Kfir C.2
| This page is about the gift Israeli jet fighter Kfir C.2. For other versions, see Mirage 5 (Family). |
Contents
Description
Based on the Nesher, the Kfir (translates to "Lion Cub") was an Israeli program to improve their existing Mirage fleet with new avionics and the General Electric J79 engine from the F-4 Phantom II. Compared to the original French SNECMA Atar 9C engine in the Nesher, the J79 engine was shorter and had higher requirements for air flow and operating temperatures, so the modified aircrafts holding the J79 had their rear ends redesigned for the shorter engine, with air intakes added or enlarged to accommodate the engine temperatures. The first prototype, under the name Ra'am (for "Thunder") flew on June 4, 1973, and the prototype would be accepted into Israeli Air Force service on April 14, 1975, in the 101 "First Fighter" Squadron as the Kfir C.1. The Kfir C.2 variant was the second production model after complaints that the C.1 had inferior maneuverability compared to the Mirage IIICJ, which saw the addition of canard (larger than that found on the Kfir Canard), leading edges on the wing, and small strakes on the nose.
The Kfir C.2, introduced into the game in Update "Wind of Change" as a reward for the "Battle for Arachis" event, shares its characteristics with the Mirage 5 lineage as a fighter-bomber, capable of performing in an air-to-air or air-to-ground role with its avionics and flight performance. Air-to-air performance is benefitted by the Kfir C.2's maneuverability, especially its turn rates, to get nose onto target for guns or missiles, though missile availability is hindered to just two IR seeking missiles. For air-to-ground, the Kfir C.2's ability to carry a total of eight 1000 lb bombs allows it to be able to destroy a base in air realistic mode or several armoured ground targets in ground battles. A full suite of ballistic computers allow for CCIP and CCRP usage that allows Kfir pilots to get their payload onto target as accurately as possible. The versatility in the Kfir's roles ensures that players are able to use it in response to different combat situations over the course of a match.
General info
Flight performance
| Characteristics | Max Speed (km/h at 10,668 m) |
Max altitude (metres) |
Turn time (seconds) |
Rate of climb (metres/second) |
Take-off run (metres) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AB | RB | AB | RB | AB | RB | |||
| Stock | 2,304 | 2,254 | 16000 | 28.6 | 29.1 | 167.0 | 155.6 | 750 |
| Upgraded | 2,442 | 2,374 | 25.8 | 27.0 | 245.5 | 204.5 | ||
Details
| Features | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Combat flaps | Take-off flaps | Landing flaps | Air brakes | Arrestor gear | Drogue chute |
| X | X | X | ✓ | X | ✓ |
| Limits | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wings (km/h) | Gear (km/h) | Flaps (km/h) | Max Static G | |||
| Combat | Take-off | Landing | + | - | ||
| 1,460 | 426 | - | - | - | ~11 | ~4 |
| Optimal velocities (km/h) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Ailerons | Rudder | Elevators | Radiator |
| < 920 | < 750 | < 1,460 | - |
Engine performance
| Engine | Aircraft mass | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine name | Number | Basic mass | Wing loading (full fuel) | |||
| General Electric J79-GE-17 | 1 | 7,370 kg | 287 kg/m2 | |||
| Engine characteristics | Mass with fuel (no weapons load) | Max Gross Weight | ||||
| Weight (each) | Type | 8m fuel | 20m fuel | 28m fuel | ||
| 1,750 kg | Afterburning axial-flow turbojet | 8,125 kg | 9,152 kg | 9,888 kg | 14,163 kg | |
| Maximum engine thrust @ 0 m (RB/SB) | Thrust to weight ratio @ 0 m (WEP) | |||||
| Condition | 100% | WEP | 8m fuel | 20m fuel | 28m fuel | MGW |
| Stationary | 5,200 kgf | 8,154 kgf | 1.00 | 0.89 | 0.82 | 0.58 |
| Optimal | 5,366 kgf (1,460 km/h) |
10,978 kgf (1,400 km/h) |
1.35 | 1.19 | 1.11 | 0.78 |
Survivability and armour
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
| Flight performance | Survivability | Weaponry | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Armaments
| Ballistic Computer | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| CCIP (Guns) | CCIP (Rockets) | CCIP (Bombs) | CCRP (Bombs) |
 |
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Offensive armament
