IAI Kfir
| Industry | Aerospace, defense |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1953 |
| Headquarters | Lod , Israel |
| Products | Kfir fighter aircraft, among others |
| Website | www |
The Israel Aircraft Industries Kfir (, meaning "Lion Cub") is an Israeli all-weather multirole combat aircraft developed from the French Dassault Mirage 5. It incorporates Israeli-designed avionics and features a domestically produced variant of the General Electric J79 turbojet engine.
Background
The Kfir was conceived to fulfill the IDF's requirement to modify the Dassault Mirage IIIC to better suit the operational demands of the Israeli Air Force (IAF).
During the 1960s, the Mirage IIICJ—Israel’s initial Mach 2-capable fighter procured from France—formed a core part of the IAF’s fleet until it was gradually supplanted by aircraft such as the Douglas A-4 Skyhawk and notably the McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II. While it excelled in air superiority missions, its limited range restricted its effectiveness in ground-attack roles.
At Israel's request, Dassault developed the Mirage 5, a variant optimized for fair-weather ground-attack operations based on the Mirage III. This model achieved extended fuel capacity and simplified maintenance by removing sophisticated avionics located behind the cockpit.
By 1968, Dassault had completed 50 Mirage 5Js intended for Israel; however, a French arms embargo prevented their delivery. Consequently, Israel manufactured an unlicensed version known as the Nesher, utilizing technical information obtained covertly, reportedly with some support from Dassault Aviation.
Design
The Kfir project aimed to create a more advanced iteration of the IAI Nesher, which was already in production. Following an arms embargo imposed by Charles de Gaulle, the IAF sought to preserve its technological edge over regional adversaries who were acquiring sophisticated Soviet aircraft. With Israel’s Mirage fleet—their most advanced fighters—diminishing after the Six-Day War, domestic manufacturing enabled circumvention of embargo restrictions, facilitated by Israeli efforts to gather technical data from other Mirage operators.
Two engine options underwent evaluation: the General Electric J79 turbojet and the Rolls-Royce Spey turbofan. The J79 was ultimately selected, partly because it powered the McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II, which Israel began procuring from the United States in 1969, along with licensing rights for domestic J79 production. Compared to the original French Atar 09, the J79 delivered superior performance with 49 kN (11,000 lbf) dry thrust and 83.4 kN (18,750 lbf) with afterburner engaged.
To accommodate the J79 within the Mirage III airframe and ensure adequate cooling, modifications included shortening and widening of the rear fuselage, enlargement of air intakes, and installation of a large inlet at the base of the vertical stabilizer for afterburner cooling. A titanium heatshield was added to protect the engine.
The first flight of a two-seat Mirage IIIBJ fitted with a J79 engine occurred in September 1970, followed by a re-engined Nesher prototype in September 1971.
An enhanced prototype designated Ra'am B ("Thunder"; with "Ra'am A" referring to the Nesher) took flight in June 1973. It featured an updated cockpit layout, reinforced landing gear, avionics manufactured in Israel, and rearranged internal fuel tanks that increased fuel capacity to .
There are unverified claims that some original Mirage IIICs retrofitted with J79 engines under the designation Barak ("Lightning") were operational during the Yom Kippur War of 1973; however, no concrete evidence supports their deployment.
Israel
The Kfir was introduced into the Israeli Air Force (IAF) in 1975, initially serving with the 101st "First Fighter" Squadron". Shortly thereafter, several additional squadrons incorporated the aircraft. Its tenure as the IAF's main air superiority fighter was short-lived due to the arrival of U.S.-supplied F-15 Eagles in 1976.
The Kfir's combat debut took place on November 9, 1977, during an Israeli operation in Lebanon. Its sole confirmed aerial kill occurred on June 27, 1979, when a Kfir C.2 pilot downed a Syrian MiG-21—an achievement occasionally credited jointly with an F-15 pilot.
By the time of the 1982 Lebanon War (Operation Peace for Galilee), the IAF had deployed F-15s and F-16s for air superiority missions, assigning Kfirs primarily to unescorted strike roles. Syrian claims of shooting down Kfirs were mostly unverified; only one confirmed air-to-air kill by a Syrian MiG-21bis on June 9, 1982, is documented. Following this period, all IAF C.2 models were upgraded to C.7 standards, enhancing their capabilities as fighter-bombers. The Kfir was gradually retired from front-line IAF service by the late 1990s after nearly twenty years in operation.
