The Vautour Pages
THE VAUTOUR IN THE IAF SERVICE

IMPROVEMENTS, UPGRADES and EXPERIMENTS

1. The Vautours were developed continuously, not only before deliveries but mainly during their service. The Vautours of the 60's were much different and better equipped than those arrived in 1957-1958.

2. The major upgrades / conversions done in Israel were:-

a). Conversion of the B variant to the role of strategic photo-reconnaisance, retaining bombing capability. Later the BR was further converted (as the N two-seater) to the leader/navigator in attack missions.

b). Improving the N fighters, later - converting the aircraft to the day-attack role and, finally, implementation of a two-seater leader/navigator of attack formations.

3. N airceaft were also fitted for ECM warfare and for Photo-Recce.




Vautour B Conversion to BR

1. The first camera installed was the K-17 (that was used by one of the Mysteres), Although its limited performance it served for a long time and was used for day and night photo,

2. A trial to install a Fench "Omera" camera, in a Vautour IIB lower weapons bay, proved to be inefficient, due to the camera's inadequate capabilities.





The nose of the Vautour B, housing the bomber's cell, the openning was from above.

BR-33, IAF museum.
[ courtesy of S. B. ]


3. A substantial improvement occured with the purchase of American K-18 cameras. The camera's characteristics had been specified by the IAF:

* It should be installable in all IAF fighters.
* Photo altitude: 20,000 feet and higher.
* Negative picture size: 18" x 9".
* Resolution of 10 p/mm. (enough to distinguish and identify
an Armed Combat Vehicle, as a tank or a personnel carrier).

4. On December 1958, when two Vautour B already arrived, approval to convert the aircraft to the PR role was given. The full specifications were processed by the IAF HQ. (Equipment dept.), and the conversion was performed in the Aerial Maintenence Unit, in Tel-Noff AFB, by a newly established technical team.

5. The first assemble was of a K-18 camera, of focus length 36", in one of the aircraft's belly. This early conversion became very soon valuable when, in February 1960, a PR sortie revealed the entrance of an Egyptian armoured division to the vicinity of the Sinai- Israeli border. Further sorties accompanied the developing crisis, till the Egyptian forces retreated to their original posts.

6. The next meaningful achievement, that placed the Vautour in the first line of aerial intelligence, was fitting the aircraft with a full camera pack housed in the lower weapons bay, in expense of some fuel. The pack consisted three K-18 cameras, (one directed vertically and two - 30 deg. oblique) and a "Chase" K-17 camera, of a 6" focus length, in the bomber's cell, (instead of the former bombing camera). This conversion demanded several changes and additions, all originally developed and built.

7. Test flights of this PR system began on the Vautour BR No. 35, May 1959. The tests checked the influence of the installed system on the aircraft performance, and the ability to open the cameras pack shutters. Six test flights, during which the cameras were operated in high altitudes, resulted in very good results. The system covered twice the area in comparison to the K-18.

8. Vautour No. 31 was fitted with almost identical configuration, this time a new mapping camera, Chase RMK 15/23 (focus lengths of 6" and 12"), was installed. This camera could photo in heights between 5,000 to 30,000 feet a narrow strip of 2.3 - 6.9 km.

9. Vautour IIB No. 37 was lost in accident, 1961, and had never been converted to BR.

10. The SAM-2 air defence systems, which began to enter the Egyptian and the Syrian armies, limited the possibility of high-altitude PR. The need for low-level operations couldn't be solved efficiently by the cameras already installed. The solution was found by fitting a panoramic camera, KA-52 (Fairchild, U.S.A), that filmed a sequence of photos (rather than single ones, with intervals), covering "horizon to horizon", from heights of 500 - 1,000 feet.

11. In the end of 1963 it was decided that the three aircraft would have interchangeable sets of cameras, to carry out both the low and high PR missions. Development of the versatile installation and its fitting ended mid. 1964. The team (of IAF HQ. / Equipment dept.) was awarded the "Security of Israel" prize for this project.

12. Adaptations to night photo were not so successful. Trials with a combination of cameras and flares resulted in poor pictures. A trial to install a night version of the K-37 camera, in the lower weapons bay, faced many difficulties, and although it entered service, in 1961, it was not suitable enough for nocturnal missions.

13. According to [ D. Shalom, as-50 ], the full set of cameras consisted:
* One Chase {K-17 ?} camera.
* Three K-38 , 36" focus length camera.
* One 24" focus length camera { K-18 ?}
* One K-37 night-photo camera.
-- (This info is not specified by aircraft or date)

14. The Vautour BR was also involved in photoing of armament tests, and two special cameras were fit, in a transparent cover, at the wings tips.

15. Installations of cameras in the weapons bay lessened the fuel capacity. In order to retain long range two additional 625 l' fuel tanks were carried under the outer wing hard points. (This is a little odd: the strength of these points was 500 kg. which is the the fuel net weight, but the empty tank weighs at least some 10% of the gross weight !).

16. Since the B variant had no guns the "Shafrir-1" AAM was tested as a defense weapon. There are some hints that AAMs were carried, after The Six Days War, by the sole BR-33 left, although this missile was ineffective.







The window of the cameras' set, installed in the lower belly.

(The preseved BR-33, IAF museum).







