Kiwi Tigers
In the early-mid 1960s, Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) was looking to upgrade its air combat capability from the de Havilland Vampire and English Electric Canberra. Aircraft in consideration included General Dynamics F-111 bomber, Northrop F-5 Freedom Fighter, English Electric Lightning, Dassault Mirage III and/or 5 and the F-4 Phantom II, with the latter being the preference of the RNZAF. However, due to budget limitations the New Zealand Government preferred the F-5 Freedom Fighter.
By 1968, a decision was still pending. That same year though, The RNZAF were made aware of a new variant of the F-5 in development. This was initially known as F-5A-21 but subsequently became the F-5E Tiger II. It had two more powerful GE J85-21 engines; a lengthened and enlarged fuselage to accommodate more fuel; increased wing area and improved manoeuvrability. The aircraft's avionics were also more sophisticated, including a radar. Approval was soon given for a team of RNZAF personnel to go to the United States to assess the new type for its suitability for its intended operational role in New Zealand. The leader of the team, Air Commodore T. Gill, reported that it would be an ideal replacement for the Vampires and Canberras. The New Zealand government was pleased with this recommendation and in 1970 an order for 18 Tiger IIs was made, comprising of 12 F-5E single seat versions and 6 F-5F two seat trainers as well as associated spares and supporting equipment. In doing this, New Zealand became the first export customer of the new type.
The first F-5E Tiger IIs arrived in 1973 and were assigned to No. 75 Squadron and were officially handed over on 10 June. The F-5Fs were assigned to No. 14 Squadron which was to act as a conversion unit, training pilots in jet fighter aircraft. In 1980, an additional 10 F-5Es were acquired and these were operated by No. 2 Squadron. At the same time 4 dedicated reconnaissance RF-5E Tigereye variants were also acquired. These were also supplied to No. 14 Squadron, thus giving the squadron a dual training/reconnaissance function.
The F-5Es would undertake both air defence roles as well as ground attack/maritime strike roles. For the former, it would be armed with AIM-9 Sidewinders and 20mm cannon. In the latter role, a combination of simple iron bombs as well as AGM-65 Maverick and AGM-119 Penguin missiles.
In 1984 a major upgrade program, designated “Project Kārearea” was agreed for the Tiger IIs (“Kārearea” was an indigenous name of the New Zealand Falcon). This would involve mainly a comprehensive avionics upgrade including most importantly the replacement of the original AN/APQ-153 radar with the Westinghouse AN/APG-66 radar. This was a variation of that used in the General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon but with a smaller antenna able to be fitted in the smaller nose of the F-5E. Other aspects included some structural fatigue aspects, a comprehensive cockpit upgrade including a partial ‘glass’ cockpit as well as new radios, navigation and targeting computers. The latter also expanded the weapons able to be used by the type to include laser guided bombs and AIM-7 Sparrow medium range missiles. An air-to-air refueling probe was also added to allow the type to be refuelled by the two RNZAF No. 40 Squadron C-130Hs that had been provided a KC-130H conversion. The 4 RF-5Es also went through a similar upgrade though without the inclusion of the radar. Once converted the aircraft were designated either F-5K Kārearea or TF-5K Kārearea or RF-5K Kārearea.
The last of the aircraft to go through the Kārearea upgrade were completed in 1988. These would continue in service for another decade.
In 1998, the New Zealand Government announced it would replace the F-5K/TF-5K/RF-5Ks with a lease of 28 Saab Gripens comprising 18 JAS-39As and 10 JAS-39Bs. These would essentially be the same as the standard Swedish variants but with the addition of in-flight refuelling capability via retractable probes on the aircraft's starboard side, and an on-board oxygen-generating system (OBOGS) for longer duration missions. These would be equally split between No.s 2 & 75 Squadrons with 14 Squadron being disbanded.
This was not the end of the F-5K/TF-5K though. As part of their disposal, the New Zealand Government placed the aircraft up for sale. In 2001, the Government of Papua New Guinea approached New Zealand seeking to purchase some of the retired aircraft to help form a combat wing for its Papua New Guinea Defence Force (PNGDF) Air Element. These were felt necessary to help deter increasingly hostile actions along the border with West Papua. Eventually 14 aircraft were purchased – 10 F-5Ks and 2 TF-5Ks and 2 RF-5Ks. These would equip No. 1 Squadron PNGDF. Many of the pilots from this unit were actually ex-RNZAF pilots who flew the type in service already. In an upgrade to the capability when in RNZAF service, in PNGDF service, these were equipped with Israeli supplied Python-5 and Derby air-to-air missiles as well as "SPICE" guided bombs (used alongside AN/AAQ-28 Litening targeting pod on the centreline. They had their refuelling probes removed though as this was not a capability the PNGDF could use.
