The form of the Lavi was very much in tune with that of the American General Dynamics (now Lockheed) F-16 "Fighting Falcon" save for the use of a delta-wing configuration (it was also lighter and dimensionally smaller). Many other design qualities seemed to come from the F-16 which is of no surprise - the IAF adopted the lightweight multirole fighter and put it through its paces in the many Israeli-Arab conflicts in the decades that followed. The United States also served as a major partner to the Lavi's development. The F-16 - along with the McDonnell Douglas (now Boeing) F-15 "Eagle" still form the primary over-battlefield component of the IAF pending the arrival of more advanced types such as the Lockheed F-35 "Lightning II".
Three Lavi prototypes were eventually completed - the first two representing a two-seat form (the remaining three were to mark single-seat models). A first flight was had on December 31st, 1986 and the second prototype followed into the air in March of 1987. Power came from a single Pratt & Whitney PW1120 afterburning turbofan engine developing 20,600 pounds of thrust, providing for a maximum speed of 1,220 miles per hour, a range out to 2,300 miles, a service ceiling of 50,000 feet and a rate-of-climb reaching 50,000 feet-per-minute. Digital Fly-By-Wire (FBW) controlling made the inherently unstable delta canard configuration flyable and highly agile. The aircraft was powerful, fast and could present a formidable multi-role player in the inventory of the IAF.
Despite the steam being gained by the Lavi project, there were those within the Israeli ranks that did not champion the product as they saw the existing, readily-available F-16 could already accomplish all that was to be handled by the Lavi. Additionally, there were elements within the United States government and defense industry, particularly competing aviation concerns, that saw the Lavi as a direct threat to the global market share - particularly if Israel had decided to showcase its new aircraft on the world stage.
Under political pressure from the United States, a vote was held by the Israeli government which saw the Lavi narrowly cancelled. The United States rewarded the country by offering concessions through future military deals as well as continued regional support. This then led to the procurement of ninety F-16 (C-models) Fighting Falcons and effectively ended the Lavi program in 1987 - leaving just two prototypes and three incomplete airframes to show for the work. A third prototype joined the stock when parts from the forth and fifth airframe were cannibalized. This addition was used solely in the technology demonstration role to trial and evaluate key systems and subsystems used in other programs. The two remaining prototypes were saved from the scrapman's torch by becoming preserved showpieces.
Some industry analysts since have found similarities with the abandoned Lavi product in the relatively new Chengdu "J-10" multi-role fighter adopted by the Chinese Air Force, sparking talk of technology transfers between the two countries (the Lavi featured some protected American systems). There has been no official word as to whether a formal partnership deal had been struck by the sides and there probably never will be but a side-by-side comparison certainly showcases some similarities between the designs - even if they are superficial.
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