Kurnass 2000

This page is about the Israeli jet fighter Kurnass 2000. For the other version, see Kurnass.

Kurnass 2000

Kurnass

Baz

Kurnass 2000

Kurnass

Baz

Israel

VIII Rank

Battle rating:

AB	RB	SB
12.0	12.3	12.0

Class:

Fighter

Jet fighter

Research:400 000

Purchase:1 080 000

Description

The F-4E Kurnass 2000 was an upgrade package for the F-4E Phantom II by the IAF. The upgrade focused on the aircraft armament and electronic systems. While upgrades to the power plant were proposed, with the introduction of more powerful engines, this modification was not installed to reduce costs. The Kurnass 2000 received a new radar, the AN/APG-76, that was far superior to the AN/APG-120 used by the standard F-4E. It also was equipped with the ASX-1 TISEO targeting system which allowed Raphael Popeye ASMs to be launched. More advanced avionics and targeting systems for anti-tank munitions and guided bombs were installed, as well as the ability to carry the AIM-9L and Python 3 missile.

Introduced in Update "Sky Guardians", the Kurnass 2000 is an Israeli upgrade of the venerable F-4E Phantom II. It looks and flies almost identically to the standard F-4E, however its air-to-air armament is now drastically improved and rounded out by the all-aspect AIM-9L Sidewinder and Python 3 for closer engagements. For anti armour situations, it has access to the IR guided AGM-65D Maverick and new Paveway II laser guided bombs, coupled with its Pave Spike targeting module. The Kurnass 2000 is a multirole aircraft with impressive systems and weapons, only held back by the performance of its old airframe compared to 4th generation opponents like the MiG-29 and F-16A. The Kurnass 2000 also features an EEGS for its cannon, like the one featured in all 4th generation fighters, it's very good for gun kills, especially in simulator battles. It also has a very powerful radar (although no radar-guided missiles) and can carry a total of 290 countermeasures (200 are external BOL pods and can only carry flares).

General info

Flight performance

Arrestor gear

Accelerates braking by grabbing the brake cable on the deck of the aircraft carrier

Air brakes

Allows you to dramatically reduce the flight speed by releasing special flaps

Drogue parachute

Reduces braking distance when landing on any runway

Max speed

at 12 192 m2 140 km/h

Turn time26 s

Max altitude16 000 m

Engine2 х General Electric J79-GE-17

TypeJet

Cooling systemAir

Take-off weight24 t

Characteristics	Max speed (km/h at 12,192 m)		Max altitude (metres)	Turn time (seconds)		Rate of climb (metres/second)		Take-off run (metres)
	AB	RB		AB	RB	AB	RB
Stock	2,065	2,039	16000	26.5	27.5	160.6	150.9	850
Upgraded	2,202	2,140		25.5	26.0	221.6	190.0

Details

Features
Combat flaps	Take-off flaps	Landing flaps	Air brakes	Arrestor gear	Drogue chute
✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓

Limits
Wings (km/h)	Gear (km/h)	Flaps (km/h)			Max Static G
		Combat	Take-off	Landing	+	-
1458	463	1,458	625	463	~11	~4

Optimal velocities (km/h)
Ailerons	Rudder	Elevators	Radiator
< 810	< 750	< 700	-

Engine performance

Engine			Aircraft mass
Engine name		Number	Basic mass		Wing loading (full fuel)
General Electric J79-GE-17		2	14,205 kg		408 kg/m2
Engine characteristics			Mass with fuel (no weapons load)			Max Gross Weight
Weight (each)	Type		9m fuel	20m fuel	30m fuel
1,750 kg	Afterburning axial-flow turbojet		15,964 kg	18,027 kg	20,070 kg	27,501 kg
Maximum engine thrust @ 0 m (RB/SB)			Thrust to weight ratio @ 0 m (WEP)
Condition	100%	WEP	9m fuel	20m fuel	30m fuel	MGW
Stationary	5,200 kgf	8,008 kgf	1.00	0.89	0.80	0.58
Optimal	5,260 kgf (1,458 km/h)	10,170 kgf (1,400 km/h)	1.27	1.13	1.01	0.74

Survivability and armour

Flares/Chaff

Aircraft countermeasures to distract IR and radar-guided missiles and also AA radar

Crew2 people

Speed of destruction

Structural1 458 km/h

Gear463 km/h

The survivability features of the Kurnass 2000 is very similar to the Kurnass with the only with the only inprovement being more countermeasures.

