View source for North American F-86 Sabre

{{short description|Family of US fighter aircraft}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2014}}
{{Redirect|Sabre Jet|3=Sabre Jet (disambiguation)}}
{{Infobox aircraft
 |name= F-86 Sabre
 |image= File:F-86 Sabre hertiage flight.jpg
 |caption= An F-86 Sabre during a [[USAF Heritage Flight|Heritage Flight]] over [[Davis–Monthan AFB]]
 |type= [[Fighter aircraft]]
 |national_origin= United States
 |manufacturer= [[North American Aviation]]
 |designer=
 |first_flight= 1 October 1947
 |introduction= 1949, with USAF
 |retired= 1994 (Bolivian Air Force)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://militaryhistorynow.com/2018/10/09/razor-sharp-nine-fascinating-facts-about-the-f-86-sabre/|title = F-86 Sabre – Nine Fascinating Facts About America's Iconic Cold War Jet Fighter|date = 9 October 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.recoverycurios.com/f-86-sabre-jet|title=F-86 Sabre Jet|website=Recoverycurios.com|access-date=2 March 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://museumofaviation.org/2016/08/30/f-86h-sabre-an-overlooked-gem-at-museum-of-aviation/|title = F-86H Sabre an overlooked gem at Museum of Aviation|date = 30 August 2016}}</ref><ref name="vintageflyingmuseum.org">{{cite web|url=https://vintageflyingmuseum.org/north-american-f-86f/|title = North American F-86F – Vintage Flying Museum}}</ref> 
 |status= 
 |primary_user= [[United States Air Force]]
 |more_users = [[Japan Air Self-Defense Force]] <br /> [[Spanish Air Force]] <br /> [[Republic of Korea Air Force]] <!-- Only THREE 'more users' here. Separate users with <br />. Users of F-86 variants with their own articles should be listed there, not here. -->
 |produced=
 |number_built= 9,860<ref name="Winchester"/>
 |developed_from= [[North American FJ-1 Fury]]
 |variants=  [[Canadair Sabre]] <br /> [[North American FJ-2/-3 Fury]]
  |developed_into= [[CAC Sabre]] <br /> [[North American F-86D Sabre]] <br /> [[North American FJ-4 Fury]] <br /> [[North American YF-93]] <br /> [[North American F-100 Super Sabre]]
}}

The '''North American F-86 Sabre''', sometimes called the '''Sabrejet''', is a [[transonic]] jet [[fighter aircraft]]. Produced by [[North American Aviation]], the Sabre is best known as the United States' first [[swept-wing]] fighter that could counter the swept-wing Soviet [[Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-15|MiG-15]] in high-speed dogfights in the skies of the [[Korean War]] (1950–1953), fighting some of the earliest jet-to-jet battles. Considered one of the best and most important fighter aircraft in that war, the F-86 is also rated highly in comparison with fighters of other eras.<ref>[http://www.mnangmuseum.org/exhibits/fagot.html "MiG-15 'Fagot'."] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110727091700/http://www.mnangmuseum.org/exhibits/fagot.html |date=27 July 2011 }} ''mnangmuseum.org.'' Retrieved: 19 July 2011.</ref> Although it was developed in the late 1940s and was outdated by the end of the 1950s, the Sabre proved versatile and adaptable and continued as a front-line fighter in numerous air forces.

Its success led to an extended production run of more than 7,800 aircraft between 1949 and 1956, in the United States, Japan, and Italy. In addition, 738 carrier-modified versions were purchased by the US Navy as [[FJ-2/3 Fury|FJ-2s and -3s]]. Variants were built in Canada and Australia. The [[Canadair Sabre]] added another 1,815 aircraft and the significantly redesigned [[CAC Sabre]] (sometimes known as the [[Rolls-Royce Avon|Avon]] Sabre or CAC CA-27), had a production run of 112. The Sabre is by far the [[Most produced aircraft|most-produced Western jet fighter]], with a total production of all variants at 9,860 units.<ref name="Winchester">{{harvnb|Winchester|2006|p=184}}</ref>

==Development==
[[File:North American NA-140-XP-86 3-view.png|thumb|Straight-wing NA-140/XP-86]]

North American Aviation had produced the propeller-powered [[P-51 Mustang]] in [[World War II]], which saw combat against some of the first operational jet fighters. By late 1944, North American proposed its first jet fighter to the U.S. Navy, which became the [[North American FJ-1 Fury|FJ-1 Fury]]. It was an unexceptional transitional jet fighter that had a straight wing derived from the P-51.<ref>Goebel, Greg. {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20060718115543/http://www.vectorsite.net/avf86_1.html "Sabre Ancestor: FJ-1 Fury."]}} ''vectorsite.net.'' Retrieved: 19 July 2011.</ref> Initial proposals to meet a [[United States Army Air Forces]] (USAAF) requirement for a medium-range, single-seat, high-altitude, jet-powered day [[escort fighter]]/[[fighter bomber]] were drafted in mid-1944.<ref name="Werrell p.5">{{harvnb|Werrell|2005|p=5}}</ref> In early 1945, North American Aviation submitted four designs.<ref name="Werrell p.5"/> The USAAF selected one design over the others and granted North American a contract to build three examples of the XP-86 ("experimental pursuit"). Deleting specific requirements from the FJ-1 Fury, coupled with other modifications, allowed the XP-86 to be lighter and considerably faster than the Fury, with an estimated top speed of {{Convert|582|mph|km/h|abbr=on}}, versus the Fury's {{Convert|547|mph|km/h|abbr=on}}.<ref name="Werrell p.5"/> Despite the gain in speed, early studies revealed the XP-86 would have the same performance as its rivals, the [[Lockheed P-80 Shooting Star|XP-80]] and [[Republic F-84 Thunderjet|XP-84]]. Because these rival designs were more advanced in their development stages, it was feared that the XP-86 would be cancelled.

Crucially, the XP-86 was not able to meet the required top speed of {{Convert|600|mph|km/h|abbr=on}};<ref name="Werrell p.6">{{harvnb|Werrell|2005|p=6.}}</ref> North American had to quickly devise a radical change that could leapfrog its rivals. The F-86 was the first American aircraft to take advantage of [[Operation Paperclip|flight research data seized]] from the German aerodynamicists at the end of World War II.<ref name="Aviation History On-line Museum">[http://www.aviation-history.com/north-american/f86.html "North American F-86."] ''Aviation History On-line Museum''. Retrieved: 20 August 2010.</ref> These data showed that a thin, swept wing could greatly reduce drag and delay [[Compressibility#Aeronautical dynamics|compressibility]] problems {{citation needed span|text=that had bedeviled fighters such as the [[Lockheed P-38 Lightning]] when approaching the speed of sound.|reason=Claim of fighters such as the P-38 approaching the speed of sound, whatever the context, requires specific reliable citation.|date=May 2025}} By 1944, German engineers and designers had established the benefits of swept wings based on experimental designs dating back to 1940. A study of the data showed that a swept wing would solve their speed problem, while a slat on the wing's leading edge that extended at low speeds would enhance low-speed stability.

Because development of the XP-86 had reached an advanced stage, the idea of changing the sweep of the wing was met with resistance from some senior North American staff. Despite stiff opposition, after good results were obtained in wind tunnel tests, the swept-wing concept was eventually adopted. Performance requirements were met by incorporating a 35° [[swept wing|swept-back wing]], using modified [[NACA airfoil|NACA four-digit airfoils]], NACA 0009.5–64 at the root and NACA 0008.5–64 at the tip,<ref name="Lednicer">Lednicer, David. [http://www.ae.illinois.edu/m-selig/ads/aircraft.html "The Incomplete Guide to Airfoil Usage."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100420012244/http://www.ae.illinois.edu/m-selig/ads/aircraft.html |date=20 April 2010 }} ''ae.illinois.edu,'' 15 October 2010. Retrieved: 19 July 2011.</ref> with an automatic slat design based on that of the [[Messerschmitt Me 262]] and an electrically adjustable stabilizer, another feature of the Me 262A.{{sfn|Blair|1980}}{{sfn|Radinger|Schick|1996|pp=15, 32}} Many Sabres had the "6–3 wing" (a fixed leading edge with a 6-inch extended chord at the root and a 3-inch extended chord at the tip) retrofitted after combat experience was gained in Korea.{{sfn|Blair|1980}}<ref>Bevan, Duncan. [http://f-86.tripod.com/wings.html "F-86 Sabre wings explained."] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110726105323/http://f-86.tripod.com/wings.html |date=26 July 2011 }} tripod.com. Retrieved: 7 June 2011.</ref> This modification changed the wing airfoils to the NACA 0009-64 modified configuration at the root and the NACA 0008.1–64 mod at the tip.<ref name="Lednicer"/>{{Dead link|date=June 2021}}

The XP-86 prototype, which led to the F-86 Sabre, was rolled out on 8 August 1947.<ref name="Werrell pp.9-10">{{harvnb|Werrell|2005|pp=9–10}}</ref> The first flight occurred on 1 October 1947 with [[George Welch (pilot)|George Welch]] at the controls,<ref>[http://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=2297 "North American F-86 Sabre (Day-Fighter A, E and F Models)."] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150224020629/http://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=2297 |date=24 February 2015 }} ''National Museum of the United States Air Force.'' Retrieved: 7 June 2011.</ref> flying from Muroc Dry Lake (now [[Edwards AFB]]), California.<ref name="Aviation History On-line Museum"/><ref name="Werrell pp.9-10"/>

The [[United States Air Force]]'s [[Strategic Air Command]] had F-86 Sabres in service from 1949 through 1950. The F-86s were assigned to the 22nd Bomb Wing, the 1st Fighter Wing, and the 1st Fighter Interceptor Wing.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20010221141832/http://www.perrinairforcebase.net/p-f86.htm "Planes of Perrin, North American F-86L "Dog Sabre."] ''perrinairforcebase.net.'' Retrieved: 20 August 2010.</ref> The F-86 was the primary U.S. air combat fighter during the Korean War, with significant numbers of the first three production models seeing combat.

The F-86 Sabre was also produced under license by [[Canadair|Canadair, Ltd]], as the Canadair Sabre. The final variant of the Canadian Sabre, the Mark 6, is generally rated as having the highest capabilities of any Sabre version.{{sfn|Joos|1971|p=3}}{{#tag:ref|Quote: "The Canadair Sabre Mk 6 was the last variant and considered to be the 'best' production Sabre ever built."|group=Note}}

===Breaking sound barrier and other records===
[[File:Cochrane with Yeager.jpg|thumb|left|[[Jacqueline Cochran|Jackie Cochran]] in the cockpit of the Canadair Sabre with [[Chuck Yeager]] ]]

The F-86A set its first official [[Flight airspeed record|world speed record]] of {{Convert|671|mph|km/h}} on September 15, 1948, at Muroc Dry Lake, flown by Major [[Dick Johnson (test pilot)|Richard L. Johnson]], USAF.<ref>Wagner, The North American Sabre Retrieved: 20 August 2010.</ref> Five years later, on 18 May 1953, [[Jacqueline Cochran]] became the first woman to break the sound barrier, flying a "one-off" Canadian-built F-86 Sabre Mk 3, alongside [[Chuck Yeager]].<ref name="knaack">{{harvnb|Knaack|1978|p=52}}</ref> Col. K. K. Compton won the 1951 Bendix air race in an F-86A with an average speed of 553.76&nbsp;mph (891.19&nbsp;km/h).
[[File:PAF "Falcons" make a world record in 1958 with 16 F-86 sabres.jpg|thumb|PAF "Falcons" make a world record in 1958 with 16 F-86s.]]

On 2 February 1958, a team of [[Pakistan Air Force]] F-86 Sabres called "Falcons" set a [[World record loop|world record]] at [[PAF Base Masroor]] by performing a loop while in a 16 aircraft diamond formation. The team was led by then Wing Commander [[Zafar Masud (air commodore)|Zafar Masud]].{{Citation needed|date=September 2023}}

==Design==

===Overview===
The F-86 was produced as both a [[Interceptor aircraft|fighter-interceptor]] and [[Ground attack aircraft|fighter-bomber]]. Several variants were introduced over its production life, with improvements and different armament implemented (see below). The XP-86 was fitted with a [[Allison J35|General Electric J35-C-3]] jet engine that produced {{convert|4000|lbf|kN|abbr=on|0}} of thrust. This engine was built by [[General Motors|GM]]'s [[Chevrolet]] division until production was turned over to [[Allison Engine Company|Allison]].{{sfn|Leyes|Fleming|1999|pp=243, 530}} The [[General Electric J47|General Electric J47-GE-7]] engine was used in the F-86A-1 producing a thrust of {{convert|5,200|lbf|kN|abbr=on|0}}, while the [[General Electric J73|General Electric J73-GE-3]] engine of the F-86H produced {{convert|9,250|lbf|kN|abbr=on|0}} of thrust.<ref>{{cite web |last=Goebel |first=Greg |url=http://www.faqs.org/docs/air/avf862.html |title=F-86E Through F-86L |website=faqs.org |date=August 1, 2002 |access-date=November 27, 2017}}</ref>

