Pretty sure Israeli Kfir pilots used HGU-33/Ps, HGU-2s, etc (whatever else they could get their hands on), with the both the curved and straight visor shields
Greetings Kfir enjoyers, I’ve got good news, previous reports of mine have been updated under the presence of new sources.
I’ve also done a report on the JHMCS caused by a rounding issue, and I’m not missing a chance to be a pedantic individual against a half-assed implementation, also, I cited my physics book.
Lastly, since the holidays season is starting, I will begin working on the EEGS and HUD reports for the Kfir series of aircraft.
Happy holidays to everyone!
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Greetings Kfir enjoyers, please excuse me for the inactivity, my uni has kept be busy for quite the long time, however, I’ve got great news!
I’ve done a few more findings in regards to the Kfir family, so please expect to see some more posts from my part.
You might ask, why not publish them now? Well, simply because I’ve got an exam tomorrow and I must study until the last bit (vector calculus does not mess around).
I swear the Kfir is not making me go insane.
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Exactly, your work is very important because I’ve been wondering a lot: Why did they downgrade the Kfir’s MFD? (in the Colombian C.10 version of the game)
It’s supposed to have a more modern map, one that integrates the RWR and radar sensors (and a datalink, but they haven’t even included that feature in the Kfir). This game error related to the Multifunction Displays is very important for playing flight simulators; the Kfir’s current MFD is very outdated, and the Tactical Map is also missing.
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Greetings dear Kfir community, as my mother once said “lo prometido es deuda”, or in English, “what is promised becomes debt”, here I will present all of the findings I’ve made so far.
Kfir C.2 / C.7 Fuel Tanks and Pylons
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IMI Systems (also known as TAAS Israel Industries) has provided various fuel tank solutions for Israeli aircraft.
- MADNAP Fuel and Stores Tank
This specific fuel tank has been implemented in-game, however it carries no extra fuel, giving no extra range in terms of fuel (or weight) to the Kfir C.2 / C.7 when attached.
- Multiple Store Carrier (MSC)
This specific pylon once more reinforces a report already accepted by the developers, being the extra flares for the Kfir aircraft series
- Kfir 825L Centerline Pylon (RP 825)
This pylon unfortunately holds the incorrect amount of fuel, in this case, it doesn’t hole 880 litres of fuel as shown in-game, but 825 litres instead, this of course has been already reported and accepted by the developers.
- Kfir 1300L Centerline Pylon (RP 1301)
- Kfir 1650L Wing Pylon (RP 1700)
- Kfir 1300L Wing Pylon (RP 1302)
Kfir CE (C.10) MFD’s
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For a long time I had suspected Astronautics was involved as one of the many military companies providing display solutions for aircraft, this of course started at first as a suspicion due to Wikipedia’s coverage of the IAI Kfir in its Spanish version, specifically this segment:
Translation:
Avionics
- Multimode radar ELTA EL/M-2001B or EL/M-2032
- IAI AESA Radar ELTA EL/M-2052 (Colombian Kfir C.10 Block 60)
- Elbit Systems Mission and Flight Computer
- HUD Device
- 2 - 3 Multifunction Screens MFD ASTRONAUTICS
- HOTAS System
- Decoy Dispenser System
- Elbit Targo HMS Helmet (Colombian Kfir C.10 Block 60)
- ELTA ECM Electronic Countermeasures Pod (Kfir C.10 Block 60)
- Litening Pod for navigation and target designation
Of course, a simple Wikipedia article isn’t enough to prove a meaningful link between Astronautics and the Kfir project, however I kept digging, and thanks to the internet archive I was able to unearth various brochures, datasheets and documents regarding their products, which are coincidentally in most aircraft modernization projects, notably, the modern Kfir siblings (C.10 and C.10 Block 60), F-5’s, etc.
