A multi-task fighter that entered service in IAF in 1969, and makes an important contribution to its power to this day. The plane participated in the War of Attrition, the Yom Kippur War and Operation Peace for the Galilee, and is credited with more than 100 kills.

The Phantom was developed by McDonnell Douglas - now Boeing - as an aircraft-carrier based multi-task plane. The prototype took off on May 27th 1958 and received good reviews from the Navy, which ordered 45 planes. In 1961 it became the standard fighter and photo-recon plane in the Tactical Air Command. It was thus that a long history of production began - a history that would encompass 23 years and 5,000 planes in 15 different models.

The Phantom is powered by twin General Electric J79 engines, mounted side by side along the length of the fuselage. Of the engine's sub-models, the most important is the J79-GE-17. Each engine delivers a thrust of 5,385 kg. without using its afterburners, and 8,210 kg. thrust with the afterburners.

McDonnell Douglas and the Israeli Aircraft Industries had both considered replacing the J79's with Pratt & Whitney PW1120. The IAI experimentally installed the new engines in a Phantom, and its performance was markedly enhanced, in terms of cruise speed and range.

The Phantom is a two seater, with the navigator/WSO sitting behind the pilot. In case of an emergency, the WSO can fly the plane from his seat. The plane has tremendous and varied attack capabilities, from ground targets - for which it uses bombs and air-to-surface missiles at a total weight of 7,257 kg. - to threats from the air, which it deals with by employing Sparrow, Sidewinder, Shafrir 2 or Python (3, 4) missiles. In addition, the Phantom has a six-barrelled 20 mm. cannon with 640 rounds.

F-4B

The first model, developed directly from the prototype. The US Navy was the sole client, buying all 649 planes manufactured. The Navy deployed them aboard aircraft-carriers, as missile-armed interceptors for defending the Navy's ships and supply convoys.

F-4C

583 planes of this model were purchased initially. These were F-4B's that had been refitted for ground operations. The next model purchased by the Americans was the F-4D. 825 planes of this model were manufactured, but the USAF wanted an even better model, equipped with an integral cannon, among other things.

F-4E

This model, which took off on its maiden flight on June 30th 1967, became the leading Phantom model, with 1,389 planes built. The plane, which serves in the US Air Force and other air forces, is different from earlier models in that it has an integral cannon, as well as improved systems that give it an added edge in air-to-air and air-to-ground operations. One important addition made was the plane's ability to employ precision guided weapons. The 4FE's are capable of carrying different types of laser target designators, including the Pave Tack, considered to be one of the best of its kind. The F-4E carries laser guided bombs and guided missiles of different types.

F-4G

The F-4G 'Wild Weasel' is the Phantom's most advanced model. The plane, which took off on its maiden flight on December 6th 1975, was specifically developed as an anti-SAM weapon. The USAF purchased 116 of these planes, and they were used in the Gulf War.

As far back as the initial development phase of the Phantom, McDonnell Douglas had suggested the development of a photographic reconnaissance model, to be equipped with additional cameras and sensors. When the US Air Force and Navy ordered Phantoms, they also acquired special reconnaissance models, designated RF-4B and RF-4C. Following intense international interest in the reconnaissance model, the RF-4E version - based on the F-4E - was developed.

RF-4E

In this model the cannon was removed and various cameras and sensors retrofitted, enabling it to carry out both day and nighttime tactical reconnaissance missions. The RF-4E's generally take to the skies armed with just air-to-air missiles for self defense, but if called upon they are also capable of carrying out air-to-ground strikes.

150 RF-4E's were manufactured, and more than half were sold to the German Luftwaffe. Other RF-4E's are in use in the air forces of Iran, Greece and Turkey - as well as Heyl Ha'avir..

Kurnas 2000

In 1980, the IAF embarked upon the initial planning phase of the project for upgrading the Kurnas. On July 15th 1987 the first prototype of the improved plane took off. It was dubbed the Kurnas 2000.

Kurnas 2000, which entered service in the IAF on April 9th 1989, was different from the original Phantom mostly in its avionics. "Although they look practically identical, the Kurnas 2000 is a completely different plane", said Lt. Col. A., commander of a Phantom squadron, who was being interviewed by the IAF Magazine. "The avionics make it a completely new aircraft. The avionics are, in effect, the heart of the plane, and the upgrading project basically amounted to a heart transplant; the Phantom's heart was replaced with a much stronger one".

The conversion plan included replacing the plane's original radar with a new one. Norden, an American company, developed the APG-76 radar especially for this purpose - and according to the IAF's specifications. This radar, considered to be the best of its kind, uses advanced technologies that were originally developed for the US Navy's future attack plane, the A-12 Avenger II - a project that has since been cancelled.

The APG is a Synthetic Aperture Multi-Mission Radar System which constructs a representation of the terrain by sending electromagnetic waves towards it. The great advantage of this mode of operation, compared with systems that are based on optical equipment, is that the picture quality remains good, even in bad weather. The radar is currently an exclusive feature of the Kurnas 2000, but in view of its superb performance, the USAF is considering a special pod mounted version for its F-16's.

The Kurnas 2000 also boasts a Kaiser wide-angle heads-up display, considered the best in the world. The wide angle means that the system effectively covers 60% of the pilot's forward view - twice the angle covered by other systems. The displays, located directly in front of the pilot, show vital measurements like speed, altitude, direction of flight, etc., as well as information regarding the operation of weapons systems.

The multifunction displays are one of the most important improvements in the Kurnas 2000's cockpit. The WSO, who is in charge of operating the planes avionics and weapon systems, sees the data pertaining to both systems on two color displays. A screen in the forward section of the cockpit shows the pilot the information he needs, and can be toggled to mirror the WSO's screen.

The multifunction displays greatly improve cockpit ergonomics, and ease much of the work burden on the two crew members - especially during combat operations.