The Korean Scenarios

[buglerbilly]

01-21-2010 18:00

Fighter, Helicopter Plans to Start in 2011

By Jung Sung-ki

Staff Reporter

Plans to locally develop a fighter aircraft and an attack helicopter will start next year.

The plan is part of comprehensive projects to develop the nation’s aerospace industry over the next decade, the Ministry of National Defense said Thursday.

It was approved by an ad hoc committee of the Ministry of Knowledge and Economy.
To develop the military aircraft industry, the government will begin exploratory development of the KF-X fighter and the Korea Attack Helicopter (KAH) next year.

The defense ministry plans to submit an outline of costs for the project to the National Assembly later this year.

Both programs have been stalled for several years due to questions about their economic and technical feasibility.

The government will develop an aircraft on par with the F-16 Block 50 in cooperation with foreign defense firms, according to officials at the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA). The
KF-X will be armed with up-to-date radar and avionics systems, they said.

DAPA spokesman Kim Young-san said preliminary development for the KF-X will be conducted between 2011 and 2012 with an investment of 4.4 billion won, and full-scale workwill continue until 2021 at a cost of 5 trillion won.

Korea will foot 60 percent of KF-X development costs and will rely on foreign firms to cover the remainder, Kim said.

Among potential foreign bidders for the KF-X effort are Boeing and Eurofighter. Boeing is offering to transfer F/A-18 Super Hornet aircraft technology to help build the KF-X, while Eurofighter wants Korea to join its Eurofighter Typhoon program.

The KF-X had originally aimed to produce and market about 120 aircraft stealthier than Dassault’s Rafale and the Eurofighter Typhoon but not as covert as Lockheed Martin’s F-35 Lightening II.

Facing technical and budgetary difficulties, the required operational capability for the KF-X has been lowered to that similar to the F-16.

The KAH will be a 5 ton light attack helicopter with a seating capacity of six to eight crew members, the spokesman said. Exploratory development will start next year with an estimated budget of 23.2 billion won, he said.

Full-scale development will continue over the next six years with investment of 600 billion won.
Either Korean Air or Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) will develop the KAH with technical assistance from a foreign helicopter maker, the spokesman said.

The selection of a main Korean developer will be made in August.

Sources said Korean Air, a national flag carrier, has the upper hand in the competition, especially since KAI unsuccessfully pushed to develop a medium-heavy attack helicopter based on its Korea Utility Helicopter (KUH), the Surion.

Potential foreign partners for the KAH include AgustaWestland, the U.K.-Italy helicopter maker; Eurocopter, a subsidiary of the European aerospace group EADS; Sikorsky Aircraft; and Boeing.
DAPA plans to purchase foreign heavy attack helicopter under the AH-X program separate from the KAH.

The AH-X effort calls for buying 36 foreign heavy attack helicopters while the KAH program will build about 270 homegrown aircraft.

Both the AH-X and KAH programs are aimed at replacing the Korean Army's aging 500MD TOWs and AH-1Ss. About half of the 500MD TOWs will reach their lifespan of 30 years by 2013, while the AH-1S helicopters have been in operation for more than 16 years.

gallantjung@koreatimes.co.kr

[buglerbilly]

DATE:29/01/10

SOURCE:Flight InternationalSouth Korea eyes development of indigenous fighter and attack helicopter

By Leithen Francis

The South Korean government has decided to fund a two-year study into the development of an indigenous KFX fighter and a Korea Attack Helicopter (KAH), according to the nation's Defence Acquisition Programme Administration (DAPA).

The defence ministry will spearhead the initiative and later this year is expected to submit cost projections, the DAPA says. Seoul will decide at the end of 2012 whether to proceed with full-scale development of the types, it adds.

If the government gives the go-ahead, the timeframe for completing the KAH light attack helicopter would be 2018, with a KFX fighter to follow in 2021, the DAPA says.

Either Korean Air's aerospace company or Korea Aerospace Industries will develop the KAH, with assistance from a foreign partner. Potential partners include AgustaWestland, Boeing, Eurocopter and Sikorsky.

As for the KFX programme, South Korea will foot 60% of the development costs, the DAPA says, adding that the remainder will come from overseas. Some local news reports have cited the Eurofighter consortium and Boeing as potential partners.

To meet its more immediate needs, South Korea plans to call for bids next year on new fighter aircraft, say reports citing unnamed military sources. Seoul also plans to acquire Boeing AH-64 Apache attack helicopters.

[buglerbilly]

DATE:02/02/10

SOURCE:Flight InternationalSINGAPORE 2010: Eurcocopter interested in Korea's KAH

By Leithen Francis

Eurocopter is interested to be involved in South Korea’s newly announced Korean Attack Helicopter (KAH) programme.

“We already have a partnership with Korea on the utility helicopter and beyond that we are interested to be involved in the KAH,” Eurocopter CEO and president Lutz Bertling says at the Singapore Airshow.

The co-operation with Korean Aerospace on the Surion helicopter has worked out well, says Bertling, who quips if you have a strong partnership why change it.

Korea's Defence Acquisition Programme Administration (DAPA) announced recently it is launching a study into a light attack helicopter with a view to having the helicopter built in 2018.

[buglerbilly]

06-22-2010 22:57

Korea Utility Helicopter demonstrates capabilities


The Korea Utility Helicopter (KUH), Surion, flies over an air base in Sacheon, South Gyeongsang Province, in a ceremony to mark its successful initial test flights. / Korea Times photo by Hong In-ki

By Jung Sung-ki
Staff reporter

The prototype of the troop-carrying Korea Utility Helicopter (KUH) demonstrated its capabilities to the public Tuesday after three months of flight tests.

In a ceremony to mark the KUH's successful initial test flights from March 11 to June 7, the locally developed aircraft, named "Surion," gave a 20-minute performance which showed it soaring, stationary hovering, S-shaped maneuvering and diving.

The ceremony was held at an air base in Sacheon, South Gyeongsang Province, before a crowd of 400 guests.

The improved performance followed Surion's maiden flight March 10 when the 8.7-metric-ton aircraft demonstrated a stationary hover at 30 feet about seven months after its rollout.

The helicopter, which can carry two pilots and 11 troops, was jointly built by the Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) and Eurocopter, a subsidiary of the European defense group EADS.

"The initial flight tests have successfully completed, proving the KUH's stable performances," a spokesman for the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) said.

Surion succeeded in performing a hover at 2,000 feet during the tests, he said. The test flights will continue through September before initial production of the helicopter. Mass production is to begin by March 2012.

The KUH program was started in 2006 to produce about 240 utility helicopters to replace the Army's UH-1H and 500MD helicopters.

In 2006, KAI and Eurocopter inked a 1.3 trillion-won ($1.1 billion) research-and-development contract, Seoul's biggest arms deal ever with a non-U.S. company. A production contract worth about 4.4 trillion won is expected to be signed around 2011. The companies plan to set up a joint venture firm to market the KUH globally.

The Surion has a top speed of 240 kilometers per hour, according to KAI. It can hover at 9,258 feet with a climbing speed of 500 feet per minute and stay in the air well over two hours.

The helicopter also features a four-axis digital automatic flight-control system and a cockpit with multifunctional liquid crystal displays.

Defense capabilities includes laser warning receivers, a missile warning system, chaff and flare dispensers, and an electronic warfare system.

[buglerbilly]

DATE:25/06/10

SOURCE:Flight International

Boeing applies to export F-15SE to South Korea

By Stephen Trimble

Boeing has applied for an export licence to brief South Korea on sensitive details of a stealthier version of the F-15E that is within a few months of its first flight.

The US government approved an export policy in the second quarter for the F-15SE Silent Eagle after Boeing submitted details of its radar cross-section about six months earlier, says Brad Jones, Boeing programme director for F-15 development programmes.

