Northrop F-5E/F Tiger II
Senegal operates a small number of F-5E/F Tiger II light fighters, among the oldest jet combat aircraft in service in West Africa. Originally supplied as part of American security assistance programmes, the Senegalese F-5 fleet provides a nominal supersonic air defense capability though operational readiness is increasingly constrained by age and parts availability. Most active employment is symbolic air sovereignty patrol rather than combat missions. The aircraft are being effectively superseded in Senegalese inventory by the M-346FA armed jet trainer/light attacker and potentially the proposed F-16 procurement.

- Extremely simple maintenance requirements ideal for developing nation air forces
- Twin-engine provides operational safety advantage
- Low acquisition and operating cost
- Proven in 30+ operator nations — abundant spare parts availability
- Good adversary training aircraft for simulating threat aircraft behavior
- Design from 1970s — no BVR capability without major upgrade
- AN/APQ-159 is a basic fire control radar; no look-down/shoot-down
- Cannot survive engagement with any modern 4th-gen fighter
- Most operators replacing with JF-17, Gripen, or F-16
- No all-weather precision strike capability without expensive upgrade
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