The prior success of the potent and effective IAI "Kfir" fighter-bomber platform for the Israeli Air Force led to Israel Aircraft Industries (IAI) investing in an export-minded form of the same design. This endeavor became the abortive "Nammer" product which only saw a sole prototype completed. At its core, it was intended as a modernization, or upgrade, to existing operators of the French Dassault "Mirage 3" and "Mirage 5" lines (the Kfir was itself an evolution of the Mirage 5). Development began during the latter part of the 1980s and continued for a time into the 1990s before the program was scrapped due to a lack of global interest.
Taking the Kfir as the starting point, IAI engineers lengthened the nose cone assembly for a pulse-Doppler multi-mode fire control radar fit and revised the engine compartment to accept two different primary engine types - the French SNECMA Atar 9K-50 turbojet (11,055lb thrust dry / 15,870lb thrust with afterburner) or the Volvo Flygmotor (General Electric) RM12 (F404) turbofan (12,500lb thrust dry / 18,140lb thrust with afterburner). Cockpit features included advanced avionics and Multi-Function Display (MFD) modules as well as a HOTAS (Hands-On-Throttle-and Stock) control scheme. The nose-mounted radar was tied to a modern weapons delivery system for accurate results. The full canard delta wing planform of the Kfir was retained in all its glory as was the single-finned tail section. By all accounts, the Nammer would have exhibited all of the performance and attack capabilities of the Kfir with the flexibility of having the customer choose their equipment fits as needed. Beyond the standard installation of 2 x 30mm DEFA 552 series internal cannons, the aircraft also supported a wide array of guided and unguided munitions including Air-to-Air Missiles (AAMs) and Air-to-Surface Missiles (ASMs) - these across seven hardpoints (five under the fuselage mass). An in-flight refueling quality was to give the Nammer exceptional range over a warzone and some hardpoints were further plumbed for jettisonable fuel tanks.
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(OPERATORS list includes past, present, and future operators when applicable)
✓Air-to-Air Combat, Fighter
General ability to actively engage other aircraft of similar form and function, typically through guns, missiles, and/or aerial rockets.
✓X-Plane (Developmental, Prototype, Technology Demonstrator)
Aircraft developed for the role of prototyping, technology demonstration, or research / data collection.
Length
52.5 ft (16.00 m)
Width/Span
27.0 ft (8.22 m)
Height
14.9 ft (4.55 m)
Empty Wgt
15,873 lb (7,200 kg)
MTOW
36,398 lb (16,510 kg)
Wgt Diff
+20,525 lb (+9,310 kg)
(Showcased structural values pertain to the base IAI Nammer (Leopard) production variant)
Installed:
1 x SNECMA Atar 9K-50 turbojet engine developing 15,870lb thrust with afterburner (11,055lb dry) OR 1 x Volvo Flygmotor RM12 (General Electric F404) turbofan engine developing 18,140lb thrust with afterburner (12,500lb dry).
(Showcased performance specifications pertain to the base IAI Nammer (Leopard) production variant. Performance specifications showcased above are subject to environmental factors as well as aircraft configuration. Estimates are made when Real Data not available. Compare this aircraft entry against any other in our database or View aircraft by powerplant type)
STANDARD:
2 x 30mm DEFA internal cannons
OPTIONAL:
Up to 13,790lb of externally-held stores to include AAMs and ASMs as well as conventional drop stores and rockets.
Supported Types
(Not all ordnance types may be represented in the showcase above)
Hardpoint Mountings: 7
Nammer - Base Series Name; one example completed.
Ribbon graphics not necessarily indicative of actual historical campaign ribbons. Ribbons are clickable to their respective aerial campaigns / operations / aviation periods.
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