US Marine Corps picks up first of 22 ex-Swiss Air Force F-5 Tiger fighter jets for OPFOR role

Aviation Defense News March 2024
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Switzerland has handed over its first decommissioned Northrop F-5 Tiger fighter jet to the US military. The transfer marks the initial step towards fulfilling a contract signed in 2020 involving 22 aircraft, Ashish Dangwal reports in EurAsian Times.
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US Marine Corps picks up first of 22 ex Swiss Air Force F 5 fighter jets for OPFOR role Initially acquired by Switzerland during the 1970s and 1980s, the now-retired Northrop F-5E and F-5F Tiger jets have served reliably over the years (Picture source: Swiss MoD)

The agreement, worth around USD 32.4 million, covers the sale of 16 single-seat F-5E jets, 6 twin-seat F-5F aircraft, and includes ground support equipment, spare parts, and logistical assistance. The U.S. Marine Corps officially received the first of these aircraft from Emmen Air Force Station on March 18, as confirmed by the Swiss Federal Office for Armaments (armasuisse), with transportation carried on with a Lockheed KC-130J.

Initially acquired by Switzerland during the 1970s and 1980s, the now-retired Northrop F-5 Tiger jets have served reliably over the years. Switzerland bought a total of 98 F-5Es and 12 F-5Fs as part of the Peace Alps and Peace Alps II programs. In 2008, 44 F-5s were sold to the US Navy, where they're currently used for adversary training.

Currently, Switzerland maintains an inventory of 25 F-5 Tigers, with 18 operational. With the upcoming shift to the Lockheed Martin F-35 set for 2028, Swiss Air Force leadership has decided it is impractical to continue the maintenance of the F-5 fleet due to constraints in necessity, manpower, budget, and infrastructure, a decision publicized on March 15. Consequently, the F-5 fleet is being repurposed for secondary duties like target towing and training, thereby reducing the operational demands on the F/A-18 Hornets. This transition also signifies the conclusion of an era for the Patrouille Suisse, which has performed with the F-5 since 1994, following the Hawker Hunters.

To maintain a minimum fleet of 12 aircraft, comprising 10 single-seat and two twin-seat variants, is deemed essential, with the expected cost estimated at approximately 9 million Swiss francs ($10.2 million). The Swiss Parliament's Security Policy Committees are set to review these proposals.