[[File:F86Sabre.JPG|thumb|F-86 Sabre at the [[National Air and Space Museum]] in livery of [[4th Fighter Wing|4th Fighter-Interceptor Wing]]]]
The fighter-bomber version (F-86H) could carry up to {{convert|2,000|lb|kg|abbr=on}} of bombs, including an external fuel-tank type that could carry [[napalm]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/Visit/Museum-Exhibits/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/198071/north-american-f-86h-sabre/ |title=North American F-86H Sabre |publisher=National Museum of the US Air Force |date=May 29, 2015 |access-date=November 7, 2017}}</ref> Unguided {{convert|2.75|in|mm|adj=on|abbr=off|sp=us|0}} [[rocket (weapon)|rocket]]s were used on some fighters on training missions, but {{convert|5|in|mm|adj=on|0}} rockets were later carried on combat operations. The F-86 could also be fitted with a pair of external jettisonable jet fuel tanks (four on the F-86F beginning in 1953) that extended the range of the aircraft. Both the interceptor and fighter-bomber versions carried six {{cvt|0.50|in|mm|1|adj=on}} [[M3 machine gun|M3 Browning machine gun]]s with electrically-boosted feed in the nose (later versions of the F-86H carried four {{cvt|20|mm|in|2|adj=on}} cannon instead of machine guns).{{citation needed|date=June 2023}} Firing at a rate of 1,200 rounds per minute,{{sfn|Dunlap|1948|pp=310–311}} the {{cvt|0.50|in|mm|1|adj=on}} guns were [[Gun harmonisation|harmonized]] to converge at {{convert|1,000|ft|m|abbr=on}} in front of the aircraft, using armor-piercing (AP) and armor-piercing incendiary (API) rounds, with one armor-piercing incendiary [[Tracer ammunition|tracer]] (APIT) for every five AP or API rounds.{{citation needed|date=June 2023}} The API rounds used during the Korean War contained [[magnesium]], which were designed to ignite upon impact, but burned poorly above {{convert|35000|ft|m|abbr=on}} as oxygen levels were insufficient to sustain combustion at that height.{{citation needed|date=June 2023}} Initial planes were fitted with the [[Gyro gunsight|Mark 18 manual-ranging computing gun sight]]. The last 24 F-86A-5-Nas and F-86Es were equipped with the A-1CM gunsight-AN/APG-30 radar, which used [[radar]] to automatically compute a target's range, which later proved to be advantageous against MiG opponents over Korea.<ref name=SabreSnatch>{{cite web|url=https://www.smithsonianmag.com/air-space-magazine/to-snatch-a-sabre-4707550/|title=To Snatch a Sabre|website=Smithsonianmag.com|access-date=2 March 2022}}</ref>

===Flying characteristics===
The transition to the Sabre's swept wings and jet engine saw many accidents and incidents, since even experienced pilots had to learn new handling techniques and flying characteristics. Early on in the jet age, some US manufacturers instituted safety and transition programs where experienced test and production pilots toured operational fighter squadrons to provide instruction and demonstrations designed to lower the accident rate.{{sfn|Hoover|1997|pp=184–185}}

As F-86 models continued to be upgraded, the learning process continued. Important design changes included switching from an elevator/stabilizer to an [[Stabilator|all-flying tail]], discontinuation of [[leading edge slat]]s for a solid wing with a small forward-mounted [[wing fence]], increased internal fuel capacity, increased engine power, and an internal missile bay (F-86D). While the solid leading edge and increased internal fuel capacity increased combat performance, they exacerbated a dangerous and often fatal handling characteristic: the nose was raised prematurely from the runway during take-off.{{sfn|Hoover|1997|p=184}} The danger of over-rotation is now a major area of instruction and concern for current F-86 pilots. The [[1972 Sacramento Canadair Sabre accident]] resulting in 22 fatalities and 28 other casualties was a result of over-rotation on take-off.

==Operational history==
{{unreliable sources|section|date=November 2011}}

===Korean War===
[[File:51st fighter interceptor wing at suwon, s.k.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.2|USAF North American F-86 Sabre fighters from the 51st Fighter Interceptor Wing Checkertails are readied for combat during the Korean War at [[Suwon Air Base]].]]

The F-86 entered service with the USAF in 1949, joining the [[1st Fighter Wing]]'s [[94th Fighter Squadron]] and became the primary air-to-air jet fighter used by the Americans in the [[Korean War]]. While earlier straight-winged jets such as the [[Lockheed P-80 Shooting Star|P-80]] and [[Republic F-84 Thunderjet|F-84]] initially achieved air victories, when the swept-wing [[Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-15|MiG-15]] was introduced in November 1950, it outperformed all UN-based aircraft.

====Introduction of the MiG-15 and comparisons====
In response, three squadrons of F-86s were rushed to the Far East in December.<ref name="Sabre: The F-86 in Korea">Thompson, Warren. [https://web.archive.org/web/20090221174427/http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa3897/is_200212/ai_n9149844 "Sabre: The F-86 in Korea."] ''Flight Journal'', December 2002. Retrieved: 30 June 2011.</ref> The MiG-15 was superior to early F-86 models in [[Ceiling (aeronautics)|ceiling]], firepower, acceleration, turning, rate of climb, and ability to [[zoom climb]]. The F-86 was marginally faster, and could out-dive the MiGs. When the F-86F was introduced in 1953, the two aircraft became more closely matched, and by the end of the war, many American combat-experienced pilots were claiming a marginal superiority for the F-86F.

The heavier firepower of the MiG, and many other contemporary fighters, was addressed by “Project Gun-Val”<ref>{{Cite web |title=Evaluation of Aircraft-Armament Installation (F-86F with 206 RK Guns) |url=https://apps.dtic.mil/sti/pdfs/AD0056763.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220308090817/https://apps.dtic.mil/sti/pdfs/AD0056763.pdf |archive-date=2022-03-08 |access-date=2023-09-25 |website=apps.dtic.mil}}</ref> which saw the combat testing of seven F-86Fs each armed with four 20&nbsp;mm [[M39 cannon|T-160]] cannons (such F-86s were designated as F-86F-2s). Despite being able to fire only two of the four 20&nbsp;mm cannon at a time, the experiment was considered a success and signaled the end of the decades-long use of the [[Browning M2|Browning .50 caliber]] in the air-to-air role.<ref name="ReferenceA">Ray Wagner, The North American Sabre</ref>

Although the F-86A could be safely flown through Mach 1, the F-86E's all-moving [[horizontal stabilizer|tailplane]] greatly improved maneuverability at high speeds.<ref name="ReferenceA"/> The MiG-15 could not safely exceed Mach 0.92, an important disadvantage in near-sonic air combat. Far greater emphasis had been given to the training, aggressiveness, and experience of the F-86 pilots.<ref name="Korea"/> American Sabre pilots were trained at [[Nellis Air Force Base|Nellis]], where the casualty rate of their training was so high, they were told, "If you ever see the flag at full staff, take a picture." Despite [[rules of engagement]] to the contrary, F-86 units frequently initiated combat over MiG bases in the Manchurian "sanctuary".<ref name="Bud' Mahurin"/>

In October 1951, the Soviets managed to recover a downed Sabre, and in their investigation of the type they concluded that the Sabre's advantage in combat was due to the APG-30 gun-sight that facilitated accurate fire at longer ranges.<ref name=SabreSnatch/>

[[File:F86GunCamKorea.gif|thumb|Rare [[Korean War]] F-86 gun camera footage of a [[MiG-15]] shoot-down over Korea]]

====Deployment of MiGs and Sabres====
The needs of combat operations balanced against the need to maintain an adequate force structure in Western Europe led to the conversion of the [[51st Fighter Wing|51st Fighter-Interceptor Wing]] from the [[Lockheed P-80 Shooting Star|F-80]] to the F-86 in December 1951. Two fighter-bomber wings, the [[8th Fighter Wing|8th]] and [[18th Wing|18th]], converted to the F-86F in the spring of 1953.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20071223195828/http://afhra.maxwell.af.mil/korean_war/usaf_organizations_korea/fighter_interceptor.html "USAF Organizations in Korea, Fighter-Interceptor 4th Fighter-Interceptor Wing."] ''Maxwell Air Force Base''. Retrieved: 30 June 2011.</ref> [[2 Squadron SAAF|No. 2 Squadron]], [[South African Air Force]] (SAAF) also distinguished itself flying F-86s in Korea as part of the 18 FBW.<ref>McGregor, Col. P.M.J. [https://web.archive.org/web/20080222055425/http://rapidttp.com/milhist/vol043pm.html "The History of No 2 Squadron, SAAF, in the Korean War."] ''rapidttp.com''. Retrieved: 19 July 2011.</ref>
[[File:Wreckage of F-86A Sabre after bombing by North Korean Po-2 biplane 1951-06-17.jpg|thumb|Wreckage of F-86A Sabre (FU-334 / 49-1334) after being bombed on 17 June 1951]]

The MiGs flown from bases in [[Manchuria]] by Chinese, North Korean, and Soviet [[Soviet Air Force|VVS]] pilots were pitted against two squadrons of the [[4th Fighter Wing|4th Fighter-Interceptor Wing]] forward-based at [[Gimpo International Airport|K-14, Kimpo]], Korea.<ref name="Sabre: The F-86 in Korea"/> The North Koreans and their allies periodically contested air superiority in [[MiG Alley]], an area near the mouth of the Yalu River (the boundary between [[Korea]] and China) over which the most intense air-to-air combat took place.

On 17 June 1951, at 01:30, [[Suwon Air Base]] was bombed by two [[Polikarpov Po-2]] biplanes, who each dropped a pair of fragmentation bombs. One scored a hit on the [[802nd Engineer Aviation Battalion]]'s motor pool, damaging some equipment, and two bombs burst on the flightline of the [[335th Fighter Interceptor Squadron]]. One F-86A Sabre (FU-334 / 49-1334) was struck on the wing and began burning, eventually gutting the aircraft. Prompt action by personnel who moved aircraft away from the burning Sabre prevented further loss. Eight other Sabres were damaged in the brief attack, four seriously, and one F-86 pilot was among the wounded. The North Koreans subsequently credited Lt. La Woon Yung with this attack.<ref>''American Aviation Historical Society'', Vol. 30, 1985.</ref>

====Evaluations of the success of the F-86====
By the end of hostilities, F-86 pilots were initially credited by American sources with having shot down 792 MiGs for a loss of only 78 Sabres in air-to-air combat, a victory ratio of 10:1.{{sfn|Thompson|McLaren|2002}} Of the 41 American pilots who earned the designation of [[Flying ace|ace]] during the Korean War, all but one flew the F-86 Sabre, the exception being a Navy [[Vought F4U Corsair]] night fighter pilot. However, after the war, the USAF reviewed its figures in an investigation code-named ''Sabre Measure Charlie'' and downgraded the kill ratio of the North American F-86 Sabre against the [[Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-15]] by half, to 5:1.<ref name="Brune p. 215">{{harvnb|Brune|1996|p=215}}</ref> Internally, the USAF accepted that its pilots had actually downed about 200 MiGs<ref name="auto">Stillion, John and Scott Perdue. [http://www.mossekongen.no/downloads/2008_RAND_Pacific_View_Air_Combat_Briefing.pdf "Air Combat Past, Present and Future."] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121006120643/http://www.mossekongen.no/downloads/2008_RAND_Pacific_View_Air_Combat_Briefing.pdf |date=6 October 2012 }} ''Project Air Force'', Rand, August 2008. Retrieved" 11 March 2009.</ref>

Soviet data records only 335 MiG-15s lost in Korea to all causes, including accidents, antiaircraft fire, and ground attacks.<ref>Igor Seidov and Stuart Britton. Red Devils over the Yalu: A Chronicle of Soviet Aerial Operations in the Korean War 1950–53 (Helion Studies in Military History).  Helion and Company 2014. {{ISBN|978-1909384415}}. p. 554.</ref> Chinese claims of their losses amount to 224 MiG-15s in Korea.<ref>Zhang, Xiaoming. Red Wings over the Yalu: China, the Soviet Union, and the Air War in Korea (Texas A&M University Military History Series). College Station: Texas A&M University, 2002. {{ISBN|978-1-58544-201-0}}.</ref> North Korean losses are not known, but according to North Korean defectors, their air force lost around 100 MiG-15s during the war.<ref>Kum-Suk No and J. Roger Osterholm. A MiG-15 to Freedom: Memoir of the Wartime North Korean Defector who First Delivered the Secret Fighter Jet to the Americans in 1953. McFarland, 2007. {{ISBN|978-0786431069}}. p. 142.</ref> Thus, 659 MiG-15s are admitted as being lost, many of these to F-86 Sabres.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dpaa.mil/portals/85/Documents/KoreaAccounting/korwald_all.pdf|title=Korean War Air Loss Database (KORWALD)|access-date=21 March 2016|archive-date=17 June 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190617054359/https://www.dpaa.mil/portals/85/Documents/KoreaAccounting/korwald_all.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref> The Soviets claimed to have downed over 600 Sabres,<ref>Sewell, Stephen L. [http://www.korean-war.com/sovietunion.html "Russian Claims from the Korean War 1950–53."] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061101081848/http://www.korean-war.com/sovietunion.html |date=1 November 2006 }} ''korean-war.com''. Retrieved: 19 July 2011.</ref> together with the Chinese claims (211 F-86s shot-down), although these cannot be reconciled with the number of Sabres recorded as lost by the US.<ref>Zhang, Xiaoming. ''Red Wings over the Yalu: China, the Soviet Union, and the Air War in Korea''. College Station: Texas A&M University Press, 2002. {{ISBN|1-58544-201-1}}.</ref>

Suggested reasons for the F-86's success include the fact that many of the American pilots were experienced World War II veterans, while the North Koreans and the Chinese lacked combat experience,<ref name="Korea">[http://korea50.army.mil/history/factsheets/air_f_fs.shtml "Fact Sheet: The United States Air Force in Korea."] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070716131319/http://korea50.army.mil/history/factsheets/air_f_fs.shtml |date=16 July 2007 }} ''National Museum of the United States Air Force.'' Retrieved: 7 June 2011.</ref> but United Nations pilots suspected many of the MiG-15s were being flown by experienced Soviet pilots who also had combat experience in World War II. Former Communist sources now acknowledge Soviet pilots initially flew the majority of MiG-15s that fought in Korea, but they also dispute that more MiG-15s than F-86s were shot down in air combat. Later in the war, North Korean and Chinese pilots increased their participation as combat flyers.<ref name="Bud' Mahurin">[http://www.acepilots.com/korea_mahurin2.html " 'Bud' Mahurin."] ''acepilots/com.'' Retrieved: 20 August 2010.</ref><ref>Zampini, Diego. [http://www.acepilots.com/korea/george.html "Lt. Col. George Andrew Davis."] acepilots.com, 8 July 2011. Retrieved: 20 August 2010.</ref>

The status of many claimed air-to-air victories in the Korean War has been increasingly debated as more data becomes available, showing that instances of over-claiming abounded on both sides. The research by Dorr, Lake and Thompson claimed an F-86 kill ratio closer to 2:1.<ref>Dorr, Robert F., Jon Lake and Warren E. Thompson. ''Korean War Aces''. London: Osprey Publishing, 2005. {{ISBN|1-85532-501-2}}.</ref> A recent [[RAND]] report made reference to "recent scholarship" of F-86 v MiG-15 combat over Korea and concluded that the actual kill:loss ratio for the F-86 was 1.8:1 overall, and likely closer to 1.3:1 against MiGs flown by Soviet pilots.<ref name="auto"/> However, this ratio did not count the number of aircraft of other types (including the B-29, A-26, F-80, F-82, F-84 and Gloster Meteor) shot down by MiG-15 pilots.

