F-5A (China)

␗F-5A

␗F-104G

␗F-5E

␗F-5A

␗F-104G

␗F-5E

China

VII Rank

Battle rating:

AB	RB	SB
11.3	10.7	10.7

Class:

Fighter

Jet fighter

Research:300 000

Purchase:830 000

Show in game

Description

The ␗F-5A Freedom Fighter is a rank VII Chinese jet fighter with a battle rating of 11.3 (AB) and 10.7 (RB/SB). It was introduced in Update "Ixwa Strike".

General info

Flight performance

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 10 668 m1 444 km/h

Turn time27 s

Max altitude15 240 m

Engine2 х General Electric J85-GE-13

TypeJet

Cooling systemAir

Take-off weight24 t

The F-5A is a really manoeuvrable aircraft, easily hitting 13 G turns without losing much energy. Try to stay above 800 km/h, if you go below that your speed starts dropping rapidly. You don't really have to care about ripping your wings. The angle of attack in a turn stays really low, as it does not have delta wings and is really light. However, the aircraft does not have a high top speed and acceleration.

Characteristics	Max Speed (km/h at 10,668 m)		Max altitude (metres)	Turn time (seconds)		Rate of climb (metres/second)		Take-off run (metres)
	AB	RB		AB	RB	AB	RB
Stock	1,430	1,422	15240	27.1	28.3	112.5	99.3	850
Upgraded	___	___		__._	__._	__._	__._

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	+	-
1458	444	926	559	555	~11	~4

Optimal velocities (km/h)
Ailerons	Rudder	Elevators	Radiator
< 680	< 750	< 700	N/A

Survivability and armour

Flares/Chaff

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

Crew1 person

Speed of destruction

Structural1 458 km/h

Gear444 km/h

• No armour
• Self-sealing fuel tanks (2 large ones in the rear fuselage)

Modifications and economy

Repair costBasic → Reference

AB2 949 → 3 984

RB9 174 → 12 394

SB9 411 → 12 714

Total cost of modifications264 000

410 000

Talisman cost2 900

Crew training240 000

Experts830 000

Aces3 000

Research Aces1 140 000

Reward for battleAB / RB / SB

100 / 320 / 600 %

238 / 238 / 238 %

Modifications

Flight performance	Survivability	Weaponry
Fuselage repair Research: 11 000 Cost: 17 000 370 Compressor Research: 11 000 Cost: 17 000 370 New boosters Research: 12 000 Cost: 19 000 410 Wings repair Research: 16 000 Cost: 25 000 540 Engine Research: 16 000 Cost: 25 000 540 G-suit Research: 17 000 Cost: 26 000 580	Airframe Research: 12 000 Cost: 19 000 410 Cover Research: 17 000 Cost: 26 000 580	Flares/Chaff Research: 11 000 Cost: 17 000 370 Mk82 Research: 11 000 Cost: 17 000 370 BLU-1 Research: 11 000 Cost: 17 000 370 t_160_belt_pack Research: 12 000 Cost: 19 000 410 M117 Research: 12 000 Cost: 19 000 410 LAU-3/A Research: 12 000 Cost: 19 000 410 Mk83 Research: 16 000 Cost: 25 000 540 LAU-10/A Research: 16 000 Cost: 25 000 540 t_160_new_gun Research: 17 000 Cost: 26 000 580 Mk84 Research: 17 000 Cost: 26 000 580 AGM-12B Bullpup Research: 17 000 Cost: 26 000 580

Armaments

Offensive armament

The F-5A (China) is armed with:

• 2 x 20 mm M39A2 cannons, nose-mounted (280 rpg = 560 total)

Suspended armament

The F-5A (China) can be outfitted with the following ordnance:

