SEOUL (AFP): South Korea plans to finalise the purchase of 40 next-generation F-35 jet fighters from US aerospace giant Lockheed Martin later this year, Seoul's military procurement agency said.
"We will... push to sign the contract in the third quarter... after testing and further negotiations," Jung Kwang-Sun, the Defense Acquisition Program Administration's aircraft department director, told reporters in a briefing on Jan. 27.
The South's air force has been looking to upgrade its ageing fleet of Boeing F-4 and F-5 fighters in the light of North Korea's growing nuclear threat.
Jung did not specifically name the F-35s, but they are the only jet fighters on offer that meet the requirement -- laid down by the South Korean joint chiefs of staff last month -- for a stealth-capable fighter.
The absence of a stealth capability was behind the military's decision in September to block a $7.7 billion deal to buy 60 of Boeing's F-15 fighters.
The Boeing aircraft was the only one to come in under the $7.7 billion budget approved by parliament.
The tender has since been adjusted, although Jung declined to give details on the cost of the 40 F-35s, saying it would require both finance ministry and parliamentary approval.
"If we choose to buy F-35s, we will choose to buy the F-35A that has been adopted by the US Air Force," he said, adding they would be delivered from 2018 onwards.
The F-35A takes off and lands conventionally. The F-35B variant can land vertically, like the obsolete Harrier plane, and its users will include the US Marines and Britain's armed forces.
S Korea to finalise F-35 jet fighter deal this year
Article Posted on : - Feb 03, 2014
Other Related News
New DPSUs will make India 'Aatmanirbhar' in defence sector: Rajnath Singh
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday exuded confidence that the new defence public sector undertakings (DPSUS) will set new dimensions in quality, turnover and profitability.
The Indian Air Force, in its flight trials evaluation report submitted before the Defence Ministry l..
view articleAn insight into the Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft competition...
view articleSky enthusiasts can now spot the International Space Station (ISS) commanded by Indian-American astr..
view article