Data-matching with Soviet records suggests that US pilots routinely attributed their own combat losses to "landing accidents" and "other causes".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.acig.org/artman/publish/article_315.shtml|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130604071241/http://www.acig.org/artman/publish/article_315.shtml|archive-date = 4 June 2013|url-status=usurped|title = Welcome to the Air Combat Information Group}}</ref>  According to official US data ("USAF Statistical Digest FY1953"), the USAF lost 224 F-86 fighters in Korea.<ref>[https://media.defense.gov/2011/Apr/05/2001329931/-1/-1/0/AFD-110405-030.pdf USAF Statistical Digest FY1953], p. 28</ref> Of these, 184 were lost in combat (78 in air-to-air combat, 19 by anti-aircraft guns, 26 were "unknown causes" and 61 were "other losses") and 66 in incidents.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.alternatewars.com/BBOW/Stats/USAF_Losses_Korea.htm|title=USAF Losses in Korea|website=Alternatewars.com|access-date=2 March 2022}}</ref> South African Air Force lost 6 F-86s in the war.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.joebaugher.com/usaf_fighters/p86_12.html |title="Six were written off during action."/F-86F in Foreign Service. Joe Baugher. 1999 |access-date=21 February 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190131125550/http://www.joebaugher.com/usaf_fighters/p86_12.html |archive-date=31 January 2019 |url-status=dead }}</ref> This gives 256 confirmed F-86 losses during the Korean War.

===1958 Taiwan Strait crisis===
[[File:ROCAF F-86 6408 in Military Airplanes Display Area 20111015.jpg|thumb|left|An ROCAF F-86F on display]]
The [[Republic of China Air Force]] was an early recipient of surplus USAF Sabres. From December 1954 to June 1956, the ROC Air Force received 160 ex-USAF F-86F-1-NA through F-86F-30-NA fighters. By June 1958, the Republic of China on [[Taiwan]] had built up an impressive fighter force, with 320 F-86Fs and seven RF-86Fs having been delivered.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/feat/archives/2016/07/03/2003650222|title = Taiwan in Time: 'MiG busters' in action – Taipei Times|date = 3 July 2016}}</ref>

Sabres and MiGs were shortly to battle each other in the skies of Asia once again in the [[Second Taiwan Strait Crisis]]. In August 1958, the [[Chinese Communists]] of the People's Republic of China attempted to force the [[Republic of China|Nationalists]] off the islands of [[Quemoy]] and [[Matsu Islands|Matsu]] by shelling and blockade. ROCAF F-86Fs flying [[combat air patrol]] over the islands found themselves confronted by [[People's Liberation Army Air Force]] MiG-15s and [[Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-17|MiG-17]]s, and numerous dogfights resulted.

During these battles, the ROCAF Sabres introduced a new element into aerial warfare. Under a secret effort designated [[Operation Black Magic]], the U.S. Navy had provided the ROC with the [[AIM-9 Sidewinder]], its first [[infrared-homing]] [[air-to-air missile]], which was just entering service with the United States. A small team from [[VMF-323]], a Marine [[North American FJ-4 Fury|FJ-4 Fury]] squadron with later assistance from [[China Lake]] and North American Aviation, initially modified 20 of the F-86 Sabres to carry a pair of Sidewinders on underwing launch rails and instructed the ROC pilots in their use flying profiles with USAF F-100s simulating the MiG-17. The MiGs enjoyed an altitude advantage over the Sabres, as they had in Korea, and PLAAF MiGs routinely cruised over the ROCAF Sabres, only engaging when they had a favorable position. The Sidewinder took away that advantage and proved to be devastatingly effective against the MiGs.<ref>Robbins, Robby. [http://home.inreach.com/tc/page7.html "323 Death Rattlers."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150529041504/http://home.inreach.com/tc/page7.html |date=29 May 2015 }} ''inreach.com''. Retrieved" 20 August 2010.</ref>

===Pakistan Air Force===
[[File:Pakistani F-86 Sabres.jpg|thumb|Pakistani Sabres lined up at [[PAF Base Mauripur|Masroor Airbase]] in 1958]]
In 1954, [[Dominion of Pakistan|Pakistan]] started receiving the first of a total of 102 F-86F Sabres under the [[Mutual Defense Assistance Act|Mutual Defense Assistance Program]]. Many of these aircraft were F-86F-35s from [[USAF]] stocks, but some were from the later F-86F-40-NA production block (made specifically for export). Many of the F-35s were brought up to F-40 standards before they were delivered to Pakistan, but a few remained F-35s. The F-86 was operated by nine [[Pakistan Air Force]] (PAF) squadrons at various times: Nos. [[No. 5 Squadron (Pakistan Air Force)|5]], [[No. 11 Squadron (Pakistan Air Force)|11]], [[No. 14 Squadron (Pakistan Air Force)|14]], [[No. 15 Squadron (Pakistan Air Force)|15]], [[No. 16 Squadron (Pakistan Air Force)|16]], [[No. 17 Squadron (Pakistan Air Force)|17]], 18, 19, and [[No. 26 Squadron (Pakistan Air Force)|26]] Squadrons.<ref>{{cite journal|url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/4322618|title=United States-Pakistan Mutual Defense Assistance Agreement (May 19, 1954)|journal=Middle East Journal|publisher=Middle East Institute|jstor=4322618 |last1= Khan |first1=Muhammad Zafrulla |last2=Emmerson |first2=John K. |year=1954 |volume=8 |issue=3 |pages=338–340 }}</ref>

Moreover, in April 1959, a PAF F-86F flown by Flight Lieutenant Yunis of the No. 15 Squadron "Cobras" [[1959 Canberra shootdown|shot down]] an Indian [[English Electric Canberra|Canberra Spy Plane]] over [[Rawalpindi]] marking the first aerial victory for the Pakistan Air Force.<ref>{{cite web|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20010111073300/http://www.defencejournal.com:80/2000/sept/sabre.htm|url=http://defencejournal.com:80/2000/dec/f86.htm|website=DefenceJournal|archive-date=11 January 2001|title=PAF Sabre Draws First Blood}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://paf.gov.pk/#/feats-of-courage|title=The First Blood, Rawalpindi|date=10 April 1959|website=Pakistan Air Force|access-date=29 September 2022|archive-date=26 August 2022|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20220826081717/https://paf.gov.pk/#/feats-of-courage|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.dawn.com/news/1538253|title=Forgotten PAF heroes|website=Dawn|author=Azmat Ansari|date=4 March 2020}}</ref>

In 1966, Pakistan acquired 90 [[German Air Force|ex-Luftwaffe]] [[Canadair Sabre|CL-13 Mk.6s]] via [[Iran]] due to postwar [[US sanctions]]. They were known as the F-86E in the PAF, not to be confused with the North American F-86E variants).<ref name= "hali">{{cite web|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20010221071346/http://defencejournal.com:80/2000/dec/f86.htm|author=Gp Capt Sultan M Mali |title= F-86 F&E Sabres in Pakistan Air Force|website=Defence Journal |archive-date=21 February 2001|url= http://defencejournal.com:80/2000/dec/f86.htm}}</ref>

The last of the Sabres were withdrawn from PAF service in 1980 and were replaced with the [[Shenyang F-6]] fighters. In total Pakistani pilots flew 320,185 hours in the Sabres out of which about 4,500 hours were flown in wartime operations.<ref name="hali"/> They are now on display at [[PAF Museum]] and [[List of surviving North American F-86 Sabres#Pakistan|various cities]] around Pakistan.

====1960–1961 Bajaur Campaign====
{{main|Bajaur Campaign}}
In late 1960, regular and irregular Afghan forces invaded the [[Bajaur]] area of [[North West Frontier Province]] in an attempt to annex the region. In response, PAF F-86s were sent in order to support the [[Pakistani Military|Pakistani Forces]] and local [[Pakistani Pashtun]] tribesmen who were fighting the Afghan infiltrators. The Sabres also executed bombing runs on [[Royal Afghan Army]] positions in [[Kunar Province|Kunar]] which were attacking [[Frontier Corps]] border posts. Although the [[Royal Afghan Air Force]] had seven [[MiG-17]] squadrons<ref name=":02">''[[Flight Magazine]]'' 1990 or ''The Encyclopaedia of World Air Forces''</ref> and another [[MiG-21]] squadron being operationalized, no known dogfight has been recorded between the two sides.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://frontierpakistani.wordpress.com/2017/11/12/the-heroes-of-bajaur/|title=The Heroes Of Bajaur|author=Asfandyar Bhittani|website=Frontier Pakistani|date=12 November 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://web.stanford.edu/group/tomzgroup/pmwiki/uploads/1303-1961-06-KS-AJG.pdf | title=Jun 1961 – 'Pakhtoonistan' Dispute. – Military Operations in Frontier Areas. – Pakistani Allegations of Afghan Incursions | website=Keesing's Record of World Events | access-date=20 June 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.piads.com.pk/users/piads/jackson1a.html |title=Pakistan's Sabres at War |access-date=2023-05-23 |website=Pakistan Institute for Air Defence Studies  |last=Jackson |first=Robert |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030430050802/http://www.piads.com.pk/users/piads/jackson1a.html |archive-date=2003-04-30}}</ref>

====Indo-Pakistani War of 1965====
{{main|Indo-Pakistani Air War of 1965}}
[[File:IAF Hunter being shot down by PAF F-86 Sabre (1965 War).jpg|upright|thumb|Gun camera film from [[Sharbat Ali Changezi]]'s F-86F Sabre of [[No. 26 Squadron PAF]] shows the last moments of an IAF [[Hawker Hunter]] before being shot down over [[Lahore District]].]]
The Sabre was no longer a world-class fighter (due to availability of supersonic jets). However, various sources state the F-86 gave the PAF a technological advantage in 1965.<ref>{{cite web|author=Air Commodore Jamal Hussain (Ret'd)|url=http://www.defencejournal.com/2002/april/combat.htm|title=Excellence in Air Combat:PAF's Forte|website=Defence Journal|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030103080940/http://www.defencejournal.com:80/2002/april/combat.htm|archive-date=3 January 2003}}</ref><ref name="Pakistan's Air Power">{{cite magazine|url=http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1984/1984%20-%200797.html?search=F-86%20Pakistan|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130430101908if_/http://www.flightglobal.com/FlightPDFArchive/1984/1984%20-%200797.PDF#navpanes=0&search='F-86%20Pakistan'&scrollbar=0&page=1&view=FitH,0|archive-date=30 April 2013|title=Pakistan's Air Power|magazine=[[Flight International]]|issue=5 May 1984| page=1208|access-date=22 October 2009}}.</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://defencejournal.com/2018/08/10/routledge-handbook-of-air-power/|author=[[Kaiser Tufail]]|publisher=Routledge, London and New York|editor=Col John Andreas Olsen|title=Routledge Handbook of Air Power|website=Defence Journal|date=10 August 2018}}</ref>

*'''Air to air combat'''
[[File:PAF Sabre being shot down in combat by an IAF Gnat in September 1965.jpg|alt=|thumb|PAF Sabre being shot down by an IAF [[Folland Gnat]] in September 1965]]
In the air-to-air combat of the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965, the PAF Sabres claimed to have shot down 15 [[Indian Air Force]] (IAF) aircraft, comprising nine [[Hawker Hunter|Hunters]], four [[De Havilland Vampire|Vampires]], and two [[Folland Gnat|Gnats]].{{Citation needed|date=July 2012}} India, however, admitted a loss of 14 combat aircraft to the PAF's F-86s.<ref name="Brakshak">[http://bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/History/Misc/Loss1965.html "1965 Losses".] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060721035951/http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/History/Misc/Loss1965.html |date=21 July 2006 }} ''bhart-rakshak.com''. Retrieved: 20 August 2010.</ref> The F-86s of the PAF had the advantage of being armed with AIM-9B/GAR-8 Sidewinder missiles, whereas none of its Indian adversaries had this capability. Despite this, the [[Indian Air Force]] claimed that seven F-86 Sabres were shot down by [[Folland Gnat]]s and six F-86 Sabres were shot down by [[Hawker Hunter]]s.<ref name="Brakshak2">Rakshak, Bharat. [http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/History/Misc/Kill1965.html "IAF Kills in 1965."] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061105015854/http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/History/Misc/Kill1965.html |date=5 November 2006 }} ''bharat-rakshak.com''. Retrieved: 20 August 2010.</ref>

