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Draft:F-4 Phantoms in Israeli Service

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An F-4E Kurnass 2000 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.[5]

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

The IAF historically operated many of France's aircraft, including the Dassault Ouragan[6] and Mystère IV, and later the Mirage IIIs. After the Algerian War, France lost interest in defending Israel and even imposed an arms embargo just before the Six-Day War. Only the aerospace defense contractor Dassault Aviation was still in contact with Israel.

A Mirage IIIC with 12 kill marks on display at the Israel Air Force Museum

Israel sought to purchase an aircraft to replace their Mirage III losses during the Six-Day War and later the War of Attrition. The Dassault Mirage 5, a direct improvement from the Mirage III was chosen, and Israel made an order of 50 Mirage 5s in 1966.[7]Just before deliveries could be made, Charles de Gualle ordered an embargo on the aircraft. Israel still wanted the aircraft and made attempts to obtain the Mirages, but all attempts were halted by the French and eventually Israel accepted a refund. The Mossad was later ordered to obtain blueprints for the airframe and engine for Israel to build the aircraft ingenuously without license from Dassault Aviation which resulted in the IAI Nesher, and later the IAI Kfir.

Israel still needed a more modern fighter-bomber. The French embargo prevented Israel from having new aircraft. Israel needed airframes that were more modern and flexible. Israeli officials eyed the F-4 Phantom, a twin-engine tandem seat "missile fighter", and began to push President John F. Kennedy and later President Lyndon Johnson to sell the Phantoms to Israel. But this move did the opposite effect; Johnson was irritated at the officials.[4] Johnson didn't wish for



Operational History

Template.


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. ^ a b "The 1968 Sale of Phantom Jets to Israel". www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org. Retrieved 2024-09-26.
  5. ^ "F-4E Kurnass 2000". www.globalsecurity.org. Retrieved 2024-09-30.
  6. ^ "Attributed Israeli Air Combat Victories". www.aces.safarikovi.org. Retrieved 2024-10-02.
  7. ^ "Israel Aircraft Industries Nesher". www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org. Retrieved 2024-10-02.
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