Northrop F-5EM

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The F-5EM is the Brazilian modernisation of the Northrop F-5E, carried out with Embraer and returned to service from 2005. The airframe is unchanged, still the small, clean 1970s light fighter, but almost everything inside was replaced: a new pulse Doppler radar, a glass cockpit with multifunction displays, an inertial and satellite navigation suite, and a helmet mounted sight that lets the pilot cue missiles by looking at the target. On MCS the result is an unusual mix. You get the tiny visual profile and the honest, quick rolling handling of the original Tiger, but with targeting that is not a generation behind. It still lacks thrust and range compared with heavy fighters, so long chases go badly. In a close fight where sight lines matter more than radar, it holds its own against much newer aircraft. Recommended for pilots who like small, honest airframes.