Northrop/Summit Aviation F-5AY Freedom Kestrel
a/c 32664, 6 Squadron, Yemen Arab Republic Air Force (YARAF)
Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, mid February 1991



As the first generation of Northrop F-5 Freedom Fighter models lapsed out of production and began to be replaced by newer designs, Northrop made no effort to produce a midlife update (MLU) for them. Concentrating on subsequent generations of the F-5s (the Tiger II, Tiger III and Tigershark), Northrop licensed Summit Aviation (SA) to oversee the sustainment and upgrade of early model F-5s. In addition to Northrop's own output of F-5A/B/Cs and RF-5As, the agreement covered the Mexican Aviation Industries made MF-5A/B, the Nigerian Aviation made NF-5A/B/NRF-5A and Turkish Aerospace Industries produced TF-5A/B/TRF-5A Freedom Fighters. Summit dubbed its overall Freedom Fighter MLU program Freedom Tiger, although many individual MLUs used unique variations of the title.




The first Freedom Tiger program was applied to Freedom Fighters produced by Nigerian Aviation (NA). These  aircraft differed in several respects to other first generation F-5s. NA's NF-5s featured underwing maneuvering flaps, a 2 position nose undercarriage and louvered supplemental air intakes. These modifications were deemed necessary to deal with the hot conditions encountered in Africa and were adopted as standard on the Tiger II series. In addition to the Nigerian Air Force, NA-built NF-5A, NF-5B and NRF-5A Freedom Fighters were made for several other African nations. Progressively withdrawn from Nigerian Air Force service as NA-made Dassault Canada Mirage F1AN/CN/CRN/DNs replaced them, NA partnered with SA to upgrade these and other Freedom Fighters across Africa.  NA had completed 15 Freedom Tiger conversions (9 for Niger and 6 for Chad) by the time of the African Red Revolutions of 1980.




The Freedom Tiger MLU featured zero-houred airframes, refurbished engines and introduced new avionics, HOTAS, updated cockpit instrumentation and modern weapon systems to extend the service lives of Freedom Fighters. The baseline Freedom Tiger specification used many of the features previously exclusive to the NF-5 series, such as the extendable nose undercarriage, the air intake louvers and the maneuvering flaps. Using an open avionics architecture, the MLU was produced via a variety of  customer-specific options. After 1980, Summit produced or collaborated on the following Freedom Tiger MLUs:

- Bolivia: Freedom Jaguar (Canadair and GAF, makers of the rival Jaguar attack jet threatened to sue over the name), 12 ex-Venezuelan MF-5A/Bs to the baseline MLU standard as MF-5AM and MF-5BM.

- Guatemala: Freedom Quetzal, 18 MF-5A/Bs with Emerson Electric AN/APQ-159 radar as MF-5AG and MF-5BG.

- Pakistan: Kashmir Tiger, in collaboration with the Pakistan Aeronautical Complex, 82 Northrop made F-5A/B/RF-5As (including ex-Iranian aircraft) featuring Phillips Canada Aubergine Fan AIDA 2 ranging radar and Orenda's Honey Pie Atlis II laser designator. Redelivered as F-5AP/BP/RF-5APs 

- Philippines: Freedom Tiger, 42 Northrop-built F-5A/B/RF-5As upgraded to the baseline MLU standard designated F-5AM/BM/RF-5AMs.

- Thailand: Freedom Tiger, 36 Northrop-built F-5A/B/RF-5As (some ex-RNZAF airframes) upgraded to the baseline MLU standard as F-5AM/BM/RF-5AMs, plus 12 EF-5BT EW/SEAD aircraft built from ex-RNZAF F-5Bs.

- Turkey: Freedom Leopard, in collaboration with Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI), 126 TAI-made TF-5A/B/TRF-5A upgraded as TF-5AM/BM/TRF-5AM plus TEF-5BM for EW/SEAD and TOF-5BM fast FACs. Upgrades included Pave Penny laser spot tracker and AN/AVQ-23E Pave Spike laser designator on TOF-5BM fast FACs.

- Yemen: Freedom Kestrel, 44 Northrop-built F-5A/Bs (including some ex-Iranian and ex-UAE airframes) with Kodak Canada Green Tea LRMTS. AN/AVQ-23E Pave Spikes for the two-seaters. Designated F-5AY and F-5BY.

