SOUTH KOREA has requested information on the McDonnell Douglas (MDC) F-15 for its upcoming F-X fighter competition. MDC says that South Korea has not asked for information on the F-18, adding weight to local reports that the air force is leaning towards an F-15-class fighter for the 100-aircraft requirement.
Whether South Korean interest is in the F-15E two-seat deep-strike aircraft or in a single-seat air-superiority version is not yet clear, says MDC.
The US company has studied a single-seat "F-15F" derivative of the F-15E for Thailand (which eventually chose the F-18) and the US Air Force.
South Korea is expected to choose an aircraft to meet its F-X requirement in 1999. Lockheed Martin is likely to offer derivatives of the F-16C/D, already being co-produced by Samsung to meet an earlier requirement. The Dassault Rafale and Eurofighter EF2000 are also likely to be considered.
Source: Flight International
