July 28, 2010
The Lavi Fighter
Posted by Laura @ 5:43 am | 9 Comments »Laura: Israeli shortsightedness has left it at the mercy of someone like Barack Hussein Obama. There is no reason why a country with such enormous technological capability shouldn’t be producing its own fighter jets.
Just imagine Israel’s position today had the Lavi fighter jet project not been canceled.
By Moshe Arens, Haaretz
Who would have believed it? Some years ago Israel was developing the world’s most advanced fighter aircraft, the Lavi, while the Western world’s aircraft manufacturers were beating their way to our door, eager to participate in the Lavi project, or trying to sell their competing plane to the Israel Air Force. And now Israel goes hat in hand pleading for a chance to be allowed to acquire the F-35 aircraft, at a price tag of $150 million each. But it’s not only the astronomical price. Israel is told that the F-35 must be taken as is – no changes or modifications to suit Israel’s specific needs, and absolutely no Israeli systems included. Take it or leave it.
Just imagine Israel’s position today had the Lavi project not been canceled. The IAF would be operating the world’s most advanced fighter, upgraded over the years to incorporate operational experience and newer technology. Much of Israel’s industry would have moved a great step ahead, Israel Aerospace Industries would have become a leading developer of fighter aircraft, and most importantly, a number of options would be open to the IAF in choosing its next fighter.
What were the outlandish claims trumpeted by the opponents of the Lavi? The project, they said, was too big for Israel. These narrow-minded skeptics had not believed that we could convince the U.S. Congress to fund most of the project, and certainly were incapable of foreseeing Israel’s economic growth in the years to come. Now they are staring at a $3 billion price tag for 20 F-35s. They said Israel should not be developing military platforms but only accessory systems to be mounted on the platforms. Now Israel will not be allowed to mount Israeli systems on the F-35.
And where would we be today if we had believed that nonsense about not developing platforms? Out of the satellite-launching and unmanned-aerial-vehicle business. Where are they today, the people who at the time foolishly led the crusade against the Lavi? Surprisingly, 23 years later, some are still involved in decision-making on national security. They were against the development of the Lavi, against the development of an Israeli reconnaissance satellite, and against the development of the Arrow ballistic missile interceptor. But unfazed, they continue on.
Do they admit they were mistaken? Admitting past mistakes is a rare human quality, but there are exceptions. Dan Halutz, a fighter pilot ace and former IAF commander and chief of staff, at the time like many senior IAF officers a supporter of the cancellation of the Lavi project, recognizes in his recent book that it was a mistake to cancel the project.
So what’s the use of crying over spilled milk? Are there alternatives to swallowing our pride and shelling out $3 billion for 20 F-35s? (The original plan had been to acquire 75 aircraft, which would have brought the price above $11 billion, but that was too expensive. ) Before we make that commitment, a little intellectual effort should be invested in looking at other options.
Does Israel still have the technological capability to design a first-rate fighter aircraft? That needs to be examined in some depth. No doubt some of the capability that existed at the time of the Lavi project has been lost over the years, but as has been proved time and again, Israel has a world-class technological capability. Its success in unmanned aerial vehicles is only one of a number of examples.
If it turns out that the capability to design the IAF’s next fighter aircraft does exist in Israel, where could we go from there? Not to the U.S. Congress in search of funding, because we would have to remind them that 27 years ago they were fools to invest $1 billion in the development of the Lavi that Israel decided it did not want. We would have to look for partners who are prepared to invest resources in such a project, who have the necessary technological capability, and who are not involved in the F-35 project.
Are there such candidates? In theory, yes. France, with a great aeronautical industry, chose not to participate in the F-35 project. India, with a considerable aeronautical capability and a meteorically growing economy, might be another candidate. And there is Russia. Perhaps none of them would be interested, and perhaps all of them would be. It’s worth a try.
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Hello.
The opponents of the Lavi knew it would work; that’s why they opposed it. Like opponents of SDI, they feared its success would tip the balance of power in a direction they wouldn’t like. Liberals’ foreign policy is based on being vulnerable, being dependent, which means having to appease. A powerful, independent Israel means no appeasement, so liberals oppose a powerful, independent Israel. They always choose their philosophy over patriotism. It’s a major reason why, I’m sorry to say, I can’t respect liberals, but I try hard not to hate them.
Reagan pulled the plug on the lavie project along with his Kapo Jew Dov Zachheim. The Jet engines were American an also the wing assemblies along with most of the funding. . America could have at any time used vital parts to blackmail Israel into doing their bidding. America will always protect their own industries first and would never have allowed Israel to sell to third parties in any case. As long as Israel used major American components and technology America would have had complete control of the project. Without the possibility of third part sales of the Lavie, America would have barred such sales just like the Israeli AWACS to China. That cost Israel almost 6 bilion dollars including half billion dollars in penalties for breach of contract with China.
Either Israel goes it alone or not at all!!!
Joy, you got that right. Liberals are the same all over the world, including our own USA.
We, the US needs an independent Israel. We want a partner in world peace. A partner independent and strong who will not waver in the wind of world opinion.
We, the US needs to fully support Israel as our trusted friend and ally. To support the one state, the Jewish Nation of Israel with one undivided capital Jerusalem and her rights to the Holy Land.
That’s what friends are for.
Hello Joy,
I don’t try not to hate them the emotion is to strong to suppress.
Israel should definitely build their own fighter without assistance from other nations. Israel certainly has the scientific/technological capabilities. The cost will be a burden but given the enemies Israel faces she must bear the cost burden. The US is in moral and economic decline leading to military decline which certainly won’t be reversed given the quality of leaders American voters have foolishly put into office. Israel should “partner” only with God. Israel needs to be bold and aggressive.
Joshua 1:9 Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.
A prototype Super Lavi may fly and shoot in less than five years if the will is there. Israel still has all the technological, industrial and engineering capabilities and know how, and can provide necessary funding. A necessary prerequisite is to avoid political blackmail by excluding US and EU companies from cooperation. India will be elated just to have a chance to evade the political clutches of the US, Russia and China, and is a certain customer together with a few others who may wish to survive this century.
problem here is that our leaders don’t know the Tanach or believe in it or G-d. They feared Bush and now Hussein.
Per the bottleneck are the engines, The British , french Swedes, Russia and now China make engines besides America. I wouldn’t buy from any of them. We could reverse engineer some of them though. We already make the turbine blades (Buffet bought the plant).
Problem here is our politicians want short term recognition that advances their political careers. That’s the major bottleneck along with most of our politicians are bought and paid for by America.
Israel should design and build the fighter alone. Also she should not sell it to any nation unless it is a severely downgraded version. The day is coming when the gentile world may all give themselves over to the corruption of anti-zionism. If you doubt it look at the number of true friends of israel in the UN compared to dedicated enemies and appeasers. Israel must stop striving for parity with the great powers or depending on alliances with them and with God’s help strive for independence and superiority. This does not mean that Israel should reject true friends – individuals and even a few remaining nations but remember to rely ultimately on God alone. The British once ruled the seas, the Americans (for a very little while longer) rule the seas, the land ,and the skies. Israel must strive for this kind of absolute superiority. Israel will not be able to be superior to the great powers quantitatively but she
canmust be superior qualitatively. Israel must strive not for regional superiority but with the help of God the superiority traditionally equated to superpower or major power status. Israelis judge their nation by its size but the bible doesn’t say that size exaults a nation it says that:Proverbs 14:34 – Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.