IAI Kfir

1971

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IAI Kfir

Following the manufacture of the Nesher, IAI developed a more extensively modified and further improved version of the same airframe, powered by a General Electric J79 afterburning turbojet engine. A prototype of the Kfir was flown in 1973. The Kfir utilises a basic airframe similar to that of the Dassault Mirage 5, the main changes being a shorter but larger-diameter rear fuselage to accommodate the J79 engine; an enlarged and flattened undersurface to the forward portion of the fuselage; introduction of four small fuselage airscoops, plus a larger dorsal airscoop in place of the triangular dorsal fin, to provide cooling air for the afterburner; and a strengthened landing gear, with long-stroke oleos. Several internal changes have also been made. Intended for both air-defence and ground-attack roles, the Kfir retains the standard Mirage fixed armament of two 30mm DEFA cannon and can carry a variety of external weapons including the Rafael Shafrir 2 air-to-air and Luz-1 air-to-surface missiles. Two squadrons of the Israeli Air Force were equipped with this initial Kfir-C1 version.

In 1976 the first public demonstration took place of the modified Kfir-C2, by which time it was already in service with the Air Force. The most significant changes from the original Kfir are the addition of non-retractable, sweptback canard surfaces just aft of the engine air intakes, a small strake on each side of the extreme nose, and an extended wing leading edge created by increasing the chord on approximately the outer 40% of each half-span. The Kfir-C2 is the principal production version, both for the Israeli Air Force and for export. The modifications were designed to improve the aircraft's dogfighting manoeuvrability at the lower end of the speed range and to enhance take-off and landing performance.

A two-seat TC2 trainer version of the Kfir was flown for the first time in 1981. 71 Kfir C1 and 185 Kfir C2/TC2 were built.

3-View 
IAI KfirA three-view drawing (1668 x 1258)

Specification 
 CREW1
 ENGINE1 x General Electric J79-GE-17, 52.8kN
 WEIGHTS
  Take-off weight9072-14500 kg20000 - 31967 lb
 DIMENSIONS
  Wingspan8.2 m27 ft 11 in
  Length15.5 m51 ft 10 in
  Height4.3 m14 ft 1 in
  Wing area34.9 m2375.66 sq ft
 PERFORMANCE
  Max. speedM2.2 M2.2
  Ceiling15250 m50050 ft
 ARMAMENT1 x 30mm cannon, bombs and missiles

Comments1-20 21-40
Ralph, 09.05.2016 04:39

Excellent airplane for the time. US NAVY and USMC used the airplane as a DACT platform. Sri Lanka, Colombia, and Ecuador purchased this airplane. Lightweight and capable.
Go Israel :)

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lxbfYeaa, e-mail, 14.03.2024 Ralph

20

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Ralph K, e-mail, 01.03.2013 02:31

Excellent product, for essentially the first release from IAI. Today, they could offer a much better airplane.

U.S. Gov, blocked the sale of the airplanes, to several other countries.

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Magnum78, 05.05.2012 03:09

Mexico, in 1982, made a pact to buy 24 Kfir fighters, but do not understand why the U.S. government canceled the purchase, only to give 12 fighters F-5 Tiger II, which are outdated and inferior to the Kfir, which I think is stupidity by the Mexican government. And the worst is not even bought more, have been modernized or at least remain operational are the same as when we brought them 30 years ago. I thank E.U.A. by the intervention of private us the best fighter in the world at the time.

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wudao, 21.06.2011 05:04

but it comes with a cost in weight and complexity that it would seem would not be well tolerated in a small airframe such as the Kfir.

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Noname, e-mail, 31.03.2020 10:24

strong!

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lucas boaventura, e-mail, 14.03.2011 17:58

what's nesher

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jordanian, e-mail, 13.03.2011 10:22

the jaf (jordanian air force) drop down that several times

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zippy, e-mail, 12.03.2011 08:36

There are some nutjobs that comment on this website.

