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Ecuador was one of two main export customers
for The Kfir. The aircraft were primarily used as
interceptors and equip escuadron de combate 2113
(LEONES) part of group 211, based at Taura.
Ecuador's aircraft are normally Kfir-C2, but have
been upgraded with many of the advanced avionics
systems of the israeli Kfir-C7 / C10 resulting in the
KfirCE or 2000.
The Ecuadorean Kfir can carry a wide variety of weapons stores,
including shafrir and phyton III and IV dogfight missiles,
shriek anti-radar missiles and various types of bombs .
Ecuadorians Kfirs have an engine overspeed
capability. This allows the J-79 engine to give even
more boost under combat conditions, although at the
expense of engine life.
The Kfir-C2 has a relatively simple ranging radar,
as the aircraft is primarily A ground-attack type and only carries infrared missiles.
A combination of light weight, clean design and a
powerful engine gives the Kfir a small edge in
maximum speed over the light weight Mig-21 and the
far heavier Mig-29.
Although the Kfir is generally used as a
ground-attack aircraft, It is no mean performer as an interceptor. The Kfir climbs very fast, and it easily outpaces the older, and less powerful Sukhoi SU-22.
The original Kfir prototype which first flew on
October 19, 1970 was a combination of the Dassault
Mirage III airframe with the GE-J79 afterburning
turbojet of the F-4 Phantom II. Produced in small
numbers in 1972, 25 aircraft were eventually leased
to the US Navy and Marine Corps as F-21As.
Approximately 125 Kfirs remain in service today with
Israel, as well as Columbia and Ecuador. Out of the 13 Kfirs of the FAE inventory only 2 are C2 and one TC2 the rest has been upgraded to th CE prototype.
Single-seat interceptor,
and fighter
bomber.
POWERPLANT:
One 17,864-lb. - thrust
(18,700 lb.- thrust with
emergency boost)
afterburning General
Electric J79-J1E
turbo jet.
MAX SPEED:
Mach 2.3 or 1,513 m.p.h.
above 36,000 ft.
CEILING:
58,000 ft. OR 75,000 ft in
a zoom climb .
COMBAT RADIUS:
546 mi. on an intercept
mission.
WEIGHTS:
Empty 16,027 lb.; maximum
loaded 36,300 lb.
WEAPONS:
Two 30-mm DEFA cannon with
280 rounds and up to 13,400
lb. of bombs,
rockets missiles
beneath wings and fuselage.
DIMENSIONS:
SPAN 27ft.
LENGHT 51ft.
HEIGHT 15 ft.
WING AREA 374 sq. ft.
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