The Northrop/Canadair NF-5A is a light fighter-bomber and a modified version of the F-5A Freedom Fighter developed for the Royal Netherlands Air Force. This variant features a redesigned tail section with additional air intakes, an emergency tail hook, a revised nose landing gear structure, and upgraded navigation and targeting systems.

The aircraft supports a wide range of external armaments for engaging both ground and air targets, including AIM-9N/J Sidewinder air-to-air missiles, Zuni Mk32 and FFAR Mighty Mouse unguided rockets, as well as bombs of various calibers, from light Mk81 (250 lb) to heavy the Mk84 (2,000 lb), including Mk82, Mk83, M117, BLU-1, and Mk82 Snakeye. External fuel tanks can also be mounted.

In addition, the NF-5A is equipped with an electronic countermeasures (ECM) system capable of deploying 60 standard and 30 large-caliber infrared flares.