THE TIGER SHARK IS EVALUATED BY THE PAF
OVER MOJAVE DESERT, CALIFORNIA (4 FEB 1983)
THE SOVIET INVASION OF AFGHANISTAN IN 1979 BROUGHT THE PAF BACK INTO THE MARKET FOR ACQUIRING A LOW COST FIGHTER TO COMPLEMENT THE INVENTORY OF THE 40 ADVANCED F-16S THAT HAD BEGUN TO BUILD UP FROM EARLY 1983.THREE AMERICAN OPTIONS WERE EVALUATED BY THE PAF,THE FAIRCHILD REPUBLIC A-10 THUNDERBOLT,THE LTV A-7 CORSAIR 2,AND THE NORTHEN F-20 TIGERSHARK,A SINGLE ENGINED DERIVATIVE OF THE F-5 OF THE THREE,THE TIGERSHARK WAS THE BEST BUT SINCE IT HAD NEITHER A LARGE CUSTOMER POTENTIAL NOR A COMPETITIVE PRICE, THE PAF FINALLY CHOSE THE CHINESE F-7P TO CREATE THE MIXED FORCE THAT ECONOMICALLY MET ITS OPERATIONAL REQUIREMENTS.THE PHOTO SHOWS THE F-20 BEING PILOTED BY GROUP CAPTION ABBAS H.MIRZA. (LATER AIR VICE MARSHAL) DURING A FIVE SORTIE EVALUATION HE FLEW ON HIS FIGHTER FROM THE NORTHROP FACILITY AT EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE,CALIFORNIA.THROUGH THE EVALUATION PERIOD,THE F-20 CARRIED THE PAF ROUNDELS AND FIN FLASHES.