UAE Northrop F-5G Tiger III

[comrade harps]

Northrop F-5G Tiger III
#3038, 76 Squadron, United Arab Emirates Air Force
Al Dhafra, 17 January 1991
Pilot: 1st Lieutenant Fares



The UN and the media have made much of the destruction of two Iranian F-104Ps by a pair of bombed-up US Navy F/A-18Cs on 17 January 1991. Less attention has been given to a similar event on the same day, when a pair of F-5G pilots from the United Arab Emirates Air Force (UAEAF) also shot down two F-104Ps whilst carrying bombs. The UAE is less publicity focused than the USN.




The story of the UAEAF's F-5G and F-5H Tiger III dates back to 1978. In that year, Northrop tested a YF-5E modified with avionics based on its next-generation lightweight fighter, the F-20. The new equipment included an APG-67 radar, an all-electronic navigation system based around a ring laser gyroscope and all-new cockpit instrumentation including multifunction displays, a wider-angle HUD and HOTAS controls. In 1979, this technology demonstrator successfully engaged target drones with AIM-7F Sparrow missiles. To fit the new equipment into the YF-5E's nose, the starboard 20mm M39 cannon was removed. Northrop's plan was for this technology to be installed in all new-build F-20A and F-20B Tigersharks and offered as an mid-life update for F-5E, F-5F and RF-5E Tiger IIs.




When the UN's position in Africa collapsed in 1980, several African-operated Tiger IIs were flown to safety by pilots seeking refuge. These planes were then offered for transfer to other UN operators and for sale to the UN's neutral partners. The UAE, already flying a squadron of Tiger II, passed on this offer, instead looking at Northrop's now white-tailed production line units that had been intended for African air forces. To replace the UAEAF's squadron or F-5A and B Freedom Fighters, and a squadron of CAC Strikemasters, the UAE government requested that Northrop install the Tigershark's avionics into 34 orphaned F-5Es on the production line. The US government, concerned about the regional instability caused by the 1979 Iranian Islamic revolution and Iraq's September 1980 invasion of Iran, approved the deal in early 1981. The UAE's 28 F-5G (single-seat) and six F-5H (two-seat) Tiger IIIs arrived in 1983, armed with the monopulse doppler SARH-guided ASPIDE (Arab Sino Pakistan Intercept Device Equipment - a co-production between Iraq, Pakistan, Taiwan and the UAE*), AIM-9P Sidewinders, AGM-65B Mavericks and Mk.82 bombs. By the time of the 1991 Gulf War, the armament options had been upgraded to include AGM-65D, the all-aspect AIM-9P-5 Sidewinder, GBU.12 Paveway IIs and Mk.7 Rockeye. Additional stores were Orenda's Honey Pie Atlis II targeting pod and Plum Fairy Phimat chaff dispenser, ventral semi-conformal chaff/flare dispensers and the Taiwan Alpha Electronic ELT-555 ECM pod (although, as there were only 12 of these in service for Desert Storm, on offensive missions some planes carried the ELT-555 and others a Phimat). The Atlis II was mounted on a forward ventral hardpoint originally designed for Northrop's own LATAR (Laser Augmented Targeting And Recognition) pod, but despite extensive testing on an F-4E and an F-5E in 1976-77 (and plenty of marketing), LATAR failed to find buyers, squeezed out of the market by the  Westinghouse Pave Spike and the Atlis II. Through a licensing arrangement, Martin Marietta was responsible for integrating the Atlis II onto US-built aircraft, including the Tiger III.




The morning after the UN launched Operation Desert Storm to liberate Kuwait from Iraqi occupation, and to liberate Iraq from Iranian occupation, the UAE's three F-5 squadrons were in action. While 86 Squadron's Tiger IIs were tasked with defensive QRA and high-value asset escort, the Tiger IIIs of 71 and 76 squadrons were put on the offensive with a mission to Chabahar, a port town in eastern Iran that was a known outpost of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps. Their targets included small naval vessels and port facilities, plus regime, communications, industrial and radar sites. Variously armed with GBU.12s (guided by Atlis II pods) or Rockeyes, each aircraft also carried an ASPIDE and two AIM-9P-5s, plus either an ELT-555 or a Phimat. The nearby 10th Tactical Air Base at Chahbahar/Konarak airfield had been heavily attacked overnight by cruise missiles and bombed by USN A-6Es and A-7Es at dawn and was judged to be out of action, its runway and taxiways cratered and strewn with Gator mines. Another strike package, including Royal Australian Navy and US Navy aircraft, was fragged to pass near Chabahar, heading west, with the UAE jets sweeping across Chabahar in their shadow. As USN F-14D Tomcats set up a barrier CAP inland and to the west, two F-104P Starfighters took off from Zahedan, flying low and turning to the south to avoid the big Grummans. Able to be armed with AIM-7E-2 and AIM-9J missiles, these planes posed a credible threat. As the Iranian fighters approached Chabahar at about Mach 1.2, they were identified by controllers aboard a USN E-2C Hawkeye. The nearest Tomcats were distracted by a pair of  Iranian F-15A Eagles and out of position to engage the Starfighters, so the response was (reluctantly) handed to the Tiger III pilots.



