Kurnass

This page is about the Israeli jet fighter Kurnass. For the other version, see Kurnass 2000.

Kurnass

Ayit

Kurnass 2000

Kurnass

Ayit

Kurnass 2000

Israel

VII Rank

Battle rating:

AB	RB	SB
11.3	11.3	11.0

Class:

Fighter

Jet fighter

Research:350 000

Purchase:950 000

Show in game

Description

The Kurnass (Heavy Hammer) is the Israeli variant of the F-4 Phantom. After the Six-Day War and other political situations, the US sent F-4 Phantoms to Israel under the authorization of President John F. Kennedy and then Lyndon Johnson. After arrival, crew training quickly began and the Kurnasses were soon in action against Egypt in the War of Attrition. After the war, more F-4Es were delivered under various programs like Peace Echo II. The Kurnasses were the main frontline fighter, but after the F-16 Fighting Falcon and F-15 Eagle came into service, the F-4 was relegated to air-to-ground duties. Many Kurnasses would later be converted to the Kurnass 2000 standard, which had new electronics and other improvements.

Introduced in Update "Winged Lions", the F-4E Kurnass is much like the F-4E found in the American tech tree. They are very similar planes with the exception of suspended armament: the Kurnass has AIM-9D/Gs and lacks the ability to carry GBU-15(V)1/B guided bombs. The Kurnass can carry a huge variety of bombs as well as guided munitions like the AGM-65B Maverick. As for air combat, the Kurnass can carry the deadly AIM-7E-2 Sparrow and AIM-9G Sidewinder. The AIM-9G can be utilized from long range thanks to its long-burning motor and the Phantom's high speed. As for the AIM-7E-2, players should launch these from 3-6 km (1.86-3.7 mi) due to the short burn time of the motor. Furthermore, the Kurnass lacks pulse-doppler radar which hinders its ability to engage targets at long range.

General info

Flight performance

Arrestor gear

Accelerates braking by grabbing the brake cable on the deck of the aircraft carrier

Air brakes

Allows you to dramatically reduce the flight speed by releasing special flaps

Drogue parachute

Reduces braking distance when landing on any runway

Max speed

at 12 192 m2 140 km/h

Turn time26 s

Max altitude16 000 m

Engine2 х General Electric J79-GE-17

TypeJet

Cooling systemAir

Take-off weight24 t

Characteristics	Max Speed (km/h at 12,192 m)		Max altitude (metres)	Turn time (seconds)		Rate of climb (metres/second)		Take-off run (metres)
	AB	RB		AB	RB	AB	RB
Stock	2,097	2,074	16000	26.5	27.5	160.8	151.2	850
Upgraded	2,202	2,140		25.5	26.0	221.6	190.0

Details

Features
Combat flaps	Take-off flaps	Landing flaps	Air brakes	Arrestor gear	Drogue chute
✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓

Limits
Wings (km/h)	Gear (km/h)	Flaps (km/h)			Max Static G
		Combat	Take-off	Landing	+	-
1458	463	607	584	463	~11	~4

Optimal velocities (km/h)
Ailerons	Rudder	Elevators	Radiator
< 810	< 750	< 700	N/A

Engine performance

Engine			Aircraft mass
Engine name		Number	Basic mass		Wing loading (full fuel)
General Electric J79-GE-17		2	14,205 kg		408 kg/m2
Engine characteristics			Mass with fuel (no weapons load)			Max Takeoff Weight
Weight (each)	Type		9m fuel	20m fuel	30m fuel
1,750 kg	Afterburning axial-flow turbojet		15,964 kg	18,027 kg	20,069 kg	24,000 kg
Maximum engine thrust @ 0 m (RB/SB)			Thrust to weight ratio @ 0 m (WEP)
Condition	100%	WEP	9m fuel	20m fuel	30m fuel	MTOW
Stationary	5,200 kgf	8,010 kgf	1.00	0.89	0.80	0.67
Optimal	5,200 kgf (0 km/h)	10,170 kgf (1,400 km/h)	1.27	1.13	1.01	0.85

Survivability and armour

Flares/Chaff

Aircraft countermeasures to distract IR and radar-guided missiles and also AA radar

Crew2 people

Speed of destruction

Structural1 458 km/h

Gear463 km/h

Examine the survivability of the aircraft. Note how vulnerable the structure is and how secure the pilot is, whether the fuel tanks are armoured, etc. Describe the armour, if there is any, and also mention the vulnerability of other critical aircraft systems.

