Preview: Meng's 48th scale F-4E Kurnass 2000

Meng adds an obvious choice with their latest Phantom - the 48th scale F-4E Kurnass 2000 in our preview...

Preview: Meng's 48th scale F-4E Kurnass 2000

F-4E Kurnass 2000

Kit No #

1/48th scale

There are three marking choices in the box.

Available in: December 2026

Product Link on the Meng Website

The Subject: McDonnell Douglas F-4E Kurnass 2000

Since entering service in 1969, the Israeli Air Force's (IAF) F-4E "Kurnass", leveraging its substantial range and payload capacity, rapidly became one of the military's primary aircraft for Suppression of Enemy Air Defences (SEAD), ground attack, and long-range strike missions.

An Israeli F-4E modernised with AN/APG-76 radar and AGM-142 Popeye capability, among others. Entered service in 1989 and retired in 2004.

To extend the fleet's service life and enhance its combat capabilities, Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) initiated the "Kurnass 2000" modernisation programme for the F-4E in the 1980s. This upgrade focused heavily on avionics and weapon systems, incorporating a Kaiser wide-angle Head-Up Display, color Multi-Function Displays, and the AN/APG-76 radar, which featured ground-mapping and Synthetic Aperture Radar imaging capabilities. The upgraded weapon suite supported precision-guided munitions like the AGM-142 "Popeye" missile, though it removed the capability to deploy AIM-7 "Sparrow" air-to-air missiles. This further shifted the aircraft's mission focus towards precision ground strikes.

F-4E Phantom II 614 at the Israeli Air Force museum in Hatzerim, wearing the colours of 201 Squadron. This is an upgraded Kurnass 2000.

The revitalised "Kurnass 2000" entered service in 1989 and went on to execute highly accurate strikes against mountainous targets in Lebanon during Operation Accountability in 1993 and Operation Grapes of Wrath in 1996. As next-generation fighters like the F-15I gradually assumed its duties and F-16I deliveries began, the F-4E "Kurnass 2000" finally retired in 2004, bringing the legendary tale of the IAF's "Phantom" to a fitting end.

The Kit: Meng's 48th scale F-4E Kurnass 2000

Meng's 48th-scale MENG LS-021 1/48 F-4E Kurnass 2000 (Israeli Air Force) will be 399mm long, 245mm wide and 107mm high once assembled. This kit includes a metal pitot tube, pre-cut stainless steel PE parts and painting masks, and provides two paint schemes. This kit includes AN/ASQ-153, AN/AWW-7/12 and AN/ASW-55 pods, AGM-65 and AGM-142 air-to-ground guided missiles, and one AIM-9M air-to-air guided missile.

The kit's features are listed below ...

The exterior features and details of the real aircraft are accurately reproduced.

A metal pitot tube is included.

The cockpit and its interior equipment are precisely replicated.

Leading-edge slats and flaps can be installed in retracted or deployed positions.

Horizontal stabilisers are movable & the horizontal stabiliser pivot plate is represented by a PE part.

The ventral air brakes can be built in the open or closed position.

The landing gear bay is precisely replicated.

This kit includes AN/ASQ-153, AN/AWW-7/12 and AN/ASW-55 pods, AGM-65 and AGM-142 air-to-ground guided missiles, and one AIM-9M air-to-air guided missile, allowing for the selection of two different ground-attack weapon loadout configurations as needed.

This kit provides two IAF desert camouflage paint schemes and fine decals.

You can see more info on this kit and others from Meng on the Meng Models website...