Article Posted on : - Apr 04, 2012

F-15K fighters. A Boeing photo

DAEGU AIR BASE, S KOREA (BNS): US defence company Boeing has completed the delivery of 21 F-15K Slam Eagle fighter aircraft to the South Korean Air Force.

The delivery of the advanced jets, under the Republic of Korea Air Force's (ROKAF) second phase of fighter modernisation programme, was completed on April 2 when the last two F-15Ks arrived at the Daegu air base in South Korea.

"All Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF) F-15Ks were delivered on cost and on schedule," Boeing said.

The company had received a $2.3 billion contract in 2008 to supply the 21 F-15Ks to the ROKAF.

In February this year, it was awarded a five-year US$300 million Performance Based Logistics (PBL) contract by S Korea's Defence Acquisition Programme Administration (DAPA) to ensure long-term, affordable sustainment of the fighters.

The F-15K is an advanced variant of the F-15E Strike Eagle all-weather ground attack strike fighter.

The ROKAF had received 40 F-15K fighters under the first phase of its fighter modernisation programme in 2008.

The fleet service life of the fighters is planned through 2040 and beyond, Boeing said.