*'''Ground attack'''
<!-- Deleted image removed: [[File:PAF F-86 Sabre 1965 War.png|thumb|right|Pakistan Air Force Pilot boards an F-86 Sabre]] -->
[[File:PAF F-86 Sabres 1965 War.jpg|thumb|right|A 4-ship [[Vic formation]] of PAF F-86F Sabres returning from an [[Air interdiction|interdiction mission]] in September 1965]]
The F-86F remained a potent aircraft for use against ground targets. On the morning of 6 September 1965, six F-86s of No. 19 Squadron struck advancing columns of the Indian army using 5-in (127-mm) rockets along with their six .50-in (12.7-mm) [[M2 Browning machine gun|M3 Browning machine gun]]s. On the same day, eight F-86 fighters of the same squadron executed [[airstrikes]] on the IAF Pathankot.<ref name="Devastation of Pathankot.">{{cite web|url=http://www.defencejournal.com/2000/sept/pathankot.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010111065200/http://www.defencejournal.com/2000/sept/pathankot.htm|title=Devastation of Pathankot|website=Defence Journal|archive-date=2001-01-11}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|url=https://catalogue.nlb.gov.sg/cgi-bin/spydus.exe/ENQ/WPAC/BIBENQ?SETLVL=&BRN=13236734|title=Flight of the falcon|author=Syed Sajad Haider|publisher=Vanguard Books, Lahore}}</ref>
In [[East Pakistan]], F-86s from the [[No. 14 Squadron (Pakistan Air Force)|No. 14 Squadron]] struck the Indian [[airbase]]s of [[Kalaikunda Air Force Station|Kalaikunda]], [[Bagdogra Air Force Station|Bagdogra]], [[Barrackpore Air Force Station|Barrackpore]] and [[Maharaja Bir Bikram Airport|Agartala]] which resulted in the destruction of more than 20 Indian aircraft. The [[airstrikes]] on Kalaikunda in particular were highly successful after which the No. 14 Squadron was nicknamed "[[Tail Choppers]]".<ref name="tail choppers">{{cite web|url=http://www.defencejournal.com/dec98/tailchoppers.htm|title=Tail Choppers:Birth of a Legend|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190915153359/http://www.defencejournal.com/dec98/tailchoppers.htm|website=Defence Journal|archive-date=2019-09-15|access-date=20 August 2010}}</ref>

In total, Pakistani [[B-57 Canberra]]s and F-86s destroyed around 39 Indian [[warplanes]] on the ground at various IAF [[airbase]]s.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://casstt.com/the-1965-air-war-and-the-pafs-air-dominance/|title=1965 Air War and the PAF's Air Dominance|website=[[Centre for Aerospace and Security Studies]]|date=23 Sep 2022|author=Moiz Khan|quote=India lost minimum of 66 aircraft, in which 39 were destroyed by the PAF in its air to ground strikes.}}</ref><ref name="shamim">{{cite book|url=https://a.co/d/2rbIClW|title=Cutting Edge PAF|author=Air Chief Marshal [[Anwar Shamim]]|via=Amazon.com}}</ref> However, India claims losing 22 aircraft on the ground.<ref name="Brakshak"/>

====1971 Civil conflict and subsequent Indo-Pakistani war====
*'''Air-to-air combat'''
[[File:Flight Lieutenant Salim Baig Gun Cam.jpg|thumb|Indian [[Folland Gnat|Gnat]] being shot down by a PAF F-86F of the [[No. 26 Squadron (Pakistan Air Force)|No. 26 Squadron]] over [[Srinagar]]]]
The [[Cl-13|CL-13B Mk.6 Sabres]] (known as the F-86E in PAF) were the mainstay of the PAF's day-fighter operations during the [[1971 War]], and had the challenge of dealing with the threat from IAF [[Folland Gnat]]s, [[Hawker Hunter]]s, [[Sukhoi Su-7]]s and [[Mig-21]]s.<ref name="cia1973">{{Cite book|title=South Asian Military Handbook|publisher=United States [[Central Intelligence Agency]]|year=1973|pages=[https://web.archive.org/web/20170123110633/https://www.cia.gov/library/readingroom/docs/CIA-RDP85T00875R001100030004-9.pdf#page=9 GLOS -12 ]|quote=The US F-86 fighter has long been the mainstay of the Pakistan Air Force, and in spite of its subsonic performance, Islamabad is still seeking more. They were heavily committed during the 1971 war. Bangladesh captured about eight F-86s at the end of the war, but needs spare parts and technical assistance to keep them operational.}}</ref>

At the beginning of the war, PAF had eight squadrons of F-86 Sabres.<ref name="time_ote">"[https://web.archive.org/web/20070312102331/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,910155-4,00.html "India and Pakistan: Over the Edge."] ''Time'', 13 December 1971. Retrieved: 11 March 2009.</ref> Along with the newer fighter types such as the [[Mirage III]] and the [[Shenyang F-6]], the Sabres were tasked with the majority of operations during the war. In [[East Pakistan]], PAF's only [[No. 14 Squadron (Pakistan Air Force)|Tail Choppers]] squadron was equipped with 16 [[Canadair Sabre|F-86E]]s out of which four were modified to fire [[GAR-8|AIM-9/GAR-8]] missiles.<ref name="kaiser"/>

In the [[Battle of Boyra]] Indian [[Folland Gnat]]s of [[No. 22 Squadron IAF|22 Squadron IAF]] shot down two F-86Es and severely damaged one F-86E.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{cite web|last=Pillarisetti|first=Jagan|title=Pakistani Air Losses of the 1971 War (Official List)|url=http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/history/1971war/1289-pakistani-air-losses-of-the-1971-war-official-list.html|access-date=2021-05-11|website=www.bharat-rakshak.com|language=en-gb|archive-date=6 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210506205742/http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/history/1971war/1289-pakistani-air-losses-of-the-1971-war-official-list.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>

PAF F-86s performed well, with Pakistani claims of downing 31 Indian aircraft in air-to-air combat. These included 17 [[Hawker Hunter]]s, eight [[Sukhoi Su-7|Sukhoi Su-7 "Fitters"]], one MiG 21, and three [[Folland Gnat|Gnats]]{{Citation needed|date=July 2012}} while losing seven F-86s. The most interesting of these was a battle between two Sabres and four MiG-21s. One MiG was shot down, without any Sabres lost. This was achieved due to the greater low-speed performance of the Sabre in comparison to the delta-winged MiG-21.<ref name =man-behind-gun>Tufail, Air Cdre M. Kaiser.[http://www.defencejournal.com/2001/dec/manbehindthegun.htm "It is the Man Behind the Gun."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201112021320/http://www.defencejournal.com/2001/dec/manbehindthegun.htm |date=12 November 2020 }} ''defencejournal.co'', 2001. Retrieved: 25 November 2015.</ref>

India, however, claims to have shot down 11 PAF Sabres for the loss of 11 combat aircraft to the PAF F-86s.<ref name="Brakshak3">[http://bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/History/Misc/Loss1971.html "IAF Losses in 1971."] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060907222607/http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/History/Misc/Loss1971.html |date=7 September 2006 }} ''Bharat Rakshak.com''. Retrieved: 20 August 2010.</ref> The IAF numerical superiority overwhelmed the sole East Pakistan Sabres squadron (and other military aircraft)<ref name=":0">[http://www.subcontinent.com/1971war/1971war_index.html "1971 Indo-Pakistani war."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200225134927/http://www.subcontinent.com/1971war/1971war_index.html |date=25 February 2020 }} subcontinent.com. Retrieved: 30 June 2011.</ref><ref>[http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/r?frd/cstdy:@field(DOCID+bd0140) "Bangladesh, The Liberation War."] ''memory/loc.gov.'' Retrieved: 30 June 2011.</ref> which were either shot down, or grounded by Pakistani [[fratricide]]<!--See image to the right and sources in the next para--> as they could not hold out, enabling complete [[air superiority]] for the IAF.{{sfn|Singh|2004|p=30}}
*'''Ground attack'''
In [[East Pakistan]], the F-86Es of the [[Tail Choppers]] took active part in several [[Close Air Support|CAS]] and [[Counterinsurgency|COIN]] missions against [[Mukti Bahini]] militants and irregular Indian forces.<ref name="kaiser">{{cite web|url=http://kaiser-aeronaut.blogspot.com/2012/10/the-last-stand-air-war-1971.html?m=1|date=13 October 2012|title=The Last Stand – Air War 1971|author=[[Kaiser Tufail]]|website=Aeronaut}}</ref>

On 15 April 1971, a formation of four Sabres led by [[Abbas Khattak|Flight Lt. Abbas Khattak]] [[strafed]] and rocketed many rebel strongholds at [[Bhairab|Bhairab Bazar]] to support the [[Pakistan Army]]'s efforts in re-capturing food stocks and silos from the Mukti-Bahini militants.<ref name="kaiser"/><ref>{{cite book|url=https://www.capitolhillbooks-dc.com/pages/books/13153/hussaini-tanvir-m-ahmed-jamal-a-khan-text-intro/paf-over-the-years |title=PAF over the Years|page=69|chapter=Trauma & Reconstruction (1971–1980)|author=Group Captain (R) Husseini & Pakistan Air Force|publisher= Directorate of Media Affairs, Pakistan Air Force}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.hilal.gov.pk/eng-article/detail/MTA0MQ==.html|title=From the Chronicles of 1971|author=Amer Islam|magazine=Hilal English}}</ref>

On 26 April 1971, Flight Lt. Abbass led another Sabre formation at [[Patuakhali]] where surviving rebels had regrouped after facing a defeat at [[Barisal]] by the hands of the [[Pakistan Army|Army]]. The Sabres struck several rebel strongpoints to soften up resistance after which [[Special Services Group|SSG]] units were inserted via [[Mi-8]]s to clear out the area.<ref name="kaiser"/>

On the [[West Pakistan|Western Front]], F-86Es and F-86Fs from various PAF squadrons played a vital role in backing the [[Pakistan Army]]'s counter attacks at several sectors with Air support.

At [[Shakargarh]] and [[Marala]] sectors, PAF F-86F/Es from the [[No. 17 Squadron (Pakistan Air Force)|No. 17]], No. 18 and [[No. 26 Squadron (Pakistan Air Force)|26]] Squadrons alongside [[Shenyang F-6]]s took part in air support missions backing Pakistan's [[I Corps (Pakistan)|I Strike Corps]] counter attacks against the Indian army's [[I Corps (India)|I Corps]]. Although ill-equipped for anti-tank roles, the Sabres were modified to carry [[general purpose bomb]]s in an effort to provide as much effective air support as possible.<ref>{{cite web|author=[[Kaiser Tufail]]|website=Aeronaut|date=14 April 2010 |title=Air Support in Shakargarh – 1971 War|url=http://kaiser-aeronaut.blogspot.com/2010/04/air-support-in-shakargarh-1971-war.html}}</ref><ref name="hali"/>

In the [[Battle of Chamb]], F-86Fs from [[No. 26 Squadron (Pakistan Air Force)|No. 26 Squadron "Black Spiders"]] and F-86Es from No. 18 Squadron supported [[Iftikhar Janjua]]'s forces in capturing [[Chumb]] flying 146 air support sorties. At one point, the Indian Army suffered a major blow at [[Akhnur]] when Sabres from No. 18 Squadron destroyed their [[ammunition dump]]s.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://kaiser-aeronaut.blogspot.com/2010/05/air-support-in-chamb-1971-war.html?m=1 |author= [[Kaiser Tufail]]|title=Air Support in Chamb – 1971 War|website=Aeronaut|date=10 May 2010}}</ref>

At [[Sulemanki Headworks|Sulemanki]], F-86Es of [[No. 17 Squadron (Pakistan Air Force)|No. 17 Squadron "Tigers"]] flew 55 [[Close Air Support|CAS]] sorties in support of the [[IV Corps (Pakistan)|IV Corps]] offensive in which they claimed six Indian [[tank]]s and a number of [[military vehicles]] destroyed.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://kaiser-aeronaut.blogspot.com/2010/06/sundry-air-support-1971-war.html?m=1 |author=[[Kaiser Tufail]]|title=Sundry Air Support – 1971 War |website= Aeronaut|date=12 June 2010}}</ref>

At [[Thar Desert|Thar]], F-86E and Fs belonging to the No. 19 Squadron struck Indian army positions during their Close Air Support missions. In total, they destroyed eight Indian tanks and several [[military vehicles]] while also damaging two [[train (military)|military trains]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://kaiser-aeronaut.blogspot.com/2009/10/air-war-in-thar.html |author= [[Kaiser Tufail]]|title=Air Support in Thar – 1971 War|website=Aeronaut|date=12 October 2009}}</ref>

===Guinea-Bissau War of Independence===
In 1958, the [[Portuguese Air Force|Forca Aerea Portuguesa]] (FAP) received 50 F-86Fs from ex-USAF stocks. A few former Norwegian Air Force F-86Fs were also purchased as spares in 1968–69.

The FAP deployed some of its F-86F Sabres to [[Portuguese Guinea]] in 1961, being based at AB2 – Bissalanca Air Base, [[Bissau]]. These aircraft formed "Detachment 52", initially equipped with eight F-86Fs (serials: 5307, 5314, 5322, 5326, 5354, 5356, 5361, and 5362) from the ''Esquadra 51'', based at the BA5 – [[Monte Real Air Base]]. These aircraft were used in the [[Guinea-Bissau War of Independence]], in ground-attack and close-support operations against the insurgent forces. In August 1962, 5314 overshot the runway during an emergency landing with bombs still attached on underwing hardpoints and burned out. F-86F 5322 was shot down by enemy ground fire on 31 May 1963; the pilot ejected safely and was recovered. Several other aircraft suffered combat damage but were repaired.

