Close coupling
In the close-coupled canard, the foreplane is located just above and forward of the wing. At high angles of attack (and therefore typically at low speeds) the canard surface directs airflow downward over the wing, reducing turbulence which results in reduced drag and increased lift.
[30] Typically the foreplane creates a vortex which attaches to the upper surface of the wing, stabilising and re-energising the airflow over the wing and delaying or preventing the stall.
The canard foreplane may be fixed as on the
IAI Kfir, have landing flaps as on the
Saab Viggen, or be moveable and also act as a control-canard during normal flight as on the
Dassault Rafale.
A close-coupled canard has been shown to benefit a supersonic
delta wing design which gains lift in both
transonic flight (such as for
supercruise) and also in low speed flight (such as take offs and landings).