In August 2013, Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) announced plans to market pre-owned Kfir jets internationally, offering a 40-year warranty at approximately $20 million per aircraft. Interest was noted among several Eastern European and Latin American nations. By October of that year, IAI was engaged in advanced negotiations with at least two foreign air forces regarding the Kfir Block 60 variant. This model could be delivered within a year, with potential sales encompassing two squadrons over two to three years. The Block 60 includes the Elta EL/M-2032 radar system featuring open architecture avionics that allow customer-specific customization and enable simultaneous tracking of up to 64 targets in both air-to-air and air-to-ground operations. The aircraft’s J79 engine is refurbished to zero flight hours but requires replacement after 1,600 operational hours.
Foreign service
Due to the J79 turbojet engine’s origin as a U.S.-designed system—though licensed for production in Israel—all Kfir exports must receive prior authorization from the U.S. State Department, which restricts its international sales.
As of 2006, Colombia, Ecuador, and Sri Lanka have acquired IAI Kfirs.
Colombia
Following a trade agreement established in 1989 between Colombia and Israel, Colombia procured twelve used IAF Kfir C.2s along with one TC.2 trainer, delivered during 1989–1990 to the Colombian Air Force (FAC). These jets were subsequently upgraded to the C.7 standard and have been heavily employed in counter-insurgency ground attack operations. By 2004, two aircraft had been lost due to accidents.
In February 2008, Colombia signed an agreement with Israel for an additional twenty-four former IAF Kfirs, which were anticipated to be upgraded by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) to the C.10 configuration. In June 2009, IAI delivered the initial batch of modernized Kfirs under a multi-year contract exceeding $150 million aimed at upgrading existing FAC aircraft and supplying new C.10-C.12 models equipped with IAI’s latest systems.
On July 20, 2009, a Kfir was lost near Cartagena during a refresher training flight; while Israeli pilots aboard escaped injury, the jet was destroyed. IAI attributed this incident to pilot error and pledged to replace the lost aircraft and continue scheduled deliveries.
On November 1, 2013, Colombian Kfirs intercepted Russian Tu-160 bombers that had violated Colombian airspace after departing Venezuela.
By October 2017, Colombian Kfirs had been upgraded with EL/M-2052 AESA radar systems and integrated Python-5 and I-Derby-ER air-to-air missiles.
As of 2019, twenty-three Colombian-operated IAI Kfirs remained active.
In April 2025, Colombian President Gustavo Petro announced plans to phase out the Kfir fleet in favor of Saab JAS 39 Gripen fighters. The first retirement occurred in May 2025 when a Kfir was decommissioned and placed as a gate guardian at Captain Germán Olano Moreno Air Base.
Ecuador
In 1981, Ecuador and Israel entered into a contract for the purchase of ten refurbished and new former IAF Kfir C.2 aircraft along with two TC.2 trainers, which were delivered to the Ecuadorian Air Force (FAE) between 1982 and 1983. These Kfirs were assigned to the FAE's 21st Fighter Wing at Taura Air Base, forming the 2113th Squadron known as the Lions.
During the 1995 Cenepa War, Ecuador employed subsonic A-37B aircraft for ground attack missions, while reserving their Mirage and Kfir fighters primarily for escort duties and air interception. Notably, on February 10, 1995, a Kfir C.2 successfully downed a Peruvian Air Force Cessna A-37B using a Shafrir 2 missile.
Following approval from the U.S. State Department in 1996, Ecuador procured an additional four Kfirs—three C.2s and one TC.2. By 1998, as Ecuador planned to phase out its SEPECAT Jaguar fleet, it sought to acquire eight new Kfirs from Israel. However, concerns from the United States over regional military buildup—particularly Peru’s acquisition of eighteen MiG-29s and eighteen Su-25s from Belarus—led to the blocking of this transaction. Instead, in 1999 Ecuador and Israel agreed on acquiring two Kfir C.10 fighters and upgrading existing C.2 models to the C.10 standard (designated Kfir CE), which included advanced features such as Helmet Mounted Display Systems and Python 3/4 infrared homing missiles.
By 2005, the Ecuadorian Air Force had lost four Kfirs in accidents since their initial delivery in 1982, including one TC.2 trainer.
