Paraguay Considers Acquiring Taiwan's Retired F-5 Fighter Jets to Restore Supersonic Air Defense
Paraguay is evaluating the acquisition of Taiwan's recently retired F-5E/F Tiger II fighter jets and AIDC AT-3 Tzu Chung trainers. This potential procurement aims to re-establish a supersonic combat capability that Paraguay has lacked for decades. The F-5s, with a maximum speed of Mach 1.63, would complement Paraguay's ongoing acquisition of subsonic Embraer A-29 Super Tucanos, which are primarily intended for surveillance, counter-narcotics, training, and light attack. Taiwan previously operated the world's largest F-5E/F fleet, with 336 Tiger IIs, many of which were manufactured locally between 1973 and 1986. Taiwan progressively phased out its F-5s after introducing more modern aircraft like F-16s and Mirage 2000-5s, retiring its remaining F-5Es in November 2023 and the last F-5Fs and RF-5Es in July 2025. The decision for Paraguay involves weighing the strategic value of these older airframes against significant operational challenges, including the need for comprehensive radar modernization, sustained ... 
