To bonzonie:
I know that The F-2 is one of the best fighters today, and i read a full story about him in my IAF's magazine...
he's got an excellent avionic system, he can carry an impressing number of weapons and can fly very far.
that's what you got for 100 million $.
i know that The F-16 Block 60 of the UAAF and the F-16I for the IAF are slightly better (again: slightly better!) than the F-2, your goverment was damn right about to take the costly way because she didn't crush your aircraft industry. good choice . In the lavi case my goverment made the right choice of developing new plane, but as i wrote, the USA told her to stop, and of course we had to listen to them. the people in israel was very upset.
can you post some F-2's pictures? maybe someone can do he's repaint from the F-16 Block 50 to he's new operational colors...
PICTURES BELOW) . I looked EVERY WHERE!!! and it was no where to be found!!!!
The lavi didn't make it to operational service but it was a prove that Israel can make a fighter, and even one of the best in the world (even better than the F-16 and cheaper than him). The independent development of a state-of-the-art plane was a first in the annals of Israeli technology.
The Lavi was intended to become the IAF's(Israeli Air Force) standard-bearer and Israel's first line plane. It was to be one of the world's most advanced planes at the turn of the millennium. The single-seat Lavi was intended to replace the Skyhawks, and carry out a variety of air-to-ground attacks at close to medium range, as well as protecting the skies over Israel. The tandem seat model of the Lavi was to serve as an advanced stage training plane, and occasionally carry out combat missions as well.The Lavi was a small, smart, highly robust fighter, that was to be the IAF's solution for the future battlefield. Its uniqueness lay in the combination of a physically small plane with very sophisticated, software-rich systems. This meant lower purchase, usage and maintenance costs, compared to other planes.
The project was cancelled because of budget problem but there are 3 "lavi's that flew, passed all the tests, and was produced and OLNY ONE of them is still flying and is been used as a Technology Demonstrator in the Israeli Aircraft Industrial (IAI)...
Dont be insulted or angered by this post, this is just my opinion, but umm, im sorry, the lavi and f-2 are not even close to matching the f16
the lavi is a campletely new aircraft (the f2 isnt, but it is still very different)
the f2 was made for better maneuverability , but with its cost, it completely defeats its purpose
the lavi is more like the isreali counterpart for the x-31
but with the f16 base (and was probably also built for more maneuverability)
they both have smaller engines (as you can see in the pictures)
basically, if you put the three in a combat situation, best armaments, variants, and everything, the F-16C would come out on top
ps-hmm.. i doubt it costs much more than the f16. Where did you get that info? It probably costs that much because it is still experimental and the parts are being invented at the moment (at least thats what i think)