Israel Aircraft Industries Lavi

Lavi B01 during first flight; note foreplane angle.

In 1968, when France embargoed fifty Dassault Mirage 5 fighters ordered and paid for by Israel, it was decided to build a local, unlicensed copy as the IAI Nesher. Israel determined to rely as little as possible on imported aircraft to supply its air force, resulting in the developed IAI Kfir. While adequate, these would need to eventually be replaced with a more modern, capable aircraft. In 1980 a program was initiated for an interdiction and close support aircraft to replace the Kfir and American-acquired A-4 Ahit aircraft. This aircraft would also be capable of defending itself against enemy aerial opposition. A two-seat combat-capable training variant was also planned, which would replace F-4 Kurnass aircraft used in the training role. First referred to as the Super Kfir, then the Arye, it became known as the Lavi.

Early Lavi concept.

The Lavi used a configuration similar to that of the then-General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon: single-engine, single-tail, with underslung inlet, bubble canopy and wingtip-mounted missiles. However, it was not a copy, being somewhat smaller and featuring a low-set delta-wing with 54 degrees of leading-edge sweepback and canard foreplanes instead of a conventional tail. Dual seats were designed in from the outset, as it was felt that it would be much easier to convert this design to the single-seat configuration, rather than vice-versa. Twenty-two percent (by weight) of the aircraft consisted of carbonfibre composites, including the wings and canards. Composite design was by the American Grumman company. The Lavi was planned as a Contol-Configured-Vehicle, whereby high performance is achieved by making the aircraft inherently unstable and flyable only via computerized control. The Lavi utilized advanced fly-by-wire control system, fire-control radar, electronic countermeasures, HOTAS, navigation, and weapons delivery system. The cockpit layout and design was influenced by a committee of which included combat pilots, and measurements were taken of many current air force pilots in order to achieve a perfect fit.

Rollout of Lavi B01 and B02, July 1986

Unfortunately for the IDF/AF, Israel was in an economic downturn and was dependent on American financial backing for the Lavi. Inevitable cost escalations, combined with American fears that the Lavi would compete directly with exported US aircraft brought pressure to bear on the Israeli government to terminate the program. With only the first two prototypes complete, the Lavi was narrowly cancelled on 30 August 1987. Some components of the first two prototypes were utilized in completing the third airframe as a private-venture technology demonstrator (TD). The second prototype was put on museum display, but the first prototype, along with the unfinished fourth and fifth airframes, were melted down for scrap. The TD was utilized for some time as a flying testbed for developing the advanced avionics systems of the Lavi for use in other applications. One of these, allegedly, is the Chinese CAC J-10 fighter, which bears a striking resemblance to the Lavi. Ultimately, Israel obtained more American F-15 and F-16 aircraft to make up for the Lavi requirement, but Israel still remains without a true homegrown fighter aircraft.

Second Lavi prototype, B02.

Timeline

• February 1980: Program initiated.
• October 1982: Full-scale development started.
• July 1986: Roll-out of first two prototypes, B01 and B02.
• 31 December 1986: First flight of first prototype, B01.
• 30 March 1987: First flight of second prototype, B02.
• 30 August 1987: Program cancelled.
• 25 September 1989: First flight of third prototype / technology demonstrator, B03.

