Concept of Gripen fighter equipped with Israeli air to air missiles
Posted on 07/31/2010 11:45:58 AM PDT by sukhoi-30mki
Arens: Israeli fighter-jet with a non-U.S. partner is 'worth a try'
TEL AVIV — Israel has been urged to consider developing its own fighter-jet with an international partner.
Former Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Arens said the Jewish state would have a partner in any project to develop and produce a fighter jet independent of the United States. Arens, who served three times as defense minister, cited France, India and Russia.
"Are there such candidates?" Arens asked. "In theory, yes. France, with a great aeronautical industry, chose not to participate in the [U.S.-led] F-35 project. India, with a considerable aeronautical capability and a meteorically growing economy, might be another candidate. And there is Russia."
In an article in the Israeli daily Haaretz on July 29, Arens, an aeronautics engineer, said an Israeli-origin combat aircraft could become an alternative to the U.S.-origin Joint Strike Fighter. Israel has been under strong U.S. pressure to purchase the F-35 despite reluctance of the project's main partners to order the aircraft amid major technical delays.
"Perhaps none of them would be interested [in an Israeli fighter-jet], and perhaps all of them would be," Arens said of Israel's potential development partners. "It's worth a try."
Industry sources said the United States has sought to block an Israeli attempt to produce a fighter-jet with other countries. In 2009, Washington pressured Israel to suspend plans by the state-owned Israel Aerospace Industries to team with Sweden's Saab to produce an advanced version of the Gripen fighter-jet.
Under the program, Saab would provide the basic Gripen platform with IAI and other Israeli companies installing their avionics, electronic warfare and airborne weapons. The sources said the Indian Air Force had been interested in such a project.
Russia's Sukhoi was also said to have been wooing IAI for a joint aircraft project. The sources said Sukhoi offered to provide an advanced model fighter-jet for installation of Israeli-origin subsystems.
"We would have to look for partners who are prepared to invest resources in such a project, who have the necessary technological capability, and who are not involved in the F-35 project," Arens said.
Arens was a major supporter of Israel's Lavi fighter-jet project in the 1980s, canceled more than 20 years ago under heavy U.S. pressure. The U.S. Congress had approved $1 billion in aid, but the Defense Department as well as American contractors lobbied against Lavi, meant to exceed the capabilities of the F-16A/B model.
"Does Israel still have the technological capability to design a first-rate fighter aircraft?" Arens asked. "That needs to be examined in some depth. No doubt some of the capability that existed at the time of the Lavi project has been lost over the years, but as has been proved time and again, Israel has a world-class technological capability."
Concept of Gripen fighter equipped with Israeli air to air missiles
I would agree with those who have urged Israel to do so.
Where would they be built? Seems like in-country would be a bit vulnerable to attack. Hasn’t the Israeli tendency to use US aircraft been largely a matter of contingency that much of their foreign aid be spent with US contractors?
Interesting.
I would think this idea stems from Israeli concerns over the stances the Obama administration has taken towards Israel. If that is indeed the case, I wonder if this is merely meant to “send a message” to the U.S., or a serious pursuit to develop a hedge in case of a further straining of U.S.-Israeli ties?
Do it Israel. SCREW Obama before he screws you !!
French fighters have performed well but I would not trust Russian ones and certainly not Indian. I have an old copy of “Janes” in which they give the Swedish ones high marks especially for performance for the price.
Build it in India. India has the strategic depth that Israel doesn’t as well as good workforce of highly skilled personnel.
Plus, a large percentage can speak english.
Safe so long as nobody’s launching missiles.
From an outside perspective the left has turn the US politically flaky and too unstable to trust...
Israel wants to design and build the jet in Isreal. They are only looking for a partner to provide the financing for the project.
US Jews would vote Dr Mengala into office if he rose and surfaced in Brooklyn.
Isreal would be wise to break all ties with the US.
No they would not. All Jews would find your comment insulting and repulsive.
If one would hope that more Jews would vote Republican any who would read your comment would be less likely to, convinced that insanity permeates the Right.
This is what happens when we betray our staunch allies. Britain is next.
A clear majority of American Jews were duped in to voting for the racist hatemonger Obama. Seems to me they have forgotten all about the hatemongers named Hitler, Himmler, Goebbles, and Mengele. Himmler would be proud of the racist prosecutorial practices of his protege, Heineric Holderhimmler, if the races were reversed.
All I can say is this F-35 had better be one damned great aircraft with the cost of treasure and time involved.
Do it Israel. SCREW Obama before he screws you !!
Bingo.
Bring Obama down a notch or two. Israel has the capability and they better start looking for a powerful ally to take the place of the United States.
They should build up the appropriate technologies and industries for export and drop the United States influence once they have strong backing from another power player. Russia or China might fit the bill and put Obama in his place.
A clear majority of American Jews were duped in to voting for the racist hatemonger Obama.
I’m not so sure they were duped. Although little was known about Obama, other than what he told us in his books, all of us knew enough to know what we were getting, a community organizer with no resume, little to no paper trail and who has a dislike of this country, it’s constitution, it’s history and it’s institutions.
Jews would be well advised to get these potential monsters out of office before it’s too late. We are following in Europe’s appeasement of radical islam. The United States can no longer be a trusted friend of Irael or Jews throughout the world.
I think very few smart people were duped.
Well you are right, but then the same can be said about any prospective supplier as well. Will the US ALWAYS assure Israel of supplies?? Obama has reportedly played around with the IDF’s requests for the F-15SE.
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