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On April 25, 1962, the Department of Defense announced that it had chosen the aircraft for its Military Assistance Program (MAP). America's NATO and SEATO allies would now be able to acquire a supersonic warplane of world-class quality at a reasonable cost. On August 9, 1962 the aircraft was given the official designation of F-5A Freedom Fighter. Optimized for the air-to-ground role, the F-5A had only a very limited air-to-air capability, and was not equipped with a fire-control radar. The F-5B was the two-seat version of the F-5A. It was generally similar to the single-seat F-5A but had two seats in tandem for dual fighter/trainer duties. Countries receiving the F-5A under MAP included Iran, South Korea, the Philippines, Turkey, Greece, and the Republic of China. Norway, Spain, and Canada made direct purchases of the airplane.
■ F-5A「自由鬥士」式戰鬥轟炸機
F-5A「自由鬥士」式為美國諾斯洛普(Northrop)飛機公司所設計、製造的單座、雙發動機的戰術戰鬥攔截轟炸機。其主要設計特點為可進行短場起降並適應高空及低空的空中作戰環境，即設計的性能只著重在對地攻擊和有限度的空戰，所以機上並未配備先進的雷達和精密飛彈發射控制系統。值得一提的是，美國曾於1960年代中期選定F-5A作為軍援計畫(MAP)下，大批軍援世界各盟國空軍的輕量型戰鬥機。
F-5A戰鬥轟炸機於1968年3月開始在台灣空軍中正式服役，主要擔負台海上空的戰鬥巡邏任務，為台灣空軍1970年代的主力戰鬥機種之一，後來F-5A一直服役到1987年10月才自台灣空軍中退役。
■ F-5A 自由鬥士戰鬥機性能諸元:
● 型式：戰術戰鬥機
● 用途：攔截迎擊及戰鬥轟炸
● 全長：14.38 公尺
● 翼展：7.70 公尺
● 全高：4.01 公尺
● 引擎推力：1,850 公斤 x 2
● 最大速度：1.4 馬赫
● 固定武裝：M39型20公厘機砲 x 2
● 乘員：1 名
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