For the first time since the Six-Day War (1967), Israel will be back in force at the International Air Show which opens here tomorrow. Israel Aircraft Industries, the country’s major aircraft manufacturer, will have a Pavillion of its own for the first time in which it will display Israeli-made planes, a variety of missiles including the surface-surface “Gabriel” naval missile in its new version an armored car and even the new “Dabur” patrol boat.
Missing, however, will be the new Israeli fighter plane “Kfir.” Israeli official sources say the plane could not be presented as a formal shoring needs months of preparation. Its completion and its first public flight in Israel last month apparently took even IAI marketing experts by surprise.
At this year’s show, described as the world’s largest peaceful confrontation of military and civilian planes of all types and origins, Israel will be represented by Defense Minister Shimon Peres and Air Force Chief of Staff Maj, Gen. Benjamin Peled.
It is the first time since the French arms embargo that an official Israeli delegation has been invited to the show and it indicates not only the change in the political climate but also, according to most experts here, France’s desire to resume its former commercial relations with Israel where they were left off on June 3, 1967 when Gen, de Gaulle clamped a total embargo on all arms shipments to the Jewish State.
FRANCE READY TO SELL ARMS TO ISRAEL
French aeronautical circles here say France is prepared not only to sell Israel practically all the military equipment it may want but also to study the possibility of credits. Peres, who is due in Paris June 5, will meet French Defense Minister Yvon Bourges, his Deputy General Marcel Bigeard, and the heads of France’s main air and arms industries.
French circles say Peres, who will stay in Paris for three days, will probably visit a number of production units including Aerospatiale in southern France and see a special display of French-made missiles and electronic equipment.
ISRAELI ITEMS OFFERED
Israel will attend the Air Show mainly as a seller, not as a buyer, It will offer the following items:
*The “Arava”; a short-take-off-and-landing model (STOL) which has been in production for some ten years and is now exported to a number of countries. The French paratroopers will use the “Arava” as a carrier for their display at the show Saturday and Sunday.
*The “Westwind”; a business executive jet. Last year’s model has been practically sold out and the new type, the 11-24, has already had orders from all over the world.
*The RBY-MKY armored reconnaissance vehicle, known from its initials as “The Rabbi,” which can carry several light machine guns, a 106 mm, recoilless gun or twin 20 mm. anti-aircraft guns, is protected by a 10 mm, steel plate and carries eight fully equipped personnel under combat conditions.
*The “Dabur” patrol boat, a 65-foot vessel driven by twin screw diesel engines, operated by a six-man crew and armed with 20 mm, guns as well as machine guns. Its speed of 22 knots makes it, according to experts, a highly maneuverable vessel capable of rapid attack and swift retreat.
*The new “Gabriel” model Mark II of the by now famous naval missile and various types of electronic devices, will make up the rest of the Israeli display.
A LEADER IN AIRCRAFT INDUSTRIES
The director of IAI’s external affairs, Elkana Galli, told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency that the current Air Show will probably enable IAI to widen the scope of its world market both geographically and by enlarging the scope of its export items.
Galli said the “Kfir” has no equal in the world if price and performance are compared. According to Galli, the price of the “Kfir” is two-thirds of the price of any other airplane of its kind in the world. He said world aviation experts consider Israel to have one of the 10 most advanced aircraft industries in the world, Galli said that an American Senatorial commission was recently told that Israel and Canada were second only to the United States in the field of aviation efficiency.
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