Israeli expertise in planning the three airfields in the Negev that will replace those in Sinai being returned to Egypt under the peace treaty won high praise from Gen. Poul Hartung, the head of the American team in charge of constructing two of the airfields. The third will be constructed by Israelis.
Speaking to members of the Israeli Editors Committee and Israeli military correspondents who visited the sites of the two airfields, Hartung said the Israeli technical expertise he had come in contact with is comparable to that found in the United States.
Discussing the price of constructing the two airfields, which must be operative by April, 1982, Hartung said they will cost more than $1 billion, 20 percent more than the budgeted sum. The major cause for the increase was the agreement to construct them on the basis of cost-plus. In addition, recent purchases of equipment and supplies such as iron and cement from local manufacturers cost much more than had been calculated. Hartung said work was proceeding on schedule.
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