• Without load
• 18 x 250 lb LDGP Mk 81 bombs (4,500 lb total)
• 5 x 500 lb LDGP Mk 82 bombs (2,500 lb total)
• 5 x 750 lb M117 cone 45 bombs (3,750 lb total)
• 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)
• 76 x FFAR Mighty Mouse rockets
• 4 x AGM-12B Bullpup missiles
• 2 x AIM-9P Sidewinder missiles + 18 x 250 lb LDGP Mk 81 bombs (4,500 lb total)
• 2 x AIM-9P Sidewinder missiles + 5 x 500 lb LDGP Mk 82 bombs (2,500 lb total)
• 2 x AIM-9P Sidewinder missiles + 5 x 750 lb M117 cone 45 bombs (3,750 lb total)
• 2 x AIM-9P Sidewinder missiles + 3 x 1,000 lb LDGP Mk 83 bombs (3,000 lb total)
• 2 x AIM-9P Sidewinder missiles + 1 x 2,000 lb LDGP Mk 84 bomb (2,000 lb total)
• 2 x AIM-9P Sidewinder missiles + 76 x FFAR Mighty Mouse rockets
• 2 x AIM-9P Sidewinder missiles + 2 x AGM-12B Bullpup missiles
• 2 x AIM-9P Sidewinder missiles
• 2 x AIM-9P Sidewinder missiles + 76 x FFAR Mighty Mouse rockets + 6 x 250 lb LDGP Mk 81 bombs (1,500 lb total)
• 2 x AIM-9P Sidewinder missiles + 2 x AGM-12B Bullpup missiles + 3 x 500 lb LDGP Mk 82 bombs (1,500 lb total)
• 2 x AIM-9P Sidewinder missiles + 2 x AGM-12B Bullpup missiles + 3 x 750 lb M117 cone 45 bombs (2,250 lb total)
• 2 x AIM-9P Sidewinder missiles + 76 x FFAR Mighty Mouse rockets + 1 x 1,000 lb LDGP Mk 83 bomb (1,000 lb total)
• 2 x AIM-9P Sidewinder missiles + 76 x FFAR Mighty Mouse rockets + 1 x 750 lb M117 cone 45 bomb (750 lb total)
• 2 x AIM-9P Sidewinder missiles + 38 x FFAR Mighty Mouse rockets + 3 x 750 lb M117 cone 45 bombs (2,250 lb total)
• 2 x AIM-9P Sidewinder missiles + 2 x AGM-12B Bullpup missiles + 38 x FFAR Mighty Mouse rockets + 1 x 750 lb M117 cone 45 bomb (750 lb total)
• 2 x AIM-9P Sidewinder missiles + 2 x AGM-12B Bullpup missiles + 38 x FFAR Mighty Mouse rockets + 1 x 500 lb LDGP Mk 82 bomb (500 lb total)
• 2 x AIM-9P Sidewinder missiles + 2 x AGM-12B Bullpup missiles + 38 x FFAR Mighty Mouse rockets + 1 x 1,000 lb LDGP Mk 83 bomb (1,000 lb total)

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:

• Many payload options
• AIM-9P missiles are quite effective
• Highly manoeuvrable
• Amazing energy retention, even in high-G manoeuvres
• Hard to rip the wings
• Can be used in many roles, such as fighter, attacker and base bomber
• Competitive speed at sea level, on par with MiG-21s
• Reasonable ammo pool for the cannons

Cons:

• No flares
• Low top speed, acceleration, and climb rate compared to its counterparts

History

Devblog

In the mid-50’s, a group of specialists from the Northrop Corporation began developing a light multi-role short-range support fighter  on their own initiative that could take off and land on short runways. The idea did not receive much appreciation from the military authorities, as the main stake was then placed on high-tech expensive fighters, for which the length of the runway did not play a decisive role. However, within Northrop Corporation, the project continued to develop. While research, construction and testing of prototypes were going on, the strengthening of the NATO and SEATO alliances required the United States to supply a cheap multi-role fighter to allies.

This is where the work of the Northrop engineers came in handy. With minor modifications, the experimental aircraft went into production under the designation F-5A. Very easy to assemble and maintain, without modern navigation and guidance systems, the aircraft was able to carry a huge arsenal of suspended weaponry and effectively carry out missions to destroy various types of ground targets, as well as successfully participate in air battles, often against more expensive and advanced enemy aircraft.

The F-5A Freedom Fighter was first put in service by the Norwegian Air Force in 1964, later she was supplied to a large number of US allies and was actively used in many conflicts around the world, including Vietnam, the Iran-Iraq conflict and the War of Ogaden.

Media

Skins

• Skins and camouflages for the F-5A from live.warthunder.com.

Images

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See also

Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:

• reference to the series of the aircraft;
• links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.

External links

• Official data sheet - more details about the performance