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

A three-view drawing (1668 x 1258)