In 1964, 16 F-86Fs based at [[Osvaldo Vieira International Airport|Bissalanca]] returned to mainland Portugal due to U.S. pressure. They had flown 577 combat sorties, of which 430 were ground-attack and close-air-support missions.

===Philippine Air Force===
The [[Philippine Air Force]] (PAF) first received the Sabres in the form of F-86Fs in 1957, replacing the [[North American P-51 Mustang]] as their
primary interceptor. F-86s first operated from [[Basa Air Base]], known infamously as the "Nest of Vipers", where the 5th Fighter Wing of the PAF was based. Later on, in 1960, the PAF acquired the F-86D as their first all-weather interceptor. The most notable use of the F-86 Sabres was in the [[Blue Diamonds (aerobatic team)|Blue Diamonds]] aerobatic display team, which operated eight Sabres until the arrival of the newer, supersonic [[Northrop F-5]]. The F-86s were subsequently phased out of service in the 1970s as the [[Northrop F-5|Northrop F-5 Freedom Fighter]] and [[Vought F-8 Crusader]]s became the primary fighters and [[interceptors]] of the PAF. [[Antonio Bautista]] was a Blue Diamonds pilot and a decorated officer. He was killed on 11 January 1974 during a combat sortie against rebels in the south of the country.{{citation needed|date=February 2023}}

===Indian Air Force===

Though the [[Indian Air Force]] never operated the F-86 Sabre, a small group of IAF pilots trained on the aircraft in the [[United States]] in 1963–65 under a brief diplomatic arrangement to provide IAF pilots with Gunnery training. The training contributed to doctrinal exposure rather than operational deployment. During training, Indian pilots would often fly with Pakistani,Iranian and NATO forces. India would instead field the [[Folland Gnat]] against the F-86 in conflicts with Saber-armed Pakistan.<ref>{{cite web |last=Gupta |first=Anchit |title=Beyond Borders: IAF Pilots on a Sabre Adventure |url=https://iafhistory.in/2022/06/23/beyond-borders-iaf-pilots-on-a-sabre-adventure/ |website=IAFHistory |date=23 June 2022 |access-date=5 May 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Editor |date=2015-03-27 |title=Flying And Gunnery Training In The USA |url=https://www.bharat-rakshak.com/iaf/history/1950s/rajkumar01/ |access-date=2025-11-16 |website=Indian Air Force |language=en-US}}</ref>

===Soviet Sabre===
During the Korean War the Soviet search for an intact U.S. F-86 Sabre for evaluation and study purposes was largely frustrated due to the U.S. military's policy of destroying disabled or abandoned weapons and equipment, with USAF pilots destroying most of their downed Sabres by [[strafing]] or bombing. One F-86 was downed in a tidal area, and subsequently submerged, preventing its destruction. The aircraft was ferried to Moscow and a new [[OKB]] (Soviet Experimental Design Bureau) was established to study the F-86, which later became part of the Sukhoi OKB. "At least one F-86… was sent to the Soviet Union, the {{sic|Russians}} admitted, and other planes and prizes such as U.S. [[G-suit]]s and [[Radar gunsight|radar gun sights]] also went."<ref name="Sauter">Sauter, Mark. [http://www.koreanconfidential.com/ghostpilotsmysteryaircraft.html "Ghost pilots and mystery aircraft of the Korean War."] ''Korean Confidential'', 4 December 2012. Retrieved: 31 March 2013. {{webarchive |url= https://web.archive.org/web/20150215185407/http://www.koreanconfidential.com/ghostpilotsmysteryaircraft.html |date=15 February 2015 }}</ref>

The Soviets studied and copied the optical gunsight and radar from the captured aircraft to produce the ASP-4N gunsight and SRC-3 radar. Installed in the MiG-17, the gunsight system was later used against American fighters in the Vietnam War.{{#tag:ref|The MiG-17 was a development of the MiG-15 upgraded with a more advanced wing and afterburner (the Sabre's all-flying tail would not be employed until the supersonic MiG-19).  The MiG-17 proved to be a deadly foe in Vietnam in the 1960s against more advanced U.S. supersonic opponents; some, such as the F-4 Phantom, actually lacked the guns and radar gunsight introduced by the F-86.<ref name="phantom">{{harvnb|Davies|2009|p=21}}</ref>|group=Note}} The F-86 studies also contributed to the development of aircraft aluminum alloys such as V-95.<ref>[http://capturedplanes.tripod.com/sabre.htm "Soviet Sabre."]  ''Captured Planes.'' Retrieved: 30 June 2011.</ref>{{failed verification|date= March 2018}}

===Feather Duster===
The old but nimble MiG-17 had become such a serious threat against the [[Republic F-105 Thunderchief]] over North Vietnam that the USAF created project "Feather Duster" to test which tactics supersonic American fighters could use against fighters such as the MiG-17. [[Air National Guard|ANG]] F-86H units proved to be an ideal stand-in for the Soviet jets. One pilot remarked, "In any envelope except nose down and full throttle", either the [[North American F-100 Super Sabre|F-100]] or F-105 was inferior to the F-86H in a dogfight.{{sfn|Michel|2007|p=333}}<ref>Davis, Larry H. {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20120327212328/http://sabre-pilots.org/classics/v23les.htm "We interview Les Waltman."]}} Sabre-pilots.org. Retrieved: 19 July 2011.</ref>

==Variants==

===North American F-86===

[[File:Sabre familytree2.svg|thumb|Family tree of Sabre & Fury variants]]
[[File:f-86a sabre fu-178 kemble arp.jpg|thumb|Preserved airworthy F-86A Sabre at [[Kemble Airport|Kemble Air Day]] 2008, England]]
[[File:NAA TF-86 transonic trainer.jpg|thumb|TF-86F]]
[[File:North American F-86F Sabre 53-1308 (34327519773).jpg|thumb|F-86H-10-NH Sabre s/n 53-1308 at the [[Wings Over the Rockies Air and Space Museum|Wings Museum]], [[Denver, Colorado]]]]
[[File:F-86H-NMUSAF.jpg|thumb|F-86H without skin panels at the [[National Museum of the United States Air Force]]]]

;XF-86: three prototypes, originally designated '''XP-86''', North American model NA-140
;YF-86A: this was the first prototype fitted with a [[General Electric J47]] turbojet engine.
;F-86A: 554 built, North American model NA-151 (F-86A-1 block and first order of A-5 block) and NA-161 (second F-86A-5 block)
;DF-86A: A few F-86A conversions as drone directors
;RF-86A: 11 F-86A conversions with three cameras for reconnaissance
;F-86B: 188 ordered as upgraded A-model with wider fuselage and larger tires but delivered as F-86A-5, North American model NA-152
;F-86C: Original designation for the [[North American YF-93|YF-93A]], two built, ''48–317'' & ''48–318'',<ref>[http://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=2384 "North American YF-93A Fact Sheet."] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141027044120/http://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=2384 |date=27 October 2014 }} ''National Museum of the United States Air Force''. Retrieved: 20 August 2010.</ref> order for 118 cancelled, North American model NA-157
;YF-95A: Prototype [[night fighter|all-weather]] [[interceptor aircraft|interceptor]], two built, designation changed to '''YF-86D''', North American model NA-164
;F-86D/L:{{main|North American F-86D Sabre}}Production transonic all-weather search-radar equipped interceptor originally designated F-95A, 2,506 built. The F-86D had only 25 percent commonality with other Sabre variants, with a larger fuselage, larger afterburning engine, and a distinctive nose radome. Sole armament was Mk. 4 unguided rockets instead of machine guns. F-86Ls were upgraded F-86Ds.
;F-86E: Improved flight control system and an "all-flying tail" (This system changed to a full power-operated control with an "artificial feel" built into the aircraft's controls to give the pilot forces on the stick that were still conventional, but light enough for superior combat control. It improved high-speed maneuverability); 456 built, North American model NA-170 (F-86E-1 and E-5 blocks), NA-172, essentially the F-86F [[airframe]] with the F-86E engine (F-86E-10 and E-15 blocks); 60 of these built by [[Canadair]] for USAF (F-86E-6)
;F-86E(M): Designation for ex-[[Royal Air Force|RAF]] Sabres diverted to other [[NATO]] air forces
;QF-86E: Designation for surplus [[Royal Canadian Air Force|RCAF]] Sabre Mk. Vs modified to target drones
;F-86F: Uprated engine and larger "6–3" wing without leading-edge slats, 2,239 built; North American model NA-172 (F-86F-1 through F-15 blocks), NA-176 (F-86F-20 and −25 blocks), NA-191 (F-86F-30 and -35 blocks), NA-193 (F-86F-26 block), NA-202 (F-86F-35 block), NA-227 (first two orders of F-86F-40 blocks comprising 280 aircraft that reverted to leading-edge wing slats of an improved design), NA-231 (70 in third F-40 block order), NA-238 (110 in fourth F-40 block order), and NA-256 (120 in final F-40 block order); 300 additional aircraft in this series assembled by [[Mitsubishi]] in Japan for [[Japan Self-Defense Forces|Japanese Air Self-Defense Force]]. Sabre Fs had much improved high-speed agility, coupled with a higher landing speed of over {{convert|145|mi/h|km/h|abbr=on}}. The F-35 block had provisions for a new operational role: the [[tactical nuclear weapon|tactical nuclear attack]] using newer, smaller, and lighter nuclear weapons ("second generation" nuclear ordnance). The F-40 had a new slatted wing with a slightly higher span, resulting in a slight decrease in speed, but also much better agility at both high and low speeds and a reduced landing speed of {{convert|124|mi/h|km/h|abbr=on}}. The USAF upgraded many previous F versions to the F-40 standard. One E and two Fs were modified for improved performance via rocket boost.
;F-86F(R): F-86F-30 (52-4608) had a [[Rocketdyne AR2-3]] with {{cvt|3000|–|6000|lbf}} thrust at {{cvt|35000|ft}}, giving a top speed of mach 1.22 at {{cvt|60000|ft}}.<ref name="ReferenceA"/> 
;F-86F-2: Designation for 10 aircraft modified to carry the [[M39 cannon]] in place of the M3 .50 caliber machine gun "six-pack". Four F-86E-10s (serial numbers 51-2803, 2819, 2826 and 2836) and six F-86F-1s (serial numbers 51-2855, 2861, 2867, 2868, 2884 and 2900) were production-line aircraft modified in October 1952 with enlarged and strengthened gun bays, then flight tested at Edwards Air Force Base and the Air Proving Ground at Eglin Air Force Base in November. Eight were shipped to Japan in December and seven forward-deployed to Kimpo Airfield as "Project GunVal" for a 16-week combat field trial in early 1953. Two were lost to engine compressor stalls after ingesting excessive propellant gases from the cannons.{{sfn|Thompson|McLaren|2002|pp=139–55}}{{#tag:ref|''MiG Alley: Sabres Vs. MiGs Over Korea.'' was researched by North American tech rep John L. Henderson. The aircraft were F-86E-10s: ''51-2303'', ''-2819'', ''-2826'' and ''-2836''; and F-86F-1's 51-2855, −2862, −2867, −2868, −2884 and −2900.|group=Note}}<ref>{{Cite web |url= http://www.dtic.mil/dtic/tr/fulltext/u2/031528.pdf |title=AD 31528 - OPERATIONAL SUITABILITY TEST OF THE T-160 20MM GUN INSTALLATION IN F-86F-2 AIRCRAFT |access-date=27 April 2016 |archive-date=17 February 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170217034918/http://www.dtic.mil/dtic/tr/fulltext/u2/031528.pdf |url-status= dead }}</ref>
;QF-86F: About 50 former Japan Self-Defense Forces (JASDF) F-86F aircraft converted to drones for use as targets by the [[U.S. Navy]]
;RF-86F: Some F-86F-30s converted with three cameras for reconnaissance; also 18 Japan Self-Defense Forces (JASDF) aircraft similarly converted
;TF-86F: Two F-86F converted to two-seat training configuration with lengthened fuselage and slatted wings under North American model NA-204
;YF-86H: Extensively redesigned fighter-bomber model with deeper fuselage, uprated engine, longer wings and power-boosted tailplane, two built as North American model NA-187
;F-86H: Production model, 473 built, with [[Low Altitude Bombing System]] (LABS) and provision for [[nuclear weapon]], North American model NA-187 (F-86H-1 and H-5 blocks) and NA-203 (F-86H-10 block)
;QF-86H: Target conversion of 29 aircraft for use at [[United States Naval Weapons Center]]
;F-86J: Single F-86A-5-NA, ''49-1069'', flown with [[Orenda Engines|Orenda]] turbojet under North American model NA-167 – same designation reserved for A-models flown with the Canadian engines but project not proceeded with
;F-86K:{{main|North American F-86D Sabre}}
;F-86L:{{main|North American F-86D Sabre}}
;B.Kh.17: ({{langx|th|บ.ข.๑๗}}) [[Royal Thai Air Force]] designation for the F-86F.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Thai Military Aircraft Designations |url=https://designation-systems.net/non-us/thailand.html |access-date=2025-03-18 |website=designation-systems.net}}</ref>

===North American FJ Fury===
: ''See: [[North American FJ-2/-3 Fury]] for production figures of [[U.S. Navy]] versions.''

===CAC Sabre (Australia)===
{{Main|CAC Sabre}}
[[File:Royal Australian Air Force, on loan to the Temora Aviation Museum, (VH-IPN, former military registration A94-983) CAC Sabre Mk.32 landing at Avalon during the 2015 Australian International Airshow.jpg|thumb|Preserved CAC Sabre Mk 30 in 2018.]]

