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Draft:F-4 Phantoms in Israeli Service

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An F-4E Kurnass of the 201 Squadron on display at Tel Nof, 2013

After the United States, the Israeli Air Force was the second largest operator of the McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II, using it as its primary multirole fighter from 1969 to 2004. Israel expressed interest in the F-4 Phantom as early as 1965 as a replacement for its ageing fleet of Mirage IIICJs (known as Shahak in Israeli service, meaning heavens) and selected the F-4 Phantom for its technical superiority and reliability, but didn't purchase any models due to political rejection and only was allowed to purchase A-4 Skyhawks.[1][2]

During the Six-Day War, the IAF lost many of its Mirages and an arms embargo from France prevented more Mirages to be delivered to Israel. An increase of Soviet equipment flowing into Israel's hostile neighbours initiated the United States Department of Defence to allow Israel to purchase F-4 Phantoms. In 1968, President Lyndon Johnson gave the green light for the sale of Phantoms to Israel.[3][4]

All Israeli Phantoms were assembled in the United States, however this did not prevent Israel and Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) to continue modifying and modernising the Phantom to fit Israel's needs, specialising in SEAD operations over neighbouring Arab countries. During the 1980s, Israel initiated a three-step development plan for the remaining F-4Es in service to modern standards. The result was the 2000 קורנס (Kurnass 2000), replacing the old APQ-120 radar with the AN/APG-76, giving the Kurnass 2000 "look-down capability" along with a new Head-Up Display system. Capability with newer TV- and laser guided munitions was also implemented. Overall, 53 F-4Es were modified to Kurnass 2000 standards.

Israel exclusively used the Air Force F-4E Phantom (along with the recon RF-4E), as there was no advantage for Israel to operate naval Phantoms. All F-4Es in Israel service were known as קורנס (Kurnass, meaning "Heavy Hammer") while the recon RF-4E was refered to as עוֹרֵב (Orev, meaning "Raven").

Background

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Operational History

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References

  1. ^ "Phantom with Israel". www.joebaugher.com. Retrieved 2024-09-26.
  2. ^ "Kurnas 2000". www.israeli-weapons.com. Retrieved 2024-09-30.
  3. ^ Rodman, David (2004). "Phantom Fracas: The 1968 American Sale of F-4 Aircraft to Israel". Middle Eastern Studies. 40 (6): 130–144. ISSN 0026-3206.
  4. ^ "The 1968 Sale of Phantom Jets to Israel". www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org. Retrieved 2024-09-26.