ANDREW DOYLE / SINGAPORE
South Korea plans to start work on an indigenous F-16-class fighter in 2003, using technology it acquires as part of its F-X advanced fighter purchase.
Planning requirements call for the new fighter to become operational by 2015 to replace South Korean air force Lockheed Martin F-16s and McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantoms.
Defence minister Kim Dong Shin says initial design will take two to three years, followed by five to six years of full-scale development and three to four years of testing. The winner of the potentially $4 billion, 40-aircraft F-X requirement is expected to be announced in November after the deadline was extended from late-July to allow more time for industrial offset negotiations (Flight International, 24 - 30 April).
F-X contenders are: Boeing offering the F-15K; Eurofighter with the Typhoon; the Dassault Aviation Rafale, and the Sukhoi Su-35. Industry sources say the technical evaluation favoured the Rafale, with the F-15K second and Eurofighter third, though political considerations are likely to play a pivotal role in the final selection.
The offset requirement was increased in April from 30% to 70% of contract value, partly as a result of pressure from South Korean industry.
The government has specified that 40% of the offset must be allocated to manufacturing, while 35% will be technology transfer and 25% come from depot-level maintenance of the chosen aircraft.
Source: Flight International
