Fighter jet on Highway 1
Drivers on the major highway watch a plane being towed followed by multiple police cruisers; shortly thereafter, the mystery is solved.
On the main highway (Highway 1), which connects two of the largest cities in Israel, passersby were greeted by an unusual sight on Monday—a fighter jet being towed.
Danny Cohen from Auto Bnei Brak who filmed the occurrence, told Ynet that at first, he thought the plane had landed on the road, but afterwards, it became clear the plane was a relatively old Kfir aircraft which was being transferred from the Aerospace Industries to the Hatzerim IAF Museum.
The aircraft was surrounded by multiple police cruisers. Traffic police have confirmed that between 10pm and 2am, they "escorted an oversize load from Ben Gurion Airport to Hatzerim military base. The escort included traffic officers who made sure to keep traffic flowing without any major disturbances for the rest of the drivers."
The Kfir (translated as "Lion cub"), a single-seat combat aircraft manufactured by the Israeli Aerospace Industries was entered into active duty by the IDF in 1976, and served as a key element in Israel's aerial force for many years.
The Kfir was not an original Israeli development, and in fact, was based on a modified French Mirage 5, including Israeli and American systems.
It is considered the first Israeli combat aircraft, even though it was preceded by the Nesher (translated as "Eagle"), which served as a kind of intermediate aircraft between the Mirage 5 and the Kfir.
The same time Kfir entered active duty, the IDF received a number of advanced F-15 fighter jets, which would explain why the Kfir was never considered a top rate aircraft by the Air Force.
On November 9, 1977, the aircraft was deployed on its first attack—a terrorists' training base in the south of Lebanon.
On June 27, 1979, the Kfir shot down a Syrian MiG-21 over the skies of Lebanon. It was the only time the fighter engaged in aerial combat.
In the second half of the 90s, the Kfir fighters were gradually retired from active duty. Nevertheless, the Aerospace Industries continued to modify the old models, especially the radar system, and started exporting the aircraft to foreign militaries.
