Ex-Lavi chief calls for new fighter, not $11 billion on F-35

[jha]

Ex-Lavi chief calls for new fighter, not $11 billion on F-35​

Ex-Lavi program manager and minister of defense Moshe Arens writes in Haaretz today that Israel would be better off launching a joint development program with Russia and India to build a new fighter rather than spend $11 billion to buy 75 Lockheed Martin F-35s. See excerpt below:

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.

 

[AZADPAKISTAN2009]

Typical mindset - live off the host when they are all drained of resources find the next healthy cow and leech off it

First the ottomans
Then the europeans
Then germans
Then the Americans

Now comes the turn for Russians/Indians

Leech leech leech ..

Like parasite

The article should have mentioned that the billion are not belonging to them in first place its all US tax payer's money

 

[amalakas]

Typical mindset - live off the host when they are all drained of resources find the next healthy cow and leech off it

First the ottomans
Then the europeans
Then germans
Then the Americans

Now comes the turn for Russians/Indians

Leech leech leech ..

Like parasite

The article should have mentioned that the billion are not belonging to them in first place its all US tax payer's money

And would u care to remind yourself how many americans are jewish???? far more than needed to collect a lot more than a billion in taxes!!!!!!

 

[MZUBAIR]

Israel cant design 5th AC alone.......it needed experienced partner.....Russia is a good option....but..India is still in progress to develop AC or in other words u can say that India is also dependent on strong experienced partner like Russia or USA.

Now the question comes, Is the bond of Israel and Russia acceptable for USA?

 

[praveen007]

my-my
i see a new patner in indo-russian 5th gen fighter. hope they have some vital input to provide.

 

[indushek]

Well i think India can include Israel in AMCA program rather than PAK - FA since its already in a advance stage. Both can synergize well as this is still in its starting stage.

 

[nomi007]

i agree with Ex-Lavi chief,because f35 is too costly than the f-15se which is also stealth jet but has more speed.
but joint venture with India is not be possible because INDIA HAVE NO EXPERIENCE in engine manufacturing & avionics but Russia will be the best option

 

[AZADPAKISTAN2009]

And would u care to remind yourself how many americans are jewish???? far more than needed to collect a lot more than a billion in taxes!!!!!!

not many ...the tax they do end up paying is used up for their local needs , its not even enough to buy 2 F16 let alone 100 , F35 ...

Time for them to start working like all the other peopel in world instead of getting bail outs for last 80 years

 

[AZADPAKISTAN2009]

Israel cant design 5th AC alone.......it needed experienced partner.....Russia is a good option....but..India is still in progress to develop AC or in other words u can say that India is also dependent on strong experienced partner like Russia or USA.

Now the question comes, Is the bond of Israel and Russia acceptable for USA?

Most likely it will be all American Stolen technology do you really thing they will make something new?? It will be all stolen research done by some asians or americans in Universities and companies stolen and moved to Israel thru illegal means ....

 

[indian navy]

well Israel and India can work on MCA project

good for both nation

 

[ptldM3]

not many ...the tax they do end up paying is used up for their local needs , its not even enough to buy 2 F16 let alone 100 , F35 ...

Time for them to start working like all the other peopel in world instead of getting bail outs for last 80 years

Look up the Israeli GDP, look who they surpass....

 

[Thomas]

i agree with Ex-Lavi chief,because f35 is too costly than the f-15se which is also stealth jet but has more speed.
but joint venture with India is not be possible because INDIA HAVE NO EXPERIENCE in engine manufacturing & avionics but Russia will be the best option

the F-35 that the Israeli's want is more expensive becuase they want to do their own upgrades to it. If they simply buy the F-35 (89-92 mill) without making modifications to it they will pay less then the F-15 SE (100+ mill). The F-35 price estimate with Israel modifications 130 mill.

If I was them I would buy the off the shelf F-35 then incrementally start refurbishing the current F-15's to the SE model.

 

[rohailmalhi]

Its nothing but a pressure building tactic from Israeli side , as Americans are denying them the source code and access to many technologies involved in JSF-35 .so they are telling them tht if u are not going to share the technology then get ready to reduced orders of F35 .

 

[indushek]

the F-35 that the Israeli's want is more expensive becuase they want to do their own upgrades to it. If they simply buy the F-35 (89-92 mill) without making modifications to it they will pay less then the F-15 SE (100+ mill). The F-35 price estimate with Israel modifications 130 mill.

If I was them I would buy the off the shelf F-35 then incrementally start refurbishing the current F-15's to the SE model.

I have two questions to you since ur an expert in military matters:

Firstly does this mean if any upgradation by the customer is to be done they need to know the source codes of the plane?? Please explain in layman terms as i am just an enthusiast without much technical knowledge.

So can it be deduced by this that the Israelis know the source codes of F-15 and F-16 ??

 

[Gene]

i agree with Ex-Lavi chief,because f35 is too costly than the f-15se which is also stealth jet but has more speed.
but joint venture with India is not be possible because INDIA HAVE NO EXPERIENCE in engine manufacturing & avionics but Russia will be the best option

yes,india may not have much experience in manufacturing of engines,but india has a lot of expertise in avionics.the su-30mki,lca has indian avionics & even the proposed 5th gen FGPA,MCA will have indian avionics.
at least we could help them in the avionics sector...