The first of 22 repatriated Swiss F-5 Tiger II aircraft arrived at the Tactical Air Support facility at Cecil Field in Jacksonville, Florida, March 21 for the second phase of the Avionics Reconfiguration and Tactical/Modernization for Inventory Standardization (ARTEMIS) program.

The aircraft, which arrived via a U.S. Marine Corps C-130J from Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron (VMGR) 234, marks a milestone that is the culmination of several months of engineering and maintenance efforts performed by the Tactical Air Support team in close coordination with Navy and Marine Corps stakeholders, said Capt. Greg Sutton, Specialized and Proven Aircraft Program Office (PMA-226) program manager.

“Expansion of the F-5 program ensures future success in training Navy and Marine Corps aviators,” Sutton said.

In 2020, the US Navy and the Swiss Government entered into an agreement to repatriate 22 Swiss Air Force F-5 aircraft into the US Navy and US Marine Corps Adversary fleet.  As part of the ARTEMIS Program, the Tactical Air Support subcontractor, RUAG, located in Emmen, Switzerland, performs the program’s first phase with aircraft inspection, maintenance, structural component replacement, and engine modification and overhaul. Upon completion of this phase, the aircraft are transferred to Tactical Air Support’s facility to begin phase 2. During this phase, aircraft inspections, maintenance, and repair continue while integrating a new glass cockpit, modern avionics, and other safety modifications.

Initial deliveries of the 22 aircraft are planned by mid-2025 with program completion in 2028 adding 11 F-5 Adversary aircraft to the each to the existing inventory of Navy and Marine Corps.

NAVAIR release