| Lavi | |
|---|---|
 Lavi B-02 prototype | |
| General information | |
| Type | Multirole fighter |
| Manufacturer | Israel Aircraft Industries |
| Status | Canceled in August 1987 |
| Number built | 3 prototypes[1] |
| History | |
| First flight | 31 December 1986 |
The IAI Lavi (Hebrew: לביא, "lion") is a single-engined fourth-generation multirole jet fighter developed in Israel, by Israel Aircraft Industries (IAI), during the 1980s. The decision to develop the Lavi was controversial, both with the Israeli public, due to the enormous associated costs, and particularly with the U.S. government due to competition with American jets on the export market. By 1984 Israel, with a population of 4 million, had amongst the world's highest military expenditure as a proportion of GDP, at approximately 18.9%, which was considered unsustainable. These issues contributed to the ultimate cancellation of the aircraft, by the Israeli government, during the flight-test phase of development in August 1987.
The Israeli cabinet's late-stage cancellation of the program, by a 12–11 vote, continued to arouse controversy and bitterness in Israel for decades, with Moshe Arens, the main political figure behind the Lavi project, stating in 2013 that if the project had not been cancelled the IAF "would be operating the world's most advanced fighter, upgraded over the years to incorporate operational experience and newer technology."[2]
The Lavi performed successfully in flight-tests, with its flight handling described as "excellent" by test pilots.[3] The Lavi was planned to be the mainstay of the Israeli Air Force, and considerable export sales for the aircraft had been forecast. The uniqueness of its design was in the combination of a small, aerodynamic, highly maneuverable plane, with sophisticated, software-rich systems, low armed drag due to semi-conformal weapons carriage, and the ability to carry a large payload at high speed and over long distances. As of 2012[update], two of the prototypes have been preserved, and have been placed on public display.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
Wilsonwas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ In Israel, lingering bitterness over a failed fighter project 15 Oct. 2013, UPI
- ^ Deurenberg, Ruud. "Israel Aircraft Industries (IAI) Lavi." Archived 12 January 2017 at the Wayback Machine Jewish Virtual Library, Retrieved: 23 September 2016.