The export policy allows Boeing to request an export licence for specific customers, with South Korea as the first in queue, Jones says. The F-15SE is competing against the Lockheed Martin F-35 Joint Strike Fighter for a contract in South Korea.

Boeing has backed down from previous statements comparing the frontal-aspect radar cross-section of the F-15SE to an international release standard for the F-35.

However, Jones confirms that Boeing's original briefing chart - claiming the F-15SE provides frontal-aspect stealth offered by fifth-generation fighters - remains accurate.

Boeing unveiled the F-15SE in March 2009. The redesign adds conformal weapons bays, stealth techniques, fly-by-wire and canted tails to the F-15E configuration, providing a "first-day-of-war" stealth capability.

Lockheed and F-35 programme officials, however, have criticised Boeing's assertions that the F-15SE offers equivalent front-aspect stealth as the JSF, and denied that an international release standard exists for F-35 stealth characteristics.

Boeing plans to conduct three flights of the F-15SE in the third quarter, including one missile shot from the newly added conformal weapons bay.

[buglerbilly]

08-29-2010 17:29

[Exclusive] Purchase of C-130J planes hits snag



C-130J Super Hercules

By Jung Sung-ki

Negotiations between South Korea’s arms procurement agency and a U.S. aerospace company over the sale of up-to-date military transport planes have ruptured due to a disagreement on the price of the product, industry sources said Sunday.

The failure in the projected contract of the C-130J Super Hercules built by Lockheed Martin was largely due to a “miscalculation” by Seoul’s Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) of the program costs, according to sources.

“By May, the negotiations over the purchase of C-130J planes were actually broken off,” a Seoul source privy to the negotiations told The Korea Times. “The problem was that the DAPA estimated the costs for the aircraft program too low. There was a 20-percent gap between the DAPA-estimated costs and those presented by Lockheed Martin.”

“The DAPA even failed to include costs for spare parts, including extra engines, and other logistics support in its preliminary price estimation report,” he said, adding the gap was too big for Lockheed to be engaged in negotiations, said the source.

“That’s a very amateurish mistake. I’m just worried that this kind of DAPA’s poor management of arms procurement programs and related negotiations would not only lead to delays in the delivery of need weapons but also cause a waste of defense spending,” said the source.

A DAPA spokesman admitted the negotiations have been protracted but said his agency was trying to seal a contract by year’s end.

Last year, the DAPA selected the C-130J model as the sole candidate for the 725-bilion-won ($606 million) program to buy seven larger transport aircraft after the French-led European consortium EADS dropped its bid because of integration problems with its A400M model.

The agency aimed to conclude a deal by the end of that year but failed. The agency again set aside approximately 500 billion won for this year to procure four aircraft, continuing price negotiations with Lockheed Martin.

The newer C-130J-30 “stretched”' variant, with the longer fuselage, is used for various operations, including peacekeeping and special forces projection. The C-130J's improvements include a 40-percent greater range, a 21-percent higher maximum speed, and a 41-percent shorter take-off distance.

The plane, with modern avionics and increased engine power, can carry 92 passengers, 64 airborne troops, 74 litter patients with 2 medical personnel, and two to three Humvees, or an M113 Armored Personnel Carrier.

South Korea's Air Force currently operates a total of 12 older C-130H planes, whose relatively small capacity and short operational range have often restricted the service's overseas airlift operations.

The DAPA plans to procure about 10 C-130Js by 2016 in stages.

According to a report released by the National Assembly’s Defense Committee, the DAPA has often failed to proceed with scheduled weapons acquisition programs so that the relevant budgets are carried forward next year or disused.

For example, the agency set aside about 11.6 billion won last year for procuring U.S. minesweeper helicopter equipment but failed to use the money because the related devices were not developed as scheduled.

The agency also failed to purchase the U.S. Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile (JASSM) and produce the K-2 main battle tank.

[buglerbilly]

Air Force receives F-15K fighters

2010-09-08 18:35

The Air Force received its first batch of three F-15K fighter jets from the U.S. aircraft giant Boeing on Wednesday under the second-phase F-X fighter acquisition program, officials said.

The high-end multi-role aircraft arrived at the 11th Fighter Wing based in Daegu in the morning. They departed from Saint Louis on Aug. 31 and received aerial refueling support from a KC-10 tanker of the U.S. Air Force while flying over the Pacific, officials said.


South Korean and U.S. officials pose in front of an F-15K fighter jet at an Air Force base in Daegu on Wednesday. (Air Force)

With the latest addition, the Air Force has a total of 42 F-15Ks. Under the first-phase program from 2002-2008, 40 F-15Ks were delivered, but one crashed in the waters off Pohang during a nighttime mission in June 2006.

Under the second-phase project signed in May 2008, the U.S. aircraft giant is scheduled to provide a total of 21 F-15Ks by March 2012.

The F-15K is capable of air-to-ground, air-to-air and air-to-sea missions day and night in any weather conditions. It can fly at a maximum speed of Mach 2.3 with an operational radius of 1,800 kilometers. A single aircraft costs about $100 million.

The model of F-15K received under the second-phase project is equipped with a PW-229 engine produced by Pratt & Whitney, whereas the model delivered under the first-phase program is equipped with a GE-129 engine manufactured by General Electric.

The use of a different engine is intended to prepare for a case in which one of the two types fails to work, officials explained.

By Song Sang-ho (sshluck@heraldm.com)

[buglerbilly]

11-05-2010 02:43

Poor inspection blamed for damages to F-15K



Korean inspector stays away from work site in Conneticut

By Jung Sung-ki

One of the three F-15K aircraft delivered by U.S. aerospace company Boeing to the South Korean Air Force (ROKAF) in September had severe defects allegedly due to the poor quality of work at a St. Louis manufacturing facility, industry sources said Thursday.

On Sept. 9, Boeing delivered three of the second batch of 21 F-15Ks ordered under a 2008 contract, following the delivery of 40 F-15Ks under a previous deal in 2002.

But one of the newly arrived aircraft had an engine damaged by foreign objects, and fuel transfer and avionics glitches, the sources said, citing testimony of Korean technicians based at the K2 Air Base in Daegu, about 300 kilometers south of Seoul. The Daegu base is home to the F-15K fleet.

The broken engine built by Pratt & Whitney was immediately replaced with a new one and other problems were repaired, the sources said.

The Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) admitted to the fact, saying the manufacturer provided an extra engine as compensation.

Alleged poor inspections by DAPA inspectors of the F-15K program were also blamed for frequent damage to the F-15K aircraft, the main component of South Korea’s air defenses.

“When one of the engines was damaged by ingesting some foreign object (FOD), DAPA inspectors did not have the experience to thoroughly inspect the engine, so just the visible damage was repaired and the aircraft flew all the way to Korea from St. Louis,” an informed source told The Korea Times.

“When the aircraft arrived, the ROKAF technicians immediately discovered more damage inside the engine — damage that was so severe that it was outside the technical limits for repair and so the engine had to be replaced,” he said.

“The low quality of inspection could have resulted in a lost aircraft. If that had happened over the sea, no one would have found out the truth.”

The source expressed deep concern that one third of the F-15Ks already in Daegu also have broken avionics systems.

These series of problems raise questions about whether DAPA inspectors are properly inspecting the F-15K manufacturing process.

There are five DAPA program managers in the United States. Four of them are obliged to be in St. Louis, while the other is supposed be in Connecticut, where P&W manufacturing facilities are located. But the engine inspector is based in St. Louis now.

“Instead of putting him at the engine maker’s facilities in Connecticut, where the engine maker is required to have an office for him, DAPA decided to keep him in St. Louis,” said the source.

The inspector is an Army artillery officer lacking real technical experience, he noted.