By this stage in the high-rank battles, all the fuel tanks are self-sealing. While this will assist with any fuel tank punctures from machine gun calibre weapons, the presence of fast-firing autocannons and missiles mean that these self-sealing tanks are only an accessory to the overall survival of the aircraft.

The only armor is a 8.5 mm steel plate just below the forward fuel tank in the fuselage. However, considering the small size it is made up of and the large plane overall, this armour plate should not be relied upon for the overall survival of the aircraft.

The biggest change from previous version is the countermeasure flares, which are greatly useful at deterring incoming infrared-homing missiles like the Sidewinders or R-60s. To utilise the flares, one must turn off their engine afterburners to eliminate that as a significant source of heat, deploy the flares in a suitable manner, then bank away from the flares to that the missile lock onto the remaining heat source rather than the plane's engine.

A survivability feature shared with its predecessor is the Radar Warning Receiver (RWR). The RWR will ping the player in the source of any incoming radar scans, and will also notify if the radar source have achieved a lock-on with the player. Keep an eye on this as it may signify to the player that an enemy semi-active radar homing missile may be launched soon and evasive actions should be taken.

Modifications and economy

Repair costBasic → Reference

AB3 031 → 4 094

RB8 914 → 12 042

SB9 680 → 13 077

Total cost of modifications307 300

467 000

Talisman cost3 100

Crew training310 000

Experts1 080 000

Aces3 400

Research Aces1 280 000

Reward for battleAB / RB / SB

100 / 320 / 600 %

250 / 250 / 250 %

Modifications

Flight performance	Survivability	Weaponry
Compressor Research: 10 000 Cost: 15 000 380 New boosters Research: 9 900 Cost: 15 000 380 Wings repair Research: 13 000 Cost: 20 000 500 Engine Research: 25 000 Cost: 38 000 960	Fuselage repair Research: 10 000 Cost: 15 000 380 Airframe Research: 9 900 Cost: 15 000 380 G-suit Research: 13 000 Cost: 20 000 500 Cover Research: 25 000 Cost: 38 000 960	AIM-9G Research: 10 000 Cost: 15 000 380 M60_belt_pack Research: 10 000 Cost: 15 000 380 M117 Research: 10 000 Cost: 15 000 380 Flares/Chaff Research: 10 000 Cost: 15 000 380 AIM-9L Research: 9 900 Cost: 15 000 380 M60_new_gun Research: 9 900 Cost: 15 000 380 Mk83 Research: 9 900 Cost: 15 000 380 GBU-12 Research: 9 900 Cost: 15 000 380 LAU-3/A Research: 9 900 Cost: 15 000 380 Python 3 Research: 13 000 Cost: 20 000 500 Gun pod SUU-23/A. Research: 13 000 Cost: 20 000 500 Mk84 Research: 13 000 Cost: 20 000 500 LAU-10/A Research: 13 000 Cost: 20 000 500 GBU-10 Research: 25 000 Cost: 38 000 960 40px AGM-65D Research: 25 000 Cost: 38 000 960

Armaments

Ballistic Computer
CCIP (Guns)	CCIP (Rockets)	CCIP (Bombs)	CCRP (Bombs)	Lead indicator

Offensive armament

The Kurnass 2000 is armed with:

• 1 x 20 mm M61A1 cannon, chin-mounted (640 rpg)
• 30 x large calibre countermeasures
• 60 x countermeasures

Suspended armament

The Kurnass 2000 can be outfitted with the following ordnance:

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11
20 mm GAU-4 cannons (1,200 rpg)	1					1					1
250 lb LDGP Mk 81 bombs	6	3				6				3	6
500 lb LDGP Mk 82 bombs	6	3				6				3	6
500 lb Mk 82 Snakeye bombs	6	3				6				3	6
750 lb M117 cone 45 bombs	3	3				5				3	3
1,000 lb LDGP Mk 83 bombs	2	3				3				3	2
2,000 lb LDGP Mk 84 bombs	1					1					1
277 kg GBU-12 Paveway II bombs		2*†								2*†
957 kg GBU-10 Paveway II bombs	1*†	1*†								1*†	1*†
BLU-27/B incendiary bombs	1					2					1
FFAR Mighty Mouse rockets	57	57				57				57	57
Zuni Mk32 Mod 0 ATAP rockets	12	12				12				12	12
AGM-65D missiles		3†								3†
AIM-9G Sidewinder missiles			2†		1		1		2†
AIM-9L Sidewinder missiles			2†		1		1		2†
Python 3 missiles			2†		1		1		2†
Flares				100				100
Pave Spike targeting pod							1*
600 gal drop tanks						1
Maximum permissible loadout weight: 7,257 kg Maximum permissible weight imbalance: 1,500 kg
* Pave Spike targeting pod must be equipped when carrying guided bombs † AGM-65D missiles on hardpoints 2/10 cannot be equipped in conjunction with guided bombs, or AAMs on hardpoints 3/9 respectively

Default weapon presets

1 x 600 gal drop tank 2 x Python 3 missiles + 2 x AIM-9L Sidewinder missiles 6 x AIM-9G Sidewinder missiles 6 x AIM-9L Sidewinder missiles 6 x Python 3 missiles 3 x 20 mm GAU-4 cannons (1,200 rpg = 3,600 total) 24 x 250 lb LDGP Mk 81 bombs (6,000 lb total) 24 x 500 lb LDGP Mk 82 bombs (12,000 lb total) 24 x 500 lb Mk 82 Snakeye bombs (12,000 lb total) 17 x 750 lb M117 cone 45 bombs (12,750 lb total) 4 x BLU-27/B incendiary bombs 13 x 1,000 lb LDGP Mk 83 bombs (13,000 lb total) 3 x 2,000 lb LDGP Mk 84 bombs (6,000 lb total) 285 x FFAR Mighty Mouse rockets 60 x Zuni Mk32 Mod 0 ATAP rockets 200 x flares 6 x AGM-65D missiles 4 x 277 kg GBU-12 Paveway II bombs (1,108 kg total) 4 x 957 kg GBU-10 Paveway II bombs (3,828 kg total)

Usage in battles

Air RB:

In Air RB, the Kurnass 2000 could be compared to the F-4EJ Kai, having similar air-to-air missile armament and similar radar. To properly utilize the 6 potent missiles and one of the best radars in game is the major task that every Kurnass 2000 pilot will have to face. Typically, enter the battle at a low altitude and shooting down everyone on your way is a viable and effective way to fly the Kurnass 2000. Do to lack of radar missles, do not climb.

A major difference between the Kurnass 2000 and the F-4EJ Kai is the slats on the Kurnass' wings. At high speed, extension of the slats provides more lift and limits the angle of attack of the aircraft, resulting in a significant decrease in speed loss during turns to a level even comparable to the level of 4th generation aircraft like the F-16 and MiG-29. At lower speed, the slats also increase the overall manoeuvrability of the aircraft, so it is advised to extend the slats in battles (by toggling "combat flaps"), especially when fighting in groups, retracting them when needed to gain more speed or for higher angle of attack. Overall, the slats of the Kurnass provides pilots with the ability to alter the aerodynamics of the aircraft during combat, and provide more versatility and a higher overall performance compared to the F-4EJ Kai.

