IAI Nesher
Israel Aerospace Industries · Israel · first flew 1971 · fighter
The IAI Nesher was an Israeli-built copy of the Dassault Mirage 5, developed covertly after France's arms embargo and serving as a bridge between the Mirage IIICJ and the indigenous Kfir.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Low-mounted, delta |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × turbojet, fuselage-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | SNECMA Atar engine with Mirage III style rear fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Israeli unlicensed copy of Dassault Mirage 5
- No canard foreplanes — distinguishes it from the later Kfir
- SNECMA Atar engine with Mirage III style rear fuselage
Externally almost identical to the Mirage 5; distinguished from the Kfir by the absence of canard foreplanes and the narrower rear fuselage.
Specifications
- The IAI Nesher has a length of 15.5 m (51 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 8.22 m (27 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 2350 km/h (1460 mph).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Israel obtained Mirage 5 blueprints clandestinely and built the Nesher using the SNECMA Atar engine. It flew in 1971 and entered service in time for the 1973 Yom Kippur War, in which it performed well against Arab air forces.
Variants
A small number of two-seat Nesher T trainers were also produced alongside the single-seat variant.
Where you'll see it
Served with the Israeli Air Force and later exported to Argentina as the Dagger, which saw combat in the 1982 Falklands War.
Related aircraft
- IAI 1124 Westwind
- IAI Arava
- IAI F-21A Lion
- IAI Kfir
- Bell 309 KingCobra
- Embraer EMB 326 Xavante
- IAI Nesher T
- MiG-21bis
AircraftIQ — the aircraft field guide: 5,024 recognition guides, live overhead identification, works offline.