F-5E FCU (Japan)

This page is about the fighter aircraft F-5E FCU (Japan). For other versions, see F-5 (Family).

▄F-5E FCU

▄F-5E FCU

Japan

VII Rank

Battle rating:

AB	RB	SB
11.7	11.3	11.7

Class:

SQUADRON

Fighter

Jet fighter

Research:550 000

Purchase:1 000 000

Show in game

Description

South Vietnam received over 150 F-5 fighters, some of which were F-5Es. After the fall of Saigon, many of these F-5s were evacuated to Thailand, however some still fell into Soviet and Vietnamese hands. These evacuated F-5s began a new life in Thailand, who operated about 70 of them in their own air force. All of these F-5s except the F-5Es were retired not long after. The F-5Es however were upgraded multiple times throughout their life and continue to see service with the Royal Thai Air Force to this day, and are not expected to retire until at least 2025-2030.

Introduced in Update "Alpha Strike", the ▄F-5E FCU is a squadron aircraft in the Japanese tech tree. It plays with all the major advantages of the other F-5Es in-game, being incredibly light and highly manoeuvrable resulting in some of the best energy retention on any jet aircraft at its battle rating range. The Thai F-5E however also solves one of the few downsides of the other F-5Es, the sub-par missiles. The F-5E FCU gets access to four all-aspect missiles instead of the usual two rear-aspect only missiles found on other F-5s in-game. In addition to this, it receives the usual great complement of ground ordnance that F-5s get, providing an incredible CAS option for Japan players in mixed battles. All in all, the F-5E FCU is a great all-rounder for almost every role it can find itself in for its battle rating, and is generally a forgiving vehicle to play and easy to learn even for less experienced pilots.

General info

Flight performance

Arrestor gear

Accelerates braking by grabbing the brake cable on the deck of the aircraft carrier

Air brakes

Allows you to dramatically reduce the flight speed by releasing special flaps

Drogue parachute

Reduces braking distance when landing on any runway

Max speed

at 11 582 m1 778 km/h

Turn time26 s

Max altitude15 240 m

Engine2 х General Electric J85-GE-21A

TypeJet

Cooling systemAir

Take-off weight24 t

Describe how the aircraft behaves in the air. Speed, manoeuvrability, acceleration and allowable loads - these are the most important characteristics of the vehicle.

Characteristics	Max speed (km/h at 11,582 m)		Max altitude (metres)	Turn time (seconds)		Rate of climb (metres/second)		Take-off run (metres)
	AB	RB		AB	RB	AB	RB
Stock	1,754	1,742	15240	26.2	27.3	130.4	116.4	850
Upgraded	1,832	1,778		24.9	26.0	171.6	150.0

Details

Features
Combat flaps	Take-off flaps	Landing flaps	Air brakes	Arrestor gear	Drogue chute
✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓

Limits
Wings (km/h)	Gear (km/h)	Flaps (km/h)			Max Static G
		Combat	Take-off	Landing	+	-
1,458	482	___	___	___	~11	~5

Optimal velocities (km/h)
Ailerons	Rudder	Elevators	Radiator
< ___	< ___	< ___	-

Engine performance

Engine			Aircraft mass
Engine name		Number	Basic mass		Wing loading (full fuel)
General Electric J85-GE-21A		2	4,945 kg		402 kg/m2
Engine characteristics			Mass with fuel (no weapons load)				Max Gross Weight
Weight (each)	Type		11m fuel	20m fuel	30m fuel	38m fuel
303 kg	Afterburning axial-flow turbojet		5,543 kg	5,981 kg	6,499 kg	6,940 kg	9,742 kg
Maximum engine thrust @ 0 m (RB/SB)			Thrust to weight ratio @ 0 m (WEP)
Condition	100%	WEP	11m fuel	20m fuel	30m fuel	38m fuel	MGW
Stationary	1,480 kgf	2,220 kgf	0.80	0.74	0.68	0.64	0.46
Optimal	1,575 kgf (1,458 km/h)	3,011 kgf (1,458 km/h)	1.09	1.01	0.93	0.87	0.62

Survivability and armour

Flares/Chaff

Aircraft countermeasures to distract IR and radar-guided missiles and also AA radar

Crew1 person

Speed of destruction

Structural0 km/h

Gear482 km/h

Examine the survivability of the aircraft. Note how vulnerable the structure is and how secure the pilot is, whether the fuel tanks are armoured, etc. Describe the armour, if there is any, and also mention the vulnerability of other critical aircraft systems.

