---
title: "Vietnam could bring Tigers back into service"
description: "In 1975, South Vietnam fell, and while many escaped, a lot of gear fell into the hands of the North Vietnamese. And Tigers might be next."
date: "2021-02-08"
modified: "2021-02-08"
authors:
  - name: "Harold C. Hutchison"
    link: "https://www.wearethemighty.com/authors/haroldhutchison/"
url: "https://www.wearethemighty.com/mighty-tactical/vietnam-could-bring-tigers-back-into-service/"
categories:
  - "Aircraft"
  - "Military News"
  - "Tactical"
---

# Vietnam could bring Tigers back into service

![](<https://www.wearethemighty.com/wp-content/uploads/legacy/assets.rbl.ms/17313149/origin.jpg>)

In 1975, South Vietnam fell, and while many escaped, a lot of gear fell into the hands of the North Vietnamese. In fact, as late as 1987, [FlightGlobal.com](<https://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1987/1987%20-%202555.html>) credited the Vietnamese People's Air Force with as many as 50 F-5A/B/E variants in service, along with at least 25 A-37 Dragonfly counter-insurgency planes. Tigers might be next.

---

![](<https://www.wearethemighty.com/wp-content/uploads/legacy/assets.rbl.ms/17237915/origin.jpg>)
*A Swiss Air Force F-5E Tiger. (Photo from Wikimedia Commons)*

Now, Vietnam, which is facing off against China in the South China Sea, [may be considering an effort](<https://nationalinterest.org/blog/the-buzz/vietnam-really-planning-bringing-back-50-year-old-american-20764>) to bring some of the F-5s back into service. This is not a real surprise in some respects. The Marine Corps [has been looking to acquire used F-5s](<https://www.wearethemighty.com/mighty-trending/the-marines-are-looking-for-a-few-good-tigers/>) for service as aggressors in recent months. Upgrade kits have kept the Tiger as a capable fighter, notably with Brazil and South Korea, according to [FlightGlobal.com's 2017 inventory](<https://nationalinterest.org/blog/the-buzz/vietnam-really-planning-bringing-back-50-year-old-american-20764>).

Presently, Vietnam has 40 Su-27/Su-30 "Flanker" fighters in its inventory, with six more on order, according to FlightGlobal.com. These planes are supplemented by 36 Su-22 "Fitter" ground-attack planes, similar to [those targeted earlier this year](<https://www.wearethemighty.com/mighty-trending/this-ageing-russian-plane-was-the-tomahawk-strikes-target/>) in a Tomahawk strike on a Syrian air base. Vietnam [retired its MiG-21 "Fishbed" fighters](<https://nguyentandung.org/kqnd-viet-nam-chuan-bi-vinh-biet-tiem-kich-mig-21.html>) in 2015. Like the F-5, upgrade kits are available for the Fishbed.

![](<https://www.wearethemighty.com/wp-content/uploads/legacy/assets.rbl.ms/17237916/origin.jpg>)
*Northrop F-5E (Tail No. 11419). (USAF photo)*

The F-5E was a widely exported daytime fighter, capable of carrying up to 7,000 pounds of bombs, rockets, and AIM-9 Sidewinders. It has a top speed of 1,060 miles per hour, a range of 870 miles, and was first flown in 1972. It is equipped with a pair of M39A2 revolver cannon, each with 280 rounds.

## Author
WATM contributor Harold Hutchison was consulting senior editor at Soldier of Fortune magazine and is the author of the novel Strike Group Reagan. He has also written for the Daily Caller, National Review, Patriot Post, Strategypage.com, and other national web sites.