A top Pentagon official arrived here Sunday night for a round of talks with Israeli leaders to persuade them to abandon the Lavi, Israel’s second generation jet fighter plane, for a less costly American aircraft.
Dov Zackheim, Deputy Undersecretary of Defense for Policy and Resources, is expected to propose the F-15, F-16 or the Harrier vertical take-off plane. A prototype of the Lavi was airborne for the first time last Wednesday and its first test flight was pronounced a resounding success.
But the Pentagon, and Zackheim in particular, argue that the U.S.-financed Lavi simply costs too much to produce. Israeli officials have disputed the Pentagon’s figures which they say are based on American costs.
Should Israel agree to a foreign model, Israel would produce most of the components. But officials here see difficulties with the F-16 because four European countries — Holland, Belgium, Denmark and Norway — participated in its development and produce its parts. They may object to Israel participating in the manufacture of the parts, Defense Ministry sources said.
Zackheim is scheduled to meet with Defense Minister Yitzhak Rabin Monday and later in the week with Premier Yitzhak Shimon Peres, and Finance Minister Moshe Nissim. Israel’s reply to Zackheim’s proposals are expected before the American official leaves at the end of the week.
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