“When the engine maker offered to provide free training on engines to the officer, he refused,” said the source.

A DAPA officer in charge of the F-15K program said the agency decided not to keep a program manager at the engine maker’s facility in order to save costs. The agency had requested a budget to meet expenses for the inspector’s stay in Connecticut, but it was rejected, he said.

Instead, technicians from Samsung Techwin, which is producing the F-15K engine with technical assistance from P&W, are stationed at the engine maker’s facilities, and they are mandated by DAPA to conduct a general inspection of manufacturing activities there,” the officer said.

“The program manager’s office in St. Lous regularly holds a video conference with officials in Connecticut, and the engine inspector comes and goes between the two cities frequently for inspection. So there’s not a big problem in the overall inspection of the F-15K manufacturing activities,” he argued.

gallantjung@koreatimes.co.kr

[Deks]

“When the engine maker offered to provide free training on engines to the officer, he refused,” said the source.

Sorry, fired.

[buglerbilly]

Boeing Delivers 3 More F-15K Slam Eagles to Republic of Korea



DAEGU AIR BASE, Republic of Korea, Dec. 7, 2010 -- Boeing [NYSE: BA] on Nov. 8 delivered three F-15K Slam Eagles to the Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF) at Daegu Air Base. The company delivered the first three of 21 F-15Ks it is producing under the Next Fighter II contract to the ROKAF in September. The remaining 15 aircraft will be delivered through March 2012.

"Boeing is honored to deliver these highly advanced fighters to the ROKAF," said Roger Besancenez, Boeing F-15 Program vice president. "We will continue to work closely with our ROKAF customers to prepare for upcoming deliveries that will provide them with superior air combat capability, as we remain committed to our goal of completing the deliveries on budget and on schedule, as promised."

Six of the new F-15K Slam Eagles are scheduled to participate in an advanced aerial combat training exercise at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., in late 2011.

The F-15K is an advanced variant of the combat-proven F-15E. Equipped with the latest technological upgrades, it is extremely capable, survivable and maintainable. The aircraft's service life is planned through 2040, with technology insertions and upgrades throughout its life cycle. Boeing completed delivery of 40 Next Fighter I F-15K aircraft to the ROKAF in October 2008.

[buglerbilly]

DATE:09/12/10

SOURCE:Flight International

Local tensions to accelerate South Korean equipment plans

By Greg Waldron

North Korea's increased belligerence could result in certain South Korean aircraft upgrade and acquisition programmes being accelerated.

This has been an exceptionally tense year on the volatile Korean peninsula. It is all but certain that a North Korean submarine torpedoed a South Korean corvette on 26 March. Then, on 23 November, North Korea shelled South Korea's Yeonpyeong island, killing two South Korean marines and two civilians.

South Korea and the USA followed the shelling with previously planned and heavily publicised naval drills in the Yellow Sea involving the USS George Washington aircraft carrier battle group. The US also held drills with Japan, which included warships and some 400 aircraft. Meanwhile, South Korea's new defence minister is reported as saying that he will relax the armed forces' rules of engagement.


© Republic of Korea air force

While brinkmanship on the Korean peninsula is nothing new, some industry sources feel the worsening atmosphere could speed up certain existing programmes.

One major upgrade that has been on the cards is for South Korea's fleet of Lockheed Martin F-16C/Ds, of which the majority are Block 52 models, with the remainder being Block 32s. Flightglobal's MiliCAS database says the nation has 118 F-16Cs and 51 two-seater F-16Ds.

The common configuration improvement programme for the F-16 would provide a new mission computer, says an industry source. It would also provide a common datalink with US aircraft, as well as South Korea's own fleet of Boeing F-15Ks. The US manufacturer has so far delivered 46 of the latter type, with another 15 on order.

Another programme that could see progress is South Korea's purchase of the Northrop Grumman RQ-4 Global Hawk high-altitude, long-endurance unmanned air vehicle. South Korea has long been interested in the model, but an industry source says budgetary constraints have held up the deal.

Aside from current tensions, the Global Hawk deal could also benefit from the pending retirement of the US Air Force's Cold War-era Lockheed U-2 spy plane, which has seen extensive use over the Korean peninsula.

But one stumbling block for South Korea's Global Hawk aspirations could be the Missile Technology Control Regime. Though both South Korea and the USA are signatories, it is conceivable that one or more other signatories - namely North Korea's ally, China - could try to block a Global Hawk sale.

"MTCR could definitely be an issue," says one industry source. "Even so, the USA could make an exception based on the defence needs of South Korea - and the fact that South Korea it is a treaty partner."

Other major South Korean programmes include Korea Aerospace Industries' developmental F/A-50, based on its T-50 advanced jet trainer. South Korea could begin testing the F/A-50 in 2012, and may eventually order between 60 and 150 of the new aircraft as replacements for its Northrop F-5Es.

Two other big programmes are the indigenous KAI KF-X and F-X3 fighter contract. The former envisages the production of around 120 fighters for the Republic of Korea Air Force, with aircraft development to be funded 60% by the South Korean government, 20% by KAI, and 20% by overseas partners. At November's Indo Defence show in Jakarta, KAI said it was still talking with potential foreign partners, although at July's Farnborough air show the company and Indonesia had signed a memorandum of understanding on the project.

Seoul is likely to issue a request for proposals for its F-X3 fighter contract in the first quarter of 2011. The Boeing F-15 Silent Eagle, Eurofighter Typhoon and Lockheed Martin F-35 Joint Strike Fighter will compete for a deal that could number up to 60 aircraft to replace McDonnell Douglas F-4Es.

Irrespective of existing and future projects, the air force is, by all objective measures, incomparably superior to that of its cash-strapped northern foe, both quantitatively and qualitatively - and this before considering US forces.

"I don't think North Korea could even launch an airplane," says one defence industry source. "They are woefully underfunded and likely suffer a severe lack of pilot training. South Korea could fly over North Korea much as the USAF flies over Iraq."

[buglerbilly]

DATE:09/12/10

SOURCE:Flight International

Northrop offers South Korea M-scan radar for F-16s

By Stephen Trimble

Northrop Grumman is proposing a mechanically scanned radar for an F-16 upgrade programme in South Korea, marking a shift in its strategy for the emerging requirement.

The company had previously been focused on selling a new active electronically scanned array named the scaleable agile beam radar (SABR). But now, Northrop believes the Republic of Korea Air Force's needs instead call for its mechanically scanned APG-68(V)9 design.

"I think the (V)9 would suit their purposes really well," says Dave Wallace, Northrop's manager for F-16 sensor programmes. Similar to the AESA-based SABR, the design provides both synthetic aperture radar (SAR) maps and ground moving target indication imagery, which are key capabilities for launching attacks on ground targets.

Mechanically scanned arrays have lost favour due to the introduction of AESA radars over the last decade. For example, the United Arab Emirates launched the Northrop APG-80 agile beam radar with its Lockheed Martin F-16 Block 60 fighters.

"AESA is the buzz phrase. It is very reliable. It does more than you can get with a mechanically scanned radar," Wallace says. "That said, the performance I've observed on the APG-68(V)9 is very good." Greece and Israel jointly launched the (V)9 upgrade programme about a decade ago.

Northrop's proposal now faces competition from the AESA-based Raytheon advanced combat radar, or RACR.

[buglerbilly]

Anti-submarine defenses boosted

January 04, 2011

By Kim Seong-ryong

The South Korean military is beefing up its surveillance power against North Korean submarines, and the Navy said it would deploy five more antisubmarine aircraft.

The move to strengthen South Korea’s defense against submarines comes after the sinking of a South Korean warship last March. Last October, the Navy extended its air patrols in the Yellow Sea farther north to guard against North Korean submarine incursions.

