Why the F-21 Kfir Block60+ is more appropriate to us than the Gripen or F-16
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| FAC F-21 Kfir Block 60 Air Defense configuration |
1. Cost - roughly we can acquire 2 Kfirs for every Gripen, or 3 Kfirs for every F-16
2. Sensors - Kfirs are equipped with combat-proven Israeli electronics
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| F-21 Kfir Block 60 with sensor pod Colombia |
3. Weapons - At its low cost, the Kfir already has combat-proven Israeli weapons systems, up to BVR AA missiles
4. Israel can offer 25 year Integrated Logistics Support, enough time to later go to 5th gen fighters
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| F-21 Kfir Block 60 take off roll |
5. Israel may offer tech transfer
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| F-21 Kfir Block 60 |
6. With Israeli F-35 experience, Kfir may be offered with some stealth coatings specially on the vertical stabilizer
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| FAC F-21 Kfir Block 60 lands with parachute |
7. Presence of a potential upgrade path to new build KfirNG
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| KfirNG planned configuration |
In today's environment, the more primordial factor now are the sensors , electronics, countermeasures, and the weapons systems and missiles.
Fighter airframes are now just a secondary factor, although the Kfir is Mach 2+ and 9G capable, with glass cockpit, and aerial refueling. The flight controls are not Fly By Wire thus less susceptible to hacking and jamming.
The J-79 engine is a well proven one and been upgraded by the Israelis, though with higher fuel consumption than the newer fighter engines.
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| ColombianAF F-21 Kfir Block 60 with USAF F-16's 2021 |
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