SOUTH AFRICAN DEFENSE MINISTER'S ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF ISRAELI INVOLVEMENT IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF A NEW SOUTH AFRICAN FIGHTER AIRCRAFT; UNSUCCESSFUL SOUTH AFRICAN ATTEMPT TO PURCHASE MIRAGE AIRCRAFT FROM AUSTRALIA

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: FOIA Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 06585519
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 28, 2022
• Document Release Date: August 30, 2018
• Case Number: F-2016-01241
• Publication Date: January 23, 1989

Approved for Release: 2018/08/28 C06585519
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/NOFORN
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NOFORN//20420412
Classified
Reason:
D
(S/
ISRAELI
AIRCRAFT;
AIRCRAFT
Central
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by: UNSPECIFIED
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April 12, 2042
SOUTH AFRICAN DEFENSE MINISTER'S ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF
IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF A NEW SOUTH AFRICAN FIGHTER
SOUTH AFRICAN ATTEMPT TO PURCHASE MIRAGE
AUSTRALIA
Agency
/NF) SUBJ:
INVOLVEMENT
UNSUCCESSFUL
FROM
Intelligence
January 1989
Doc Number
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY INFORMATION REPORT, NOT
INTELLIGENCE
(Si1
rNF)
FINALLY EVALUATED
(U) CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
(U) INFORMATION
T-WNINTEL-NOFORN-NOCONTRACT-
REPORT, NOT FINALI PvAI HATED
INTELLIGENCE. REPORT CLASS�S-E-G-R-F.-
23 JANUARY 1989
I1ST:
(U) EXCLUSIVE DISSEMINATION TO ADDRESSEES LISTED AT END OF REPORT
(U) REPORT CLASS
FOREIGN NATIONALS
INFORMATION CONTROLLED
PORTIONS CARR;rETLASSIFICATION
OF MESSAGE SE
S E E T--WARNING --INTELLIGENCE SOURCES OR METHODS INVOLVED-NOT RELEASABLE TO
-- NOT RELEASABLE TO CONTRACTORS/CONSULTANTS-11ISSFMINIATinN AN) FxTpAr-rinN OF
BY ORIGINATOR Al
AND CON I HOLS OF OVERALL
DOCUMENT. END
SOURCE A
CONTEXT A
(Si
'NF) 1
SOUTH AFRICAN MINISTER OF DEFENSE MAGNUS ((MALAN))
ACKNOWLEDGED EFFORTS CURRENTLY UNDERWAY BY ARMSCOR SUBSIDIARY ATLAS AIRCRAFT
CORPORATION TO DEVELOP A NEW FIGHTER AIRCRAFT. MALAN SAID THE AIRCRAFT WAS BASED ON
THE ISRAELI "LAVI" AND THAT A NUMBER OF ISRAELI TECHNICIANS FORMERLY INVOLVED WITH THE
LAVI PROJECT HAVE BEEN RECRUITED AND ARE NOW IN SOUTH AFRICA WORKING FOR ATLAS
AIRCRAFT. MALAN SAID IT WILL BE FIVE TO SIX YEARS BEFORE THE AIRCRAFT IS DEPLOYED.
(kw,' (b)(3)
NF) 2. THE SOUTH AFRICAN GOVERNMENT IN LATIk�A '
198 TTEMPTED UNSUCCESSFULLY TO PURCHASE AN UNKNOWN NUMBER OF MIRAGE AIRCRAFT (b)(3)
FROM AUSTRALIA. THE SOUTH AFRICANS ABORTED THEIR ATTEMPT TO PURCHASE THE AIRCRAFT
WHEN THEY REALIZED THE FRENCH GOVERNMENT WOULD NOT AGREE TO THE PURCHASE
BECAUSE OF ITS ARMS EMBARGO AGAINST SOUTH AFRICA rnmrkAFN-r- (b)(1)
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THE AUSTRALIAN
GOVERNMENT ALSO SUPPORTS THE INTERNATIONAL ARMS EMBARGO AGAINST SOUTH AFRICA.
THERE IS NO EVIDENCE AVAILABLE AT THIS TIME TO INDICATE THAT AUSTRALIA HAS EVER
CONTRAVENED THE AGREEMENT.)
(b)(3)
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