Eleven P-3CK maritime surveillance aircraft were in use throughout South Korea as of late 2010, but the Navy decided to increase the number to 16 starting this year. Refurbishment of the five additional aircraft was completed in October. The Navy operates the fleet of 16 from its bases in Pohang and Jeju Island.

“There is a limit to detection with destroyer ships and corvettes that use sonar,” said a military source. “With the additional antisubmarine surveillance aircraft, we are now able to watch the movements of North Korean submarines very closely.”

The aircraft, also nicknamed the “submarine killer,” is known for its ability to detect submarines and have taken part in large-scale drills, including the South Korea-U.S. joint drill last July in the East Sea and antisubmarine drills in the Yellow Sea.

The Navy had originally planned to use 16 P-3C surveillance aircraft in 1995, but due to a budget shortfall as well as corruption in the purchasing process, the Navy was forced to operate with eight. The eight newest planes are refurbished versions of an older model, the P-3B. One was reinforced with new parts by L-3 Communications Holdings while seven were upgraded by Korea Aerospace Industries.

“The P-3CK models given to the Navy are very modern and are as good as new,” said the official.

By Jeong Yong-soo [christine.kim@joongang.co.kr]

[buglerbilly]

01-03-2011 19:02

Military vows to beef up combat readiness

By Lee Tae-hoon

Amid heightened tension on the Korean Peninsula, the country’s armed forces have announced a set of measures to bolster their combat capabilities against any possible provocation by North Korea in their New Year messages.

Army chief of staff Gen. Kim Sang-ki said in a speech Monday that he would root out bureaucracy and unnecessary administrative procedures this year to get troops to focus better on military training, and boosting their combat readiness.

“I declare that the year 2011 will mark an epoch for the rebirth of combat-oriented field operations units,” Gen. Kim said.

The army chief’s vow is in line with President Lee Myung-bak’s reiteration in his New Year address that he would step up the country’s defense reform to enhance combat readiness.

Gen. Kim added that he would dramatically reduce or streamline non-combat duties to boost productivity and swiftness in processing administrative matters, which in turn would help military units allocate more time to practical military training.

The Army plans to issue a number of certificates for crucial combat skills, such as shooting, map reading and enemy engagement techniques to qualified commissioned and non-commissioned officers from the latter half of the year,

The certificate system is expected to be used in the promotion and reassignment of officers.

The Navy also announced that it will intensify physical training in 2011 to help sailors better survive in extreme conditions, such as the sinking of a warship.

New recruits and officers are expected to be required to learn practical skills on how to stay afloat for more than 10 minutes in water in case of an emergency, rather than learning conventional swimming techniques.

Also, in a bid to reduce the number of drivers and use them as combat soldiers, officers will be asked to drive cars themselves as much as possible.

Meanwhile, the Air Force has unveiled a plan to provide around-the-clock airborne surveillance and an early warning in the case of an enemy infiltration.

The Air Force will increase the number of training flight hours per pilot from 150 in 2010 to 153 in 2011 and increase the number of F-15K fighter jets, which will replace the country’s aging fighter aircraft, to 60 by the end of 2012.

The F-15K is an advanced variant of the combat-proven F-15E and is equipped with the latest technological upgrades.

[buglerbilly]

DATE:14/01/11

SOURCE:Flight International

Elisra to supply South Korean CN-235s with EW suites

By Craig Hoyle

Elisra Electronic Systems has won a $29 million deal to supply the South Korean air force with airborne electronic warfare suites and missile warning systems for its Airbus Military CN-235 transports. The equipment will provide protection against various threats, the Israeli company says.

South Korea has an active fleet of 20 CN-235s, says Flightglobal's MiliCAS database.


© Airbus Military

Elisra has signed similar deals with South Korea in recent years. In 2009 Seoul awarded it a $25 million contract to supply an integrated electronic warfare suite for its air force fleet of Lockheed Martin C-130H tactical transports.

In the same year the company also received a $7 million contract to provide EW equipment for four prototypes of the Korea Aerospace Industries F/A-50 strike aircraft, including an advanced radar warning receiver and chaff and flare dispensers.

Elbit Systems owns 70% of Elisra and Israel Aerospace Industries 30%.

[buglerbilly]

2011/01/30 14:36 KST

(LEAD) S. Korea seeking early purchase of stealth jets: sources

SEOUL, Jan. 30 (Yonhap) -- South Korea is moving to introduce the fifth generation of stealth fighter jets at an early date to replace its aging Air Force fighters and to secure capabilities to counter North Korea's increasing provocations, government sources said Sunday.

The move comes after the parliament cut the defense ministry's request for some 15.7 billion won (US$14 million) to launch a new fighter jet procurement program this year, granting only 300 million won.

"There is a growing consensus within the government that the next-generation fighter program must be launched at an early date," a government source said, asking not to be identified.

"There is only a 300 million won fund for research this year, but (the government) may allocate additional funds from its defense budget if necessary," he added.

Sources said Defense Minister Kim Kwan-jin has ordered the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) to "find ways to launch the (new fighter jet) program at an early date."

South Korea purchased 60 F-15K fighter jets from U.S. manufacturer Boeing under an earlier program, known as FX II, and is set to have some of the remaining 20 aircraft from the program delivered before the end of next year.

The military earlier sought to launch an FX III program this year to have new fighter jets commissioned in 2016.

The government now seeks to introduce and weaponize new stealth fighters before the target year.

"It usually takes about four years for the first shipment of aircraft after a contract is signed, which means the new aircraft can be commissioned from as early as 2015," an official from the national defense procurement office, DAPA, said.

A military official noted the country has yet to decide what it will require in new fighter jets.

"Whether we will purchase jets with complete or partial stealth capabilities will depend on a future study of costs and efficiency," the official said.

Still, the country could start receiving proposals in June if the national defense acquisition program committee endorses an early launch of the program for next-generation fighter jets, the DAPA official said.

South Korea may then sign a deal as early as in August 2012 following a test of all candidate models.

The recent increase of frequency and intensity of North Korean provocations is apparently adding to the military's urgent sense of a need to introduce stealth fighter jets, after the country once considered introducing fighter jets with only partial stealth capabilities.

"There has been a call for the military's increased capabilities for precision strikes since North Korea's provocations in the northwestern region last year," a government source said. "And this has also led to a growing voice in the government to speed up the next fighter jet program."

North Korea sank a South Korean warship, Cheonan, near a western border in the Yellow Sea last year, killing 46 South Korean sailors. Then in November, the communist nation hit a South Korean island, also near the border, with artillery shells, killing two civilians and two armed service members in the first direct attack on a South Korean territory since the 1950-53 Korean War.

The new fighter jet program is expected to be worth some 10 trillion won ($8.97 billion). Possible candidates for jets include Boeing's F-15SE and Lockheed Martin's F-35, sources said.

bdk@yna.co.kr
(END)

[Unicorn]

The ROKAF has F16s and F15s and needs F35s to defeat the DPRKs collection of aging museum pieces? yeah right!

Methinks the South Koreans are looking elsewhere for their threat.

[buglerbilly]

Korea accelerates stealth fighter acquisition efforts

2011-03-02 19:50

Boeing’s F-15SE, Lockheed Martin’s F-35 most likely candidates for FX-III project

South Korea is accelerating moves to purchase a high-end fleet of stealth fighter jets to counter North Korea’s asymmetrical threats and keep pace with neighboring countries seeking to secure their own radar-evading combat aircraft.

Under the FX-III acquisition project worth around 10 trillion won ($8.86 billion), the Seoul government is seeking to purchase some 60 next-generation fighters with an aim to have them delivered for operational deployment to begin in 2016.

