IAI/HarpiaDS F-177IE C.2 Magal

Twin-engine, two-seated, Long-Range Precision Strike & Tactical Reconnaissance Fighter Aircraft, major upgrade variant of the F-177I Lahav aircraft.

---

1) CONTROLS

AG1: Internal Weapons Bay Jettison (use with bay doors opened)
AG2: Gyro-stabilization activation
AG3: Nose air-refueling probe operation (Airspeed<350mph)
AG4: Drag chute deployment
AG5: Inner wing pylon weapon Jettison (lower TER sub-pylon)
AG6: Outer wing pylon weapon Jettison (lower TER sub-pylon)
AG7: Lights Activation (Formation/NVG/Anti-col)
AG8: Weapons Bay Doors operation
VTOL Down: Flaps deployment
AG2 + VTOL Down: Dorsal Airbrakes Activation
TRIM: Normal operation (Tab-Down for Pitch-Up)

---

2) AIRCRAFT OVERVIEW

Israeli Air Force (IAF) Operational Background

During the early 2009 the fleet of Israeli F-177Is has suffered two separate and unexplainable losses with fatal injuries of 3 crewmen during training flights. The investigation committee, after collecting all the available data and thoroughly analyzing them, concluded that both accidents happened due to thermal fatigue of the tail fin lower assembly which was exposed to high operating temperatures produced by the P&W F100-PW-220/220E engines. These extremely high temperatures alongside with the structural stress due to low-level flying contributed to the physical deterioration of the joint-bolt junction across the rear dorsal section just on top of the engine bay compartment. The investigation report issued a temporary grounding of the whole F-177I Lahav fleet until further notice, which later became a technical order for operational limitations regarding the speed, the g-loading and the engine usage. The issue quickly reached the Defence Material Committee of the Israeli Parliament (Knesset) and an urgent budget backing of USD 500mil. for technical repairs and general overhaul of the entire fleet has been unanimously approved. The Israeli government, in accordance with IAF staff officials, decided not only to repair but also to upgrade the F-177I Lahav to the C.2 variant, adding new capabilities with modern sensors and including major structural reinforcements so as to serve as a long-range attack platform alongside with the newly acquired F-15I Ra’am.

Upgrade Program Specifications

The new upgraded aircraft was designated in IAF inventory as F-177IE C.2 Magal (-E stands for Enhanced and Magal translates into sickle in English) and incorporated a number of changes such as:
-Totally redesigned and re-engineered tail fin with more robust and heatproof parts, using extensively lightweight composite materials and advanced industrial techniques.
-Cockpit upgrade with newer and more streamlined canopy and modern multi-function color displays for engine monitoring, weapons system & EW control. The new canopy frame and instrument panel required a series of minor modifications to the nose section in order to achieve sufficient cooling and rewiring space for the new avioncs.
-Incorporation of the Elbit Spectro XR-M Electro-Optical imaging turret under the nose section, just behind the M61 gun compartment. The Spectro XR-M is a day & night, ultra long-range multi-spectral electro-optical ISTAR platform that provides a wide variety of digital imaging, high definition sensors and advanced lasers - all with very high levels of stabilization. SPECTRO XR-M exhibits high performance at day, night and adverse weather conditions, and its compact design is certified for supersonic flight and turbulent environment operations. The system provides superior image stabilization, HD imaging performance, and true metadata embedded in digital video, all with laser designation (LD) and rangefinder. It also provides the ability to operate continuously in all conditions —especially in hot and high environment and under limited visibility. The SPECTRO XR-M unit is suitable for ISR&T missions, tactical recce, Battle Damage Assessment and it can provide HD multi-spectral imaging, accurate target location, and laser spot positioning.
-Certification of the Rafael/HarpiaDS developed cruise missile, the SHARPER-M (Standoff High-altitude Airborne Reinforced Penetration and Extended Range Missile) as a derivative of the previous AGM-200 Prophet missile and equipment of the AGM-44 “Rosh’hetz” advanced mobility anti-tank missile developed by IAI.
-Adoption of the Triple Ejector Rack type TER-22I-G, capable of carrying multi-purpose armaments under a single wing hardpoint. The TER-22 rack has been developed by a joint HarpiaDS/IAI team and has been certified for multiple external loads configurations in the F-177IE aircraft, allowing it to carry 55% more armament of all types (air-to-air and air-to-ground)
-Inclusion of maritime strike capability to the Elbit ELM-20900-DTP - Digital Targeting Pod up to 100nm and under any weather conditions, after extensive software updates.
-Threat assessment library extension and update of the Elisra SPS-1122 Tactical Self-protection System.
-Retrofit of the new digital bombing sight BT-05D supplied by HarpiaDS, for free-fall unguided munitions during low-level carpet bombing missions.
-Addition of 2 extra tires in each main landing gear for better ground handling and more efficient braking during increased weight and/or heavy landings.
-Major in-flight stability software updates for the AFCS, especially during the landing approach and level-bombing runs, carried out by IAI.

