SOUTH KOREA/FILE: South Korea's military to order 40 of the latest stealth fighter jets, with a second order for 20 warplanes still open

Record ID: 375659

  • Title: SOUTH KOREA/FILE: South Korea's military to order 40 of the latest stealth fighter jets, with a second order for 20 warplanes still open
  • Date: 22nd November 2013
  • Summary: SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA (NOVEMBER 22, 2013) (REUTERS) SOUTH KOREA'S JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF OFFICIALS AND DEFENSE MINISTRY OFFICIALS WALKING IN NEWS CONFERENCE ROOM JOURNALISTS THIRD DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF FORCE PLANNING DIRECTORATE AT SOUTH KOREA'S JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF, SHIN ICK-HYUN, STANDING IN FRONT OF PODIUM IN NEWS CONFERENCE ROOM (SOUNDBITE) (Korean) THIRD DEPUTY DIRECTOR O
  • Embargoed: 7th December 2013 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Korea, Republic of
  • Country: South Korea
  • Topics: Defence / Military
  • Reuters ID: LVADKWP5SF842NF8B1CH3OUSPRUD
  • Story Text: South Korea will buy 40 Lockheed Martin Corp F-35 stealth fighter jets, the country's military chiefs decided on Friday (November 22), with the first delivery expected in 2018, drawing to a close a drawn-out process to beef up the country's defences.
    A Joint Chiefs of Staff meeting agreed that South Korea would be best served by buying warplanes with the most advanced stealth technology and electronic warfare capability.

    "We've modified the requirement operational capabilities (of the warplanes), which are able to strike a strategic target after secretly infiltrating as well as equipped with the most advanced stealth technology and electronic warfare capability so that we can deter North Korea's possible provocations by possessing a decisive retaliatory power," said Shin Ick-hyun, third Deputy Director of Force Planning Directorate at South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff.
    Their decision will be put to a committee chaired by the defense minister for final approval.

    "We will secure forty fight jets after comprehensively considering our deterrence against North Korea's local provocations and security state around the Korean peninsula as well as our revenue," said Shin.

    "What fits into modified requirement operational capabilities is limited to that model," said defense ministry spokesman Kim Min-seok when asked if the military would choose F-35 given the revised requirements.
    The decision sets in motion the South's single biggest defence procurement.
    South Korea was initially expected to give the green light to Boeing Co's F-15, as the aircraft was only the bidder among three fighter jets in the race to fall within Seoul's budget. Under South Korean law, only bids on or under budget are considered.
    In September, South Korea decided to re-examine the terms of a 8.3 trillion won ($7.81 billion) tender to buy 60 fighter jets after rejecting Boeing's bid.
    At the time, South Korea mentioned its need for an advanced, radar-evading jet, later mirrored by the Air Force asking for enhanced technological requirements for the jets and bolstering F-35's chances.
    The remaining 20 fighter jets will be open to various models, the defense ministry spokesman Kim said.
    Given the renewed process, the military and the finance ministry will redesign the budget size, officials said.
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