1. A Lavi logo from Israel Aircraft Industries, as popularized at the height

of the development effort. (Author’s collection)

2. Air power played a decisive role in the 1967 Six Day War, beginning

with the destruction of the Egyptian air force. Depicted are the burned-out

remains of three Egyptian MiG-21s, as viewed from an Israeli fighter-

bomber. (GPO)

3. An A-4 Skyhawk provides air cover to Israeli troops on the Golan

Heights during the Yom Kippur War. The Skyhawk squadrons would

experience severe losses from enemy SAM batteries. (GPO)

4. From left-to-right are IAI Director Al Schwimmer, Defense Minister

Shimon Peres, and Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin at the public roll-out

ceremony for the Kfir in April 1975. (Moshe Milner, GPO)

5. A Kfir roars overhead at the unveiling for the canard-equipped Kfir C2

in July 1976. The black-and-orange triangles on the wings were intended

for ease of recognition, to avoid friendly-fire accidents. (Yaacov Saar,

GPO)

6. The YF-16 and YF-17 prototypes in a rare joint photograph. The Israeli

air force followed the development of both programs with keen interest.

(USAF)

7. One of Israel’s first F-16As is greeted at an official welcoming

ceremony in July 1980. (Yaacov Saar, GPO)

8. Prime Minister Menachem Begin (left) is accompanied by Air Force

Commander Maj. Gen. David Ivry (right) as he tours the Israeli F-16

squadron responsible for the Osirak nuclear reactor raid. (Chanania

Herman, GPO)

9. From left-to-right: Moshe Arens, Prime Minister Menachem Begin, and

Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. “Raful” Eitan prepare for a press briefing on the

Osirak nuclear reactor raid. (Chanania Herman, GPO)

10. A prototype F-16XL puts its extensive weapons load on display.

Proposed to the USAF as a deep strike platform, the F-16XL eventually

lost-out to the F-15E. Despite Israeli interest in the type, it never reached

production. (USAF)

11. Japan’s F-2 was another derivative of the F-16, featuring a stretched

fuselage and an enlarged wing – offering additional payload and range –

as well as a stronger, two-piece canopy. (USAF)

12. Defense Minister Moshe Arens meets with Secretary of Defense

Caspar Weinberger. Although the two seldom saw eye-to-eye, Defense

Minister Arens was at least on better speaking terms with the secretary

than his predecessor was. (DoD)

13. President Reagan meets with Prime Minister Yitzhak Shamir, Defense

Minister Moshe Arens, and Secretary of State George Shultz in November

1983. (Yaacov Saar, GPO)

14. President Reagan addresses the Press Corps on the White House lawn

on November 29, 1983, where he first calls upon Congress to approve the

use of FMS funding to assist in developing the Lavi. (Yaacov Saar, GPO)

15. Technicians install components into the engineering mockup of the

Lavi, in July 1985. (Herard Reogorodetzki, GPO)

16. The engineering mockup was used to test the fit of various electronic,

fuel, and hydraulic systems, prior to the assembly of the prototypes.

(Herard Reogorodetzki, GPO).

17. Air Force Commander Maj. Gen. Amos Lapidot points out features of

the Lavi cockpit for Prime Minister Shimon Peres in July 1985. The

engineering mockup can be seen in the background. (Chanania Herman,

GPO)

18. Dov Zakheim (right) meets with Prime Minister Yitzhak Shamir.

Secretary of Defense Caspar Weinberger is in the background. (Chanania

Herman, GPO)

19. Official roll-out ceremony for the first two Lavi prototypes, in July 1986. (Nati Harnik)

20. At the time of the roll-out ceremony, the first prototype was undergoing preparation for first flight, and had

not yet been painted in its flight test colors. The second prototype, shown here, was therefore rolled out for the

official welcoming. (Nati Harnik)

21. The number one Lavi prototype is prepared for a flight test in February 1987. (Nati Harnik, GPO)

22. The number one Lavi prototype in flight test, in January 1987. (IAI, GPO)

23. Protesters march outside of the Prime Minister’s office in Jerusalem,

condemning the cancellation of the Lavi program. (Maggi Ayalon, GPO)

24. Angry protesters near IAI’s manufacturing facility in Lod set fire to

tires and block access to the airport following the Lavi cancellation

decision. (Maggi Ayalon, GPO)

25. Introduced over a decade-and-a-half after the Lavi cancellation, the F-

16I finally offered the kind of deep strike capability that the Lavi was once

intended to provide. (USAF)

26. The Lavi Technology Demonstrator makes an appearance during an

Independence Day Open House – the last member of its breed. (Ziv

Koren, GPO)

27. Despite being a much larger airplane, the Chengdu J-10 betrays its

kinship with the Lavi. (Chinese Internet)