By Catherine Putz
Washington has reportedly nixed a fighter jet deal worth $400 million, over concerns about technology leakage.
This Sunday, the United States blocked the sale of 12 T-50 Golden Eagles from Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) to Uzbekistan the Korea Times reports.
The jets, jointly developed by KAI and Lockheed Martin in 2006, are designed as supersonic trainers and multirole fighters. Lockheed Martin promotes them as delivering “the fighter-like performance and capabilities needed to eliminate 5th Generation training gaps and inefficiencies.” Although the T-50 and its variants are Korea’s first indigenous supersonic aircraft, the jets use Lockheed Martin’s avionics system and engines, making their sale a matter of U.S. concern. Although Lockheed Martin’s advertising material proclaim that the T-50 was “envisioned to be exported to other countries” it seems Uzbekistan doesn’t quite measure up.
A source told the Korea Times that “KAI has been in negotiations with the Uzbek government to export the supersonic trainers, but the U.S. government is opposing the deal, citing possible technology leakage and diplomatic policy.”
A presumably Korean military source honed in on Uzbekistan’s relations with Russia as the main cause for concern in comments to the Korea Times, saying, “As Uzbekistan has close ties with Russia, the U.S. is worried that an export of T-50s to Uzbekistan may lead to its technologies being transferred to Russia.”
Read the full story at The Diplomat