South Korea's national defence ministry has revealed details of the criteria that will be used to select the winner in the $3 billion F-X next-generation fighter competition.
Seoul is working towards a final decision on the 40-aircraft deal by mid-year - after the programme was delayed by up to six months. Competing for the contract are Boeing's F-15K, Eurofighter's Typhoon, Dassault pitching the Rafale and a Russian consortium proposing the Sukhoi Su-35.
Under the ministry's selection guidelines, four factors will be considered: life-cycle costs, operational capability, interoperability with existing weapons and technology transfer.
However, if no clear winner emerges at the end of the first stage, a second round of evaluation will take strategic security considerations into account, plus offers of help in boosting exports of South Korean products.
The ministry is hinting that if the competition reaches the second stage, Boeing will have an advantage. Deputy minister for acquisition Choi Dong-jin is quoted as saying South Korea's military alliance with the USA would be given "top priority" in the second round.
Industry sources, however, suggest the comments could be aimed at appeasing US concerns about delays in the competition, and the threat of a rejection of the F-15K, considered the front-runner.
South Korea's defence procurement agency will host all four bidders in Seoul on 14 January to complete price negotiations.
Following the submission of the best and final offers on price, the defence ministry will complete its evaluation before handing its recommendations to the government. The final decision will be taken by president Kim Dae-jung.
Source: Flight International
