Bids for the South Korean AH-X attack helicopter competition are expected from eight manufacturers this month, as the future of the programme is beginning to be questioned.
According to analysts, some South Korean defence procurement programmes could be shelved as a result of the current thaw in relations between communist North Korea and South Korea, after the recent summit between the presidents of the two countries, Kim Jong-il and Kim Dae-jung.
"As the summit was encouraging, I dare say that the Ministry of National Defence has drawn up an unofficial list of programmes which may need to be shelved," says one source in Seoul.
The source says the ministry is reassuring participants in the F-X fighter competition that this programme is safe, although doubts remain about the AH-X.
The manufacturers expected to submit bids for the AH-X by the end of July include: Agusta, with the Mangusta ; Bell, which has returned to the competition with its AH-1Z Cobra after allaying Korean doubts about the programme schedule; Boeing with the AH-64D; Denel, proposing the Rooivalk; Eurocopter with the Tiger, and Sikorsky with an armed UH-60.
The South Korean army needs some 30-40 helicopters, with an in-service date around 2004.
Source: Flight International