Sri Lanka
The Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) initially procured six Kfir C.2 fighters and one TC.2 trainer during 1995–1996, expanding their fleet by nine additional aircraft by 2005—comprising four C.2s and four C.7s acquired in 2000. Presently, the SLAF operates two TC.2s, two C.7s, and six C.2s within its No. 10 "Fighter" Squadron.
Throughout the Sri Lankan Civil War, SLAF deployed Kfirs against LTTE insurgents. In July 2001, two C.7 aircraft were destroyed on the ground at Katunayake air base during an LTTE attack; three more were lost due to non-combat related accidents during the conflict period, with no losses recorded in aerial engagements. In March 2011, a mid-air collision occurred between two Kfirs during airshow rehearsals.
On June 30, 2021, Israel Aerospace Industries announced a $50 million contract to modernize five Sri Lankan Kfirs by outfitting them with updated systems and sensors for operational re-entry.
United States
Between 1985 and 1989, the United States Navy and Marine Corps leased a total of 25 Kfir C.1 jets—designated as F-21A—which were modified into unarmed adversary aircraft used for dissimilar air combat training (DACT). These variants featured narrow-canard foreplanes and small rectangular nose strakes that improved maneuverability and handling at lower speeds.
The Navy operated twelve F-21s through Fighter Squadron 43 (VF-43) based at NAS Oceana in Virginia; these aircraft bore a three-tone blue-gray "ghost" camouflage scheme before being replaced by F-16N fighters in 1988. The Marine Corps utilized thirteen leased F-21s with Marine Fighter Training Squadron 401 (VMFT-401) at Marine Corps Air Station Yuma in Arizona. Some USMC F-21s were painted in Israeli or desert "flogger" color schemes to simulate Warsaw Pact MiG-23 fighters known for their rapid acceleration and capability to exceed Mach 2 speeds. These F-21s were phased out in favor of F-5E Freedom Fighters by 1989, though this change reduced the ability to replicate high-speed threats such as the MiG-23.
Additionally, six Kfirs are operated by Airborne Tactical Advantage Company (ATAC), a U.S.-based defense contractor providing tactical adversary support including airborne threat simulation, training exercises, and research & development services. ATAC’s headquarters is located at Patrick Henry International Airport in Newport News, Virginia, with operational bases at various U.S. Navy and Marine Corps air stations across California, Nevada, Hawaii, and Japan. The company also maintains a fleet of Hawker Hunter F.58 jets. On March 6, 2012, an ATAC-operated Kfir (FAA registration N404AX) crashed while landing at NAS Fallon in Nevada; the retired U.S. Navy pilot aboard was fatally injured.
Potential Customers
During the early 1990s, Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) aimed to export 40 Kfir-C jets to the Republic of China (Taiwan) in a transaction estimated between US$400 million and $1 billion; however, this agreement ultimately did not materialize.
In 2013, the Argentine Air Force initiated discussions with Israel to acquire 18 Kfir Block 60 fighters as a substitute for purchasing 16 used Mirage F1 aircraft from Spain. By mid-2014, industry insiders suggested that IAI was nearing confirmation of an order from Argentina after the Mirage F1 deal collapsed.
Variants
- Kfir C.1: Initial production variant lacking canards.
- Kfir C.1P/Kfir Canard: Modified C.1 airframes upgraded to C.2 specifications, incorporating intake and nose fences to enhance agility and control at low speeds, along with flare/chaff dispenser installations.
- Kfir C.2: Aerodynamically improved model with "dogtooth" leading edges on wings, nose fences, and sizable fixed canards mounted on air intakes.
- Kfir TC.2: Two-seat trainer variant based on the C.2 featuring a lengthened, lowered nose section for better pilot visibility.
- Kfir RC.2: Reconnaissance version of the C.2, nicknamed Kfir Tzniut due to its camera-equipped nose section.
- Kfir C.7: Significant upgrade applied to most C.2 units, equipped with a more powerful J79-GE-J1E engine (+1000 lbf thrust), increased maximum takeoff weight (+3395 lb), two extra hardpoints beneath air intakes, and advanced avionics including a multifunction display (MFD).
- Kfir TC.7: Two-seat trainer derived from the C.7 configuration.
- Kfir C.9: Proposed Argentine model powered by the Atar 9K50 engine; although canceled, it served as a basis for South Africa's Atlas Cheetah.
