Ordnance loads for Malaysian F-5E's?

[Brad]

I can't find much with the use of google, so wondering if anyone here can give me some pointers as to how these things would have been loaded for combat operations. I assume a centre line drop tank and 2 sidewinders on the wingtip rails, but for the hardpoints?

[Jure Miljevic]

Empty, even without pylons most of the time. Typing F-5E TUDM into a browser improves search results slightly. Still, the best photo I found shows RF-5E with three drop tanks on test flight here and several sequences in this video, which show F-5Es with what I assume are practice air-to-ground rocket launchers in centerline position and under each wing. Since Malaysia used F-5Es as air defence fighters, two AIM-9Js and centerline drop tank sounds about right. Not much, but I hope it helps. Cheers

Jure

[Sonoran]

AFAIK RMAF F-5Es have never been used in combat, so there is no “correct” ordnance load.

[Calum]

I'd suggest Mk 82's for the wing stations

[Selwyn]

4 hours ago, Sonoran said:

AFAIK RMAF F-5Es have never been used in combat, so there is no “correct” ordnance load.

 So what you are saying is they have never fought a war so if they did they would not know what weapon they would carry or where on the aircraft they would carry it.  And by implication  in peace time they would never be able to practice delivery of these weapons as they don't know what they would use?

 

I assure you every military aircraft type in the world has a table of cleared "weapon loads" based on what weapons are in their inventory, their weight, which  stores station the stores can be loaded to, and if any limitations  are present,  such as if a certain type of store release would impact another store such as a drop tank  on a nearby station. These tables cover both practice  and operational configurations, for both air to air and air to ground scenarios. 

 

Selwyn

 

[Jure Miljevic]

On the first webpage I linked to in my previous post there is mention of 12 Sqn. F-5Es taking part in operation Ops Kubi Gubir (or perhaps just Kubi Gubir) on 16th April 1976, which was an air strike against communist camps. Northrop F-5E/F Tiger II book, published by Detail & Scale includes USAF Loading & performance - typical mission sheet. Payload for air defence missions is a pair of AIM-9J for Subsonic area intercept, supplemented with center line 275 gallon tank for General purpose & escort. Payload for ground support missions is given as either four Mk.82 bombs on wing pylons, or one Mk.82 on center line pylon. While Mk.82 does sound like a safe choice, the only photos of Malaysian Tigers II with such an ordnance I found show plastic models, not actual aircraft. Cheers

Jure

[chris57]

Have a look at the Asian Air Forces SIG, There might be some info there. hth Chris