After nearly sixty years of service in the Republic of China Air Force, the F-5 series fighter jets held a retirement ceremony on July 4. The Taiwanese Air Force began operating the F-5A/B model jets in 1965, and later in 1973, collaborated with the American Northrop Corporation on the “Huan Project” to produce the F-5E Tiger II fighter jets in Taiwan. The following year saw the rollout of the first F-5E fighter jet from the project. The Huan Project produced a total of 242 single-seat F-5E fighter jets and 66 two-seat F-5F fighter jets, totaling 308 aircraft. Throughout the 1970s to the 1990s, they served as the main fighter jets of the Air Force before transitioning to second-line roles as training aircraft to cultivate pilots.
The F-5 series fighter jets, manufactured by the American Northrop Corporation, are light fighter jets known for their simple and cost-effective characteristics, contrasting with the sophisticated style of most American fighter jets. They have been widely embraced by developing countries and some have been used as low-end fighters alongside mainstay fighter jets. Since its introduction in 1962, these fighter jets have been in service for over 60 years. Some countries have continued to use the upgraded versions of the F-5 series fighter jets after extending their service life.
As the operational life of the AT-3 trainer aircraft and the training aircraft F-5F grew longer, malfunctions and accidents increased. Therefore, starting from the early 2000s, Taiwan began seeking new advanced trainer aircraft. The Tsai Ing-wen government decided to develop the domestically produced advanced trainer aircraft T-BE5A “Yongying” based on the Indigenous Defense Fighter (IDF). The Yongying advanced trainer aircraft successfully flew for the first time in June 2020 and entered service in November 2021. Nearly 50 aircraft have already been delivered, with plans to produce a total of 66 aircraft.
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