F-5 Freedom Fighter

Turkey

The Northrop F-5 Freedom Fighter has held an important place in the Turkish Air Force (Türk Hava Kuvvetleri – THK) since its introduction in the mid-1960s. Initially delivered through the United States' Military Assistance Program (MAP), the F-5A/B models served as light fighter-bombers and advanced jet trainers. In the late 1980s and early 1990s, Turkey expanded its F-5 fleet with the acquisition of NF-5A/B aircraft from the Royal Netherlands Air Force. These variants featured upgraded avionics and structural improvements compared to the original F-5 models. Many of these NF-5s became iconic through their use by Türk Yıldızları (Turkish Stars), the Air Force's elite aerobatic team.