The government is expected to draw up an acquisition strategy in the first half of this year, start receiving proposals from bidders early next year and determine which jet it will buy as early as August that year, according to Seoul officials.

As the Defense Ministry failed to secure 15.7 billion won, which it wanted to include in this year’s budget to get the acquisition work started, in the face of opposition from the National Assembly and budget authorities, it was expected that the military would not be able to start deploying new warplanes in 2016.

However, the Seoul government has recently begun moving faster to secure stealth fighters as calls have persisted for the military to acquire the strategic precision-guided weaponry that can handle asymmetrical threats from the North.

Along with Japan’s ongoing efforts to develop its own Advanced Technology Demonstrator-X Shinshin stealth fighter, China’s successful test flight on its first stealth jet, the J-20, in January also appears to have prompted Seoul to accelerate its acquisition efforts.

Seoul also believes that the FX-III project should be fast-tracked due to projections that the Air Force may suffer a shortage of fighter jets after the mid-2010s when its aging fighters are due to be decommissioned.

It estimates the Air Force may lack some 100 fighters in the late-2010s. The Air Force believes it needs at least 430 fighter jets of different levels to prepare for possible wartime operations -- some 100 high-end, 200 middle-end and 100 low-end fighters.

The FX-III competition also appears to be in connection with the KF-X project, designed to develop homegrown battle planes that would replace aging F-4 and F-5 fighters.

Observers here say that the Seoul government is likely to see how much a bidder can contribute to the KF-X project in terms of technology transfer during the acquisition process.

Military officials and experts largely agree that stealth fighters should be introduced early as North Korea’s provocations continue to destabilize the security environment on the Korean Peninsula.

“As the North possesses nuclear arms for strategic purposes, stealth fighter jets will serve as our strategic weapons. Even if we would not use it immediately, the stealth fighter could serve as a strong deterrent against potential enemies,” an Air Force official said, refusing to be named.

“Nothing has yet to be determined on what we plan to require for the new fighter jets we will purchase. We will consider various factors including how to manage the current groups of fighter jets we have and how to replace the aging aircraft.”

Experts also note that the early introduction of high-end fighter aircraft is crucial considering the possibility that the U.S. air support could dwindle after Seoul retrieves wartime operational control from Washington in December 2015.

They also argue that the strategic weaponry is needed when the likelihood of additional provocations by the North remains high as it is seeking to portray itself as a “strong, prosperous state” next year with the second hereditary power succession underway.

Boeing’s F-15 Silent Eagle and Lockheed Martin’s F-35 are being considered as the two most likely candidate fighters for the FX-III project.


F-15 Silent Eagle

In March 2009, Boeing first unveiled the two-seat, two-engine F-15 Silent Eagle with a maximum speed of mach 2.5, which has been being developed based on what it calls “combat-proven” F-15 Eagle.

In its promotion of the Silent Eagle, Boeing has focused on the fighter jet’s overall survivability, cost-effectiveness and “tactically useful” radar cross section reduction, pointing out that it would still retain the F-15’s long-range, large payload capabilities.

Critics here have doubted stealth capabilities of F-15SE, calling it a “semi-stealth jet” -- compared with Lockheed Martin’s F-35 -- as it is being developed on the basis of the non-stealth concept of the fourth-generation fighter jet.

Boeing refused to reveal the level of the RCS reduction on the F-15SE as it is classified information while stressing that it is ready to provide a reasonable level of the RCS reduction that could meet South Korea’s requirements. RCS is a measure of how detectable an object is with radar. A larger RCS indicates that an object is more easily detected.

It, however, remains confident that overall, the F-15SE can offer a good solution for South Korea’s Air Force, citing a series of factors including its interoperability with the existing F-15K fighter jets run by South Korea’s Air Force.

“With a balanced approach to survivability, the F-15SE takes a low risk, cost effective approach to securing the national interest of our customers with advanced AESA (active electronically scanned array) radar, an advanced electronic warfare system, tactfully useful radar cross section reduction,” Brad Jones, director of Boeing’s F-15 Development Programs, told The Korea Herald.

Jones pointed out that one of the most important attributes of the F-15SE is “mission flexibility” which ensures the cost effectiveness of the fighter jet.

“Being able to perform air superiority, air-to-ground, deep penetration, maritime and remote island defense missions with a single platform provides a nation with the most cost effective solution to protect their national security,” he said.

“If you include the fact the F-15SE is more than 85 percent common with the existing F-15K Slam Eagle fleet, Korea will be able to greatly reduce their operational and support cost over the projected 30 year service life. No one else in the world can offer such a cost effective solution with this type of proven, superior operational capability.”

To a question of whether it can meet Korea’s anticipated delivery timeline, Jones said, “Boeing is committed to providing an operational capable F-15 Silent Eagle to the Republic of Korea when they need it for their force structure needs.”

“Boeing continues to perform operational analysis of the regional threats and we feel the F-15 Silent Eagle offers a unique solution to effectively respond to those future threats.”

Boeing officials refused to comment on the projected price of the F-15SE, saying that it can vary widely according to what options Korea wants to have its jet equipped with.

“As we have yet to receive ROC (requirement of capability), it is hard to comment on the price,” an official said.

Boeing explains that for a mission that requires a stealth capability, the F-15SE could carry a 2,700-pound internal payload for 800 nautical miles in an air-to-ground configuration or 720 nautical miles in an air-to-air configuration.

Its conformal weapons bay could accommodate various mixtures of weapons systems -- two Sidewinder missiles and two Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles; or four AMRAAMs; or an air-to-air and air-to-ground mix of two AMRAAMs and two 1,000-pound Joint Direct Attack Munition bombs; or eight 250-pound Small Diameter Bombs.

If a mission did not require stealth, the F-15 Silent Eagle could be reconfigured for missions that required more payloads over a longer mission range. Removing the weapons bays would enable F-15SE to have a 29,500-pound payload for missions in the 1,000-nautical mile range in an air-to-ground configuration and 900 nautical miles in an air-to-air configuration.


F-35 Joint Strike Fighter Lightning II

A set of issues over rising costs and delays in the development of the F-35 fighter jet has apparently sapped confidence in the massive multinational program for the new radar-evading fighter that involve nine countries including the U.S.

Struggling to overcome such challenges, Lockheed Martin, which is spearheading the F-35 project, has been highlighting the fighter’s stealth capability that is believed to be better than those of other competitors.

Randy Howard, Lockheed Martin’s director of Korea F-35 Campaign, stressed that the F-35 is the “only true, all-aspect stealthy fifth-generation” fighter available on the international market while categorizing the F-15SE as a forth-generation jet.

“The F-35 redefines multi-role fighter aircraft performance and provides a quantum leap in capability over the fourth generation aircraft including the F-15SE which is based upon a design that dates to 1968,” he told The Korea Herald.

“True stealth must be designed from the ground up. It cannot be retrofitted. The F-35 achieves its Very Low Observable performance through its fundamental design, its external shape, and its state of the art manufacturing processes which control tolerances to less than half the diameter of a human hair.”

The F-35 has been co-developed with eight foreign partners -- Britain, Italy, the Netherlands, Turkey, Canada, Australia, Denmark and Norway -- since 2001. The U.S., along with the eight countries, has invested some $50 billion for the F-35 project.

The single-seat, single-engine F-35 jet with a maximum speed of mach 1.8 has three different variants.

The conventional takeoff and landing F-35A is for air force operations, while the F-35B is the Marine Corps’ short take-off and vertical landing variant and the F-35C is the Navy’s carrier based version.

While the development of the two variants has been properly proceeding, the Marine Corps’ variant is experiencing significant testing problems stemming from software development issues, according to reports.

The U.S. Defense Department anticipated late last year that the Air Force and Navy versions of the fighter would face a development delay of an additional year, while the development of the Marine Corps version would be delayed by up to three years.