17. The bottom line of the PR conversions is that three aircraft (one, no. 35, lost 1964) were responsible to the gathering of so vital intelligence needed for "Moked".


Vautour N Conversions

1. The few N aircraft were continueously improved even before their conversion to the attack role. The most significant was enhancing the radar capabilities. Another change was made by omitting the guns' barrels deflectors.

2. Conversion to the day-attack & leading role was performed, apparently, during the 1963 through 1964. For a short time the N aircraft still maintained all-weather alert (at sqn. 110, one Vautour ?), to fill the gap till the two adapted Mirages would undertake this task.

3. After the loss of BR-35, October 1964, the Vautour N 66 (that had been severly damaged in accident), was refurbished and fitted with the panoramic KA-52 camera in the nose, (instead of the radar). After tests the system became operational in 1966.

4. The Vautour N 70 was overhauled in Israel and converted to the ECM role, carrying two "Yabelet" pods underwings. A second N (no. 66?) was also converted to this role.

5. After the loss of the 3rd BR (no. 31, December 1967), the N 70 went through several changes to carry all the day caneras, three K-38 in the weapons bay, and a K-52 or Chase RMK, in the nose, instead of the gun pack. (It is possible that the "70" carried additional fuel tanks, and it's also possible that, for air defence, it was equipped with two Shafrir-1 (??). This aircraft was very successful and served in both ECM and PR roles till end of 1971.
See also [ Gallery 2 - Vautour 70 ] page.







One of the side-oblique camera openings, at the nose of the
preseved Vautour 70 "Phantomas".









[ The Vautour N paragraph will be completed ]



The table below is a summary of the conversions the Vautours underwent to the Photo-Reconnaissance role:


Period Aircraft Nose Weapons Bay / Lower Belly Remarks
1958 B _? K-17 camera -?- First camera assemble
1958 ? B 31 --- Omera camera Unsuccessful
1959 B 31 --- K-18 camera Proven in February 1960 crisis
1959 B 35 K-17 camera 3 x K-18 cameras Operational 1960
1959 ? B _ ? --- K-38 night-photo camera Operated in cobination of flares, medium results.
1960 ? B 31 K-17 camera Chase RMK mapping camera and 3 x K-18 cameras Operational 1961 ?
1962 ? BR _? K-52 panoramic camera (Chase RMK mapping camera and 3 x K-18 cameras, as above ?) Operational 196_ ?
1966 N 66 K-52 panoramic camera (*) --- (*) Instead of the radar
1968 N(E) 70 K-52 panoramic camera or Chase RMK mapping camera (*) 3 x K-38 cameras (*) Instead of the gun pack



The Vautours As Test Beds

1. All the three variants of the Vautour were used continously in testing armament, operational systems and various instruments.

2. Armament testing of Israeli products:

  • IMI 360 kg. HE bombs, tested during the early 60's, entered service 1968.
  • Time and proximity fuses for free-fall 500 kg and 250 kg. bombs.
  • IMI 82 mm. Air to Surface (anti-armour) rockets. Development was slow and the rockets became operational only in 1973.
  • IMI "Runway-Piercing" bombs, two (or three types, heavy, 500 kg.?, 250 kg.? and light, 70 kg.). Tests were carried out in 1966 and the bomns were used by all attack airfraft in the Six Days War.
  • IMI "double action" flares, to be carried by the BR, by its escort aircraft (usually A), and by one of a night attack formation. (Performing night missions were of mediocre results).
  • IMI auxiliary/drop fuel tanks of 1,300l' and 625 l'. The 625 l' tank was standard for other fighters (Mystere, Super Mystere), as well. Four external tanks were carried by the PR aircraft to maitain long range since a part of the weapons bay was used for the cameras' set.
3. Adaptations of the RAFAEL "Shafrir-1" AAM were tested on all three variants, in Israel and in France, from 1962 onwards. The Vautours were the only IAF type to test this missile. The testing aircraft : -
a) Two Vautour A, one lost in an accident (23), the second (03) was sent for a short period to France.
b) One (or more?) Vautour BR, tested the missile, since this variant was not armed with guns.
c) It is possible that a Vautour N tested also the "Shafrir-1".
d) The "Shafrir-1" entered service in limited numbers, carried operationally by the Mirage, but proved to be unsuccessful.
e) The unarmed PR/ECM Vautours, (BR and N), were fitted to launch this missile during their last years of service.

4. Trials to adapt the Matra R-530 AAM were made by a Vautour N, which spent a long time, 1963-1964, in French and Algerian ranges. The missile was finally purchased for the IAF mirage (cod named "Ya-ha-lom" - Diamond).

5. [ TESTING THE SHAFRIR-2 ] [ to be completed ]

6. Early Electronic Counter Measures, of foreign origin and of Israeli development, housed in external special pods, became operational in 1966. Improved electronics, developed after the Six Days War, enabled partial jamming of the SAM radars during the activities against Egypt A-A layout. As far as it's known, two Vautour N (no. 70 and no. 66) were fitted for the ECM role.



Sources:
[ iaf-tech-hst ] [ yts , yts-info ] [ as-50 ] [ def-ind ] [ a. myasnikov info ] [ tshai ben-ami info ]






FIRST YEARS EXPERIENCE IAF VAUTOURS CONTENTS PAGE OPERATIONS 1958-1967


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This page was last updated: May 1, 2000