KF-C7

- aka KF-C7 -

Overview
A multi-role fighter that entered service in 1976 and was a mainstay of the IAF for many years. The Kfir is essentially an updated Mirage V. The first member of the Mirage family - the IIIC - was an excellent interceptor and air superiority fighter for its time, but had limited attack capability. Dassault's answer to this challenge was the development of the Mirage V, in accordance with Israeli specifications - but the French embargo on the sale off arms to Israel and its neighbors following the Six Day War kept the Mirage Vs from being delivered.

The Iserali Air Force decided to develop an improved model of the plane, that would meet Israel's needs. The first tests were conducted in late 1968, and it quickly became apparent that the Mirage 5's chief drawback was its power plant - the French Atar 9 engine - which provided relatively low thrust, compared to the large amount of fuel it consumed.

The first Kfir was handed over to the IAF in 1975. In the years that followed, the Kfirs saw service in a number of different IAF squadrons. On June 27th the first dogfight involving Kfirs took place. On that day, F-15s and Kfirs were assigned to cover other planes that were attacking terrorist targets between Lake Kar'un and the port of Sidon. In the dogfight that ensued, five Syrian MiG-21s were shot down, and the Kfir registered its first kill - the only one to date.

The Kfir has been sold to several countries, and was even leased to the US Navy and Marine Corps, known with the designation F-21A 'Lion', for use in their 'Aggressor' Squadrons, where its close resemblance to Soviet planes both in performance ans appearance made it an ideal choice for helping American pilots train against a simulated Soviet threat.

In order to improve the Kfirs original engine, its engine had to be replaced with a better one of American design. Implanting it in the Mirage required that certain changes be made in the engine's configuration: different devices within the engine were modified, the intakes were enlarged, the engine was encased with a titanium heat shield and the planes rear fuselage was shortened. After the prototype proved successful, the fuselage's aerodynamics were improved and a pair of winglets was placed above and to the front of the main wings, in a 'canard' configuration.

Origin: (Real World)
Israel

Featured In
Ace Combat 02

Operators
Scarface Tactical Fighter Squadron Usean Rebel Forces

Weapons
Gun / 30mm DEFA Cannons Standard Missiles / Python-AAM

Stats
Power: 50 Defense: 35 Mobility: 30 Stability: 80 Climbing Ability: 45 Air-to-Air: 40 Air-to-Ground: 40

Source
Israeli-weapons.com Globalsecurity.org Image