Given their budget constraints, the growing price of the F-35 is also burdensome for many countries. It is widely believed that the price of the F-35 per unit may double the original price of about $50 million -- set in 2001.

Criticism has surfaced here that the increase of the per-unit price runs counter to the development purpose of the F-35 -- producing a less costly stealth fighter for overseas customers as the F-22 Raptor, the top U.S. air superiority fighter, is barred by law from export until 2015 to protect its stealth technology.

Jointly developed by Lockheed Martin and Boeing, the F-22 is estimated to cost around $355 million per unit. Due to the high costs, the U.S. manufactured only 187 units.

Other than the price issues, another concern here is whether South Korea can acquire it at a time it needs the fighter since it is not part of the multinational JSF project.

Howard said that the F-35A will be available to South Korea with deliveries beginning in 2016, noting that F-35A’s System Development and Demonstration program, which includes developmental flight tests, is scheduled to complete in early 2016.

Regarding the increasing development costs, Howard said that as production quantities continue to increase, the production price will subsequently decrease.

“Cost increases on the F-35 program to date have been predominantly associated with the development phase of the program. The U.S. government has borne the entire financial responsibility of these developmental cost increases and has not passed them along to participating countries,” he said.

“As production quantities continue to increase, the recurring production price will continue down that cost curve. Lockheed Martin expects the average unit recurring cost of an F-35A to be approximately $65 million in 2010 year economics.”

Howard also claimed that all issues with the development of the F-35 have proven to be “solvable.”

“The fundamental design and the software that drives the F-35 are sound -- there are no technical limitations,” he said.

“The first two lots of production aircraft will begin delivery to the U.S. government this year. The U.K. and the Netherlands will accept their first aircraft to be used to support flight test activities next year. Italy and Australia are scheduled to accept their first production aircraft deliveries in 2014.”

The fighter jets are to replace nearly 3,000 aging jets across the world including F-16 and A-10 aircraft in the U.S. Air Force, F/A-18s in the U.S. Navy and AV-8Bs in the U.S Marine Corps. The U.S. military services are expected to buy 2,457 of the new fighters.

The F-35 is designed to carry an array of precision-guided weapons to take maximum advantage of its stealth capabilities, Lockheed Martin explained.

Internally, the F-35 can carry up to 5,700 pounds of air-to-air and air-to-ground precision guided weapons. When the need for stealth is reduced and external weapons carriage can be safely employed, the F-35 is designed to carry a total of up to 18,500 pounds of precision-guided weapons.

Other than the two fighter jets, EADS’ Eurofighter Typhoon, a twin-engine, canard-delta wing, multi-role combat aircraft, is also mentioned as the likely candidate jet for the FX-III contest.

By Song Sang-ho (sshluck@heraldm.com)

[buglerbilly]

Defense Ministry Pushes Stealth Bomber Purchase

(Source: Chosun Ilbo; published March 9, 2011)

The Defense Ministry officially announced plans to purchase stealth bombers capable of avoiding radar detection to counter the threat of North Korea's so-called asymmetrical warfare capabilities.

Defense Minister Kim Kwan-jin told reporters on Tuesday the ministry will push for a stealth fighter acquisition project as part of the ongoing F-X fighter program.

The third phase of the F-X program envisages buying 60 high-performance fighters such as the F-15K from the U.S. from around 2015. The Air Force wanted the third phase to start this year, but budget pressure and Cheong Wa Dae's resistance to hasty implementation of an acquisition program worth trillions of won have led to delays.

It received a fresh spur last year when North Korea's military provocations became more unpredictable, China unveiled its home-grown J-20 stealth fighter jet and Japan announced plans to buy Lockheed Martin's F-35 fighter jets.

The Air Force, Defense Ministry and Cheong Wa Dae now reportedly agree the purchase needs to be speeded up. The Air Force decided to launch the third phase of the F-X program next year and start buying stealth aircraft around 2015, since the country's F-4 Phantom and F-5 fighter jets are aging fast.

The stealth fighters would allow the Air Force to launch air raids on strategic targets on its own without the support of the U.S. Forces Korea.

Currently, the U.S. F-22 is seen as the world's best stealth fighter, but its overseas sale is banned until 2015. As a result, the F-35, another model whose performance is a little inferior to the F-22's, is mentioned as a potential candidate.

Boeing's F-15SE Silent Eagle and Eurofighter's Typhoon are also possible candidates. But the Silent Eagle is only an adapted version of the F-15 with some stealth functions and the Typhoon was not developed as a full-blown stealth fighter in the first place, making the F-35 the preferred option.

However, development of the F-35 keeps has been delayed and the price is expected to keep rising and exceed US$100 million. (ends)

S. Korea to Speed Up Deployment of Stealth Fighters, Spy Drones

(Source: Korea Times; published March 9, 2011)

The Ministry of National Defense said Tuesday that it will speed up plans to deploy stealth jet fighters and high-altitude spy drones to build up its surveillance capability and bolster deterrence toward North Korea.

In a news conference, Defense Minister Kim Kwan-jin said his ministry will “push the third and final phase of the F-X fighter acquisition program with stealth capabilities at an appropriate date.”

Military sources have talked about the possibility of next generation stealth fighter jets being introduced several times. However, this was the first time that the ministry made public the acquisition plan officially.

The third phase of the F-X fighter acquisition program calls for obtaining 60 fifth generation combat aircraft from around 2015 to 2021.

Initially, the Air Force sought to launch the final phase of the F-X fighter acquisition program this year, but the plan has been delayed due to budgetary problems.

An F-15K costs more than 100 billion won. As a result, more than 7 trillion won will be needed to introduce 60 new fighter jets. If stealth capabilities are added, the project will cost more than 8.2 trillion won.

The presidential office has argued that there is no need to speed up the F-X plan which needs a huge amount of money.

Potential candidates for new jets include the F-15SE, Lockheed Martin's F-35 and Eurofighter’s Typhoon.

South Korea asked the United States last year to sell it the U.S.-made RQ-4 Global Hawk spy planes, ministry sources said.

Calls for reform of the military have been growing since North Korea's torpedo attack on a South Korean warship in March last year that killed 46 sailors. Eight months later, the North launched a sudden artillery barrage on a South Korean island near the western sea border, killing two marines and two civilians.

-ends-

[buglerbilly]

DATE:30/03/11

SOURCE:Flight International

South Korean UAS deals to hinge on Israeli trainer choice

By Arie Egozi

The future of some potential deals to purchase Israeli-made aerial systems by the South Korean defence ministry will depend on whether the Israeli air force selects the Korea Aerospace Industries/Lockheed Martin T-50 as its new advanced jet trainer.

South Korea's military has been evaluating several Israeli systems in recent months, including unmanned air systems. Its evaluations are being made with the assistance of Sibat, the Israeli defence ministry division in charge of securing defence exports.

Seoul is focusing its interest in the Israel Aerospace Industries Heron (below) and Elbit Systems Hermes 450 UAS. Its shopping list also includes other systems, but the Israeli companies involved have refused to release more details.


© Israel Aerospace Industries

KAI is stepping up its efforts to convince the Israeli air force to select its T-50, with the design facing competition from Alenia Aermacchi's M-346.


© Lockheed Martin

Sources related to the competition said on 29 March that while it is not officially stated, the "key people" in Israel are aware of the connection between the selection and the extent of the possible South Korean purchases of equipment from Israel.

South Korea has previously bought Israeli systems such as IAI's Harpy attack drone and the company's Green Pine long-range missile launch detection radar. However, its potential new shopping list has become longer "and more diversified", according to one source.

Meanwhile, a proposed joint venture between Elbit and IAI that would purchase the Israeli air force's favoured trainer design and then sell flight hours to the service at its flight academy should be formally established in the coming days.

