The Sri Lankan Air Force has conducted the first flight of an upgraded Kfir fighter aircraft following a modernization program launched in 2021 with Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI).
The aircraft is the first to emerge from a program launched in 2021 under a US$50 million agreement with Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) covering four fighters and one trainer. The work is intended to extend the service life of the fleet and restore aircraft that had been inactive for several years.
According to the Sri Lankan Air Force, the upgraded aircraft is designated Kfir C12. The modernization includes a new glass cockpit, updated avionics, mission systems, communications and navigation equipment, as well as support for precision-guided weapons.
“The Kfir represents a significant chapter in Israel’s aerospace industry and reflects the technological and engineering capabilities that have characterized IAI for decades,” said IAI Chairman Boaz Levy.
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IAI said the program also involved structural refurbishment and maintenance work aimed at improving aircraft availability and extending operational life.
The Kfir was developed by Israel in the 1970s from the Dassault Mirage III, incorporating extensive modifications including a more powerful General Electric J79 engine and redesigned airframe sections. The type served for decades with the Israeli Air Force before being retired from frontline service.
Sri Lanka became a Kfir operator in the mid-1990s, initially receiving six Kfir C2 fighters and one two-seat trainer. Additional aircraft were later acquired, including Kfir C7 variants. The fleet was heavily used during the country's civil war, particularly in strike missions against Tamil Tiger insurgent positions.
Several aircraft were lost over the years, including two Kfirs destroyed during a 2001 attack on Katunayake Air Base and others written off in accidents. Two Kfirs also collided during an airshow practice flight in 2011.
The modernization effort comes as the number of active Kfir operators continues to shrink. Besides Sri Lanka, the type remains in service with the Colombian Air Force, which has selected the Saab Gripen E/F as its future fighter, and with U.S.-based Airborne Tactical Advantage Company (ATAC), which operates Kfirs as adversary aircraft for military training missions.
