Mfg: HobbyBoss, 1/72 Scale, Kit No.: 80207, Released: 2011 Rebox, Changed Parts In 1970, Northrop won a competition for an improved International Fighter Aircraft (IFA) to replace the F-5A, with better air-to-air performance against aircraft like the Soviet MiG-21. The resultant aircraft, initially known as F-5A-21, subsequently became the F-5E.