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Key Points and Summary: The Kfir, Israel’s iconic fighter jet, debuted during the turbulent years following the Yom Kippur War.

-Known as the “Young Lion,” this multi-role aircraft excelled in both air-to-air combat and ground attack missions, with a top speed of Mach 2.3 and cutting-edge avionics for its time.

-Powered by the American J79 engine, it carried a versatile payload, including Sidewinder missiles and six tons of bombs.

The Kfir Fighter Jet: Israel’s “Young Lion” That Conquered the Skies

The year 1973 in Israeli history is known for the Yom Kippur War, when the Arab coalition launched a surprise attack that almost spelled the end of the Jewish nation. 

The United States re-supplied it mightily, and the Israelis could fight back, but at a significant cost. 

One of the footnotes of 1973 was the maiden flight of an impressive Israeli fighter jet called the Kfir. 

The “Young Lion” had a long history with the Israeli Air Force and was fast and maneuverable.

The Young Lion was a great defender of the homeland, and it was loved by pilots for its multi-role versatility and dog-fighting ability. 

The Kfir was based on the Dassault Mirage IIIB, and it boasted the American J79 engine that powered the F-4 Phantom and A-4 Skyhawk, which made those warbirds so quick and powerful.

This Is What Made the Kfir Special

The Kfir had impressive specs.

 It could travel at a blistering MACH 2.3, and its ceiling was 58,000 feet. The acceleration was excellent. It could climb 45,900 feet per minute. 

The radar was top-notch for the time, and it could be re-fueled in the air. The Kfir had a range of 434 miles.

“The Kfir is equipped with a comprehensive electronic warfare suite, including a radar warning receiver, missile approach warning system, and chaff and flare dispensers. It also has a self-protection jammer to disrupt enemy radar and missile guidance systems,” according to the National Interest.  

Sidewinder air-to-air missiles adorned their wings plus it could drop the best air-to-surface munitions at the time. 

The Young Lion could carry six tons of bombs and missiles.

Time to Enter an Operational Period 

The Young Liong was deployed with a squadron of the Israeli Air Force in 1974 and 1975. Then, more aerial units were added to the Kfir. 

The jet shot down a Syrian MiG-21 in 1979 with an Israeli Shafrir 2 missile. That was the first Israeli home-built missile.

Israel’s Kfir fighter jet. Image Credit: Creative Commons.

Ground Strikes? No Problem

Meanwhile, the Israelis acquired the F-15 and F-16 fighters for aerial combat roles, and the Kfir was more aligned with the ground attack role.

In 1982, during the Israeli invasion of Lebanon, the Young Lion prowled the skies and looked for juicy targets on land. 

The warbird took to this job well, and it saved many Israeli troops with close air support missions that destroyed enemy positions.

Export Versions Fought Hard in the Developing World

The Kfir was also exported to Ecuador, where the warbirds shot down three Peruvian airplanes in the 1990s. 

Sri Lanka also used the Young Lion during its counterinsurgency against the Tamil Tigers. Five Kfirs are still in service with the Sri Lankan Air Force today. 

Colombia has also used the airplane.

In Israel, the Young Lions were finally replaced by the F-16s and F-15s, but they retired with an excellent service record. 

Top Gun: Never on the Run from Training

One colorful aspect of the Kfirs is that they were used as the Red Team Aggressor airplanes at Top Gun in the mid-1980s. 

Imagine F-14 Tomcats going up against these Israeli Young Lions. I’m sure the Kfirs racked up some notional kills and gave the American naval aviators fits with their top speed and climbing ability.

Today, the name of the game is stealth, and the Israelis have switched to F-35I Adirs. These jets led the latest aerial combat strike mission against Iran last year.

F-35I Adir. Image Credit: Creative Commons.

F-35I Adir. Image Credit: Creative Commons.

It makes one wonder how the Kfirs would have done had the Iranian attack been executed during an earlier era. I’m sure the Young Lions would have done an excellent job.

An End to an Era for Kfir Fighter

The Israelis have almost phased out all foreign support for Kfirs in Colombia. Final work with the Colombians will be completed this year. Israel had helped Sri Lanka update the Kfir in 2017 with new radars and Python air-to-air missiles.

More than 220 Kfirs were built over the years; many of them are museum pieces, or they are displayed at air bases and fly during air shows. 

The airplane had a fascinating history as an indigenous Israeli fighter that was combat-proven and well-equipped for many different missions. It was popular in the export market for the developing world. 

The Young Lion had a ferocious appetite for derring-do, and many Israeli aviators will remember it fondly.

About the Author: Dr. Brent M.Eastwood 

Brent M. Eastwood, PhD, is the author of Don’t Turn Your Back On the World: a Conservative Foreign Policy and Humans, Machines, and Data: Future Trends in Warfare, plus two other books. Brent was the founder and CEO of a tech firm that predicted world events using artificial intelligence. He served as a legislative fellow for U.S. Senator Tim Scott and advised the senator on defense and foreign policy issues. He has taught at American University, George Washington University, and George Mason University. Brent is a former U.S. Army Infantry officer. He can be followed on X @BMEastwood.