The Kfir utilizes the General Electric J79-J1E variant Engine. The General Electric J79 is an axial-flow turbojet engine built for use in a variety of fighter and bomber aircraft and a supersonic cruise missile. The J79 was produced by General Electric Aircraft Engines in the United States, and under license by several other companies worldwide. Among its major uses were the F-104 Starfighter, B-58 Hustler, F-4 Phantom II, A-5 Vigilante, and IAI Kfir. In 1959 the gas generator of the J79 was developed as a stationary 10MW-class (13,000 bhp) free-turbine turboshaft engine for naval power, power generation, and industrial use, called the LM1500. Over 17,000 J79s were built in the US, and under license in Belgium, Canada, Germany, Israel, Italy, and Japan. Current users of the Kfir are Colombia, Sri Lanka, and the US defense contractor Airborne Tactical Advantage Company (ATAC – a Textron Subsidiary)
