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THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS
CAPITOL REPORT
...■•■!"
U.S. Navy wants Israeli Kfirs
BY WOLF BLITZER
The Jewish News Washington Correspondent
David M.
Gubow
FOR STATE
REPRESENTATIVE
INTEGRITY
AMITY
DEDICATION
• University. of Michigan,
a.b., Urban Studies
• University of Detroit Law School, J.D.
• Practicing Attorney, Oakland County, 9 years
• Former legal counsel, Citizens For Better Care
(a non-profit organization working to
Improve nursing home care)
• Past Vice Chairperson &
Secretary-Treasurer, Oakland County
Building Authority
• Board Member, Men's Club, Shaarey
Zedek (1980=1984)
• Board Member, Jr. Division,
Jewish Welfare Federation
(1978-1983)
• Steering Committee, Israel In-
dependence Day
Vote August 7
Elect David M.
GUBOVV
STATE REPRESENTATIVE • DEMOCRAT
' District Includes Oak Park, Huntington Woods, Berkley, Ferndale and Royal Oak Township.
Paid for by the Friends of David M. Gubow, 13309 Balfour, Huntington Woods, Michigan 48070
•
Washington — The U.S. Navy's
expected decision to lease 12 Kfir
fighters from the Israeli Air Force
will be accompanied by the largest
deal which Israel Aircraft Industries
(IAI) has ever made with the U.S.
For IAI, well-informed sources
here said, the contract to service and
maintain the Kfirs in the United
States is worth between $65 and $75
million over the rext three years.
The U.S. Navy wants the Kfirs
because the Israeli-made fighters are
thought to do an excellent job
simulating Soviet-made Mig-21s in
combat training exercises.
The New York Times has re-
ported that the Navy is in the final
stages of concluding a separate deal
with China to buy some Mig-21s, but
those aircraft are unlikely to be made
available to th U.S. before 1986-
1987.
The newspaper quoted a U.S.
Navy spokesman as saying that
pending the contract with China and
the actual delivery of the planes, the
Navy will lease the Kfirs.
"Und6r the terms of the loan," it
added, "Israel Aircraft Industies will
be paid to maintain the aircraft but
Israel will retain ownership."
In a complicated transaction, the
12 planes will be taken from the Is-
r.pii Air Force. They will be leased to
the U.S. at no cost. unaer a separate
contract, IAI will be exclusively re-
sponsible for servicing the planes at
an Air Force base in Virginia.
Under U.S. law, the Navy can
not enter into any formal barter ar-
rangement with a foreign govern-
ment, but well-informed sources who
have closely followed the U.S.-Israeli
negotiations over the Kfir lease said
the Israeli military will win some
separate lease arrangement from the
U.S., perhaps involving additional
spare parts for other Israeli military
systems.
"Because of the Kfir lease," one
source said, "the Israeli military will
be able to obtain some additional
U.S. equipment which it otherwise
would not have been able to receive."
All sources here refused to say
exactly what Israel wanted.
Israel has been very anxious to
conclude the deal for two major rea-
sons: It represents a significant
bonanza for IAI; and it underlines Is-
rael's technological expertise which
should help to promote military sales
to other countries. In recent years,
Israel has made a determined push to
increase weapons exports. ° •
Several U.S. aircraft firms have
been competing for the Navy's con-
tact to provide additional fighters
which could simulate the Mig-21.
Understandably, they have sought to
block the Kfir deal. .
Currently, the Navy uses
McDonnell Douglas A-4s and North-
rop F-5s in the adversary roles dur-
ing training exercises. But the Kfir is
said to have a more realistic Mig-type
capability and the Navy appears de-
termined to go ahead with the unique
arrangement.
Over the past few years, there
has been a dramatic improvement in
relations between Israel and the U.S.
Navy, in part the result of a more
pro-Israeli attitude reflected by Navy
Secretary John Lehman.
Earlier this year, in a major de-
velopment, the Navy purchased
Israeli-made pilotless reconnais-
sance aircraft. There have also been
increased U.S. Sixth Fleet visits to
Haifa.
There has been a dramatic
improvement in relations
between Israel and the
U.S. Navy
Israeli officials cited the political
importance of having the U.S. Navy
incorporate Israel-made aircraft
fighters — a further indication of the
improved state of military ties be-
tween Washington and -Jerusalem.
Holding up the actual signing of
the Kfir lease is the final Congres-
sional approval of the Navy's 1985
appropriation budget. Congress is in
recess until July 23, but it expected to
approve the Navy budget shortly
thereafter and thereby set the stage
for the Kfir deal.
Defense Minister Moshe Arens,
meanwhile, has expressed hope that
Israel eventually will be able to ex-
port its new-generation Lavi fighter
to the United States.
In an interview with The Wall
Street Journal, Arens said the "amaz-
ing" flight of the Lavi is just begin-
ning.
"It could conceivably happen if
the airplane turns outto be as good as
we hope it's going to be," he said, re-
ferring to possible export sales to the
U.S.
No Lavis are expected to be
ready for export until well into the
1990s, after the plane is introduced
into the Israeli Air Force.
Arens said that sales of what he
called "the big systems" will multiply
Israeli military exports in the coming
years. Already, Israel is reported to
sell worldwide some $1 billion a year
in military equipment.
"We want to be in a situation
where we're reasonably independent,
where it's difficult to put the clamps
on us as the result of dependence on
one sort or another on another coun-
try," said Arens.
.