Blog Series: Tales from the Lithuanian KGB Crypt
Tale No. 2: A KGB Source Reports Rumors About the Continued Production of the Israeli Jet Fighter Lavi
The original document was scanned and uploaded by the Genocide and Resistance Research Centre of Lithuania on October 16, 2020. It can be accessed here.
Translation below by Filip Kovacevic, PhD
Secret
Doc. No. 1
To the Chief of the 1st Department of the KGB of the Lithuanian SSR
Colonel Comrade Karinauskas, V. L.
Regarding the Production of the Israeli Jet Fighter Lavi
From our source [ARIEL], on a private visit in Israel [January 6, 1988], we have received information regarding the production of the new secret Israeli jet fighter Lavi in an aircraft plant somewhere near Tel-Aviv. Relying on the information from the Israeli press as well as the data received from the person who works at the plant where the jet fighter was developed and is, at this time, being produced, our source reported the following: The jet fighter Lavi was completely developed by Israeli specialists. Its documentation was classified as top secret; however, the fact of its existence became known to the military-industrial complex of the United States and since the jet fighter was, according to its characteristics, superior to the U.S. jet fighter Phantom purchased by the Israeli Ministry of Defense, the U.S. put maximum pressure on Israel to give up the production of the fighter jet. In 1987-1988, there was an official announcement in the pro-government newspapers of Israel that the production of the new jet fighter Lavi was “frozen” and would not be re-started any time soon; however, according to the report of the person who works at the aircraft plant, the production of Lavi has continued in the conditions of secrecy from the Israeli public and possibly also from the United States. All persons who are engaged in the production of the jet fighter Lavi have been moved to the night shift. One aircraft is allegedly produced every week.
For your information.
Acting Chief of the 2nd Directorate of the KGB of the Lithuanian SSR
Colonel Kosakovsky, G. I. [signed]
24.03.1988