For reference, here are some known pictures of the Kfir CE’s MFD’s:
Here are the found data and information regarding the MFD’s, taken directly from Astronautics’ archived website:
As the images and information would suggest, the MFD setup (the two-box configuration in particular) is the one in use by the Kfir CE (C.10), however, let’s add another piece of evidence, in the shape of an official excerpt of IAI’s website regarding their modernization projects.
The Kfir C-10 draws upon the operation experience of IAF pilots to provide an optimized cockpit layout and man machine interface. The HOTAS controlled cockpit is equipped with a new Head Up Display (HUD), two 5"x5" Multi Function Color Displays (MFCDs), Up Front Control Panel, and an optional Helmet Mounted Display System (HMDS)…
This particular MFCD also appears in surface internet searches, reported by both Astronautics and AeroExpo as part of the “AMF 4400 MFD Family”, however the brochure seems to be locked behind the contacting of Astronautics’ sales representatives, in other words, no free download.
Likely, if you’re an avid reader, you might have noticed the Data Sheet title be “4” Multifunction Color Display (MFCD) Two Box System", of course, emphasizing the “4 in” part, which might be taken as an inconsistency when compared to IAI’s description.
However, if one reads the description under the “Mechanical Specifications” section, one may find the measurements to be " 5.0 in x 5.0 in x 5.5 in (Chassis)" the relevant part in this case being the first two measurements, as the last measurement is given the full depths of the electronics housing.
Of course, I would highly encourage to ignore this small clarification as it might serve of zero purpose other than over-explaining something that you, my dear reader, may already be able to deduce or conclude through comparing the images at hand.
Either way, the MFCD’s brochure and data presented align fully with the Kfir CE (C.10’s) MFCD’s.
Kfir CE (C.10) ADI & HSI
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During my research over at Astronautics’ internet page I found they also provide traditional mechanical sensors, in this case, I noticed the instruments found on the Astronautics America website looked quite similar to the ones found in the Kfir CE (C.10).
So I continued looking through their website, and of course, found a higher definition picture of these very instruments.
And with this picture, and with the help of the archived contents found inside the Internet Archive, I was able to find the respective datasheets for the ADI (Attitude Direction Indicator) and HSI (Horizontal Situation Indicator) provided by Astronautics on their Israel page, here are the contents:
Once more, making the due comparison to Kfir CE pictures once may notice that they are in fact instruments designed and provided by Astronautics, here are some already known Kfir CE cockpit pictures for reference:
Kfir C.10 Block 60 MFD’s
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Upon discovering the pride of the Ecuadorian Air Force, the Kfir CE (C.10) used astronautics products as part of its avionics suite, I continued looking forward, finding a picture of the display directly on Astronautics’ Israel website:
However, in this website there is no brochure present for this particular MFD, therefore, once again the Internet Archive comes to the rescue, as in Astronautics’ archived website one could find the 2009 datasheet and brochure for this particular MFCD.
Now for comparison, here is a photo of the Kfir C.10 Block 60 MFD’s:
Compared to the product images provided by Astronautics and the ones provided by the Colombian Air Force, we can guarantee these are the same Multi-Function Color Displays
Kfir C.10 Block 60 Artificial Horizon
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The last of the identified Kfir C.10 Block 60 displays is its artificial horizon, finding it was certainly easier than other components so far shown in this forum post, here are a few pictures showcasing this instrument inside the Kfir C.10 Block 60.
This artificial horizon display is a part of General Electric avionics, named as “General Electric Integrated Standby Instrument” abbreviated as “ISI”, being marketed for civilian and military applications, as well as being of a 3ATI format.
The version mounted on the Kfir C.10 Block 60 seems to be the same display with bigger buttons, likely a revised or newer version.
Here is the datasheet as well as some due pictures of the GE ISI 3ATI display
IAI Virtual Training System [MFD Modes]
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IAI’s provided solution for training Air Force pilots has provided some interesting pictures in regards to the MFD modes present for personnel to hone their aviation skills.
