FAC Kfir -Colombian Air Force
Video description:
The Israel Aircraft Industries Kfir (Hebrew: "Lion Cub") is an Israeli-built all-weather, multi-role combat aircraft based on a modified Dassault Mirage 5 airframe, with Israeli avionics and an Israeli-made version of the General Electric J79 turbojet engine.Since the J79 turbojet engine, As well as much of the technology inside the Kfir are produced in Israel under U.S. license, all export sales of the Kfir are subject to prior approval from the U.S. State Department, a fact that has limited the sale of the Kfir to foreign nations.
In 1989, and as a result of a trade agreement between Colombia and Israel, the Colombian government bought a batch of twelve ex-IAF Kfir C.2s and one TC.2, which were delivered to the Colombian Air Force (FAC) in 1989-1990. Since then, all the C.2s have been upgraded to the C.7 variant. The FAC Kfirs have been widely used in ground-attack missions during counter-insurgency operations against the Colombian guerrillas. Colombian Kfirs are armed with Python 3 IR-homing AAMs. As of 2004, two aircraft had been lost in accidents.
On February 2008, Colombia signed a deal with the Israeli government for more 24 ex-IAF Kfir aircraft. These aircraft will most probably be upgraded by Israel Aerospace Industries to C.10 standard. As of 2006, the IAI Kfir has been exported to Colombia, Ecuador, and Sri Lanka. Here is an excellent video from the KFIR in the Colombian Air Force.
Kfir C2, C7, C10
C2: MTOW 14, 7 tons, 7 pylons for total 4, 3 tons (J79-J1E 5, 4-8, 1 tons)
C7 and C10 are modifications of C2 already built. Beefed up with an adjustable undercarriage and a combat plus-mode of the J79 to 8, 5 tons in AB f.e. and the C10 with multi-mode radar. C7/C10: MTOW 16, 5 tons, 9 pylons for total 9, 4 tons nominal. 750 kt IAS and 7,5Gs allowed. Tested till Mach 2, 4. To conserve lifetime max G has to stay below 7Gs f.e.


