Article Posted on : - Jun 19, 2012

The F-15 Silent Eagle (F-15SE) demonstrator aircraft. A Boeing photo

SEOUL (BNS): South Korea has received bids from three global companies for a multi-billion dollar contract to supply 60 combat aircraft to its air force.

Two US companies, Boeing and Lockheed Martin, and European conglomerate EADS have fielded their F-15SE, F-35A and Eurofighter Typhoon fighters respectively for the deal valued worth over 10 trillion won (US$ 8.6 billion).

The South Korean Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) announced the proposals on Monday, the last date for submitting bids for the deal.

The Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF) will procure the advanced combat jets under the third phase of its fighter modernisation programme, code-named "F-X."

It has already received 60 F-15K Slam Eagle jets from the US under the first two phases of the programme.

DAPA said it intends to choose the winner of the contract in October 2012 so as to allow the ROKAF to begin deploying the new fighter jets from 2016.