- Kfir C.10: Export variant featuring Elta EL/M-2032 radar, helmet-mounted display (HMD) support, and dual 127×177mm multifunction displays; marketed as Kfir CE in Ecuador and Kfir COA in Colombia.
- Kfir TC.10: Upgraded two-seat trainer version for the Colombian Aerospace Force.
- Kfir C.12: Colombian-upgraded version of the C.7 similar to the C.10 but without EL/M-2032 radar integration.
- Kfir Block 60: Advanced export edition of the C.10 equipped with AESA radar; proposed for acquisition by both the Bulgarian Air Force and Colombian Aerospace Force. By January 2014, Argentina had shown interest in procuring eighteen Block 60 units in a US$500 million deal intended to replace previously planned second-hand Mirage F1 purchases.
- Kfir NG: Next-Generation modernization package unveiled at the 2019 Paris Air Show, targeting present and former operators such as Colombia, Ecuador, and Sri Lanka to upgrade their fleets and reactivate grounded aircraft.
Current
- Subsidiary of Textron, Airborne Tactical Advantage Company, operates six IAI F-21 Kfirs
Former
- Designated F-21A Lion under tri-service nomenclature, the Kfir served as an adversary aircraft within the US Navy Strike Fighter Tactics Instructor program (TOPGUN). This training role ended in 1988 and 1989 respectively.
Colombia
- FAC 3043 - Kfir C.7 positioned as a gate guardian at Captain Germán Olano Moreno Air Base.
Israel
- 010 - Kfir C.2 serving as a gate guardian at Ovda Airport.
- 310 - Kfir TC.2 displayed within the Israeli Air Force Museum at Hatzerim Airbase.
- 419 - Kfir RC.2 Tzniut exhibited at the Israeli Air Force Museum.
- 451 - Kfir RC.2 Tzniut showcased at the Israeli Air Force Museum.
- 514 - Kfir C.7 presented at the Israeli Air Force Museum.
- 529 - Kfir C.7 featured at the Israeli Air Force Museum.
- 664 - Kfir C.2 installed on a pylon in Beersheba.
- 712 - Kfir C.1 preserved at the Israeli Air Force Museum.
- 742 - Kfir C.1 displayed at Madatech in Haifa.
- 814 - Kfir C.2 located at Ramat David Airbase.
- 826 - Kfir C.2 held at the Israeli Air Force Museum.
- 853 - Kfir C.2 on display at the Israeli Air Force Museum.
- 869 - Kfir C.2 stationed at Hatzor Airbase.
- 874 - Kfir C.2 exhibited within the Israeli Air Force Museum.
- 875 - Kfir C.2 preserved in Givat Olga, Hadera.
- 886 - Kfir C.2 showcased at the Israeli Air Force Museum.
- 895 - Kfir C.2 displayed at the Israeli Air Force Museum.
- 988 - Kfir TC.2 exhibited in the Israeli Air Force Museum.
- BuNo 999725 - F-21A Kfir presented at the Israeli Air Force Museum.
- BuNo 999764 - F-21A Kfir held at the Israeli Air Force Museum.
Sri Lanka
- CF-712 - Kfir C.2 mounted on a pylon within the Sri Lanka Air Force Museum.
- SFM-721 - Kfir C.7 displayed at the Sri Lanka Air Force Museum.
- SFM-5207 - Kfir C.2 exhibited outside SLAF Colombo in Colombo.
United States
- BuNo 999734 - F-21A Kfir shown at the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum.
Bibliography
- Niccoli, Riccardo. David's Deltas: Israel's Mirage, Nesher and Kfir Family, Part 3. Air Enthusiast 105, May/June 2003, pp. 68–73.
- Taylor, John W. R. Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1982–83. London: Jane's Yearbooks, 1982.
Further reading
- Maquinas de Guerra – Enciclopedia de las Armas del Siglo XX. Planeta-De Agostini, Madrid, 1984. (Aerospace Publishing Ltd., London, 1983). .
- Terry Gander, Christopher Chant, Bob Munro, Collins/Jane's Combat Aircraft. Harper Resource, 1995. .
- Federation of American Scientists, www.fas.org.
- Air Combat Information Group, www.acig.org.
- Greg Goebel, www.vectorsite.net.
- Mirage. James Follett. A novel focused on the covert mission to obtain Mirage engineering blueprints during the late 1960s.