Modifications and economy

Repair costBasic → Reference

AB2 994 → 4 044

RB8 833 → 11 933

SB9 129 → 12 333

Total cost of modifications294 000

456 000

Talisman cost3 000

Crew training270 000

Experts950 000

Aces3 200

Research Aces1 210 000

Reward for battleAB / RB / SB

100 / 320 / 600 %

244 / 244 / 244 %

Modifications

Flight performance	Survivability	Weaponry
Compressor Research: 10 000 Cost: 15 000 390 New boosters Research: 11 000 Cost: 17 000 430 Wings repair Research: 12 000 Cost: 19 000 470 Engine Research: 16 000 Cost: 25 000 630	Fuselage repair Research: 10 000 Cost: 15 000 390 Airframe Research: 11 000 Cost: 17 000 430 G-suit Research: 12 000 Cost: 19 000 470 Cover Research: 16 000 Cost: 25 000 630	AIM-9D Research: 10 000 Cost: 15 000 390 M60_belt_pack Research: 10 000 Cost: 15 000 390 M117 Research: 10 000 Cost: 15 000 390 Flares/Chaff Research: 10 000 Cost: 15 000 390 AIM-9G Research: 11 000 Cost: 17 000 430 M60_new_gun Research: 11 000 Cost: 17 000 430 Mk83 Research: 11 000 Cost: 17 000 430 LAU-3/A Research: 11 000 Cost: 17 000 430 AIM-7E Research: 12 000 Cost: 19 000 470 Gun pod SUU-23/A. Research: 12 000 Cost: 19 000 470 Mk84 Research: 12 000 Cost: 19 000 470 LAU-10/A Research: 12 000 Cost: 19 000 470 AIM-7E-2 Research: 16 000 Cost: 25 000 630 AGM-62A Research: 16 000 Cost: 25 000 630 GBU-8 Research: 16 000 Cost: 25 000 630 AGM-65B Research: 16 000 Cost: 25 000 630

Armaments

Ballistic Computer
CCIP (Guns)	CCIP (Rockets)	CCIP (Bombs)	CCRP (Bombs)	EEGS

Offensive armament

The Kurnass is armed with:

• 1 x 20 mm M61A1 cannon, chin-mounted (640 rpg)
• 30 x large calibre countermeasures
• 60 x countermeasures

Suspended armament

The Kurnass can be outfitted with the following ordnance:

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11
20 mm GAU-4 cannons (1,200 rpg)	1					1					1
250 lb LDGP Mk 81 bombs	6	3				6				3	6
500 lb LDGP Mk 82 bombs	6	3				6				3	6
500 lb Mk 82 Snakeye bombs	6	3				6				3	6
750 lb M117 cone 45 bombs	3	3				5				3	3
1,000 lb LDGP Mk 83 bombs	2	3				3				3	2
2,000 lb LDGP Mk 84 bombs	1					1					1
505 kg AGM-62A Walleye I bombs	1	1*								1*	1
2,000 lb GBU-8 bombs	1	1*								1*	1
BLU-27/B incendiary bombs	1					2					1
FFAR Mighty Mouse rockets	57	57				57				57	57
Zuni Mk32 Mod 0 ATAP rockets	12	12				12				12	12
AGM-65B missiles		3*								3*
AIM-7E Sparrow missiles				1†	1		1	1†
AIM-7E-2 Sparrow missiles				1†	1		1	1†
AIM-9D Sidewinder missiles			2*		1†		1†		2*
AIM-9G Sidewinder missiles			2*		1†		1†		2*
600 gal drop tanks						1
Maximum permissible loadout weight: 7,257 kg Maximum permissible wing load: 3,000 kg Maximum permissible weight imbalance: 1,500 kg
* Marked options on hardpoints 2/10 cannot be carried in conjunction with air-to-air missiles on hardpoints 3/9 respectively † Sparrows on hardpoints 4/8 cannot be carried in conjunction with Sidewinders on hardpoints 5/7 respectively

