Paul Lewis/SEOUL
South Korea's stalled E-X airborne early warning (AEW) programme is attracting renewed international interest, with Boeing/Northrop Grumman seeking US Government approval to offer the 737/MESA, while Israel Aircraft Industries (IAI) and Raytheon have broadened their teaming agreement to propose the Airbus A310/Elta Phalcon.
South Korea has asked Boeing to submit a new AEW proposal based on the MESA-equipped 737-700 shortlisted for Australia's project Wedgetail. The US company had originally offered its 767-200-based airborne early warning and control system (AWACS) developed for Japan, but financial pressure is forcing Seoul to consider smaller and cheaper options.
"They want an AWACS, but for less money," says a US defence source. The South Korean Ministry of National Defence is expected to seek fresh funding in fiscal year 2000 to restart the E-X project after a hiatus of almost two years. In late 1996, South Korea shortlisted the AWACS and Phalcon 767 versions, and the Ericsson Erieye-equipped Saab 2000, but shelved final selection. It hopes to acquire up to four aircraft, with a projected in-service date of 2005-6.
IAI has since dropped its earlier 767 proposal, modelled on the 707/Phalcon - sold to Chile and which was equipped with nose-mounted and conformal side arrays - in favour of the A310 platform. The aircraft, fitted with a dorsal mounted electronically scanned array and EL/L8312 radar, will now be marketed worldwide under a new agreement signed with Raytheon.
The A310/Phalcon version offered to Australia would be equipped with seven Raytheon multifunction displays, with the option for two more, and integrated electronic support measures. The system is also being proposed to Turkey, which has stipulated a provision for 12 workstations. IAI and Raytheon are discussing a direct commercial sale to South Korea, but the inclusion of a datalink and local access to source codes on the 737 offer will require a US Government export licence.
Planned discontinuation of the Saab 2000 production line has also forced Ericsson to modify its Erieye proposal to South Korea. The Swedish company is now offering its S-band radar and active phased array antenna installed on the Embraer RJ-145, similar to the configuration already ordered by the Brazilian air force.
Source: Flight International
