RUAG and Tactical Air to revamp US Navy aggressor F-5 fleet
The US acquired 16 F-5Es and six F-5Fs from the Swiss Air Force in 2020. (Photo: RUAG)
RUAG and Tactical Air will work to improve safety and readiness of US Navy Red Air adversary training aircraft under the modernisation programme.
The US Navy has awarded a modernisation contract to training company Tactical Air Support and RUAG for the revamp of F-5s acquired from Switzerland.
The latter company will act as a subcontractor and will be responsible for maintenance work on 22 USN F-5 airframes and the overhaul of 44 General Electric J-85 engines. Tactical Air will provide upgrades for the cockpit and radar systems.
The US acquired 16 F-5Es and six F-5Fs from the Swiss Air Force in 2020 to supplement and, in some cases, replace the 43 F-5s the USN and the USMC currently use for adversary aggressor training.
In 2021, US Naval Air Systems Command said the in-service aircraft lack modern safety systems, avionics and common tactical capabilities found in modern jets.
The new modernisation programme is set to improve safety and readiness.
More from Training
-
![BAE Systems to work on British Army’s CTTP pathfinder project]()
BAE Systems to work on British Army’s CTTP pathfinder project
BAE Systems and Pitch Technologies UK will deliver new virtual training solutions for the British Army under the Collective Training Transformation Programme.
-
![Meteksan exports damage control simulator to Asian navy]()
Meteksan exports damage control simulator to Asian navy
The recent order from an Asian customer takes the number of countries that have ordered Meteksan's shipboard Damage Control Simulator to five.
-
![Red 6 seals new partnership despite unclear progress on previous programmes]()
Red 6 seals new partnership despite unclear progress on previous programmes
Lockheed Martin says Red 6's augmented reality system could be implemented into fifth-generation fighters, such as the F-35 or F-22 in the future.
-
![Leonardo takes another step towards sixth-generation training]()
Leonardo takes another step towards sixth-generation training
Leonardo will develop immersive training solutions that leverage Varjo's headsets for multiple use cases across the pilot training curriculum.