Default weapon presets

1 x 600 gal drop tank 2 x AIM-9D Sidewinder missiles 6 x AIM-9D Sidewinder missiles 6 x AIM-9G Sidewinder missiles 3 x 20 mm GAU-4 cannons (1,200 rpg = 3,600 total) 24 x 250 lb LDGP Mk 81 bombs (6,000 lb total) 24 x 500 lb LDGP Mk 82 bombs (12,000 lb total) 24 x 500 lb Mk 82 Snakeye bombs (12,000 lb total) 17 x 750 lb M117 cone 45 bombs (12,750 lb total) 4 x BLU-27/B incendiary bombs 13 x 1,000 lb LDGP Mk 83 bombs (13,000 lb total) 3 x 2,000 lb LDGP Mk 84 bombs (6,000 lb total) 285 x FFAR Mighty Mouse rockets 60 x Zuni Mk32 Mod 0 ATAP rockets 4 x AIM-7E Sparrow missiles 4 x AIM-7E-2 Sparrow missiles 6 x AGM-65B missiles 4 x 505 kg AGM-62A Walleye I bombs (2,020 kg total) 4 x 2,000 lb GBU-8 bombs (8,000 lb total)

The Kurnass's weapons will be largely familiar to previous US pilots. The change in Sidewinder variants compared to the original F-4E is worth discussing in more detail: as a US Air Force variant, the American F-4E has USAF models of the Sidewinder in the form of the stock AIM-9E and the top AIM-9J. The Kurnass on the other hand has US Navy Sidewinders as seen on the USN F-4J or the British Phantom FGR.2: the stock AIM-9D and the top AIM-G. As far as stock missiles go, the AIM-9D is greatly preferable to the AIM-9E with better range and maneuverability. The AIM-9J vs AIM-9G comparison is more up to personal preference, as the former has slightly higher overload and fares better in maneuvering combat while the latter has a wider seeker view and is better for sneak attacks at a distance. Thus, while the Kurnass has the manoeuvrable F-4E airframe with an internal gun for close in fights, its Sidewinders do not quite lean in that direction.

Another Sidewinder-related quirk of the Kurnass is that two of the recessed fuselage pylons, which are normally reserved for Sparrows, can instead be used to carry Sidewinders, so its maximum IR missile capacity is 6x instead of the 4x of other Phantoms. This is often a reasonable trade to make, because although the AIM-7E2 Dogfight Sparrows offer the Kurnass a decent long-range option, they are held back by the radar's lack of look-down-shoot-down capability. Carrying four of them at once adds nearly 800 kg of weight that decreases performance. Bringing only two Sparrows for special occasions and stocking up on lighter Sidewinders reduces the need to jettison unnecessary weapons.

The only change to the ground attack weapons is the lack of access to the GBU-15(V)1/B, a TV-guided glide bomb available on the inboard wing pylons of the American F-4E. The similar GBU-8, which can be dropped at supersonic speeds but is not as efficient in gliding, is still available on all wing pylons. Many CAS players will choose the smaller AGM-62A Walleye guided bombs or the AGM-65B Maverick air-to-ground missiles for tank busting instead, so the lack of the GBU-15 only really matters in unusual situations like needing to bomb enemy SPAA from extreme ranges.

Usage in battles

The F-4E Phantom II is well-suited for most in-game situations. For attacking ground targets, the plane is armed with an assortment of bombs, rockets, and missiles. Against air targets, players may employ the vehicle's deadly air-to-air missiles and frontal cannons. Three externally-mounted gunpods may be equipped. Although they will undoubtedly increase the vehicle's destructive capabilities, they also appreciably hinder flight performance through induced drag. In many situations, one front-facing cannon is all that is required to dispatch an opponent aircraft. As for the missiles, the ones used by this plane are average at its rank, comparable to the R-60 missiles equipped by the MiG-21MF (Germany) and the MiG-21SMT (albeit with worse manoeuvrability). The AIM-9G missiles are most effective when fired from between 2 to 4 km away from the target. Any closer will make it harder for the missile to hit the target and the end result could be a miss. At higher altitudes the AIM-7E-2 missiles can ensure better results when shot from 4 - 6 km range as they are almost impossible to dodge at these heights.

The F-4E has a high rate of climb. This is however where most of its performance advantages end. Due to its weight, the Phantom has rather mediocre acceleration, and not a very high top speed. It is not advised to dogfight anything other than Starfighters and other Phantom variants, as the F-4E has a very poor turn rate. Although the aircraft has better energy retention than most of its opponents, it still bleeds considerable amounts of speed while turning, which can't be regained very quickly due to the aircraft's heavy weight. It also performs quite poorly at low speeds, which is also caused by its weight.