Two types based on the U.S. F-86F were built under licence by the [[Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation]] (CAC) in Australia, for the [[Royal Australian Air Force]] as the CA-26 (one prototype) and CA-27 (production variant). The RAAF operated the CA-27 from 1956 to 1971.<ref name="SAAF">[http://www.defence.gov.au/RAAF/raafmuseum/research/aircraft/series2/A94.htm "Sabre."] ''RAAF Museum''. Retrieved: 20 August 2010.</ref> The CAC Sabres included a 60% fuselage redesign, to accommodate the [[Rolls-Royce Avon]] Mk 26 engine, which had roughly 50% more thrust than the [[General Electric J47|J47]], as well as [[ADEN cannon|30 mm Aden cannon]] and AIM-9 Sidewinder missiles. As a consequence of its powerplant, the Australian-built Sabres are commonly referred to as the '''Avon Sabre'''. CAC manufactured 112 of these aircraft.<ref>{{harvnb|Wilson|1994|pp=73–74.}}</ref> Ex-RAAF Avon Sabres were operated by the [[Royal Malaysian Air Force]] (''TUDM'') between 1969 and 1972. From 1973 to 1975, 23 Avon Sabres were donated to the [[Military of Indonesia|Indonesian Air Force]] (''TNI-AU''); five of these were ex-Malaysian aircraft.<ref>{{harvnb|Wilson|1989|p=110.}}</ref>

CA-27 marques:
*'''Mk 30''': 21 built, wing slats, Avon 20 engine.
*'''Mk 31''': 21 built, 6–3 wing, Avon 20 engine.
*'''Mk 32''': 69 built, four wing pylons, F-86F fuel capacity, Avon 26 engine.<ref>{{harvnb|Wilson|1994|p=74}}</ref>

===Canadair Sabre===
[[File:CMR - F86 sabre.JPG|thumb|F-86 Sabre monument at the [[Royal Military College of Canada]] in [[Kingston, Ontario]]]]
{{Main|Canadair Sabre}}

The F-86 was also manufactured by [[Canadair]] in Canada as the CL-13 Sabre to replace its [[de Havilland Vampire]]s, with the following production models:
[[File:Canadair Sabre F.4 XD769 J.92 Hooton Park 24.07.55 edited-2.jpg|thumb|right|Canadair Sabre F.4 of [[No. 92 Squadron RAF|92 Squadron]] [[RAF Fighter Command]] in 1955]]
[[File:Canadair F-86 Sabre Mk 6 at Canada Aviation Museum 2006.jpg|thumb|right|Preserved Canadair Sabre 6]]
;Sabre Mk.1
:One built, prototype based on F-86A-5 with {{cvt|5200|lbf}} (static thrust) GE J47-GE-13 engine.
;{{visible anchor|Sabre Mk.2}}
:350 built, based on F-86E with all flying tailplane and with GE J47-GE-13 engine. 
::287 built for the  [[RCAF]], 60 for the USAF as the F-86E-6, and three to [[Royal Air Force|RAF]], .
;Sabre Mk.3
:One built in Canada as a test-bed for the {{cvt|6000|lbf}} (static thrust) Orenda 3 jet engine, with structural modifications to fit the larger diameter Orenda.
;Sabre Mk.4
:438 built with extensive detail modifications from Mk.2.
::Ten built for the RCAF, and 428 to RAF as the '''Sabre F.4'''.
;{{visible anchor|Sabre Mk.5}}
:370 built with more powerful {{cvt|6355|lbf}} (static thrust) Orenda 10 engine and "6-3" extended leading edges.
::370 built for RCAF, from which 75 were later passed on to the [[German Air Force]].
;Sabre Mk.5A
:Mk.5 in which radar and gunsights were replaced with ballast.
;Sabre Mk.6
:655 built with {{cvt|7275|lbf}} Orenda 14 (static thrust). 
::390 built for the [[RCAF]], 225 for the German Air Force, six to [[Colombia]] and 34 to [[South Africa]].

===Production summary===
{{Unreferenced section|date=August 2009}}

* NAA built a total of 6,297 F-86s and 1,115 FJs,
* Canadair built 1,815,
* Australian CAC built 112,
* Fiat built 221, and
* Mitsubishi built 300;
* for a '''total Sabre/Fury production of 9,860'''.

===Production costs===
{|class="wikitable" style="font-size:90%"
!!!F-86A!!F-86D!!F-86E!!F-86F!!F-86H!!F-86K!!F-86L
|-
|Program [[Research and development|R&D]] cost||4,707,802||||||||||||
|-
|Airframe||101,528||191,313||145,326||140,082||316,360||334,633||
|-
|Engine||52,971||75,036||39,990||44,664||214,612||71,474||
|-
|Electronics||7,576||7,058||6,358||5,649||6,831||10,354||
|-
|Armament||16,333||69,986||23,645||17,669||27,573||20,135||
|-
|Ordnance||||419||4,138||3,047||17,117||4,761||
|-
|Flyaway cost||178,408||343,839||219,457||211,111||582,493||441,357||343,839
|-
|Maintenance cost per flying hour||||||135||451||||||187
|}
Note: The costs are in approximately 1950 United States dollars and have not been adjusted for inflation.<ref name="knaack"/><!-- Approximately an eight-fold increase from 1950 to 2006 -->

==Operators==
[[File:F-86 Operators.png|thumb|upright=1.35|former F-86 operators]]
: ''Source:'' F-86 Sabre Jet: History of the Sabre and FJ Fury<ref name="Dorr">{{harvnb|Dorr|1993|pp=65–96}}</ref>
[[File:C-122 NA F-86 Sabre Argentine Airforce (7307046176).jpg|thumb|F-86F-30 of the Argentine Air Force, National Aeronautics Museum, Buenos Aires, Argentina]]
[[File:F-86 Fighter Aircraft at BAF Museum (2).jpg|thumb|[[Bangladesh Air Force|BAF]] F-86 Sabre in the BAF Museum]]
[[File:F-86 Sabre-golden crown-Imperial Iranian Air Force.jpg|thumb|An F-86 Sabre from the [[Golden Crown]] aerobatic display team, of the Imperial Iranian Air Force.]]
[[File:F-86 Lancieri Neri.jpg|thumb|F-86 Sabre of Italian Air Force]]
[[File:Pakistani F-86F (31125).jpg|thumb|A retired Pakistan Air Force F-86F Sabre from the [[No. 26 Squadron (Pakistan Air Force)|No. 26 Squadron "Black Spiders"]] on display at [[PAF Base Nur Khan|Nur Khan Airbase]]]]
[[File:F-86F (JASDF).jpg|thumb|Displayed JASDF's F-86F Kyokukō at [[Komatsu Airport|Komatsu AB]].]]
[[File:Norwegian Air Force North American F-86F Sabre Bidini-1.jpg|thumb|Royal Norwegian Air Force North American F-86F Sabre]]
[[File:24865 an F-86F RoKAF (3224603605).jpg|thumb|F-86 Republic of Korea Air Force]]
[[File:F86Sabre01RG.jpg|thumb|Portuguese F-86F displayed at Monte Real Air Base]]
[[File:F-86F Sabre (Museo del Aire de Madrid) (4).jpg|thumb|F-86 Spanish Air Army, Ember Patrol, Cuatro Vientos, Madrid]]
[[File:İstanbul 5376.jpg|thumb|North American F-86E Sabre in Istanbul Aviation Museum]]
[[File:North American F-86F Sabre of the ROKAF.jpg|thumb|North American F-86F Sabre of the [[Republic of Korea Air Force|ROKAF]]]]

;{{ARG}}
* [[Argentine Air Force]]
: Acquired 28 F-86Fs in 1960. The Sabres were in ''reserve'' at the time of the [[Falklands War]] but were reinstated to active duty against possible Chilean involvement. Retired in 1986.
;{{AUS}}
* [[Royal Australian Air Force]]
;{{BAN}}
* [[Bangladesh Air Force]]
: Captured 8 F-86F-40-NAs from Pakistan.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://baf.mil.bd/website/phased_out.php |title=Phased Out Aircraft  |publisher=Bangladesh Air Force |access-date=25 September 2020 |archive-date=1 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201001114456/https://baf.mil.bd/website/phased_out.php |url-status=dead }}</ref>
;{{BEL}}
* [[Belgian Air Force]]
: 5 F-86F Sabres delivered, no operational unit.
;{{BOL}}
* [[Bolivian Air Force]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://fab.bo/#historia|title=The history of the Bolivian Air Force begins with its creation as such on September 26, 1957, the year in which it became an independent structure of the Army.|website=Fab.bo|access-date=2 March 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.warbirdregistry.org/jetregistry/f86registry/f86-524689.html|title = North American F-86 Sabre Registry – A Warbirds Resource Group Site|website=Warbirdregistry.org}}</ref><ref name="vintageflyingmuseum.org"/>
;{{CAN}}
* [[Royal Canadian Air Force]] (RCAF)
;{{COL}}
* [[Colombian Air Force]]
: Acquired four F-86Fs from Spanish Air Force (s/n 2027/2028), five USAF F-86F (s/n 51-13226) and other nine Canadair Mk.6; assigned to Escuadron de Caza-Bombardero.
;{{DEN}}
*[[Royal Danish Air Force]]
: 59 F-86D-31NA(38) F-86D-36NA(21)s in service from 1958–1966 ESK 723, ESK 726, ESK 728<ref name="Schrøder">{{harvnb|Schrøder|1991|p=62}}</ref>
;{{flagu|Ethiopia|1897}}
* [[Ethiopian Air Force]]
: Acquired 14 F-86Fs in 1960.<ref name="Baugher86F">Baugher, Joe. [http://www.joebaugher.com/usaf_fighters/p86_12.html "F-86 Foreign Service."] ''USAAC/USAAF/USAF Fighter and Pursuit Aircraft: North American F-86 Sabre.'' Retrieved: 20 August 2010.</ref>
;{{flag|West Germany}}
* [[German Air Force]] (''Luftwaffe'') – see [[North American F-86D Sabre]] and [[Canadair Sabre]]
;{{HON}}
* [[Honduran Air Force]]
: Acquired 10 CL.13 Mk2 (F-86E) from Yugoslavia.
:
: '''{{IDN}}'''
* [[Indonesian Air Force]]
: Acquired an unknown number of F-86s from the [[Royal Australian Air Force]].
:
:
;{{flagu|Iran|1964}}
* [[Imperial Iranian Air Force]]
: Acquired an unknown number of F-86Fs.<ref name="Baugher86F" />
;{{flagu|Iraq|1924}}
* [[Iraqi Air Force]]
:Bought some examples but they were never operated and were returned.
;{{JPN}}
* [[Japanese Air Self-Defense Force]] (JASDF)
: Acquired 180 U.S. F-86Fs, 1955–1957. [[Mitsubishi]] built 300 F-86Fs under license 1956–1961, and were assigned to 10 fighter [[hikōtai]] or squadrons. JASDF called F-86F the "Kyokukō" (旭光, Rising Sunbeam) and [[F-86D]] the "Gekkō" (月光, Moon Light). Their [[Blue Impulse]] Aerobatic Team, a total of 18 F-models were converted to reconnaissance version in 1962. Some aircraft were returned to the [[Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake]], California, as drones.
;{{NOR}}
* [[Royal Norwegian Air Force]]
: Acquired 115 F-86Fs, 1957–1958; and assigned to seven squadrons, Nos. 331, 332, 334, 336, 337, 338 and 339.
;{{PAK}}
* [[Pakistani Air Force]]
: Acquired 120 U.S.-built F-86F-35-NA and F-86F-40-NAs, last of [[North American Aviation]]'s production line, 1954–1960s. Used from 1955 to 1980.
;{{PER}}
* [[Peruvian Air Force]]
: Acquired 26 U.S.-built F-86Fs in 1955, assigned to Escuadrón Aéreo 111, Grupo Aéreo No.11 at [[Talara]] air force base. Finally retired in 1979.
;{{flagu|Philippines|1936}}
* [[Philippine Air Force]]
: Acquired 50 F-86Fs in 1957. Retired in the late 1970s.
;{{POR}}
* [[Portuguese Air Force]]
: Acquired 65 Sabres including 50 U.S.-built F-86Fs, in 1958 and 15 ex-Royal Norwegian Air Force airframes. In Portugal, they served in [[201 Squadron (Portugal)|Squadron 201]] (formerly Sqn. 50 and later Sqn. 51, before being renamed in 1978) and Squadron 52, both based at [[Monte Real Air Base|Air Base No. 5]], [[Monte Real]]. In 1961, the Portuguese Air Force deployed some of its F-86Fs to [[Portuguese Guinea]], where they formed Detachment 52, based at Base-Aerodrome No. 2, Bissalanca/Bissau.
;{{TWN-ROC}}
* [[Republic of China Air Force]]
: Acquired 320 U.S.-built F-86Fs,7 RF-86Fs,18 F-86Ds, The 18 F-86Ds back to U.S. military and US send 6 to [[Republic of Korea Air Force]],8 to [[Philippine Air Force]] in 1966.
;{{flagu|Saudi Arabia|1938}}
* [[Royal Saudi Air Force]]
: Acquired 16 U.S.-built F-86Fs in 1958, and three F-86Fs from Norway in 1966; and assigned to [[No. 7 Squadron RSAF]] at Dhahran.
;{{flagu|South Africa|1928}}
* [[South African Air Force]]
: Loaned 22 U.S.-built F-86F-30s during the Korean War and saw action with [[2 Squadron SAAF]].
;{{KOR}}
* [[Republic of Korea Air Force]]
: Acquired 112 U.S.-built F-86Fs and 10 RF-86Fs, beginning 20 June 1955; and assigned to ROKAF 10th Wing. It also served with the ROKAF [[Black Eagles aerobatic team]] for annual event from 1959 to 1966. The last F-86s retired in 1990.
;{{flag|Spain|1945|}}
* [[Spanish Air Force]]
: Acquired 270 U.S.-built F-86Fs, 1955–1958; designated C.5s and assigned to 5 wings: Ala de Caza 1, 2, 4, 5, and 6. Retired 1972.
;{{THA}}
* [[Royal Thai Air Force]]
: Acquired 40 U.S.-built F-86Fs, 1962; assigned to RTAF Squadrons, Nos. 12 (Ls), 13, and 43.
[[File:A retired Royal Thai Air Force F-86.jpg|thumb|A retired Royal Thai Air Force F-86]]
;{{flagu|Tunisia|1959}}
* [[Tunisian Air Force]]
: Acquired 15 used U.S.-built F-86F in 1969.
;{{TUR}}
* [[Turkish Air Force]]
: Acquired 107 ex-RCAF Canadair CL-13 Sabre Mk.2 “F-86E(M)„ in 1954, retired 1968.<ref>{{cite web|title=www.tayyareci.com F-86 tayyaresi, F-86, F-86E, Sabre .. 1951–2006 Period TUAF {{sic|Aircrafts|nolink=y}} 1951–2006 dönemi Turk HvKK UCAKLARI|url=http://www.tayyareci.com/digerucaklar/turkiye/1951ve2006/f86e.asp|access-date=2021-04-04|website=www.tayyareci.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Canadair F-86E Sabre|url=http://apexmodel.myartsonline.com/pm/1_sabre.htm|website=ApexMaket}}</ref>
;{{flagu|United Nations}}
* [[United Nations Operation in the Congo]]
: Received 5 F-86E(M)s from Italy as MAP redeployment 1963, manned by Philippine pilots; F-86F units from Ethiopia and Iran also used in ONUC.
;{{USA}}
* [[United States Air Force]]
{{Further|List of Sabre and Fury units in US military}}
;{{flagu|Venezuela|1930}}
* [[Venezuelan Air Force]]
: Acquired 30 U.S.-built F-86Fs, October 1955 – December 1960; and assigned to one group, Grupo Aéreo De Caza No. 12, three other squadrons.
;{{YUG}}
* [[SFR Yugoslav Air Force|Yugoslav Air Force]]
: Acquired 121 [[Canadair Sabre|Canadair CL-13s]] and F-86Es, operating them in several fighter aviation regiments between 1956 and 1971.