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Barry, 30.11.2010 18:29

The one thing for sure is this is not a re-engineered Mirage 5, but whole new aircraft developed by Israel which far exceeds anything the French did with the Mirage III /V. Yosi I think the engine is a GE79-17.
I beleive Israel helped Atlas to develop the Cheetah.

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YOSI, e-mail, 25.11.2010 18:01

The Kfir engine is J79-GE-J1E not J79GE-17

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Michi, e-mail, 22.10.2010 16:22

About that issue i dnt think kenya may b interested in kfir, why as i knw thy are speculation going on that kenya may equare 20, f 15 from us to add on the equared 15, f 5 from jordan. Its also want to avoid the rule of museveni sins he has decided the latest su 30mk2 from russia, and as u knw f5 cnt much the su 30.

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EARTHDINBRAZIL, e-mail, 11.07.2010 22:50

EARTHDINBRAZIL ᵔ San (letter) ᵔ ˫ ˂ opens the system key code >
Covariance mxk-4 with linear disturbances in opposite directions lead to breakdowns through weatherproof anomalies with anions in radiation electromagnetism, what causes accidents in mxk-4 system, therefore there is a break key code with linear system interruption, randomly vacancy on individual lines, changing the simulation in virtual fabric remains of azimuth longitudinal, leading to aircraft Standing tall space with established settings in occasional disturbances, losing control of the aerodynamics of the apparatus, losing the skyline causing the appliance will fall beak.

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sammy carlos baraza, e-mail, 19.03.2010 13:05

I salute the Israelis. This is one of the best fighter aircraft they have ever produced. Any chance of selling this aircraft to Kenya so that Kenya Air Force may replace it;s F 5Es?

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Milt Cruver, e-mail, 11.12.2009 17:19

We had a large number of KFIR stationed at the Marine Corps Air Station in Yuma, Arizona as aggressor aircraft. They were used in conjunction with electronic scoring systems to train our fighter pilots to fly against and defeat Soviet Migs of similar flight characteristics. They performed their job well but had many maintenance problems. I agree with Gerry Jarvis about Mohamad Rais, lets keep this site on track for what it is, a great collection of aircraft information, available to all. You don't have to agree with your fellow aviators comments, just be nice about how you express yourself. Thanks and Semper Fi.

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A. Massik, e-mail, 14.10.2009 22:29

I have one of these, I burn strained French Fry oil in it. I mainly use it to de-ice my driveway in the winter months. It is an attractive machine and smells good.

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Leo Rudnicki, e-mail, 30.07.2009 19:43

I think you mean "in hoc signo vinces." Semper ubi sub ubi, I always say.

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SANSÃO COSME DA CRUZ, e-mail, 30.07.2009 17:41

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L Rudnicki, e-mail, 03.04.2009 02:25

Used by U.S. Navy as F-21 as adversary A /c out of Key West NAS. you can lay on the beach and they flew right over about 100 ft up. back in Tomcat days. Also used as Libyan Migs in a movie. also almost nuked las vegas and flamed multiple F-16's in another movie. wasn't junk. Did Mo mean Dadburn Yankee, an old Gabby Hayes expression? And I don't think Pakistan is flying their paid for F-16s yet...

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Gerry Jarvis, e-mail, 29.03.2009 06:27

Strange that France didn't honour the purchase agreement on Mirages, which were paid for in hard currency but never delivered. Israel reverse-engineered the Nesher, then Kfir, and came up with a customized aircraft to better suit their needs. Small, capable, nimble, beautiful lines. Looks like it would be a pleasure to fly. And to my friend Mohamed, please keep comments halfway intelligible, constructive and on topic, OK? Not the place for a rant. Thanks in advance.

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Mohamad Rais, e-mail, 24.12.2008 17:27

This is French Mirage and an antique at that,piece of junk fitted with Dead Burn Yankee SOBs engineds

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1-20 21-40

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