Brazilian Air Force receives last upgraded former Jordanian F-5FM

Seven years ago in 2013, EMBRAER concluded the upgrade of 46 F-5E/F for the Força Aérea Brasileira (FAB, Brazilian Ar Force). The so-called F-5BR programme was contracted in 2000. Many changes were implemented like a glass cockpit, a Grifo F radar, hands-on-throttle-and-stick (HOTAS) configuration, air-to-air refuelling capability and deep airframe maintenance. Goal was to extend the service life with fifteen years and to form an integrated air defence with datalinks to the R-99 airborne early warning and control aircraft.

During this programme, eleven former Royal Jordanian Air Force (RJAF) Northrop F-5s were procured, seven F-5Es and four F-5Fs. These Tigers were slated to be modernised as well but that proved difficult. In the end only three F-5Fs made it through the programme, because duals are very sparse. The aircraft received the serials 4810 to 4812. The last of these three, 4810, was finally handed-over to the FAB recently bringing the total up to 49.

That being said, the first upgrade was finished in 2005 so that means that the end of fifteen years of extended service life is imminent for the first aircraft.

The 49 airframes that were modernised are:

F-5EM: 4820, 4823, 4824, 4825, 4826, 4827, 4828, 4829, 4830, 4834, 4836, 4837, 4839, 4841, 4844, 4845, 4846, 4847, 4848, 4849, 4850, 4851, 4852, 4856, 4857, 4858, 4859, 4860, 4861, 4862, 4863, 4864, 4865, 4866, 4867, 4869, 4870, 4871, 4873, 4874, 4875, 4876, 4877
F-5FM: 4806, 4807, 4808, 4810, 4811, 4812

Of these, two duals were lost in accidents, 4806 on 5 July 2016, and 4811 on 24 May 2018. As a matter of interest, all the former Jordanian airframes were allocated FAB serials regardless if they ever flew in service.

Photo: Embraer