South Korea is being pressed to decide next year on a proposal for another 40 Boeing F-15K fighters and could open a competition as early as this year to select an engine for the additional aircraft.
Boeing rolled out the first of 40 General Electric F110-129-powered F-15Ks last month in front of South Korean air force officials and has begun a campaign to sell a further 40 aircraft that would keep the F-15 production line going until at least 2011.
South Korean defence ministry procurement official Won Jang-hwan has publicly said a secondF-15K buy will not be considered until 2008. However, Won plans to retire this month and Boeing is confident it can sell a second batch after the first F-15K enters service. Deliveries of the 40 F-15Ks acquired in 2002 will begin this October and go through 2008.
Sources say Boeing has told South Korea it must sign any contract for extra F-15Ks next year to avoid a potential gap in production and a significant increase to the cost of additional aircraft. Aircraft ordered in 2006 would be delivered from 2009.
If Singapore selects the Dassault Rafale or Eurofighter Typhoon over the F-15T for its next-generation fighter requirement, South Korea would logically be offered a more attractive price on the second batch.
But sources point out Singapore only plans to initially acquire eight to 12 aircraft for delivery from 2008 so Boeing regardless will need a second South Korean order in 2006. Singapore is expected to make a selection within the next few months, with the F-15T considered favourite, the Typhoon still in contention and the Rafale a long-shot.
Industry sources say that Pratt & Whitney meanwhile is lobbying South Korea to open a competition to select an engine for the second batch of F-15Ks. P&W lostthe initial competition although its F100-220 and -229 engines power Korea's fleet of Lockheed Martin F-16s.
BRENDAN SOBIE/SEOUL
Source: Flight International
