Air Force pilots of Colombia refuse to pilot the "Kfir" by the repeated problems of the plane
(Defensa.com) Due to the constant incidents that occur during flights made by planes, "Kfir" C10 and C12 of the FAC, at least 10 pilots of Fighter Wing Squadron 111 have taken the initiative to "hang helmets "to ask for the floor of this team, the only means with which Colombia has as bomber aircraft and air defense. To this restriction to date have aircraft flying in parades and air shows, adds reason why in the next airshow F-Air 2015 and the parade of Independence of July 20 the "Kfir" would not conduct the traditional air show to which they are accustomed to Colombians.
The fleet "Kfir" Air Force of Colombia underwent a modernization in electronics and weapons that exceeded $ 300 million and the expected they were operational until 2025. But with repeated problems identified and the falling 5 of these aircraft accidents, the Colombian Air Force began a process of evaluation of an aerial means to complement and replace in the medium term, "Kfir". However, the constant requests of the FAC and the Defense Ministry have met with the interests of the Exchequer, who flatly denies the existence of resources for buying new fighter jets.
Remember that the process of modernization and acquisition of aircraft "Kfir" began when the current President of Colombia, Juan Manuel Santos, led the portfolio of Defense under President Alvaro Uribe, and that this process did not have the minimum requirements for awarding a contract of this amount, unknown to date, the process that took place for the selection of this platform, as the "Kfir" was only operated by Colombia, having been dropped some time ago by the own Israel, a country that produced it during the 80s, and Ecuador, who commanded the reserve recently, opting to buy South African aircraft "Cheetah C" used but better flying conditions.
Although the "Kfir" has technology fourth generation aircraft and new weapons has given new skills, remember that your engine is obsolete, being one of the reasons that could not be satisfactorily integrated into modernization to be performed on the plane by the Israeli company IAI also his ID card, copy of the French aircraft "Mirage III" does not allow you to perform the maneuvers of a fighter jet, reaching its maneuverability only 7.5 gravities when it is normal that a plane that you want to accomplish this mission should at least get to 9.
It is expected that the pressure measurement taken by the FAC pilots expedite the acquisition of a new fighter, a process in which three alternatives are being considered: the F-16 Lockheed Martin, the Mirage 2000-5 of the French Dassault and the Swedish Saab Gripen C manufacture. But again the focus is on used aircraft, which could cause a similar scenario that we live with Kfir "for equipment offered in excess of 20 years of manufacturing.
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