===Civil aviation===
According to the [[FAA]] there are 50 privately owned and registered F-86s in the US, including Canadair CL-13 Sabres.<ref name="FAA">[http://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/AcftRef_Results.aspx?Mfrtxt=&Modeltxt=F-86&PageNo=1 "FAA Registry: F-86."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151204222110/http://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/AcftRef_Results.aspx?Mfrtxt=&Modeltxt=F-86&PageNo=1 |date=4 December 2015 }} ''FAA''. Retrieved: 17 May 2011.</ref>{{#tag:ref|Although privately registered in the US, two F-86s are actually owned by an individual for display purposes only in a private museum collection.<ref name="FAA"/>|group=Note}}

===Notable pilots===
* [[Squadron Leader|Sqn Ldr]] (later Air commodore) [[M. M. Alam]], [[Pakistan Air Force]], became a [[flying ace]] by shooting down five [[Indian Air Force]] fighters within one minute in the [[Indo-Pakistani War of 1965]]. He was awarded the [[Sitara-e-Jurat]] ("''The star of courage''") and [[Medal bar|bar]].<ref name="Alam's Speed-shooting Classic">Tufail, Air Cdre M. Kaiser. [http://www.defencejournal.com/2001/september/alam.htm "Alam's Speed-shooting Classic."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181212051825/http://www.defencejournal.com/2001/september/alam.htm |date=12 December 2018 }} ''defencejournal.com''. Retrieved: 20 August 2010.</ref><ref>Pushpindar, Singh. ''Fiza ya: Psyche of the Pakistan Air Force''. New Delhi: Himalayan Books, 1991. {{ISBN|81-7002-038-7}}.</ref>
* Colonel [[Buzz Aldrin|Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin]], USAF test pilot and [[National Aeronautics and Space Administration|NASA]] astronaut of [[Apollo 11]] fame. Credited with having shot down two MiGs over Korea.
* Major [[Rudolf Anderson]], Jr. USAF ([[4028th Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron]]). Shot down and killed in 1962 while flying a [[Lockheed U-2|U-2 spy plane]] over Cuba during the [[Cuban Missile Crisis]].
* Colonel [[Royal N. Baker]] (13 victories), commander USAF 4 FIW.
* Wing Commander [[John Robert Baldwin]] DSO & Bar, DFC & Bar, AFC was a Royal Air Force fighter pilot and the top scoring fighter ace flying the [[Hawker Typhoon]] exclusively during the Second World War. He was posted missing, presumed killed, during service with the United States Air Force in the Korean War flying a Sabre.
* Lieutenant Colonel [[Antonio Bautista]] of the [[Philippine Air Force]] received the [[Distinguished Conduct Star]] for his valor and bravery in providing close air support to ground forces.
* Major General [[Frederick C. Blesse]] (10 victories)
* Major (later Lt Col) [[John F. Bolt]], US Marine Corps, 6 victories while on exchange duty with the 39th FS, 51st FG, previously 6 victories in World War II and the only Marine to become an ace in two wars.
* 1st Lieutenant [Later Colonel] [[John Boyd (military strategist)|John Boyd]], USAF, flying 22 missions in the F-86E and F models, with the 25th FIS (51st FIW) June–July 1953. 
* 1st Lieutenant [[John M. Conroy]], completed "Operation Boomerang" on 21 May 1955, a record-setting coast-to-coast and back in one day during daylight hours of 5058 miles in 11 hours, 26 mins, 33 secs.
* Major [[George Andrew Davis, Jr.|George Davis]] (14 victories), USAF 4 FIW, awarded the [[Medal of Honor]] posthumously
* Lieutenant Commander [[Theodore H Faller]], 13 August 1979 – U.S. Navy Lieutenant Commander Theodore "Ted" Faller was killed when his QF-86 Sabre suffered an engine failure moments after takeoff.<ref>[https://navy.togetherweserved.com/usn/servlet/tws.webapp.WebApp?cmd=ShadowBoxProfile&type=Person&ID=389716 "Faller, Theodore, LCDR."] ''togetherweserved.com''. Retrieved: 25 November 2015.</ref> Faller managed to bring the stricken aircraft down in a vacant lot 600 yards south of the [[Ridgecrest, California|Ridgecrest]] Heights Elementary School, later renamed Theodore Faller Elementary School.<ref>Goldstrand, Theresa. [http://www.news-ridgecrest.com/news/story.pl?id=0000004351 "Faller's heroic act remembered by community."] ''The New Review'' (Ridgecrest, California), 14 August 2014. Retrieved: 25 November 2015.</ref>
* Captain [[Manuel "Pete" Fernandez]], (14.5 victories), USAF 4 FIW
* Colonel [[Gabby Gabreski|Francis S. "Gabby" Gabreski]] (six and one-half victories), USAF 51 FIW commander, top European U.S. ace in World War II
* Colonel [[Vermont Garrison]] (five victories), USAF 4 FIW, ace in World War II and combat veteran of three wars
* Colonel [[Ralph Gibson (fighter pilot)|Ralph "Hoot" Gibson]] (five victories), USAF 4 FIW
* Major [[John Glenn]], a [[US Marine Corps|U.S. Marine Corps]] exchange pilot with the USAF 51 FIW (3 victories). First American astronaut to orbit the Earth, later a [[United States Senate|U.S. Senator]] from Ohio.
* Lieutenant Colonel [[Gus Grissom|Virgil "Gus" Grissom]], astronaut in the [[Project Mercury|Mercury]], [[Project Gemini|Gemini]] and [[Apollo program]]s, died in a fire during testing for the [[Apollo 1]] mission.
* Major (later Colonel) [[James P. Hagerstrom]], (8 1/2 victories) World War II ace.
* 1st Lieutenant [[Bob Hoover|Robert A. "Bob" Hoover]], USAF 52 FIW, North American Aviation experimental engineering test pilot.{{sfn|Hoover|1997|p=145}}
* Captain [[James Salter|James Horowitz]] (1 victory), USAF 4 FIW, novelist and author of ''[[The Hunters (novel)|The Hunters]]'' under the pen name James Salter
* Colonel [[James Jabara]] (15 victories), USAF 4 FIW
* Colonel [[James H. Kasler]] (six victories), USAF 4 FIW and only three-time recipient of the [[Air Force Cross (United States)|Air Force Cross]]
* Captain [[Iven Kincheloe]] (five victories) USAF 51 FIW, test pilot selected to fly the [[North American X-15]]
* Second Lieutenant [[Gene Kranz]], NASA flight director for Gemini and Apollo and assistant flight director on [[Project Mercury]]- flew with 69th FBS in South Korea
* 1st Lt (later Major) [[James F. Low]], only Korean War USAF pilot to reach ace status while still a 2nd Lt; inspiration for the character of 2nd Lt Ed Pell in the novel and movie [[The Hunters (novel)|The Hunters]] by James Horowitz (a.k.a. James Salter); later a [[Vietnam War]] POW 
* Squadron Leader [[Andy Mackenzie]], [[Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom)|DFC]]. [[RCAF]] Second World War fighter ace (8.5 victories); taken POW when his F-86 was shot down while flying with the USAF 51 FIW in Korea in 1952.<ref>{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20080516052758/http://sabre-pilots.org/classics/v101radar.htm "S/L Andy MacKenzie RCAF (Ret)."]}} ''Sabre Jet Classics'', Volume 10, Number 1, Winter 2003.</ref>
* Colonel [[Bud Mahurin|Walker "Bud" Mahurin]], USAF 4 FIG commander and World War II ace
* Major General [[Howard Thomas Markey]], first chief judge of the [[United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit]]
* Captain [[Joseph C. McConnell]] (16 victories), USAF 51 FIW, who later died in a crash at [[Edwards Air Force Base]] testing the F-86H
* Colonel (later General) [[John C. Meyer]] (two victories), USAF 4 FIW commander, World War II ace, and later Vice Chief of Staff of the USAF.
* Squadron Leader [[Sarfaraz Ahmed Rafiqui]] (two victories), [[Officer Commanding]] of PAF's [[No. 5 Squadron (Pakistan Air Force)|No. 5 Squadron]], awarded the [[Hilal-i-Jur'at]] and later [[Killed in action|KIA]] during the [[Indo-Pakistani War of 1965]].
* Brigadier General [[James Robinson Risner]] (eight victories), USAF awarded the [[Air Force Cross (United States)|Air Force Cross]], later [[Vietnam War]] POW
* Colonel [[Harrison Thyng|Harrison R. Thyng]] (five victories), USAF 4 FIW commander
* Major (later Colonel) [[William T. Whisner Jr.]] (5 1/2 victories), World War II ace

==Surviving aircraft==
{{Main|List of surviving North American F-86 Sabres}}

==Specifications (F-86F-40-NA)==
[[File:North American F-86F Sabre afg-041110-019.svg|thumb|3-view drawing of the F-86F Sabre.]]
{{Aircraft specs
|ref= ''The North American Sabre''{{sfn|Wagner|1963|p=145}} and ''North American F-86F-40-NA''<ref>Baugher, Joe. [http://www.joebaugher.com/usaf_fighters/p86_13.html "North American F-86F-40-NA."] ''joebaugher.com.'' Retrieved: 28 September 2020.</ref>
|prime units?=imp
<!--
        General characteristics
-->
|crew=1
|length ft=37
|length in=1
|length note=
|span ft=39
|span in=1
|span note=
|height ft=14
|height in=1
|height note=
|wing area sqft=313.4
|wing area note=
|aspect ratio=<!-- sailplanes -->
|airfoil='''root:''' [[NACA airfoil|NACA 0009-64 mod.]]; '''tip:''' [[NACA airfoil|NACA 0008.1-64 mod.]]<ref name="Selig">{{cite web |last1=Lednicer |first1=David |title=The Incomplete Guide to Airfoil Usage |url=https://m-selig.ae.illinois.edu/ads/aircraft.html |website=m-selig.ae.illinois.edu |access-date=16 April 2019}}</ref>
|empty weight lb=11125
|empty weight note=
|gross weight lb=15198
|gross weight note=
|max takeoff weight lb=18152
|max takeoff weight note=
|fuel capacity=[[JP-4]] fuel: {{convert|437|USgal|impgal L}} internals + 2 x {{convert|200|USgal|impgal L}} drop tanks 
|more general=
<!--
        Powerplant
-->
|eng1 number=1
|eng1 name=[[General Electric J47-GE-27]]
|eng1 type=[[turbojet]] engine
|eng1 lbf=5910
|eng1 note=
<!--
        Performance
-->
|max speed mph=687
|max speed note=at sea level at {{cvt|14212|lb|0}} combat weight
:::: {{cvt|678|mph|kn km/h|0}}
:::: {{cvt|599|mph|kn km/h|0}} at {{cvt|35000|ft|0}} at {{cvt|15352|lb|0}}
:::: {{cvt|597|mph|kn km/h|0}} at {{cvt|6446|m|order=flip|0}} 
:::: {{cvt|599|mph|kn km/h|0}} at {{cvt|6960|m|order=flip|0}}  
|max speed mach=
|cruise speed mph=
|cruise speed note=
|stall speed mph=124
|stall speed note=
|never exceed speed mph=
|never exceed speed note=
|range miles=1525
|range note=
|combat range miles=414
|combat range note=with two {{cvt|1000|lb|0}} bombs and 2x {{convert|200|USgal|impgal L}} [[drop tank]]s<ref name="Futrell">{{harvnb|Futrell|2000|p=639}}</ref>
|ferry range miles=
|ferry range note=
|endurance=<!-- if range unknown -->
|ceiling ft=49600
|ceiling note=at combat weight
|g limits=<!-- aerobatic -->
|roll rate=<!-- aerobatic -->
|climb rate ftmin=9000
|climb rate note=at sea level
|time to altitude={{cvt|30000|ft|0}} in 5 minutes 12 seconds
|lift to drag=15
|wing loading lb/sqft=
|wing loading note=
|fuel consumption lb/mi=
|thrust/weight=0.39 (combat weight) – 0.29 (maximum takeoff weight)<ref>[https://apps.dtic.mil/sti/tr/pdf/ADA166724.pdf Defense Technical Information Center – ''A History from the XF-108 to the Advanced Tactical Fighter'' p. 90]</ref>

