PP
Key Facts
Type
Policy
Sector
Not specified
Industry
Not specified
Status
Draft
Country
Israel
Also Known As
No alternate names
Tags
nuclear proliferationespionagetechnology smugglingkrytron exportIsraeli intelligence
Overall Confidence
85%
Internal Notes
No notes
Key Information
Positions
No positions added
Policy Type
Program
Implementing Body
Israeli Ministry of Defense
Effective Date
Not specified
Expiration Date
No expiration
Status
Expired
Related Legislation
No related legislation
About
Clandestine codename 'Project Pinto' for LAKAM's (the Israeli Ministry of Defense's) krytron smuggling operation, conducted between 1979 and 1983 through Milchan's companies. The operation involved the illegal export of approximately 810 krytrons from MILCO International Inc., a front company established by Richard Kelly Smyth at the behest of Arnon Milchan, to Heli Trading Company Ltd. in Israel before delivery to the Israeli Ministry of Defense. Krytrons served as high-speed switches for nuclear detonation systems, and the Israeli Ministry of Defense funded the purchases. Benjamin Netanyahu was employed at Heli Trading during the operation and reportedly met multiple times with Smyth.
Key Relationships
SV
Smyth v. Milchan
resulted_in
FBI declassified files and IRmep reporting identify 'Project Pinto' as the codename for the Ministry of Defense operation to illegally procure krytrons from MILCO via Heli Trading. The Ministry of Defense ordered and paid Heli Trading for the krytrons, which Heli sourced from Smyth's MILCO. Netanyahu, who was Prime Minister in 2012, issued a gag order preventing Milchan from discussing 'Project Pinto.'
Since 1979
Milchan Brothers
resulted_in
The codename for the Israeli Ministry of Defense operation under which Heli Trading procured the illegal krytrons from the United States. (relationship to Heli Trading Ltd.)
LAKAM
resulted_in
Project Pinto was the codename for LAKAM's operation to smuggle 810 krytrons from the United States to Israel through front companies MILCO (California) and Heli Trading (Tel Aviv). The operation ran from 1980-1983 and resulted in the indictment of Richard Smyth in 1985. FBI files indicate that Benjamin Netanyahu worked at Heli Trading during this period. Israel's Ministry of Defense issued a gag order preventing Arnon Milchan from discussing Project Pinto.
Since 1980
Recent Events
Arnon Milchan appointed Ringleader and Lead Operative
Served as Ringleader and Lead Operative for Project Pinto
1/1/1979
Benjamin Netanyahu appointed Employee and Logistics Liaison at Heli Trading Company
Served as Employee and Logistics Liaison at Heli Trading Company for Project Pinto
1/1/1979
Benjamin Blumberg appointed Head of LAKAM
Served as Head of LAKAM for Project Pinto
1/1/1979
Rafi Eitan appointed LAKAM Spymaster
Served as LAKAM Spymaster for Project Pinto
1/1/1979
Project Pinto krytron smuggling operation conducted
Clandestine codename 'Project Pinto' for the Israeli Ministry of Defense krytron smuggling operation, conducted between 1979 and 1983 through Milchan's companies
1/1/1979