Pros and cons

Pros:

• Vast variety of air and ground ordnance
• Good top speed
• Equipped with RWR and countermeasures
• Can carry up to 8 potent air-to-air missiles, or six IR-guided AAMs, a rare payload for Phantoms
• 20 mm M61 cannon has great ballistics, high damage and high rate of fire
• Good acceleration

Cons:

• Relatively large aircraft is a big, easy to hit target
• Carrying payloads reduces flight performance
• Limited ammo for the internal 20 mm cannon which can be depleted in just a few bursts
• Wings can be ripped off easily during high speed manoeuvres
• Radar is not look-down capable

History

Israel was a prominent user of the F-4 Phantom II, having acquired its Phantoms starting in 1968. At first, the USA was unwilling to offer Israel the F-4, but developments in 1967-1968 led the USA to reconsider its position. Notably, a French embargo of Israeli aircraft and the defection of a Soviet MiG-21 convinced the USA to sell its F-4Es to Israel. The first of these aircraft arrived in January of 1968, nicknamed Kurnass (Heavy Hammer) in service.

Israeli Phantoms saw their first combat action in the War of Attrition (1967-1970) against Egypt, where they were used against Egyptian ground and air targets. During this time, more Phantoms continued to be delivered including six RF-4E reconnaissance Phantoms. During the Yom Kippur war, Israeli Phantoms were once again used against air and ground targets. This conflict also marked the debut of the AGM-65 Maverick in Israeli service shortly after the missile entered service with the USAF.

In total, Israeli Phantoms scored ~116 aerial kills against Arab aircraft between 1969-1982 compared to ~55 combat losses (total number disputed). The last Phantom was delivered in 1976, with a total of 204 aircraft delivered, including some as replacements for aircraft lost during the Yom Kippur war. In the last decades of the 20th century, the Phantom was complemented with newer aircraft such as the F-15 and F-16; the last Israeli Phantom was retired in 2004.

Media

Skins

• Skins and camouflages for the Kurnass from live.warthunder.com.

See also

Related development

• F-4 Phantom II (Family)

External links

• Technical Order 1F-4C-1 - Flight Manual for F-4C/F-4D/F-4E Aircraft

References

• Aloni, S. (n.d.). Israeli Kurnass Aces – Part 1. F4Phantom.com. Retrieved December 22, 2021, from http://www.f4phantom.com/SmokeTrails/ST1503_1.pdf
• Jewish Virtual Library. (1998). IAF Aircraft Inventory. McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II. Retrieved December 22, 2021, from https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/mcdonnell-douglas-f-4-phantom-ii

McDonnell Aircraft Corporation
Jet Fighters	F2H-2 · F3H-2
	F-4C Phantom II · F-4E Phantom II · F-4J Phantom II · F-4S Phantom II
	F-15A · F-15C MSIP II
Strike Aircraft	AV-8B Plus · AV-8B (NA)
Helicopters	AH-6M
Export/Licensed
Aircraft	◄F-4F Early · ◄F-4F · ◄F-4F KWS LV · Phantom FG.1 · Phantom FGR.2 · F-4J(UK) Phantom II · F-4EJ Phantom II · F-4EJ ADTW · Kurnass · Kurnass 2000
	F-15J · F-15J(M) · Baz · Baz Meshupar
	▄AV-8B Plus
Helicopters	Lahatut
	The McDonnell Aircraft Corporation merged with Douglas Aircraft Company in 1967 to form McDonnell Douglas Corporation. Later it was merged with The Boeing Company in 1997.
See Also	Mitsubishi Heavy Industries

Israel jet aircraft
	Kfir Canard · Kfir C.2 · Kfir C.7 · Nesher
Britain
Meteor	Meteor NF.13 · Meteor F.8
France
Vautour	Vautour IIA · Vautour IIN
Super Mystere	Sambad · Sa'ar
Mirage III	Shahak
Other	M.D.450B Ouragan · Mystere IVA
USA
F-84	F-84F
A-4	A-4H · A-4E Early (M) · A-4E · Ayit
F-4	Kurnass · Kurnass 2000
F-15	Baz · Baz Meshupar
F-16	Netz · F-16C Barak II · F-16D Barak II