Bids for the South Korean F-X frontline fighter competition were scheduled to have been handed in by the middle of this month.
Responses to Seoul's request for proposals are expected from Boeing, which is offering the F-15, Dassault with its Rafale, Eurofighter with its Typhoon, and Sukhoi, which is expected to offer the Su-35.
A decision is expected towards the end of next year, with an initial order for 40 aircraft. Deliveries are due to begin from 2004. Substantial industrial participation, possibly with final assembly, is expected to be offered to Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) as part of the package. KAI was formed last year by the merger of the bulk of the aerospace businesses of Daewoo, Hyundai and Samsung.
Boeing and Eurofighter partner BAE Systems have been selected as the preferred negotiating party for a 30% stake in KAI, after the rival KAI Global Alliance- comprising Lockheed Martin, Aerospatiale Matra, Dassault Aviation, Thomson-CSF and Snecma - failed to meet the deadline to submit proposals.
Source: Flight International
