Austria is interested in purchasing Kfir interceptor fighters from Israel but the Austrian government is not expected to make a definite decision before 1980, government sources said. The sources said Defense Ministry experts believe that Austria needs 18-24 fighter planes to bolster its air space defense.
Israel has offered Austria 20 Kfir fighters in exchange for industrial and agricultural products. However, some critics here fear that such an arms-for-products deal would jeopardize Austria’s trade relations with the Arab world.
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