Complaints of US bias prompt South Korea to reopen contest, but F-15 is still favourite
European fighter manufacturers attended a meeting in Seoul last week to gather information on South Korea's requirement for 20 new fighters, but it is unclear whether they will respond to the request for proposals (RFP) due to the nation's perceived bias towards US companies.
The 2.3 trillion won ($2.5 billion) contract is a follow-up to an order for 40 Boeing F-15Ks placed in 2002, when the US manufacturer was chosen even though France's Dassault Rafale won the evaluation phase. Observers have since said that the South Korean military procurement process appears to lack transparency, citing the number of contracts previously awarded to US companies.
This has led to South Korea reopening its F-X fighter competition, even though it has another 40 F-15Ks on option. The Eurofighter Typhoon, Sukhoi Su-35 and the Rafale could be in the fray for a second time, along with the incumbent F-15K. An indication of South Korea's preference came earlier this year when its Defence Acquisition Programme Administration (DAPA) outlined a requirement for an "F-15-class aircraft", while requesting the opportunity to "see what others have to offer" before making a decision.
Boeing's existing F-15K contract and other orders from South Korea - including a $1.6 billion deal for four Boeing 737-based E-X airborne early warning and control aircraft - remain to its advantage, and the European manufacturers are wary of taking part in a competition that could be weighted against them, say observers. It is unclear whether Dassault will make another bid, and Eurofighter says it will closely study the RFP's contents before coming to a decision.
"All indications point to the F-15," says a Seoul-based industry source. "South Korea must respond to the criticism by opening up the competition, but it is eager to have integration with the rest of its aircraft and equipment, which is almost exclusively US-made. The F-15K is the logical choice."
South Korea will test and evaluate candidate aircraft over the coming months before entering into negotiations which could conclude by December. A contract should be signed around February 2008, with deliveries sought in the 2010-12 timeframe.
General Electric, which won the previous contract to supply F110-129 engines for the first batch of F-15Ks, is likely to face fresh competition from Pratt & Whitney for any follow-on sale.
Source: Flight International
