28 March 1969 the prototype for the YF-5B-21 first took to the air. This two-seater had more powerful engines and many more improvements. These second generation aircraft won the competition for the successor to the old F-5s issued by the Department of Defence. These newer versions had a wider fuselage, enabling it to carry more fuel, different air intakes and an Emerson Electric AN/APQ-153 radar. In production these aircraft were given the designation F-5E Tiger II. The trainer version was designated F-5F. This also proved to be a success, within a short amount of time 1300 were ordered. The USAF had bought reasonable numbers of the F-5A, it did only buy a limited number of Tiger IIs. These served mostly with the so called ‘Aggressor’ units. These units acted as the enemy (Warsaw pact countries) aircraft during air combat training, usually in the role of the Mig-21. Switzerland was granted a license to build 98 F-5Es and 12 F-5Fs for its air force. Other orders came from Asia (both Taiwan and South Korea (as KF-5E/KF-5F)license produced the type), some Arab states and South America, but with the exception of the Swiss, no other European country ordered the Tiger. On 29 January 1979 the RF-5E Tigereye made its maiden flight. This was the photo reconnaissance version of the F-5E. Its right hand side gun was sacrificed to give room to the cameras.

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