Modifications and economy

Repair costBasic → Reference

AB2 947 → 4 066

RB8 669 → 11 963

SB9 429 → 13 012

Total cost of modifications297 000

457 000

Talisman cost3 000

Crew training270 000

Experts950 000

Aces3 200

Research Aces1 210 000

Reward for battleAB / RB / SB

100 / 320 / 600 %

244 / 244 / 244 %

Modifications

Flight performance	Survivability	Weaponry
Compressor Research: 10 000 Cost: 15 000 380 New boosters Research: 11 000 Cost: 17 000 410 Wings repair Research: 15 000 Cost: 23 000 560 Engine Research: 16 000 Cost: 25 000 600	Fuselage repair Research: 10 000 Cost: 15 000 380 Airframe Research: 11 000 Cost: 17 000 410 G-suit Research: 15 000 Cost: 23 000 560 Cover Research: 16 000 Cost: 25 000 600	t_160_belt_pack Research: 10 000 Cost: 15 000 380 t_160_new_gun Research: 10 000 Cost: 15 000 380 Mk82 Research: 10 000 Cost: 15 000 380 BLU-1 Research: 10 000 Cost: 15 000 380 Gun pod GPU-5/A. Research: 11 000 Cost: 17 000 410 LAU-3/A Research: 11 000 Cost: 17 000 410 M117 Research: 11 000 Cost: 17 000 410 Flares/Chaff Research: 11 000 Cost: 17 000 410 GAU_13A_belt_pack Research: 15 000 Cost: 23 000 560 LAU-10/A Research: 15 000 Cost: 23 000 560 Mk83 Research: 15 000 Cost: 23 000 560 GAU_13A_new_gun Research: 16 000 Cost: 25 000 600 AGM-65B Research: 16 000 Cost: 25 000 600 Mk84 Research: 16 000 Cost: 25 000 600 Python 3 Research: 16 000 Cost: 25 000 600

Armaments

Ballistic Computer
CCIP (Guns)	CCIP (Rockets)	CCIP (Bombs)	CCRP (Bombs)	EEGS

Offensive armament

The F-5E FCU (Japan) is armed with:

• 2 x 20 mm M39A3 cannons, nose-mounted (280 rpg = 560 total)
• 10 x large calibre countermeasures
• 30 x countermeasures

Suspended armament

The F-5E FCU (Japan) can be outfitted with the following ordnance:

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7
30 mm GAU-13/A cannons (353 rpg)				1
500 lb LDGP Mk 82 bombs		1	1	1	1	1
500 lb Mk 82 Snakeye bombs		1	1	1	1	1
750 lb M117 cone 45 bombs		1	1	1	1	1
1,000 lb LDGP Mk 83 bombs			1	1	1
2,000 lb LDGP Mk 84 bombs				1
BLU-1 incendiary bombs		1	1	1	1	1
FFAR Mighty Mouse rockets		19	19		19	19
Zuni Mk32 Mod 0 ATAP rockets		4				4
AGM-65B missiles		1	1		1	1
AIM-9P4 Sidewinder missiles	1						1
Python 3 missiles		1				1
150 gal drop tanks			1	1	1

