In 1966, the Swiss Air Force adopted a new doctrine, changing the role of the air force to achieving total airspace control instead of ground support. As a result, the ageing Hawker Hunters then in service were considered inadequate in this role. Due to constraints of the country's airfields, the Swiss Air Force took an interest in the American Northrop F-5 fighter family. After a period of flight trials during the late 1970s, the Swiss Air Force procured 98 of the Northrop F-5E Tiger II as part of their modernisation programme in 1981. The F-5E was chosen due to its suitability as a deterrence aircraft and its low maintenance costs per flight hour. Despite numerous attempts to decommission it, the F-5E went on to serve for 43 years until it was retired in 2024.

The Swiss F-5E was introduced in Update 2.47 "Leviathans" in the German tech tree. It is identical to its counterpart found in the American tech tree. The F-5E's key advantages are its excellent handling and manoeuvrability, making it well suited for both dogfighting and close air support missions. Its versatility is further enhanced by a wide range of ordnance options, including air-to-air missiles, unguided high-explosive and incendiary bombs, gun pods, rockets of various calibres, and AGM-65B Maverick guided missiles. All in all, the aircraft is easy to master for both novices and seasoned aces, making it a formidable opponent on the battlefield.