Ex- Lavi chief calls for new fighter, not $11 billion on F-35

Interesting thoughts from Moshe Arens:

Ex-Lavi program manager and minister of defense Moshe Arens writes in Haaretz today that Israel would be better off launching a joint development program with Russia and India to build a new fighter rather than spend $11 billion to buy 75 Lockheed Martin F-35s.

http://www.flightglobal.com/blogs/the-dewline/2010/07/ex-lavi-chief-calls-for-new-fi.html#comments

Perhaps just another trick to put pressure on the US to reduce the price of the F-35?

AFAIK, if they purchase US equipment they can use the US aid money for that; however if they develop something with other partners they must cover all costs themselves; is this correct? If yes, then there is of course a strong incentive (together with the political ones) to stick to the F-35 — unless the price is becoming too high.

There is also a question of timing. The F-35 should be ready before they can produce a 5. gen fighter with any other partner. How urgently do they need that capability? Probably not urgent, unless they really are thinking about bombing Iran…?