Modernised Tiger IIs (F-5EM/FM, F-5S, Tiger III, F-5N)
New radars, cockpits and missiles keep the Tiger II flying into its sixth decade · F-5EM in service 2005 · Still flying in 2026
Many Tiger II operators chose to modernise rather than replace. Brazil's programme, led by Embraer with Elbit and launched in 2001, upgraded 46 F-5E/Fs with new avionics, a glass cockpit, an electronic warfare suite and an Italian Grifo-F multimode radar; the first F-5EM was handed over on 21 September 2005. In 2009 Brazil added eight single-seat and three two-seat jets bought from Jordan, and in 2024 it still flew 35 F-5EMs and 4 F-5FMs, to be withdrawn by 2029.
Singapore's F-5S also received the Grifo-F radar and can fire AIM-120 AMRAAMs. Chile's Tiger III uses the Israeli Elta EL/M-2032 radar and Python missiles, and Morocco flies upgraded F-5TIIIs.
In the United States the F-5 remains an adversary trainer. In 2006 the Navy acquired 36 ex-Swiss F-5E/Fs, which became F-5Ns and F-5Fs with the AN/APG-69 radar; they fly with the reserve squadrons VFC-111 at Key West and VFC-204 in New Orleans, while the Marine Corps uses F-5s with VMFT-401 and VMFT-402.
