Aviation News – July 7, 2025 – Taiwan’s Air Force has officially retired its aging fleet of F-5F and RF-5E aircraft, marking the end of an era in the island’s military aviation history. The farewell ceremony, held at Zhuqi Base in Chiayi County, paid tribute to the decades of service these iconic jets have provided in both training and reconnaissance roles.
The twin-seat F-5F and the reconnaissance-focused RF-5E, both developed by Northrop and produced under license by Taiwan’s Aerospace Industrial Development Corporation (AIDC), have been in service since the 1980s. Originally intended as lightweight, cost-effective fighters, the F-5s played a crucial role in preparing generations of Taiwanese pilots and conducting surveillance missions over land and sea.
Over the years, the F-5 series has suffered several accidents, with the aging fleet becoming increasingly difficult and costly to maintain. Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense has gradually phased out the aircraft as newer and more capable platforms—such as the domestically developed AIDC T-5 Brave Eagle and upgraded F-16Vs—enter service.
During the retirement ceremony, Taiwanese officials praised the F-5 fleet for its “loyal service to the nation” and held a flyover to honor the aircraft’s legacy. Military personnel and veterans who flew and maintained the F-5s attended the event, reflecting on the aircraft’s historical importance and its symbolic role in Taiwan’s defensive posture throughout the Cold War and into the 21st century.
With this move, Taiwan continues its modernization efforts to ensure its air force remains agile and capable in the face of growing regional challenges. The farewell of the F-5F and RF-5E marks not only the end of a chapter but also the beginning of a new phase in Taiwan’s military aviation development.
