The Northrop F-5 Tiger is a family of supersonic light fighter aircraft initially designed in the late 1950s. Smaller and simpler than contemporaries like the F-4 Phantom, the F-5 was more affordable to procure and operate, becoming a popular export aircraft. While primarily designed for air superiority, it also had ground-attack capabilities. The later F-5E Tiger II variant featured more powerful engines, greater fuel capacity, and improved avionics. Although it didn’t see combat with the U.S. Air Force, it served extensively with allied nations and continues to be used as an aggressor aircraft for training by the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps.