South Korean president Kim Dae-Jung is expected to ratify a controversial order for 20 more KF-16 fighters by the end of this month.
The order is being pursued by the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Energy and Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI), which has been manufacturing the Lockheed Martin F-16 Block 52 under licence as the KF-16.
The order will keep the KAI production line active as a stop-gap until T/A-50 Golden Eagle trainer production starts and a decision is made on the F-X fighter. KAI says it expects final approval for the order this month.
The Korean air force has been resisting the order, saying there is no operational requirement for more KF-16s, and fearing the purchase may be financed from F-X funding. Its concern grew recently when plans were revealed for a 15% cut in South Korean defence spending to finance reunification with North Korea.
"The air force has great cause for concern about the F-X budget," says one industrial source, while a source at the Ministry of National Defence confirms that the two procurements are likely to be funded from the same budget.
As expected, the 30 June deadline for F-X bids was met by proposals from Boeing with the F-15, Dassault offering the Rafale, Eurofighter with the Typhoon and Sukhoi proposing the Su-35.
One source says the thaw in relations with North Korea is unlikely to affect the F-X because it, along with other "power projection" needs, is designated as a "post-reunification" requirement.
Source: Flight International