These MFD modes have been seen in Colombian Air Force footage, as well as in the F/A-259 project, once more giving more evidence towards the missing features missing in the Kfir C.10 Block 60.
IAI OPAL
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For quite the long time I have wondered how the MFD interface is managed on modernized Israeli aircraft platforms, and I seem to have found an interesting lead in regards to this question.
Recently, IAI (Israel Aerospace Industries) has been pushing forward a new combat management solution for aircraft, ground vehicles and warships, offering the following characteristics as part of the IAI OPAL System:
- Interoperability with 5th gen and previous generation aircraft
- Displaying of targets, allied formations, threats, in a single combined system
- Plausible Link 16 Integration (Proved in a demonstrator)
This particular program and solution would be totally irrelevant to the discussion as it mostly only seems to advertise what most defense companies already promise, a complete suite for the customer’s desire to operate their defense assets… HOWEVER, what caught my eye were the following pictures provided by IAI themselves.
Avid readers of my previous posts might notice all of these pictures share quite the similarity with not only the Kfir C.10 Block 60’s cockpit, but with the F/A-259 demonstrator, this of course, would indicate that OPAL is more than just a “Data Link System” with a few battle management features, but a fully fledged software solution for aircraft management of sensors and information.
Not only that but on IAI’s website these images are captioned as “OPAL Simulator”, which hammers the theory mentioned before, OPAL is more than just a simple suite.
However that is not all, the same format of avionics display, in this case the radar display, has been found on another aircraft, the L-39NG
According to a Czech military news website, the following image corresponds to one of the MFD’s of the L-39NG, in this case, showcasing IAI’s Virtual Training System, which is utilized as a training solution for pilots, of course, highlighting the noticeable similarity with the previous OPAL simulators and MFD information shown before.
Once more, for reference, here are the due images of the IAI Kfir C.10 Block 60’s radar MFD’s:
With the noticeable similarities, we can conclude that the IAI OPAL suite or a previous system in capacity has been installed in the Kfir C.10 Block 60 due to the similarities of the provided evidence.
Author’s Note: Feel free to refute and provide new evidence in regards to the IAI OPAL System theory I have formulated, as this is likely my weakest of provided theories with limited evidence to my liking, I’ll gladly read your replies!
Kfir C.10 HUD & UFCP [CE & Block 60]
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The Kfir C.10 HUD has (and still is) a mystery for most enthusiasts, however I seem to have a good trail of information to correctly identify this HUD and UFCP.
Here are some reference images for the Kfir CE (C.10) and Kfir C.10 Block 60 HUD (and UFCP):
Tracing the origin of this HUD and UFCP leads us directly towards Elbit Systems, to which if we check their website we find the following information regarding their HUD catalogue:
However, an alternative archived PDF showcasing Elbit’s HUD products show us another Elbit HUD Series, in this case being the Elbit HUD Series 921:
The Elbit HUD Model 921 is likely included in the 967 HUD Series, however the numbers do not match up, either way, for the sake of identification, we will assume that the 921 Model is a seamless component in the 967 HUD Series.
This HUD (and UFCP) holds quite the resemblance to the ones seen in the Kfir CE (C.10) and Kfir C.10 Block 60, taking into the list of integrated aircraft this product has been in, we can then proceed to do the respective comparison:
Here are similar aircraft with the Elbit 921 HUD:
MiG-21 LanceR.
MiG-21 LanceR.
IAR-99 Șoim
IAR-99 Șoim, backseat
T-38C Talon
T-6 Texan II
T-6 Texan II
We can conclude based on these pictures that a variant of the Elbit HUD Series 921 has been installed on the Kfir C.10 Block 60 and Kfir CE (C.10).
Sources
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Once more, and just like in my recent posts regarding the Atlas Cheetah, I’ll be progressively adding every cited material, for now, I’ll have to take a bit of time preparing for my finals
However, for those interested in part of the sources used, here is my Internet Archive profile where I will be slowly uploading everything before citing it here, I of course, believe in freedom of information. Cheers.
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