IAI Kfir

The Israel Aircraft Industries Kfir or IAI Kfir is an Israeli fighter-bomber aircraft. It is based on the French Mirage 5 but with an american turbojet and avionics.[1] It is a single or dual seat.

IAI Kfir in Madatech museum, Haifain 2008
Role Fighter-bomber.
National origin Israel
Manufacturer Israel Aircraft Industries.
First flight 1970
Introduction 1975
Status Active
Primary user Heyl Ha'Avir.
Number built 225
Unit cost
4.5 millions $
IAI Kfir C2

Users

When Israel stopped using Kfir in 1996, the aircraft was sold to foreign countries.[2] Colombia, Ecuador, and Sri Lanka bought some of them. Between 1985 and 1989, the U.S. Navy rented twenty five single-seat Kfir, as F-21A.[3] American Kfir were used for dissimilar air combat training, for simulation of Soviet fighter aircraft like MiG-23 Flogger.

Sri Lanka used the Kfir against the Tamils Tigers[4] rebellion.

Bibliography
  • Frawley, Gerard, The international directory of military aircraft 2002/2003 . London : Aerospace Publication, 2002. ISBN 1-875671-55-2.
  • Gaillard, Pierre, Avions et hélicoptères militaires d'aujourd'hui Paris, France : Larivière éditions, 1999. ISBN 2-907051-24-5.
  • Kaminsky, Tom, The United States Military Aviation Directory, London : Airtime Publishing, 2000. ISBN 1-880588-29-3.

References
  1. (in French) http://www.avionslegendaires.net/avion-militaire/i-a-i-kfir/
  2. "IAI Kfir - CombatAircraft.com". www.combataircraft.com.
  3. "F-21 Kfir Fighter Jet".
  4. (in French) http://www.aviationsmilitaires.net/display/aircraft/47 Archived 2012-09-15 at the Wayback Machine
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