[buglerbilly]

DATE:06/04/11

SOURCE:Flight International

PICTURE: Boeing delivers latest F-15Ks to South Korea

By Craig Hoyle

The latest two aircraft from South Korea's ongoing acquisition of the Boeing F-15K Slam Eagle have arrived at the nation's Daegu air base.

Boeing announced details of the milestone on 5 April, three weeks after the aircraft had arrived at the end of their delivery flights from St Louis, Missouri. The pair left the company's production site on 8 March, and were flown to South Korea via stops in Palmdale, California, Hickam AFB, Hawaii and Andersen AFB, Guam.

The newly delivered fighters are tail numbers 47 and 48 (pictured below) from Seoul's overall programme for 61 F-15Ks. Boeing delivered the first six aircraft from a 21-unit order last year, and says the remaining 13 will be handed over throughout April 2012.


© Boeing

The South Korean air force had previously acquired 40 of the two-seat aircraft, before signing a follow-on order in 2008 for its new, Pratt & Whitney F100-229-powered examples.

Boeing says the service will deploy six of its F-15Ks to Nellis AFB in Nevada early next year to participate in an advanced aerial combat training exercise alongside the US Air Force.

[buglerbilly]

DATE:11/04/11

SOURCE:Flight International

South Korean coastguard to receive four new CN-235s

By Greg Waldron

Tit-for-tat sale to encourage the Indons to buy Korean..............

South Korea's coastguard will induct four Indonesian Aerospace-built CN-235-220 maritime patrol aircraft in 2011.

Two of the new aircraft will enter service in April, and two in August, says the service. According to a report by South Korea's official Yonhap news agency, the four aircraft were purchased in 2008 for $100 million.

According to IAe, the aircraft has a pressurised cabin and is powered by two General Electric CT7-9C engines, each driving four-bladed propellers. The aircraft has a fuel capacity of 4,000kg (8,820lb) and an endurance of 8-10h. The CN-235 is capable of performing short take-off and landing operations, and has a maximum take-off weight of 16,100kg.

The South Korean air force operates 20 CN-235s, 12 produced by Airbus Military and eight by IAe.

[buglerbilly]

04-13-2011 18:03

Seoul wants to swap T-50s for stealth fighters

By Lee Tae-hoon

Seoul is eyeing a barter deal with the Pentagon under which a local aircraft developer would provide supersonic trainer jets to the United States in exchange for stealth fighters, the head of the country’s arms procurement agency said Wednesday.

When asked about the feasibility of a swap deal with Lockheed Martin for its F-35 Lightening II Joint Strike Fighter, Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) Commissioner Noh Dae-lae said, "We are considering requesting an offset deal using the T-50."

"If we buy stealth fighters from the U.S., we will push for sales of the T-50," Noh said.

Washington is planning to replace as many as 500 of its aging trainer jets, making it one of the largest potential markets for the T-50 Golden Eagle.

Earlier in the day, Noh said Seoul will choose the winner of what will be the biggest arms-procurement deal ever in Korea, a plan to purchase 60 high-end fighter jets, in October 2012.

He said the government will review the roadmap for the long-stalled combat aircraft purchase plan in June this year, while denying media speculation suggesting that Seoul has already decided to purchase Lockheed Martin's F-35s without even opening the bidding.

The chief of the state-run agency also said that Korea will be able to deploy new fighter jets no sooner than 2016, given that it takes four or more years to accept delivery from a supplier after concluding the deal.

"It is not possible to deploy them from 2015," he said.

Noh said DAPA will pick the winner of the FX-III, the third and final stage of the fighter acquisition plan, in consideration of the "level of stealth capability, price and how much of the aircraft would be assembled in Korea."

Seoul launched the FX program in 1988 to replace the Air Force’s aging combat aircraft with some 120 advanced fighters.

The ambitious project suffered major setbacks due to the 1997 Asian financial crisis and the 2008 global financial crisis, resulting in the Air Force only purchasing half of its original target so far.

Lockheed Martin's F-35, Boeing's F-15 Silent Eagle and the Eurofighter Typhoon, which is made by a European consortium, will likely compete for the FX-III project.

Meanwhile, DAPA said it will also announce the winner of a procurement project to buy 36 attack helicopters in October 2012, refuting claims that it has already decided to purchase Apache helicopters from Boeing.

leeth@koreatimes.co.kr

[buglerbilly]

Republic of Korea Air Force Receives First Lockheed Martin Sniper® Pods

ORLANDO, Fl, April 18th, 2011 -- The Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF) recently received Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] Sniper pods for their F-15K aircraft. Delivered to Daegu Air Base, South Korea, these pods will be immediately deployed into full flight operations with the ROKAF F-15K fleet.

“Sniper pods provide the ROKAF with updated targeting and non-traditional intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (NTISR) capabilities for the F-15K fleet,” said Marc Nazon, program manager for Fixed Wing Fire Control at Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control. “We look forward to continued support and training to ensure that ROKAF pilots and maintainers have a full command of the Sniper pod’s capabilities.”

In 2009, Lockheed Martin demonstrated the benefits of Sniper pod’s capability for ROKAF by successfully flying Sniper on the F-15K and the KF-16 aircraft with a common Sniper pod software load. This capability allows operators to readily deploy the pod on various aircraft types, significantly reducing targeting pod life cycle costs.

Sniper pods are flying on U.S. Air Force and multinational F-16, F-15, B-1, F-18, Harrier, A-10 and B-52 aircraft. The Sniper pod identifies targets at long ranges and offers the capability to relay high-resolution streaming video using a video downlink to ground forces for NTISR and rapid target coordination.

With a 30-year legacy as the premier provider of electro-optical systems for fixed wing aircraft, Lockheed Martin has delivered more than 3,500 systems to domestic and 19 international customers.

Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., Lockheed Martin is a global security company that employs about 126,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services. The Corporation’s 2010 sales from continuing operations were $45.8 billion.

[buglerbilly]

DATE:20/05/11

SOURCE:Flight International

South Korea to invite bids for F-15K cruise missile

By Greg Waldron

South Korea is to invite bids for a new stealth cruise missile to equip its Boeing F-15K Slam Eagle, following technical glitches implementing Lockheed Martin's AGM-158 Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile (JASSM).

A source at the nation's Defense Acquisition Program Administration confirms that bidding for the missile will open in June. He would not divulge details about how many missiles South Korea intends to acquire, or the specific technical difficulties South Korea encountered trying to implement JASSM.

Possible bidders in the South Korean competition could include Europe's MBDA with its Storm Shadow missile, and MBDA Deutschland/Saab Dynamics joint venture Taurus Systems with its KEPD 350. Lockheed Martin could also submit a bid.

South Korea's official Yonhap news agency says the weapons would be used to strike North Korean nuclear facilities in the event of a crisis on the peninsula.

According to Lockheed Martin, JASSM is a weapon in the 900kg (2,000lb) class with a penetrator/blast fragmentation warhead. An all-weather weapon, it uses an infrared seeker and GPS signals for guidance.

"Designed to destroy high-value, well-defended, fixed and relocatable targets, JASSM's significant stand-off range keeps aircrews well out of danger from hostile air defence systems," the company said.

[buglerbilly]

Boeing Delivers 2 F-15K Slam Eagles to the Republic of Korea

(Source: Boeing Co.; issued June 2, 2011)

DAEGU AIR BASE, Republic of Korea --- The Boeing Company delivered two F-15K Slam Eagle aircraft -- designated F-15K49 and F-15K50 -- to the Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF) at Daegu Air Base on May 30.

The aircraft departed the Boeing St. Louis facility on May 25 and made stops in Palmdale, Calif., Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii, and Anderson Air Force Base, Guam, before arriving in Korea.