The Kfir C.2 is armed with:
- A choice between two presets:
- 2 x 30 mm DEFA 552A cannons, belly-mounted (140 rpg = 280 total)
- 2 x 30 mm DEFA 552A cannons + 36 x countermeasures
Suspended armament
The Kfir C.2 can be outfitted with the following ordnance presets:
- Without load
- 2 x AIM-9D Sidewinder missiles
- 2 x AIM-9G Sidewinder missiles
- 2 x Shafrir 2 missiles
- 13 x 500 lb LDGP Mk 82 bombs (6,500 lb total)
- 8 x 1,000 lb LDGP Mk 83 bombs (8,000 lb total)
- 8 x 1,000 lb LDGP Mk 83 bombs + 2 x AIM-9G Sidewinder missiles (8,000 lb total)
- 8 x 750 lb M117 cone 45 bombs (6,000 lb total)
- 8 x 750 lb M117 cone 45 bombs + 2 x AIM-9G Sidewinder missiles (6,000 lb total)
- 2 x 2,000 lb LDGP Mk 84 bombs (4,000 lb total)
- 2 x 2,000 lb LDGP Mk 84 bombs + 2 x AIM-9G Sidewinder missiles (4,000 lb total)
- 2 x 20 mm GAU-4 cannons (1,200 rpg = 2,400 total)
- 16 x Zuni Mk32 Mod 0 ATAP rockets
- 76 x FFAR Mighty Mouse rockets
- 9 x 500 lb LDGP Mk 82 bombs + 2 x AIM-9G Sidewinder missiles + 16 x Zuni Mk32 Mod 0 ATAP rockets (4,500 lb total)
- 9 x 500 lb LDGP Mk 82 bombs + 2 x AIM-9G Sidewinder missiles + 76 x FFAR Mighty Mouse rockets (4,500 lb total)
Custom loadout options
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 |  | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 mm GAU-4 cannons (1,200 rpg) | 1 | 1 | ||||||
| 500 lb LDGP Mk 82 bombs | 2, 3 | 2 | 5 | 2 | 2, 3 | |||
| 750 lb M117 cone 45 bombs | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | ||||
| 1,000 lb LDGP Mk 83 bombs | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | ||||
| 2,000 lb LDGP Mk 84 bombs | 1 | 1 | ||||||
| FFAR Mighty Mouse rockets | 38 | 38 | ||||||
| Zuni Mk32 Mod 0 ATAP rockets | 8 | 8 | ||||||
| AIM-9D Sidewinder missiles | 1 | 1 | ||||||
| AIM-9G Sidewinder missiles | 1 | 1 | ||||||
| Shafrir 2 missiles | 1 | 1 | ||||||
| Maximum permissible weight imbalance: 1,100 kg | ||||||||
Usage in battles
Describe the tactics of playing in the aircraft, the features of using aircraft in a team and advice on tactics. Refrain from creating a "guide" - do not impose a single point of view, but instead, give the reader food for thought. Examine the most dangerous enemies and give recommendations on fighting them. If necessary, note the specifics of the game in different modes (AB, RB, SB).
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Very fast acceleration
- Good manoeuvrability
- Turns hard
- Hard-hitting 30 mm autocannons
- Python III missiles have the highest G limit of any missile in-game and have very good range and accel
Cons:
- Only 2 IR air-to-air missiles and no access to SARH missiles
- No flaps
- Below average roll rate
- 30 mm cannons have slow muzzle velocity
- It can rip its wings at low altitude
History
Devblog
Operationally, the Kfir fighters from the first production series revealed a number of flaws in their design, in particular, an increased mass compared to the Mirage, as well as a forward shift in balance due to the greater weight of the suspended weaponry that affected the controllability and turn rate. To eliminate these concerns, the engineers proposed equipping the fighter with canards in the air intake areas, as well as installing aerodynamic ridges to redirect the airstream from the nose and provide a vortex around the canards. A dogtooth appeared on the leading edge of the wing that was intended to increase the lateral stability of the aircraft at high angles of attack. As a result, maneuverability at low speeds increased, and takeoff and landing runs became shorter. In addition, the new Kfir modification also received two additional weapon suspension hardpoints. The modification of the fighter with canards entered service with the Israeli Air Force in 1977 under the designation Kfir C.2, in addition to new machines, most Kfirs from the first production series were upgraded to the C.2 level. Aside from Israel, Kfir C.2 was in service with the armies of Colombia, Ecuador and Sri Lanka.
Media
- Skins
- Images
See also
- Related development
External links
| Israel Aerospace Industries (התעשייה האווירית לישראל) | |
|---|---|
| Jet Fighters | Nesher · Kfir Canard · Kfir C.2 · Kfir C.7 |
| SPAAs | Machbet |
| 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-15I Ra’am |
| F-16 | Netz · F-16C Barak II · F-16D Barak II |