Default weapon presets

3 x 150 gal drop tanks + 2 x AIM-9P4 Sidewinder missiles 2 x Python 3 missiles 1 x 30 mm GAU-13/A cannon (353 rpg) 76 x FFAR Mighty Mouse rockets 8 x Zuni Mk32 Mod 0 ATAP rockets 5 x 500 lb LDGP Mk 82 bombs (2,500 lb total) 5 x 500 lb Mk 82 Snakeye bombs (2,500 lb total) 5 x 750 lb M117 cone 45 bombs (3,750 lb total) 5 x BLU-1 incendiary bombs 3 x 1,000 lb LDGP Mk 83 bombs (3,000 lb total) 1 x 2,000 lb LDGP Mk 84 bomb (2,000 lb total) 4 x AGM-65B missiles

Usage in battles

Describe the tactics of playing in the aircraft, the features of using aircraft in a team and advice on tactics. Refrain from creating a "guide" - do not impose a single point of view, but instead, give the reader food for thought. Examine the most dangerous enemies and give recommendations on fighting them. If necessary, note the specifics of the game in different modes (AB, RB, SB).

Pros and cons

Pros:

• A small target with good manoeuvrability makes it a difficult target to hit
• Flaps do not break with speed. Even if the pilot puts them on landing position, they automatically adjust to different speeds.
• Uses Python 3 IR missiles
• Can attack ground targets from a distance with the AGM-65B
• All IR missiles can be slaved by the radar
• Modern HUD with sight customization, good for simulator battles
• Although the radar is not very good, the aircraft has a ballistic computer for radar-locked aerial targets (EEGS)

Cons:

• AGM-65B does not have a thermal camera, which makes it weather dependent
• Despite having 4 hardpoints, it cannot carry 4 Pythons 3
• Radar only has standard pulse mode
• No IFF for Active Radar
• No radar missiles

History

Describe the history of the creation and combat usage of the aircraft in more detail than in the introduction. If the historical reference turns out to be too long, take it to a separate article, taking a link to the article about the vehicle and adding a block "/History" (example: https://wiki.warthunder.com/(Vehicle-name)/History) and add a link to it here using the main template. Be sure to reference text and sources by using <ref></ref>, as well as adding them at the end of the article with <references />. This section may also include the vehicle's dev blog entry (if applicable) and the in-game encyclopedia description (under === In-game description ===, also if applicable).

Devblog

The Royal Thai Air Force received the first F-5 series aircraft in the late 1960s during the Vietnam War, where the resulting aircraft were equipped purely as attack aircraft. The country began receiving more advanced F-5Es in the late 70s. In 1988, the modernization of part of the F-5E fleet began. They received a HUD, a new sight with a ballistic computer, countermeasures, an RWR and the ability to install Python 3 missiles. Even though the Royal Thai Air Force have begun using F-16 fighters, the F-5 series of aircraft remain in service to this day.

Media

Skins

• Skins and camouflages for the F-5E FCU (Japan) from live.warthunder.com.

See also

Related development

• F-5 (Family)

External links

• [Devblog] Squadron Vehicles: F-5E FCU

Northrop Corporation
Fighters	P-61A-11 · P-61C-1
Jet fighters	F-89B · F-89D
	F-5A · F-5C · F-5E
	F-20A
Export	␗F-5A · ▄F-5E FCU

Japan jet aircraft
IJNAS
Experimental	Kikka
Reconnaissance	R2Y2 Kai V1 · R2Y2 Kai V2 · R2Y2 Kai V3
IJAAS
Fighters	Ki-200
JASDF
Fighters	F-86F-30 ▅ · F-86F-40 ▅ · F-86F-40 JASDF▅
	F-104J
	F-4EJ Phantom II · F-4EJ ADTW · F-4EJ Kai Phantom II
	F-15J · F-15J(M)
	F-16AJ
	F-1
Trainers	T-2 Early · T-2
Foreign
Thailand	▄F-5E FCU

Squadron aircraft
USA	A-4E Early
Germany	Me 262 A-1a/U1 · ◌Hunter F.58
USSR	Su-22M3
Britain	Firecrest · Sea Harrier FRS.1
Japan	▄F-5E FCU
China	JF-17