Israel Combat Plane Will Be Seen for the First Time Outside Israel at the Paris Air Show

The Lavi, Israel’s second generation all-purpose combat plane, will be seen for the first time outside Israel at the annual Paris Air Show opening this week at Le Bourget Airport. About a half million visitors are expected.

The prototype of the Lavi, which its manufacturer says is definitely slated for production, will be the showpiece at the Israeli pavilion where a welter of other highly sophisticated Israel-made military hardware will be on display — and for sale to foreign buyers.

S.N. Ariav, president of Israel Aircraft Industries (IAI), builders of the Lavi, told a pre-opening press conference here today, “The decision to build the Lavi is definite. “He said this has been confirmed by Premier Shimon Peres and Defense Minister Yitzhak Rabin. The Israel government is the principal shareholder in IAI and its main customer.

According to Ariav, the Lavi’s first flight is due in 1986 and it will become fully operational in 1992. It will replace the Kfir, Israel’s first generation jet fighter-bomber. A total of 300 Lavis are planned for production and will give the Israel Air Force “its mainstay all purpose system,” Ariav said.

SALES IN HIGH TECHNOLOGY MARKETS

The aircraft executive, who is due to retire next month and will be replaced by Moshe Kenet, said IAI has developed such advanced technology that 70 percent of its overseas sales go to high technology markets such as the United States and Western Europe. Total turnover last year was $900 million of which $430 million came from exports. The turnover in fiscal 1985/86 is expected to increase by five percent, Ariav said.

Other advanced weaponry to be on display at the Israel pavilion includes what Ariav described as a full line of integrated all forces enhancement equipment for either total national defense or specific air, land or sea force application at any unit level.

One of these items is the latest in offensive and defensive missiles, the Barak-l, a vertical launched “hard kill” shipbourne defense system. Israel will also show a variety of “proven-in-use” software and hardware equipment.

IAI, which produces for the civilian market as well as the military, will show off its new business jet, the “Astra” which broke all speed records in its category when it landed at Le Bourget yesterday. The plane completed the Tel Aviv-Paris flight in four hours and 35 minutes.