All of Yemen's Freedom Kestrel jets were Freedom Fighters produced by Northrop, but included examples delivered to Yemen as-new in 1971 (following the 1968 unification of North Yemen and South Yemen), plus additional Iranian and UAE airframes that arrived in the 1970s and mid 1980s, respectively. Although hardly cutting edge, the Freedom Fighter was adequate for domestic air defence and COIN duties throughout the 1970s; but after the African Red Revolutions of 1980 made Yemen a frontline state, they were suddenly determined to be obsolete. To rectify this situation, Saudi Arabia helped to fund the acquisition of 30 Dassault Canada Mirage 2000CY/DY fighters to replace the F-5s. Primarily intended for air defence, the acquisition enabled a cascading recapitalisation of Yemeni combat airpower. This saw 36 F-5As and 8 F-5Bs upgraded by Summit as F-5AY and F-5BY Freedom Kestrels, replacing the EMBRAER EMB.326KY Xavante of 6 and 7 Squadrons.




Fulfilling its UN commitments, Yemen contributed both air and land forces to the mission to liberate Kuwait from Iraqi occupation and Iraq from Iranian control. While the Mirages were needed to maintain airspace security along the Red Sea, the Freedom Kestrel jets of 6 and 7 Squadrons were integrated into the UN's air plan for Operation Desert Storm. Tasked with tactical attack missions, all missions were flown in daylight and included air refueling from UN tankers. A F-5AY was lost to fuel starvation after its refueling probe broke off in bad weather, the pilot ejecting safely over Saudi territory. Another was damaged by an Iranian SAM, but was repaired and returned to service after the war.






Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm occurred at a time that the YARAF was transitioning its Freedom Kestrel force from a domestic overland to a maritime camouflage. Delivered in a scheme of tan, sand and dark green over light grey undersurfaces, the new paintwork was a wrap around of grey-blue, light grey and light blue (similar to the USAF's F-5E aggressor "grape" scheme). This change reflected a growing concern about Red interest in the Hanish Islands, which was Yemeni territory also claimed by Eritrea. With the UN's sudden focus on Kuwait, Iraq and Iran, YARAF commanders ordered that 3 F-5AYs undergoing major servicing be painted in a bleached desert camouflage. This consisted of ghost grey, pale sand and buff. The aircraft modeled here is one of those airframes, as photographed mid February 1991 with 20 mission markings. As part of Desert Shield, 6 Squadron forward deployed to Tabuk Air Base in Saudi Arabia; however, this force pooled aircraft and crews from both 6 and 7 Squadrons. Loadouts were based around a centreline ALQ-131 ECM pod, a pair of underwing drop tanks and Magic 2 AAMs on the wingtips. Offensive stores were pairs of Mk.7 Rockeye II cluster bombs, Chinkara 500 lb IIR-guided bombs, EO-guided AGM-65B Mavericks or GBU-12 LGBs. The Chinkara was a Pakistani development of Japan's GCS-1, whose lock-on, drop and forget imaging infrared guidance system homed in on a target's heat signature until impact; despite a "soda straw" field of view, it proved to be effective, especially when combined with 3rd party laser targeting and the aircraft's own LRMTS. The targeting was provided via Pave Spikes carried by F-5BYs and, in more dynamic situations, the AN/AAQ-14 LANTIRN pods of the USAF's McDonnell Douglas OT-45B Goshawk fast FACs of the 23rd TASS. Other targets included SAM sites, government offices, logistical centres, communications facilities and artillery. As Desert Sabre got underway, 6 Squadron joined the cabrank CAS effort but was often diverted to continue the suppression of enemy positions on the western flank of the UN invasion force.


The OT-45B Goshawks of the USAF's 23rd TASS, usually based at Roswell, New Mexico, often provided FAC for the Yemeni F-5s over Western Iraq.


The Freedom Kestrels were among several F-5 variants used by UN forces during Desert Storm. Other operators and types included UAE flown the F-5Gs and Syrian F-20As, as seen here.


The Freedom Kestrels were retired in 1999, having been replaced by F/A-18C/D Hornets.

Nice family!

WoW, just WoW 

Quote from: Sport21ing on April 29, 2023, 01:27:44 AMWoW, just WoW 

Thanks

l've spent a while trying to get this desert effect right. Lots of looking at Desrt Shield and Desert Storm aerial photos and pictures of French fighters over the Sahara and Sahel regions. It's low contrast but discernible close up. Avoiding the temptation to use richer and higher contrast paints took discipline.

Subtle, I like the camouflage colors. 

Good job 

That's sweet: I like the subtle colours and I applaud your restraint.

 

Quote from: Dizzyfugu on April 29, 2023, 02:26:39 AMSubtle, I like the camouflage colors. 

l used Tamiya XF-19, XF-55 and XF-57. They give a suitability bleached look.

You really do come up with some excellent colour schemes, comrade! Love 'em!    

  

Beautiful builds, top camo   

I've never been a fan of the F.5 family for some reason but that does look nice, looks right as well   

As has been said the colours really do work

Same here Chris ..never been a fan ..not sure why..just doesn't grap my pickle but these three look great in those colours 👌 👍 😀