Yesterday, July 4th, was not just another day for the Republic of China Air Force (ROCAF), as it marked the official retirement of its last RF-5E Tigergazer reconnaissance aircraft and, with them, the definitive withdrawal of the F-5E/F Tiger II light fighters after over five decades of service. The legacy of these Cold War warriors has now been passed on to a new generation of aircraft, led by the F-16 and, more recently, the T-5 Brave Eagle—an advanced trainer derived from the indigenous F-CK-1 combat aircraft.
As part of the farewell activities planned by the ROCAF, the focal point was Hualien Air Base, from where a formation of F-5F and RF-5E aircraft, belonging to the 5th Tactical Fighter Wing, conducted a final flight. This symbolic mission mirrored those carried out throughout five decades in defense of the island.
Upon returning from this final mission, the Tiger II and Tigergazer formation was welcomed with a ceremonial water arch salute, symbolizing the end of an era that began in 1974, when the first F-5E units were received.
Since the 1960s, Taiwan has operated a significant fleet of these U.S.-origin aircraft. In total, combining all variants—from the early A/B versions to the later E/F and specialized reconnaissance models—the Taiwanese Air Force operated up to 500 aircraft. The first Freedom Fighters, delivered by the United States in 1965 under military assistance programs, replaced the aging F-86 Sabres.
Some of the Tiger II fighters were locally assembled by AIDC, with 242 single-seat F-5Es and 66 twin-seat F-5Fs produced in Taiwan.
Special mention should be made of the Tigergazers, a dedicated reconnaissance variant of the F-5E. The conversion program for several airframes was carried out in cooperation with Singapore Technologies Aerospace. The modifications included replacing the original radar and nose-mounted cannons to make room for a suite of observation equipment, such as a KA-95 wide-angle camera for low-altitude missions, a KA-87D forward-looking camera, and an RS-710E infrared camera.
Over the past decades and recent years, the Tiger II’s role has gradually been assumed by newer generations of combat aircraft—first by the F-16s, and later by aircraft dedicated to advanced pilot training. As for the RF-5Es, their reconnaissance duties will now be taken over by a dedicated version of the Fighting Falcon, officially designated RF-16V, likely equipped with specialized sensor pods, along with the new MQ-9B SkyGuardian drones acquired from the United States.
Finally, as reported by Colonel Hsu Chun-jung—who had the honor of leading this last formation of Tiger IIs—to Taiwan’s Minister of National Defense: after more than 50 years of service, these Cold War warriors and their crews can proudly say, “Mission accomplished.”
You may also be interested in: Another Cold War warrior bows out — Taiwan’s Air Force retires its last F-5E/F Tiger II fighters after more than 50 years of service
