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| 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.
 | A three-view drawing (1668 x 1258) |
| CREW | 1 |
| ENGINE | 1 x General Electric J79-GE-17, 52.8kN |
| WEIGHTS |
| Take-off weight | 9072-14500 kg | 20000 - 31967 lb |
| DIMENSIONS |
| Wingspan | 8.2 m | 27 ft 11 in |
| Length | 15.5 m | 51 ft 10 in |
| Height | 4.3 m | 14 ft 1 in |
| Wing area | 34.9 m2 | 375.66 sq ft |
| PERFORMANCE |
| Max. speed | M2.2 | M2.2 |
| Ceiling | 15250 m | 50050 ft |
| ARMAMENT | 1 x 30mm cannon, bombs and missiles |
| ubaTaeCJ, e-mail, 21.02.2025 19:40 20 reply | | ubaTaeCJ, e-mail, 21.02.2025 19:40 20 reply | | ubaTaeCJ, e-mail, 21.02.2025 14:56 20 reply |
| ubaTaeCJ, e-mail, 21.02.2025 14:56 20 reply | |
| | 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 :) reply |
| 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. reply | | 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. reply |
| 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. reply | | Noname, e-mail, 31.03.2020 10:24 strong! reply | | lucas boaventura, e-mail, 14.03.2011 17:58 what's nesher reply | | jordanian, e-mail, 13.03.2011 10:22 the jaf (jordanian air force) drop down that several times reply | | zippy, e-mail, 12.03.2011 08:36 There are some nutjobs that comment on this website. reply | | 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. reply | | YOSI, e-mail, 25.11.2010 18:01 The Kfir engine is J79-GE-J1E not J79GE-17 reply | |
| | 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. reply | | 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.reply | | 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? reply | | 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. reply |
| 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. reply | | Leo Rudnicki, e-mail, 30.07.2009 19:43 I think you mean "in hoc signo vinces." Semper ubi sub ubi, I always say. reply |
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