IAF Operational History

Industrial works began in early 2011 on the first aircraft tail-numbered 010. The upgrade prototype rolled out by the end of March 2011 and after the initial flight-tests and all the necessary industrial protocols implementation, 10 more F-177IEs followed by the end of the year. The C.2 upgrade program has been completed in September 2012 delivering a total of 43 F-177IE C.2 Magal airframes in IAF service, all distributed amongst one Strike Squadron (25 aircrafts), one Battle Support & ISTAR Squadron (15 aircrafts) and one OCU squadron (3 aircrafts) for pilot and navigator/WSO operational transition training. The first combat mission of the upgraded F-177IE C.2 Magal was the Israeli air strike against Iranian-backed targets in eastern Syria in April 2013. A pair of F-177IEs flew over suspected Iranian weapon storage facilities and using their advanced target imaging equipment sent direct target data and battlefield threat assessment picture through secure Tactical Data Link (probably an Israeli version of the Link16 system) to four other F-177IEs loitering in a safe distance and heavily armed with SHARPER-M and GBU-86 Bulldozer munitions. The four upgraded C.2 Magals engaged in an extremely low-level penetration under the Syrian air-defence coverage, having their targeting radars turned off, and launched all of their ordnance against the targets which have been identified earlier, destroying all of them with direct hits. The first pair of F-177IEs flew again over the destructed targets and gathered detailed BDA images which have been transmitted through satcom link to IAF Ops HQ in Tel-Aviv, thus marking the operational re-deployment of the upgraded F-177IE C.2 Magal aircraft into IAF long-range strikes and battle support missions.

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

3) WEAPONS

CAUTION POINTS:

-Weapons Release Velocity: 200-500mph
-Recommended Throttle setting: 30%-60%
-Keep target in front of 3-9 line
-Target SLIGHTLY BELOW AIRCRAFT’S LINE OF SIGHT
-DO NOT fire any weapons with downward movement or excessive sink rate
-IT’S NOT ADVISED TO JETTISON EXTERNAL STORES UNDER NEGATIVE HIGH-G LOADING & AT HIGH SPEEDS (>600mph)

---

Low-level Carpet Bombing Procedure (Mk.82 free-fall bombs)

(centerline internal weapons bay pylon)

NOTICE

Bomb sight is adjusted for targets that have 0 – 100ft elevation and for conditions:

-3.200ft bombing altitude
-400mph airspeed
-40% throttle
-wings level and straight

If target has a ground elevation of more than 100ft then just add the target height to 3.200 and you will find the new bombing altitude. Adjust throttle respectively for 400-420mph airspeed.

e.g. If you want to bomb the Wright Airport runway which has an elevation of 240ft then your new bombing altitude is 3.200 + 240 = 3.440 -> 3.500ft

-AG8 De-activate (open weapons bay doors)
-Select Air-to-Ground target mode
-Select Boom50 type weapon
-Recommended Alt: 3.000-10.000ft
-Change view to bomb sight camera (Cam2) so the green target crosshair will be displayed
When target reaches the big top crosshair
-Fire weapon continuously, till all bombs away
-AG8 Activate (close weapons bay doors)
For higher speeds or higher altitudes wait until target reaches lower small crosshairs

Weapons Firing Procedures

SHARPER-M (Stand-Off Cruise Missile)

--- (inner wing pylons) ---
-Select Air-to-Ground target mode
-Select Cleaver type weapon
-Recommended Alt: >2.000ft
-Acquire target (steady red target box)
-Fire weapon

GBU-86 Bulldozer (2.000lbs)

>Precision-guided Bomb Unit with Laser seeker

--- (outer wing pylons) ---
Use these weapons after the SHARPER-M missiles have been fired or jettisoned
-Select Air-to-Ground target mode
-Select Cleaver type weapon
-Recommended Alt: >1.000ft
-Acquire target (steady red target box)
-Fire weapon

AGM-44 “Rosh’hetz” Ground Attack Missile

--- (upper TER sub-pylons) ---
-Select Air-to-Ground target mode
-Select Inferno type weapon
-Recommended Alt: 1.000-10.000ft
-Acquire target (steady red target box)
-Fire weapon

---

4) T/O INSTRUCTION

-TRIM: FULL DOWN
-VTOL: NEUTRAL
-THROTTLE: 40%
-Aircraft will rotate automatically at T/O speed (~250mph fully loaded)
-GEAR UP
-TRIM SET for climbing attitude
-THROTTLE: Adjust for cruising flight
-Continue Flight

---

5) LDG INSTRUCTIONS

Gyro-stabilization Assisted Landing Approach System (GALAS)

(Best Landing technique due to increased operational weight):

-Reduce Airspeed at 300mph and below
-Align with Runway at 1.500 ft Altitude and 2NM distance
-GEAR DOWN
-THROTTLE: 8-15% (depends on weight)
-AG2: Activate for Gyro-stabilization
-TRIM: FULL DOWN gradually
-VTOL: FULL DOWN gradually
-Establish reasonable Rate of Descent
-Airspeed 180-220mph (depends on weight)
-Make corrections using small THROTTLE movements (~1-2%)
-Maintain Attitude 1°-3° Nose Up
-Before Touchdown add 3-5% Throttle for Flare technique
-At Touchdown: THROTTLE – 0% and AG4 for Drag Chute (if needed)
-When all wheels on ground and airspeed below 150mph - APPLY FULL BRAKES
-Maintain ground directional stability with slight yaw inputs

---

6) SPECIAL PROCEDURES

Air-Refueling Procedure

-Recommended Altitude: 10.000-20.000ft (for safety reasons)
-Throttle: Retard at 10-15% (depends on weight and altitude)
-Airspeed: <270mph (max permissible speed: 380mph)
-AG2 Activate
-TRIM FULL DOWN
-VTOL FULL DOWN
-AG3 Activate

---

Many thanks to @Supercraft888 for the E/O turret design that I used from his amazing CA-12 Cavalry aircraft and to @Itamar3553 for helping me to find the correct Hebrew words for naming the aircraft!
It is highly recommended to download and use the Units mod by @mushr0om for obtaining useful info during landing and/or flight.

---