US EditionAfter decades of service, Taiwan retires its last F-5 fighter jets
- Taiwan's Air Force officially retired its F-5 fighter jets after a final mission flown on July 3, 2025, at Hualien Air Base.
- The retirement follows decades of service since 1965, including domestic production under the 1973 Tiger Peace Project with Northrop Corp.
- The final flight featured a group of five aircraft, including three RF-5E reconnaissance planes and two F-5F fighters, which flew along Taiwan's eastern coastline before landing back at the base.
- Colonel Hsu Chun-jung reported "mission accomplished" upon completing the flight, while Vice Defense Minister Po Horng-huei stated the retirement marks an end to the F-5 era and confirmed RF-16 aircraft will assume reconnaissance duties.
- The retirement symbolizes Taiwan's transition to more advanced aircraft like the F-16V and indigenous Brave Eagle trainers amid ongoing threats from China.
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[epoch_component type=”photo_gallery” position=”left” section_title=”Three RF-5E Tigergazer reconnaissance version fighters and two F-5F fighters fly during a retirement ceremony for RF-5E Tigergazers at an air base in Hualien, Taiwan, on July 4, 2025. After decades in service, Taiwan’s Vietnam-era F-5 fighter jets are being retired as part of the island democracy’s transition to more advanced hardware. (Chiang Ying-ying/AP Photo)” width=”1100″ …
After 60 years of service, the Vietnam War-era F-5 jet fighter has officially been retired in Taiwan.
Three RF-5E Tigereye and two F-5F Tiger II aircraft conduct last sortie over Hualien | Jul. 4, 2025 17:36
Associated Press News
After decades of service, Taiwan retires its last F-5 fighter jets
After decades in service, Taiwan’s Vietnam-era F-5 fighter jets are being retired as part of the island democracy’s transition to more advanced hardware.
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