Israel has offered Austria 20 Kfir interceptor fighters in exchange for industrial and agricultural products, government sources said. Under the projected arms-for-products deal Austrian exports to Israel would include steel, timber, railway equipment and agricultural products.
Austrian news media described the Israeli offer as “very attractive” but feared that such a deal would annoy Austria’s trade partners in the Arab world. Other offers include the French Mirage F-1, Sweden’s Viggen and the U.S. Northrop SF-5. Defense Minister Karl Leutgendorf is pressing for sophisticated interceptor fighters designated to safeguard Austria’s neutral policy.
Chancellor Bruno Kreisky, however, has opposed the fighter deal, maintaining that there is a lot of other equipment the army needs more urgently. The government is expected to make a decision later in the year.
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