IAI Nammer

Nammer
Role	Fighter
National origin	Israel
Manufacturer	IAI
First flight	21 March 1991
Number built	1

The IAI Nammer (נמר "Leopard", but frequently mistranslated "Tiger") was a fighter aircraft developed in Israel in the late 1980s and early 1990s as a modernised version of the Kfir for the export market. Although a prototype was built and flown, buyers were not forthcoming and development was ceased without any further examples being constructed. The avionics of the Nammer were to have taken advantage of the work undertaken for the cancelled Lavi project.

Design and development

As initially announced, the Nammer was to be an upgrade package for existing Mirage III and Mirage 5 airframes. Customers would be offered a choice of two configurations, one based around re-engining the aircraft with a General Electric F404, the other around retaining the Mirage's SNECMA Atar engine but integrating the Elta EL/M-2011 or EL/M-2032 fire-control radar. The first of these options maximised performance and range, the second maximised the aircraft's air-to-air targeting capabilities. As development progressed, the Nammer came to be advertised as a new-build aircraft with the EL/M-2032 an integral part of the package, and customers able to choose their preferred engine out of the F404 (or its Volvo derivative, the RM-12), the SNECMA M53, or the Pratt & Whitney PW1120. The design strongly resembled the Kfir C-7,but was easily distinguished by its longer nose and lack of a dorsal air scoop under the tail fin. The asking price was $US 20 million, and IAI stated that it would not commence production without orders for 80 aircraft.

Specifications (as designed)

General characteristics

• Crew: One pilot
• Length: 16.00 m (52 ft 6 in)
• Wingspan: 8.22 m (27 ft 0 in)
• Height: 4.55 m (14 ft 11 in)
• Wing area: 34.8 m² (375 ft²)
• Gross weight: 16,511 kg (36,400 lb)
• Powerplant: 1 × various, 80-90 kN (18,000-20,000 lbf) thrust

Performance

• Maximum speed: Mach 2.2
• Range: 1,382 km (859 miles)
• Service ceiling: 17,700 m (58,000 ft)

Armament

• 2 × fixed, forward-firing 30 mm DEFA cannons
• 6,270 kg (13,790 lb) of external stores