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| F-35 Lightning (File Photo) |
By: GREG WALDRON SINGAPORE
South Korea could make a decision in its F-X III competition for 60 fighters by mid-year, and is placing considerable emphasis on offsets and technology transfer.
Although industry sources had said the competition was to be decided late last year, one says the step was delayed by South Korea's presidential election on 19 December 2012.
"DAPA [the Defence Acquisition Program Administration] is still looking at costs involved with the various aircraft," says the source. "They have yet to start really pushing for ways to push costs down. We're still some way from a conclusion. We've heard that a decision could come by mid-2013."
The three rivals for the requirement are the Boeing F-15 Silent Eagle, the Eurofighter Typhoon and the Lockheed Martin F-35, with the companies having submitted formal bids in June 2012. The winner will replace the South Korean air force's obsolescent fleet of McDonnell Douglas F-4E Phantoms.
Read the full story at Flight Global