Talk:F-5E Tiger II/@comment-26339161-20150424141401

So here is an odd question...why does the F-20A which is an upgraded version of the F-5E have fewer slots for upgrades? Doesn't make any sense to me...you have a speed jump of Mach 1.6  from the F-5E to Mach 2 with the F-20A you also have a wing area increase from 183 sq ft to 200 sq feet you go from two turbines with 3500lb of dry trust per engine (5000lb with afterburner) in the F-5 to one turbine the F-404 (the orginal turbines that powered the F/A-18) that has 11,000lbs of dry thrust to 17,700lb with afterburner...the F-20A was supposed to have the nearly identical capabilities of the F-16 in speed, manueverability weapons options although payload due to the landings gear configuration was going to be somewhat limited an issue they actually fixed with the X-29 by giving it a tricycle landing gear from the F-16 (yes I know the X-29 was a pure experimental aircraft) which had it been adopted on the F-5E or the F-20A would have added more weapons hard points on both the F-5 and F-20.