By It is probably a good thing for the South Korean military officials to do due diligence in regards to selecting their next generation fighter even it means taking more time to make a selection:
South Korea could delay awarding an eight trillion won ($6.9 billion) contract for 60 advanced fighter planes, the arms procurement agency said Wednesday after setting a new deadline for bids.
The makers of Boeing’s F-15 Silent Eagle, Lockheed Martin’s F-35 Lightning II and the Eurofighter Typhoon had submitted bids when the original deadline expired Monday.
But the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) reopened bidding Tuesday, citing what it called errors in the relevant documents, and set a new date of July 5 for submissions.
“Our plan to make a decision by the end of October is not a deadline, but a target,” DAPA commissioner Noh Dae-Rae told Yonhap news agency in comments confirmed by a spokesman for the agency.
“We could delay the timing of selecting a supplier at any time if it is necessary for the national interest.”
Controversy has erupted over plans to assess the performance of Lockheed’s F-35 using simulators rather than actual test flights with the South’s pilots.
Boeing and EADS, maker of the Eurofighter, agreed on real flights, but Lockheed refused to do so, saying its aircraft is still being developed, Yonhap quoted DAPA officials as saying. [AFP]
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5:25 am on June 22nd, 2012 1
Shocka.
Wish we had indefinitely delayed our deal. Ten years ago.
5:46 am on June 22nd, 2012 2
I haven’t been following the Korean news, but I am assuming this time the process has passed largely without the media selling the rhetoric of the anti-US groups to the common man.
You can understand the 2002-2003 armored vehicle hatefest better if you look closely at the 2001-2002 FX Fighter selection process. To understand that, you can look into the 2000 NK-SK Summit and how the bulk of South Korean society reacted to it — the hope for peace and even future unification much of the society – laregly across political bounderies – that arose.
6:11 am on June 22nd, 2012 3
^ Gee, this is the thanks we get for choosing a crappy 30 year old F15 over the new European jets tens years ago. Now they expect Korea to choose any US jets automatically without even test flying them.
Otherwise, here comes the old “Those ungrateful bastards, let’s get out of Korea…” tripe again.
I hope Korea chooses wisely this time. The Europeans are offering to hand over all their technological know how and teach Korea to build Korea’s own jets, versus the Americans who expect Korea to buy their weapons that are not even built yet, and restrict Korean airforce from flying them without permission from Pentagon.
3:55 pm on June 22nd, 2012 4
Any “real” test flights would probably render it inoperable due to noise pollution (and that’s saying a LOT in the ROK).
I recommend that any jet they buy for over 50 million should have more than one engine.
12:17 am on June 23rd, 2012 5
F-15K has superb capabilities for ROKAF’s requirement. European fighters are not necessarily bad, but compared to the capabilities they provide… they are unnecessarily expensive. The Europeans are also not fond of buying Korean weapons either, which threatens their vulnerable defense industry. Another major deal with the US will pave the way for Korea’s inroad into the US market – in the next generation, as Korea’s defense industry grows, Korea will be selling the US its own weapons. Korea cannot do that with Europe who cannot match the spending power of the US, is in an even deeper economic crisis, and doesn’t plan to maintain a large military. The existing industrial options favor cooperation with the US side.
5:22 am on June 23rd, 2012 6
I have to go with Liz on this one – for more than $50,000,000.00 an airplane should come with at least five or six engines.
6:29 am on June 23rd, 2012 7
How much did the crappy F-16 cost Korea in today’s inflation calculated price?
9:20 am on June 23rd, 2012 8
What crappy F-16… it’s the bestselling and most critically acclaimed fighter in the world. It has seen massive combat experience and numerous generational upgrades that makes each newly built blocks of F-16s nothing like what was built five years ago. It was one of the world’s first aircraft to be equipped with AESA radar.
Do you know even know what you are talking about?
9:34 am on June 23rd, 2012 9
Chaebolga,
All Tom needs to know is which ethnic groups are involved.
At times, he knows 1+1=2, but if he feels the need to say it =3 – in order to feel closer to his ethnic brethren (who actually live in Korea) – he will.
Next week, if he feels the need to say it =2 in order to strike a blow for his supposed brothers and sisters, he will.
In short, like bigots in general, what he says frequently doesn’t make sense factually or logically.
2:18 pm on June 23rd, 2012 10
Tom is the end result of “1984.” He says whatever the Party (PRC) tells him to say. Pure, blind obedience. A willing slave.
But it keeps his rent in Toronto paid, while he posts from the safety of a Starbucks.
7:58 pm on June 23rd, 2012 11
It all depends on tech transfer. Unless there is a foul play. Lockheed seems to have shot itself in the foot. Koreans really didn’t like their reaction. Its going to be a tight race between Boeing and Eurofighter. If Lockheed retools its submission may be…but koreans really didin’t like the American logic. We can’t understand how you could purchase anything without a test flight.
8:02 pm on June 23rd, 2012 12
Our Prez Lee MB is completely a lame duck now. We can’t wait until he leaves the Blue House early next year. I personally think European product is just as viable as American’s. Plus, Europeans are going through tough times. There may be a win-win there. Americans are just too snobby and lack any serv
8:03 pm on June 23rd, 2012 13
Americans lack service attitudes. They got no flexibility due to their arrogant attitudes.
11:17 pm on June 23rd, 2012 14
Tom- how’s that South Korean Space Program going? Remember the astronaut has to go on the inside the spaceship or he will die from fan-death.
3:00 am on June 24th, 2012 15
Test flights could be done over CONUS. Even over our East Sea.
3:03 am on June 24th, 2012 16
Could be made…. Not done… For those picky English teachers.
4:50 am on June 24th, 2012 17
EADS is prepared to provide its source codes. Sounds like it is
something to be considered very seriously.