. He once famously stated that “of all the airplanes in the world that I’ve flown, the F-5 is the most fun to fly.” As a direct evolution, the F-20 carried forward the inherent agility and handling qualities that made the F-5 popular among pilots.
Simulating the Cockpit Experience
Author Ehud Yonay, whose article ‘Top Guns’ inspired the famous ‘Top Gun’ movie, provided a detailed look at the F-5 family, culminating in the F-5G (later F-20). He described them as “elegant, zippy beauties with body lines so trim they look like canoes with wings.” Unlike complex, classified aircraft like the F-14 Tomcat, the F-20 was noted for its relative simplicity and accessibility, even offering a simulated “hop” description:
- Weapon Select: Entering a potential combat zone, pilots would push the air-to-air weapon select button, activating the head-up display (HUD) and digital display indicators.
- Radar Mode: Using the throttle, pilots could select “range while search,” displaying a radar plot on the right-hand digital display.
- Target Acquisition: If a target (“bogey”) appeared as a square, the pilot would press the throttle’s acquisition button to lock the radar, causing an aiming circle to appear with target data (speed, altitude, direction).
- Head-Up Display: From this point, the pilot could visually track the target while simultaneously seeing the HUD steering circle (a bull’s-eye).
- Weapon Engagement: The left-hand digital display showed available weapons. Maneuvering the aircraft to align the HUD steering circle with the target, the pilot would see “SHOOT” flash on the HUD when within range, then pull the stick’s missile release or gun trigger to engage.
Political Context and Program Cancellation
Much of the F-20’s development aligned with the U.S. Department of Defense’s “FX” project. This initiative aimed to develop capable export fighters that could compete with advanced Soviet aircraft but without incorporating the sensitive front-line technologies used in premier U.S. Air Force aircraft. The FX program reflected the Carter administration’s military export policies, prioritizing providing allies with advanced equipment while safeguarding top-tier American technology.
Northrop harbored high hopes for the F-20’s success in the international market. However, policy changes under the Reagan administration shifted the landscape. The F-20 suddenly had to compete directly against the latest, full-capability variants of the F-16, rather than the downgraded F-16/79 initially envisioned by the FX program. These later F-16 models represented a significant challenge, embodying the capabilities expected from 4th gen fighter aircrafts. This increased competition, coupled with a lack of a crucial domestic order from the U.S. military which potential foreign buyers often sought as validation, severely hampered the F-20’s sales prospects.
The F-20 Tigershark program was ultimately abandoned in 1986. By that time, only three prototypes had been completed, two of which were unfortunately lost in crashes attributed to pilot blackouts induced by high g-forces. A fourth prototype remained partially completed. Despite its advanced design and potential, the F-20 Tigershark never entered full production or operational service.
This first appeared in Aviation Geek Club here.