Specifications	Lavi
Designer(s)	?
Mission Type	Close air support, interdiction, strike; secondary air defense; later used as technology demonstrator
Powerplant	1 x 12,500 lb (5,670 kg) s.t. Pratt & Whitney PW1120 turbojet, 18,600 - 20,620 - 20,723 lb (8,437 - 9,353 - 9,400 kg) reheated s.t.
Dimensions
Span	28 ft 9.67 in (8.87 m)
Length	47 ft 9.67 in (14.57 m)
Height	15 ft 8.25 in (4.78 m)
Wing area	355.75 sq ft (33.05 m2)
Weights
Empty	15.305 - 15,498 lb (6,942 - 7,030 kg)
Basic Take-off	22,024 lb (9,990 kg)
Max	37,478 - 40,500 - 42,500 lb (17,000 - 18,370 - 19,277 kg)
Performance
Max speed	921 mph above 36,000 ft (1,482 km/hr above 11,000 m) (Mach 1.80 - 1.85) 1,222 mph @ high altitude (1,965 km/hr @ high altitude) (Mach 1.85)
Cruise speed	?
Penetration speed, low	619 mph (997 km/hr) with 2 x wingtip AAMs & 8 x 750 lb M117 bombs 687 mph (1,106 km/hr) with 2 x wingtip AAMs & 2 x 2,000 lb Mk 84 bombs
Initial climb rate	?
Service ceiling	?
Combat radius	Air-ground mission, lo-lo-lo: 280 - 691 miles (450 - 1,112 km) Air-ground mission, hi-lo-hi, 2 x Mk 84 or 6 x Mk 82 bombs: 1,324 miles (2,131 km) Air-air mission, CAP: 1,150 miles (1,853 km)
Range	?
Endurance	?
Turn rate (Mach 0.8, 15,000 ft [4,575 m])	13.2 deg/sec sustained, 24.3 deg/sec max
Max roll rate	300 deg/sec
Take-off run	c. 1,000 ft (305 m)
g limit	B01, B02: +9 B03 TD: +7.2
Armament	1 x 30 mm DEFA Type 552 (Improved) cannon Up to 16,000 lb (7,257 kg) of external stores on four wing and seven fuselage stations, including air-to-surface missiles, bombs, rockets, etc., and/or fuel tanks on two inner wing stations, plus air-to-air missiles on wingtips
Crew	B01, B02: One B03 TD: two
User	Israel (IDF/AF, not operational)
Number built	Three, plus two partially built
Construction Numbers	B01, B02, B03, B04, B05
Serial Numbers	?
Test Pilots	Menachem Shmul

Early Lavi Concept

Two-seat Lavi

Single-seat Lavi

Additional Information

Names
• Ahit = Black Vulture (Douglas A-4 Skyhawk); also Aa-it.
• Arye = ?
• Kfir = Lion Cub.
• Kurnass = Sledgehammer (McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II).
• Lavi = Young Lion.
• Nesher = Eagle.
Comparison of Lavi and Peers
• Specifications
More Pictures

Web Links

• Aircraft Stories
  • IAI Lavi
• Aircraft of the World
  • Israel Aircraft Industries (IAI) Lavi
• Batman's HomePage
  • B03 Technology Demonstrator
• Gustin's Military Aircraft Database
  • IAI Lavi
• Serge Batoussov Page
  • IAI Lavi

Lavi refuelling in-flight from A-4 Ahit.

Sources

1. Born in Battle: Defence Update International. Number 79.
2. Born in Battle: Defence Update International. Number 81, June-July 1986.
3. Chant, Christopher. Aircraft Prototypes. Chartwell Books, Secaucus, New Jersey, 1990. ISBN 1-55521-581-3.
4. Green, William and Gordon Swanborough. The Complete Book of Fighters: An illustrated encyclopedia of every fighter aircraft built and flown. Salamander Books, London, 1994. ISBN 0-86101-643-2
5. "Israel Aircraft Industries Lavi." WarPlanes Cards, 1990.
6. Jane's All the World's Aircraft. 1980 to 1991 editions.
7. Lightbody, Andy, ed. "Forward Observations: Lion Takes to the Skies." International Combat Arms: The Journal of Defense Technology. May 1987, Volume 5 Number 3. ISBN 0-8227-2609-2.
8. Poyer, Joe. "International Defense Profile: Israeli Defense Forces." International Combat Arms: The Journal of Defense Technology. March 1988, Volume 6 Number 2. ISBN 0-8227-2614-9.
9. Taylor, Michael J.H., ed. Soviet & East European Major Combat Aircraft: Including the World's Non-aligned Nations. Tri-Service Press, London, 1990. ISBN 1-85488-002-0.

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