Kurnass 2000
| This page is about the Israeli jet fighter Kurnass 2000. For the other version, see Kurnass. |
Contents
Description
The F-4E Kurnass 2000 was an upgrade package for the F-4E Phantom II by the IAF. The upgrade focused on the aircraft armament and electronic systems. While upgrades to the power plant were proposed, with the introduction of more powerful engines, this modification was not installed to reduce costs. The Kurnass 2000 received a new radar, the AN/APG-76, that was far more superior than the AN/APG-120 used by the standard F-4E. It also was equipped with the ASX-1 TISEO targeting system which allowed Raphael Popeye ASMs to be launched. More advanced avionics and targeting systems for anti-tank munitions and guided bombs were installed, as well as the ability to carry the AIM-9L and Python 3 missile.
Introduced in Update "Sky Guardians", the Kurnass 2000 is an Israeli upgrade of the venerable F-4E Phantom II. It looks and flies almost identically to the standard F-4E, however its air-to-air armament is now drastically improved and rounded out by the all-aspect AIM-9L Sidewinder and Python 3 for closer engagements. For anti armour situations, it has access to the IR guided AGM-65D Maverick and new Paveway II laser guided bombs, coupled with its Pave Spike targeting module. The Kurnass 2000 is a multirole aircraft with impressive systems and weapons, only held back by the performance of its old airframe compared to 4th generation opponents like the MiG-29 and F-16A. The Kurnass 2000 also features an EEGS for its cannon, like the one featured in all 4th generation fighters, it's very good for gun kills, especially in simulator battles. It also has a very powerful radar (although no radar-guided missiles) and can carry a total of 290 countermeasures.
General info
Flight performance
| 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 | 2,065 | 2,039 | 16000 | 26.5 | 27.5 | 160.6 | 150.9 | 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 | 1,458 | 625 | 463 | ~11 | ~4 |
| Optimal velocities (km/h) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Ailerons | Rudder | Elevators | Radiator |
| < 810 | < 750 | < 700 | - |
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 Gross Weight | ||||
| Weight (each) | Type | 9m fuel | 20m fuel | 30m fuel | ||
| 1,750 kg | Afterburning axial-flow turbojet | 15,964 kg | 18,027 kg | 20,070 kg | 27,501 kg | |
| Maximum engine thrust @ 0 m (RB/SB) | Thrust to weight ratio @ 0 m (WEP) | |||||
| Condition | 100% | WEP | 9m fuel | 20m fuel | 30m fuel | MGW |
| Stationary | 5,200 kgf | 8,008 kgf | 1.00 | 0.89 | 0.80 | 0.58 |
| Optimal | 5,260 kgf (1,458 km/h) |
10,170 kgf (1,400 km/h) |
1.27 | 1.13 | 1.01 | 0.74 |
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) | Lead indicator |
 |
|
|
|
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Offensive armament
The Kurnass 2000 is armed with:
- 1 x 20 mm M61A1 cannon, chin-mounted (640 rpg)
- 90 x countermeasures
Suspended armament
The Kurnass 2000 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 | |||||||||
| 277 kg GBU-12 Paveway II bombs | 2*† | 2*† | ||||||||||
| 957 kg GBU-10 Paveway II 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-65D missiles | 3† | 3† | ||||||||||
| AIM-9G Sidewinder missiles | 2† | 1 | 1 | 2† | ||||||||
| AIM-9L Sidewinder missiles | 2† | 1 | 1 | 2† | ||||||||
| Python 3 missiles | 2† | 1 | 1 | 2† | ||||||||
| Countermeasures | 100 | 100 | ||||||||||
| Pave Spike targeting pod | 1* | |||||||||||
| 600 gal drop tanks | 1 | |||||||||||
| Maximum permissible loadout weight: 7,257 kg Maximum permissible weight imbalance: 1,500 kg | ||||||||||||
| * Pave Spike targeting pod must be equipped when carrying guided bombs † AGM-65D missiles on hardpoints 2/10 cannot be equipped in conjunction with guided bombs, or AAMs on hardpoints 3/9 respectively | ||||||||||||
| Default weapon presets | |
|---|---|
| |
Usage in battles
Air RB:
In Air RB, the Kurnass 2000 could be compared to the F-4EJ Kai, having the same air-to-air missile armament and similar radar. To properly utilize the 8 potent missiles and one of the best radars in game is the major task that every Kurnass 2000 pilot will have to face. Typically, enter the battle at a low altitude and shooting down everyone on your way is a viable and effective way to fly the Kurnass 2000. Climbing could also be attempted, but given the presence of AIM-54s and 4th generation fighter jets featuring the same avionics and significantly higher climb rate, it would be a riskier style to fly the Kurnass 2000.
A major difference between the Kurnass 2000 and the F-4EJ Kai is the slats on the Kurnass' wings. At high speed, extension of the slats provides more lift and limits the angle of attack of the aircraft, resulting in a significant decrease in speed loss during turns to a level even comparable to the level of 4th generation aircraft like the F-16 and MiG-29. At lower speed, the slats also increase the overall manoeuvrability of the aircraft, so it is advised to extend the slats in battles (by toggling "combat flaps"), especially when fighting in groups, retracting them when needed to gain more speed or for higher angle of attack. Overall, the slats of the Kurnass provides pilots with the ability to alter the aerodynamics of the aircraft during combat, and provide more versatility and a higher overall performance compared to the F-4EJ Kai.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- One of the most effective air-to-air armament sets in-game with AN/APG-76, Python 3s, and AIM-9Ls
- Can carry six IR-guided air-to-air missiles
- Wing slats for increased manoeuvrability and versatility
- High level of manoeuvrability at high speed as with any other Phantoms
- Guided bombs and missile with targeting pod for engaging ground targets
- Equipped with an IR-guided ground attack weapon, the AGM-65D
Cons:
- Big and heavy aircraft
- Thrust to weight ratio less than 4th generation jets
- Lack of radar-guided missiles
- Despite having a targeting pod and a camera on the wing, neither has a thermal camera, which can make difficult to identify targets at long range
History
The Kurnass 2000 was an Israeli program intended to extend the service life of the existing F-4s in the IDF Air Force. A major part of the program was to improve the avionics and the aging airframes. New displays, cameras, and computers were implemented during the program, greatly enhancing its capabilities over a standard F-4E. In addition, fuel tank leaks were fixed and parts of the airframe were reinforced. F-4Es were also to be upgraded with the APG-76 radar over the standard APQ-120 radar. The Kurnass 2000 also received the ASX-1 TISEO targeting system which allowed Raphael Popeye ASMs to be launched.
The Kurnass 2000 was also intended to receive an engine upgrade. Pratt & Whitney PW1120 engines were proposed by the IDF/AF to be fitted to the F-4s and a test bed was built to examine the performance. The test bed was originally meant for the IAI Lavi project, but it also proved the enormous performance increase over Phantoms with the J79 engines. The P&W-powered F-4 was able to pass Mach 1 without afterburner, increase climb rate by over 35 percent, and had a 15% increase in sustained turn rate. Although ambitious, the upgraded F-4Es never received this engine upgrade largely due to costs. Thus, the main differences between the Kurnass 2000 modernized Phantoms and the regular F-4E were almost exclusively avionics and some airframe changes.
Media
- Skins
- Videos
See also
- Related development
External links
Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:
- topic on the official game forum;
- other literature.
| 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 · F-15E | |
| 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 · F-15I Ra’am | |
| ▄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-15I Ra’am |
| F-16 | Netz · F-16C Barak II · F-16D Barak II |
