Honduras recovers four F5s and takes the lead as air power in the region

By Alberto López

The Honduran Air Force (FAH) has taken the lead as air power in the region after completing the repowering of at least four Northrop F5 E/F Tiger II fighters from its original fleet of 12 aircraft acquired (ten F5E and two F5F), thanks to the cooperation of the United States, in 1987.

The equipment had been inoperative for about six years.

As confirmed by Infodefensa.com with official Honduran sources, the aircraft has been undergoing test flights all this week and could be officially presented today, Friday, April 21.

It is not known, for the moment, if the repowering was finally the result of the millionaire Israeli cooperation in favor of the Honduran Government for more than US$200 million to rehabilitate military equipment and acquire new devices and armament.

There was also talk in the past that it could be Taiwan that could refurbish the F5 aircraft and other equipment of the FAH fleet.

However, it would have to be before the break with the Asian island to establish diplomatic relations with China, as decided a few weeks ago by the President of Honduras, Xiomara Castro.

Even Brazil, with its high capacity in the aerospace industry, could have also participated in repairing the equipment.

Still, the United States objected in the past since the F5 has security and intelligence restrictions to be operated only by US technicians.

However, it could have been a feasible option for Israel and Taiwan due to their recognized historical cooperation with the Americans.

With information from Infodefensa