Pros and cons

Pros:

• One of the most effective air-to-air armament sets in-game with AN/APG-76, Python 3s, and AIM-9Ls
• Can carry six IR-guided air-to-air missiles
• Wing slats for increased manoeuvrability and versatility
• High level of manoeuvrability at high speed as with any other Phantoms
• Guided bombs and missile with targeting pod for engaging ground targets
• Equipped with an IR-guided ground attack weapon, the AGM-65D
• It has a lot of countermeasures

Cons:

• Big and heavy aircraft
• Lack of radar-guided missiles
• Despite having a targeting pod and a camera on the wing, neither has a thermal camera, which can make difficult to identify targets at long range
• It is 12.3 the same BR as the F-14

History

F-4E Kurnass 2000 of the IAF, on Ground display in Tel Nof air base during the 66th Independence day of Israel.

The Kurnass 2000 was an Israeli program intended to extend the service life of the existing F-4s in the IDF Air Force. A major part of the program was to improve the avionics and the aging airframes. New displays, cameras, and computers were implemented during the program, greatly enhancing its capabilities over a standard F-4E. In addition, fuel tank leaks were fixed and parts of the airframe were reinforced. F-4Es were also to be upgraded with the APG-76 radar over the standard APQ-120 radar. The Kurnass 2000 also received the ASX-1 TISEO targeting system which allowed Raphael Popeye ASMs to be launched.

The Kurnass 2000 was also intended to receive an engine upgrade. Pratt & Whitney PW1120 engines were proposed by the IDF/AF to be fitted to the F-4s and a test bed was built to examine the performance. The test bed was originally meant for the IAI Lavi project, but it also proved the enormous performance increase over Phantoms with the J79 engines. The P&W-powered F-4 was able to pass Mach 1 without afterburner, increase climb rate by over 35 percent, and had a 15% increase in sustained turn rate. Although ambitious, the upgraded F-4Es never received this engine upgrade largely due to costs. Thus, the main differences between the Kurnass 2000 modernized Phantoms and the regular F-4E were almost exclusively avionics and some airframe changes.

Media

Skins

• Skins and camouflages for the Kurnass 2000 from live.warthunder.com.

Videos

The Shooting Range #348 - Metal Beasts section at 00:24 discusses the Kurnass 2000.

Kurnass 2000: A Basic Review - Tims Variety

See also

Related development

• F-4 Phantom II (Family)

External links

Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:

• topic on the official game forum;
• other literature.

McDonnell Aircraft Corporation
Jet Fighters	F2H-2 · F3H-2
	F-4C Phantom II · F-4E Phantom II · F-4J Phantom II · F-4S Phantom II
	F-15A · F-15C MSIP II · F-15E
Strike Aircraft	AV-8B Plus · AV-8B (NA)
Helicopters	AH-6M
Export/Licensed
Aircraft	◄F-4F Early · ◄F-4F · ◄F-4F KWS LV · Phantom FG.1 · Phantom FGR.2 · F-4J(UK) Phantom II · F-4EJ Phantom II · F-4EJ ADTW · Kurnass · Kurnass 2000
	F-15J · F-15J(M) · Baz · Baz Meshupar · F-15I Ra’am
	▄AV-8B Plus
Helicopters	Lahatut
	The McDonnell Aircraft Corporation merged with Douglas Aircraft Company in 1967 to form McDonnell Douglas Corporation. Later it was merged with The Boeing Company in 1997.
See Also	Mitsubishi Heavy Industries

Israel jet aircraft
	Kfir Canard · Kfir C.2 · Kfir C.7 · Nesher
Britain
Meteor	Meteor NF.13 · Meteor F.8
France
Vautour	Vautour IIA · Vautour IIN
Super Mystere	Sambad · Sa'ar
Mirage III	Shahak
Other	M.D.450B Ouragan · Mystere IVA
USA
F-84	F-84F
A-4	A-4H · A-4E Early (M) · A-4E · Ayit
F-4	Kurnass · Kurnass 2000
F-15	Baz · Baz Meshupar · F-15I Ra’am
F-16	Netz · F-16C Barak II · F-16D Barak II