|more performance=<!--<br />
*'''Take-off run:''' {{cvt|2330|ft|0}}
*'''Take-off distance to {{cvt|50|ft|0}}:''' {{cvt||ft|0}}
*'''Landing run:''' {{cvt||ft|0}}
*'''Landing distance from {{cvt|50|ft|0}}:''' {{cvt||ft|0}}-->
<!--
        Armament
-->
|guns=6 x [[.50 BMG|0.50 in (12.7 mm)]] [[M3 Browning machine gun]]s (1,800 rounds in total)
|rockets=variety of rocket launchers; e.g.: 2 Matra rocket pods with 18 [[SNEB]] 68 mm rockets per pod
|bombs=5,300 lb (2,400 kg) of payload on four external [[hardpoint]]s, bombs were usually mounted on outer two pylons as the inner pairs were plumbed for two {{convert|200|USgal|L}} [[drop tank]]s which gave the Sabre a more useful range. A wide variety of bombs could be carried (max standard loadout being two {{convert|1,000|lb}} bombs plus two drop tanks), [[napalm]] canisters and could have included a tactical nuclear weapon. 
|missiles= 
|hardpoints=
|hardpoint capacity=
|hardpoint rockets=
|hardpoint missiles=
|hardpoint bombs=
|hardpoint other=

|avionics=
* [[List of military electronics of the United States#AN/APG-5|AN/APG-5]] – Airborne Range-Only (ARO) radar<ref>{{Cite web |url= https://www.radartutorial.eu/19.kartei/11.ancient5/karte056.en.html |title= AN/APG-5 |first= Christian |last= Wolff |website= RadarTutorial.eu |access-date= Sep 18, 2025}}</ref>
* [[List of military electronics of the United States#AN/APG-30|AN/APG-30]] – [[Fire-control radar]]<ref>{{Cite web |url= https://www.radartutorial.eu/19.kartei/11.ancient2/karte057.en.html |title= AN/APQ-30 |first= Christian |last= Wolff |website= RadarTutorial.eu |access-date= Sep 18, 2025}}</ref>
* AN/APG-37 – Search radar<ref>{{Cite report |id={{DTIC|ADA412608}} |title= RAND R-227 (Abridged) Air Defense Study (U) |page= 15 |date= Oct 15, 1851 |url= https://apps.dtic.mil/sti/tr/pdf/ADA412608.pdf |publisher= [[RAND Corporation]]}} (360 pages)</ref>
* [[AN/ARC-34]] – [[UHF]] radio system
}}

==See also==
{{Portal|Aviation}}
{{aircontent
|related=
* [[CAC Sabre]]
* [[Canadair Sabre]]
* [[North American F-86D Sabre]]
* [[North American F-100 Super Sabre]]
* [[North American FJ-1 Fury]]
* [[North American FJ-2/-3 Fury]]
* [[North American FJ-4 Fury]]
* [[North American YF-93]]
|similar aircraft=
* [[Dassault Mystère]]
* [[FMA IAe 33 Pulqui II]]
* [[Grumman F-9 Cougar]]
* [[Hawker Hunter]]
* [[Lavochkin La-15]]
* [[Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-15]]
* [[Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-17]]
* [[Republic F-84F Thunderstreak]]
* [[Saab 29 Tunnan]]
|lists=
* [[List of fighter aircraft]]
* [[List of military aircraft of the United States]]
* [[Lists of air show accidents and incidents]]
|see also=
* [[Aircraft in fiction#F-86 Sabre]] for notable appearances in the media.
* [[Semi-Automatic Ground Environment]]
* [[Tactical Air Command]]
}}

==References==

===Notes===
{{Reflist|group=Note}}

===Citations===
{{Reflist|30em}}

===Bibliography===
* Allward, Maurice. ''F-86 Sabre''. London: Ian Allan, 1978. {{ISBN|0-7110-0860-4}}.
*{{cite journal |last1=Avila Cruz|first1=Gonzalo|title=Birth of a Modern Force: North American F-86F Sabres in Spain|journal=Air Enthusiast |date=January–February 2004 |issue=109 |pages=29–45 |issn=0143-5450}}
*{{Cite book |last1= Baldini |first1= Atilio |last2= Núñez Padin |first2= Jorge F. |title= F-86F-30-NA Sabre |year= 2009 |editor-first= Jorge Felix |editor-last= Núñez Padin |publisher= Fuerzas Aeronavales |series= Serie Fuerza Aérea |volume= 16 |language= es |isbn= 978-987-20557-5-2 |location= Bahía Blanca, Argentina |url= http://www.fuerzasaeronavales.com/?p=55 |access-date= 2016-05-20 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130222071447/http://www.fuerzasaeronavales.com/?p=55 |archive-date= 22 February 2013 |url-status= dead }}
* {{Cite journal |last=Blair |first=Mac |date=18 March 1980 |website=[[American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics]] |title=Evolution of the F-86 |series=AIAA Evolution of Aircraft Wing Design Symposium |doi=10.2514/6.1980-3039 |url=https://arc.aiaa.org/doi/10.2514/6.1980-3039|url-access=subscription }}
* {{cite book |last=Brune|first=Lester H.| title = The Korean War: Handbook of the literature and research|edition=1996|year=1996| publisher = [[Greenwood Publishing Group]]| isbn= 0-313-28969-7 }}
* Curtis, Duncan. ''North American F-86 Sabre''. Ramsbury, UK: Crowood, 2000. {{ISBN|1-86126-358-9}}.
* {{cite book| last=Davies |first=Peter |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8V1uFM9n1yIC&pg=PA21 |title=USN F-4 Phantom II vs VPAF MiG-17: Vietnam 1965–72 | location=Oxford, UK |publisher=Oxford |year=2009 |isbn=978-1-84603-475-6}}{{Dead link|date=October 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
* {{cite book|last=Dorr |first=Robert F |title=F-86 Sabre Jet: History of the Sabre and FJ Fury |location=St. Paul, Minnesota |publisher=Motorbooks International Publishers |year=1993 |isbn=0-87938-748-3}}
* {{cite book| last=Futrell |first=Robert F. |title=The United States Air Force in Korea, 1950–1953| publisher=Air Force History and Museums Program |year=2000 |isbn=0-16-048879-6}}
* {{cite book|last=Dunlap |first=Roy F |title=Ordnance Went Up Front |location=Plantersville, SC |publisher=Samworth Press |year=1948}}
*{{cite journal |last1=Gordon|first1=Doug|title=Early Days of the 81st: The 81st TFW USAFE in the 1950s|journal=Air Enthusiast|date=May–June 1999|issue=81|pages=36–43 |issn=0143-5450}}
*{{cite magazine|last=Gordon|first=Doug|title=Sabre with 'Eyes': The Career of the RF-86|magazine=[[Air Enthusiast]] |date=September–October 2003|issue=107 |pages=2–11 |issn=0143-5450}}
* {{cite book|last=Hoover |first=R.A. |title=Forever Flying: Fifty Years of High-Flying Adventures, From Barnstorming in Prop Planes to Dogfighting Germans to Testing Supersonic Jets: An Autobiography |location=New York |publisher=Pocket Books |year=1997 |isbn=978-0-6715-3761-6}}
* Jenkins, Dennis R. and Tony R. Landis. ''Experimental & Prototype U.S. Air Force Jet Fighters.'' North Branch, Minnesota: Specialty Press, 2008. {{ISBN|978-1-58007-111-6}}.
* {{cite book| last=Joos |first=Gerhard W. |title=Canadair Sabre Mk 1–6, Commonwealth Sabre Mk 30–32 in RCAF, RAF, RAAF, SAAF, Luftwaffe & Foreign Service |location=Kent, UK |publisher=Osprey Publications Limited |year=1971 |isbn=0-85045-024-1}}
* Käsmann, Ferdinand C.W. ''Die schnellsten Jets der Welt: Weltrekord- Flugzeuge'' (in German). Oberhaching, Germany: Aviatic Verlag-GmbH, 1994. {{ISBN|3-925505-26-1}}.
* {{cite book|last=Knaack |first=Marcelle Size |title=Encyclopedia of US Air Force Aircraft and Missile Systems, Volume 1, Post-World War Two Fighters, 1945–1973 |location=Washington, DC |publisher=Office of Air Force History |year=1978 |isbn=0-912799-59-5}}
* {{cite book|last1=Leyes |first1=Richard A. |first2=William A. |last2=Fleming |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=V0SnFt8JGokC |title=The History of North American Small Gas Turbine Aircraft Engines. (Library of Flight Series) |location=Washington, D.C. |publisher=AIAA |year=1999 |isbn=978-1-56347-332-6}}
* {{cite magazine |last=Matos |first=José |title=Double-Edged Sword |magazine=[[Aeroplane Monthly|Aeroplane]] |date=March 2025 |volume=53 |issue=3 |pages=49–55 |issn=0143-7240}}
* {{cite book |last=Michel |first=Marshall L. III. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ueTIMHCmw6oC&pg=PA333 |title=Clashes: Air Combat Over North Vietnam, 1965–1972 |location=Annapolis, Maryland|publisher=Naval Institute Press |year=2007 |isbn=978-1-59114-519-6}}
* {{cite book |last1=Radinger |first1=Willy |first2=Walter |last2=Schick |title=Me 262: Entwicklung und Erprobung des ersten einsatzfähigen Düsenjäger der Welt, Messerschmitt Stiftung |language=de |location=Berlin |publisher=Avantic Verlag GmbH |year=1996 |isbn=3-925505-21-0}}
* Robinson, Robbie [http://www.editions-minimonde76.com/en/pages/aviation/nato-f-86d-k-sabre-dog.html ''NATO F-86D/K Sabre Dogs''] 120 p.&nbsp;Le Havre, France: Editions Minimonde76, 2018. {{ISBN|978-2-9541818-3-7}}. 
* {{cite book|last=Schrøder |first=Hans |title=Royal Danish Airforce |location=Copenhagen, Denmark|publisher=Tøjhusmuseet |year=1991 |isbn=87-89022-24-6}}
* {{cite book|last=Singh |first=Sarina |display-authors=etal |title=Pakistan & the Karakoram Highway |location=London |publisher=Lonely Planet Publications |year=2004 |isbn=0-86442-709-3}}
* Swanborough, F. Gordon. ''United States Military Aircraft Since 1909''. London: Putnam, 1963. {{ISBN|0-87474-880-1}}.
* {{cite book|last1=Thompson |first1=Warren E. |first2=David R.|last2=McLaren |title=MiG Alley: Sabres vs. MiGs Over Korea |location=North Branch, Minnesota |publisher=Specialty Press|year=2002|isbn=1-58007-058-2}}
* ''United States Air Force Museum Guidebook''. Wright-Patterson AFB, Dayton, Ohio: Air Force Museum Foundation, 1975.
* Wagner, Ray. ''American Combat Planes – Second Edition''. New York: Doubleday and Company, 1968. {{ISBN|0-370-00094-3}}.
* {{cite book|last=Wagner |first=Ray |title=The North American Sabre |location=London |publisher=Macdonald |year=1963}} No ISBN.
* {{Cite book|last=Werrell|first=Kenneth P|title=Sabres Over MiG Alley|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=G8mwGZ6Vdc4C|location=Annapolis, Maryland|publisher=Naval Institute Press, 2005|isbn=1-59114-933-9|year=2005}}
* Westrum, Ron. ''Sidewinder''. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press, 1999. {{ISBN|1-55750-951-4}}.
* {{cite book |last=Wilson |first=Stewart |title=Meteor, Sabre and Mirage in Australian Service |year=1989 |publisher=Aerospace Publications |location=Weston Creek |isbn=0-9587978-2-X}}
* {{cite book |last=Wilson |first=Stewart |title=Military Aircraft of Australia |year=1994 |publisher=Aerospace Publications, 1994 |location=Weston Creek |isbn=1-875671-08-0}}
* {{cite book|editor-last=Winchester |editor-first=Jim |title=Military Aircraft of the Cold War |series=The Aviation Factfile |location=London |publisher=Grange Books plc |year=2006 |isbn=1-84013-929-3}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|North American F-86 Sabre}}
* {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20140106014244/http://sabre-pilots.org/ F-86 Sabre Pilots Association]}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20130330045215/http://www.wingweb.co.uk/aircraft/F-86_Sabre_Part1.html Four-part series about the F-86 Sabre – Extended F-86 Sabre article set]
* [http://www.warbirdalley.com/f86.htm Warbird Alley: F-86 Sabre page – Information about F-86s still flying today]
* [http://www.aviation-history.com/north-american/f86.html Sabre site]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20090826174158/http://home.att.net/~jbaugher1/p86.html F-86 in Joe Baugher's U.S. aircraft site]

{{North American Aviation aircraft}}
{{F-86 Sabre family}}
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  |1={{USAF fighters}}
  |2={{USAF system codes}}
  |3={{Thai fighter designations}}
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[[Category:North American Aviation aircraft|F-086 Sabre]]
[[Category:1940s United States fighter aircraft]]
[[Category:Single-engined jet aircraft]]
[[Category:Low-wing aircraft]]
[[Category:F-86 Sabre| ]]
[[Category:Aircraft first flown in 1947]]
[[Category:Aircraft with retractable tricycle landing gear]]