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NO SECTION, Israel

Date Posted: 23-Apr-1988

Jane's Defence Weekly

COLOMBIA TO BUY FIGHTERS FROM

ISRAEL
TEXT: COLOMBIA is to purchase 13 Kfir fighters from Israel in a deal estimated to be worth $200
million. The fighter aircraft will be upgraded by Israel Aircraft Industries from Kfirs currently held
in storage by the air force.
The modification work, including an advanced avionics fit, will upgrade the Kfir to the C7 version
instead of the previous C2.
IAI stopped production of the Kfir more than a year ago after its contract with the Israeli Air Force
ended. Several months ago Defence Minister Itzhak Rabin revealed that a substantial number of
these aircraft were in storage and would not be put into service due to cuts in the defence
budget. It is the stockpile of inactive Kfirs which has enabled IAI to offer the aircraft to various
countries with early delivery dates.
Any contract for the sale of Kfirs requires the approval of the US Government as the aircraft are
equipped with USbuilt systems such as the J79 engine. To date, US approval has been
forthcoming only for the sale of the aircraft to Ecuador. Two further squadrons have also been
leased to the US Navy for aggressor training.
The contract with Columbia includes a general upgrading of the Kfir, a supply of spare parts and
pilot training. Talks on the sale have been under way for well over a year and have stalled at least
once due to Colombian financial problems.
Sources in Israel say that contract implementation will start only after a first payment from
Colombia.
Under the terms of the agreement, Israel will make credit available for eight years. In addition, a
portion of the payment will be covered by the importation by Israel of $100 million worth of
Colombian coal over the next four years. The work on the Kfirs is to be conducted at IAI's plant
which specialises in the upgrading of military aircraft. The plant was established as part of IAI's
reorganisation programme which it implemented following the collapse of the Lavi project.
CAPTION: Photograph: Colombia bound Israel sells air force Kfirs

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