IAI Lavi
Israel Aerospace Industries · Israel · first flew 1986 · fighter
The IAI Lavi was an Israeli-designed canard-delta multirole fighter prototype that demonstrated impressive performance and advanced fly-by-wire technology before the programme was cancelled in 1987 under pressure from the United States, which objected to the threat the Lavi would pose to US fighter exports.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, delta |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × turbofan, fuselage-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 14.57 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | No tailplane |
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Spot it by:
- Israeli canard-delta fighter prototype — programme cancelled 1987
- Close-coupled canard foreplanes with delta wing
- Single Pratt & Whitney PW1120 engine
Compact canard-delta prototype with close-coupled foreplane canards, a cranked delta wing, a single large engine with a ventral intake and tailless configuration; broadly similar in layout to the Eurofighter Typhoon but smaller and with a single engine.
Specifications
- The IAI Lavi has a length of 14.57 m (48 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 8.78 m (29 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 1965 km/h (1221 mph).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Initiated in the late 1970s, the Lavi was intended to replace the A-4 Skyhawk and F-4 Phantom in Israeli Air Force service with a locally designed and built aircraft. Two prototypes flew and demonstrated excellent handling qualities. However, with US funding providing a large share of development cost, American concerns about competition with the F-16 and budget overruns led the Israeli government to cancel the programme in 1987. Technology from the Lavi is widely believed to have influenced China's Chengdu J-10.
Variants
Only the B1 (single-seat) and B2 prototypes were completed; a two-seat B2 variant was planned but never built.
Where you'll see it
Never entered service; both prototypes are preserved, one at the IAF Museum at Hatzerim.
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