Most of those remaining aircraft not sold to PNG were eventually acquired by a private company, Airborne Tactical Advantage Company (ATAC), who would use them in an aggressor training role able to be contracted by air Forces globally. All but two aircraft were acquired by ATAC, except three examples (one F-5K and two RF-5Ks) which were put on display in New Zealand.
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Top: The first RNZAF F-5E delivered - NZ 6201 of No. 75 Squadron. This aircraft wears the 3-colour South-East Asia camouflage scheme over sky grey undersides. NZ 6201 carries the small 'tactical' drop tank on its belly pylon and inert practice Sidewinder missiles on the wingtip rails. No wing pylons are mounted.
Inset: 'Ake Ake Kia Kaha' ... No. 75 Sqn RNZAF banner in squadron colours with a saltired Tiki in the middle.
Bottom: A Northrop F-5F 2-seat trainer of No. 14 Squadron RNZAF. Flying from RNZAF Base Ohakea, No. 14 acted as an Operational Conversion Unit for Kiwi F-5s. The 'F model's South-East Asia camouflage scheme was virtually identical to that of the F-5E fighters but the trainers featured a standard RNZAF fin flash (in place of the F-5E's original, canted flash).
Inset: No. 12 Sqn RNZAF 'Kea' emblem (from the centre of the squadron crest).
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Top: A Northrop RF-5E photo-reconnaissance bird of No. 2 Squadrons recce detachment. These long-nosed aircraft were delivered in a low-visibility grey camouflage scheme meant to suit both low- and medium-altitude photo-recce missions.
'Lo-viz' versions of RNZAF markings include greyed-out roundels, fin flashes, and maintenance scripts. This 2-tone grey scheme proved too bright for New Zealand operational conditions (with a tendency to 'flare' in sunlight when manoeuvring).
Bottom: A refurbished F-5E of No. 2 Squadron RNZAF in the short-lived 'Tuatara' scheme of wrap-around grey, olive, and dark green. This 'Tuatara' camouflage was inspired by various USAF 'Lizard' schemes. [1] 'Lo-viz' markings included roundels and fin flashes which eliminated white, pale grey serials, with maintenance signs and other lettering in matt black.
Inset: Whakatopa Kia Mate ... the No. 2 Sqn RNZAF 'winged Taiaha' emblem somewhat works against the 'lo-viz' scheme (as do wing pylons still painted in the previous scheme).
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[1] This camouflage was very similar to USAF 'Lizard' schemes. However, the colouring of lizards native to New Zealand was not appropriate - local skinks being brownish while geckos have pale beige patches on green. A closer fit in colouring was the Tuatara - a primitive reptile native only to New Zealand - hence the naming.
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Top: A Papuan F-5K in the all-over medium grey finish applied to RNZAF Kāreareas during their MLU. This aircraft - P2-244 - has 'lo-viz' roundels and Air Wing banner - standard for operational combat types of the PNGDF Air Wing. The Papuans were quick to adopt the 'Tigershark' nickname for their F-5Ks - members of the family Galeocerdidae being native to PNG waters.
'Shark calling' - for airshow season, a colourful shark mouth adorns the nose of this Wewak-based F-5K. [2] Extra splashes of colour come from the red-painted AIM-9 missiles and the tips of the AIM-7 'shape' airshow smoke-generators.
Bottom: An upgraded F-5K while still in RNZAF service. External features to note are the revised nose contours to accommodate a new radar set and a large dorsal antenna revealing a major avionics update. This aircraft carries triple drop tanks and practice AIM-9s (suggesting that a hop over the Tasman for training in Australia was in the offing).
The first tranche of Kāreareas were delivered in an all-over olive-green scheme. Minimalist markings included 'ringless' Kiwi roundels in contrasting pale olive along with matching serials and, in this case, No. 2 Squadron RNZAF crest on the tail fin. At first, this new scheme seemed a perfect compromise for Kiwi operating environments. However, the olive-green faded quickly into patchiness and was, eventually, replaced by a new and more durable all-over medium grey scheme.
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[2] In normal service the PNGDF Air Wing F-5Ks wore a 'low-viz' shark mouth motif based on the WW2 AVG marking.
Note that, technically, all Papuan F-5Ks were home-based at Port Moresby. However, one rotating detachment of F-5Ks was always 'temporarily' based at Wewak Airport on the north coast.