Major Khalid Ismail was in the lead and closest to the approaching F-104Ps. Taking his cue from the Hawkeye controller, the Major maneuvered and adjusted his APG-67 radar to achieve a lock-on. In a high speed, head-on engagement, he selected his ASPIDE and called "Fox one" on the radio. As the missile came off the rail, it failed to guide and went ballistic. Moments later, with a Sidewinder tone ringing, Major Ismail called "Fox two" and launched his starboard AIM-9P-5, which exploded above the oncoming Starfighter. The pilot, 1st Lieutenant Mohammad Ranjbar, failed to eject and was killed. Ismail's wingman, 1st Lieutenant Fares Jumaa, focused on the second Starfighter and also had a lock-on and a Sidewinder tone. Concerned that the IR-guided missile might be attracted to his leader's fighter, or to the fireball of the other Starfighter, he selected the ASPIDE: "Fox one!" This one guided true and exploded beneath the Iranian bandit, badly damaging the jet and forcing the pilot to eject. 2nd Lieutenant Hassan Habibi landed safely, suffering only minor injuries.



Throughout the engagement, the two UAE pilots had retained their offensive load of two GBU.12s each. The action had taken them north of Chahbahar, forcing them to turn back to deliver their bombs against a "regime target". With little flak and the SAMs in the area off-air after a pummeling the night before, the 22 F-5Gs of 71 and 76 squadron were able to attack their targets with no other interference and all returned safely to Al Dhafra. Post-strike reconnaissance indicated that the mission had been successful.

The aircraft depicted here is that flown by 1st Lieutenant Fares Jumaa of the UAEAF on 17 January 1991 mission.

*The ASPIDE Consortium was formed in 1971, with Iraq and the UAE primarily serving as financiers and Pakistan and Taiwan acting as the technology developers. At the time, neither Iraq nor the UAE operated aircraft capable of guiding the ASPIDE, unlike Pakistan (F-104P) and Taiwan (F-4E) which used the AIM-7E-2 Sparrow. When the ASPIDE entered service in 1981, Iraq had integrated the missile onto some of its Mirages. Nevertheless, the ASPIDE was designed to be built in both AAM and SAM versions, the latter including naval applications. The UAE deployed the ASPIDE as a SAM from 1982 and on the Tiger III from 1983. It was a successful system and widely exported.

[Pellson]

Awesome camouflage (as usual)! Cool
Backstory as well, but I think you'll be somewhat pressed to find Iranian pilots with Arabian names, if you allow me to really be picky. Persian is a very different language.
But that's really minor detail, and the F-5 G is magnificent
What kit is it?

[comrade harps]

Awesome camouflage (as usual)! Cool

Backstory as well, but I think you'll be somewhat pressed to find Iranian pilots with Arabian names, if you allow me to really be picky. Persian is a very different language.
But that's really minor detail, and the F-5 G is magnificent
What kit is it?

Actually, my Iranian pilots are Iranian soccer players:
1st Lieutenant Mohammad Ranjbar - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mohammad_Ranjbar
2nd Lieutenant Hassan Habibi - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hassan_Habibi_(footballer)

The UAE pilots are UAE soccer players.

It's an Italeri 1:72nd scale Swiss F-5E Tiger II with the "shark" nose.

And, yes, it is a cool camo. It has my 2021 favourite colour of deception, blue/grey/green Humbrol M87 on it.

[Pellson]

Awesome camouflage (as usual)! Cool

Backstory as well, but I think you'll be somewhat pressed to find Iranian pilots with Arabian names, if you allow me to really be picky. Persian is a very different language.
But that's really minor detail, and the F-5 G is magnificent
What kit is it?

Actually, my Iranian pilots are Iranian soccer players:
1st Lieutenant Mohammad Ranjbar - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mohammad_Ranjbar
2nd Lieutenant Hassan Habibi - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hassan_Habibi_(footballer)

The UAE pilots are UAE soccer players.

It's an Italeri 1:72nd scale Swiss F-5E Tiger II with the "shark" nose.

And, yes, it is a cool camo. It has my 2021 favourite colour of deception, blue/grey/green Humbrol M87 on it.

Sweet!

[zenrat]

I always google the names the good Comrade uses to see who they play soccer for.


Good job Comrade.   

[chrisonord]

Excellent  build  and  back story  Comrade,  as per
Chris

[Sport21ing]

an mistake as been found: "Iran's September 1980 invasion of Iran"

[Dizzyfugu]

Nice one! I am just not certain about the LANTIRN pod's position?

[comrade harps]

an mistake as been found: "Iran's September 1980 invasion of Iran"

That was an error! Corrected. Ta.

[comrade harps]

Nice one! I am just not certain about the LANTIRN pod's position?

The story about the LATAR pod is kinda true. Here it is on a F-5 (link below) not quite sure if it's a ventral centreline position or not. I chose a chin position to fit.

https://flic.kr/p/2kXiT22

[PR19_Kit]

Very nice. 

I like the camo and the 'chisely' nose. 

[DogfighterZen]

Looks very good!

[Glenn Gilbertson]

A good one - % I like the backstory.

[buzzbomb]

Came out very nice