"Boeing has now delivered 10 F-15Ks to the Republic of Korea under the Next Fighter II contract," said Roger Besancenez, Boeing F-15 Program vice president. "We remain laser focused on providing first time quality on every F-15K we deliver to this important customer. We are proud that the F-15K is a cost-certain, schedule-certain solution for the Republic of Korea."

Boeing delivered the first six of 21 F-15Ks it is producing under the Next Fighter II contract in 2010 and two more in April. The remaining 11 aircraft will be delivered through April 2012.

Six of the new F-15K Slam Eagles are scheduled to participate in an advanced aerial combat training exercise at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., in early 2012.

The F-15K is an advanced variant of the combat-proven F-15E. Equipped with the latest technological upgrades, it is extremely capable, survivable and maintainable. The aircraft's service life is planned through 2040, with technology insertions and upgrades throughout its life cycle. Boeing completed delivery of 40 Next Fighter I aircraft to the ROKAF in October 2008.

A unit of The Boeing Company, Boeing Defense, Space & Security is one of the world's largest defense, space and security businesses specializing in innovative and capabilities-driven customer solutions, and the world's largest and most versatile manufacturer of military aircraft. Headquartered in St. Louis, Boeing Defense, Space & Security is a $32 billion business with 65,000 employees worldwide.

-ends-

[buglerbilly]

Seoul Sees Growing Need For Fighters

Jun 6, 2011

By Bradley Perrett
Seoul



Hidden among hills, mostly in tunnels, hundreds of North Korean heavy artillery pieces stand ready to rain thousands of shells a minute onto Seoul. For decades, the big guns have been the biggest threat that South Korea has had to face. More recently a new one has become more prominent in the South’s strategic calculations: an uncertain number of nuclear warheads of uncertain performance and reliability, potentially fitted to ballistic missiles fired from heavily protected sites in the far north of the Korean Peninsula.

No wonder, then, that strike and survivability are key requirements in South Korea’s F-X Phase 3 contest for 60 fighters.

But look a bit further. Even if North Korea collapses, South Korea will remain a neighbor of authoritarian, nationalistic and increasingly assertive China, which says it will field an advanced new fighter in 2017-19. And a united Korea would also have a border with Russia, which is developing its supercruising, stealthy PAK FA fighter.

That explains why the South Korean air force ranks air-to-air capability equally with strike as it seeks parliamentary funding for the program, with the aim of choosing the Boeing F-15SE Silent Eagle, Eurofighter Typhoon or Lockheed Martin F-35 Joint Strike Fighter next year.

Pressed to nominate a priority, one program official says that an excellent strike capability would be valued more highly than an excellent air-to-air capability. Rapidly knocking out those guns, and ranging far into North Korea to hit ballistic missile launchers, nuclear facilities and command nodes would be critically important if war came.

That is one reason the stealthy F-35 is a strong contender for the order. But the repeated delays to the Joint Strike Fighter program are strengthening the hands of the F-35’s competitors.

F-X Phase 3 currently requires a first delivery in 2016, with initial operational capability in 2018, says air force Col. Taek-Hwan Song, who addressed a seminar on the program in Seoul last month held by the Korea Defense and Security Forum. The target dates should be easy for Boeing and Eurofighter to meet, but maybe not for Lockheed Martin.

The issue is not so much making deliveries in 2016. Lockheed Martin says that, since the company will deliver 135 F-35s to the U.S. and its partners in 2016, a handful for South Korea should not be too much of a problem.

Rather, the difficulty lies in getting a novel aircraft type into service at almost the same time as its lead customer. While the U.S. definition of “operational” is more demanding than South Korea’s, it is clear that the F-35’s schedule is now tight for a customer whose old fighters will run out of life around the end of the decade. It would be very hard to keep flying the aircraft that the F-35 is to replace—F-4 Phantoms and F-5 Tigers—past 2020, says Song. Australia, a committed F-35 customer, is in much the same position (AW&ST May 16, p. 27).

F-X Phase 3 could easily slip, however, boosting the F-35’s chances. The overall F-X program first emerged in 1988, and it took until 2002 before parliament had loosened its purse strings enough to allow the order of a batch of fighters under Phase 1. Parliament may not approve funding for Phase 3 this year.

A further complication is the demand that the winning bidder transfer technology to help South Korea to develop its proposed KF-X fighter. This requirement is now backed by the air force, which previously looked askance at the costly ambitions of the technologists in the defense ministry (see p. 22).

On this point Eurofighter, represented in South Korea by EADS, has a clear advantage over its U.S. competitors, since it is not subject to Washington’s strict rules on technology transfer. Eurofighter proposes that the Typhoon become the basis of KF-X, diminishing risk for the ambitious but still insufficiently experienced local industry.

Still, as a non-U.S. supplier, Eurofighter must wonder whether it is being used only as a stalking horse for Boeing and Lockheed Martin. The local military’s habit of buying U.S. equipment and the great effort that the U.S. puts into defending South Korea are factors that cannot be overlooked. Yet they also should not be overstated. EADS unit Eurocopter is supporting the development of South Korea’s Surion utility military helicopter.

Related to the issue of technology transfer, the Typhoon can also be put into local production, an important issue for local industry, since Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) will probably need a replacement for the production line of its FA-50 light attack aircraft, a derivative of the T-50 superlsonic trainer, this decade.

Major parts of the F-15 are already in local production, since the type won F-X Phase 1 and 2, with orders for 40 and 21 F-15Ks, respectively. Boeing’s technology-transfer offer is based partly on KAI working on the Silent Eagle, which at this late stage in the F-15’s development cycle introduces fly-by-wire flight controls, weapons bays and canted tail fins.

KAI builds the wings and forward fuselages of F-15s for all customers, and could step up to a larger share of the aircraft structure if the big new order went to Boeing. For the Silent Eagle, KAI is helping to develop and make conformal packs fitted to each side of the aircraft to house munitions, equipment and fuel. South Korea is not the only country interested in fitting them, says Brad Jones, director of Boeing’s U.S. Air Force F-15 development programs. The packs will presumably be an option for the F-15Ks of Phase 1 and 2.

The canted fins of the Silent Eagle are not a large structural change that could threaten the 2016 delivery date, says Boeing. A new mounting structure is used but the fins themselves are unchanged from those of earlier F-15s.

While KAI has plant and trained workers for making F-15s, the air force has the equipment and skills needed to maintain them, thanks to the two previous phases of F-X. Accordingly, Boeing reckons its bid is the cheapest.

In other competitions Boeing must contend with a presumption that the customer will eventually buy the F-35 anyway, raising the temptation of moving on to that generation immediately. But South Korea’s plans—if they survive the perils of budgets and development challenges—suggest that F-X Phase 3 is Lockheed Martin’s only chance to sell its fighter to one of the biggest buyers of Western combat aircraft. The country’s next fighter requirement after F-X—F-XX—is supposed to be filled by the indigenous KF-X. Then the combat aircraft after that is to be pilotless.

F-X Phase 3 thus offers the South Korean air force an opportunity to consolidate its top-end fighter force on 120 F-15s, eliminating an intermediate type—but only if it bets that its two follow-on domestic programs will succeed.

The F-35 enjoys an obvious advantage as South Korea ponders its strike mission, although Boeing and Eurofighter argue that there is much more to stealth than an all-aspect low radar cross section, and that there is much more to survivability than stealth. South Korea has not yet modeled the effects of characteristics such as radar cross section and flight performance. Eurofighter, apparently confident of what South *Korea will discover, urges it to do so. The air force suggested in 2008 that it could not accept compromises in flight performance, an attitude that would favor the Typhoon and Silent Eagle, with their low wing and thrust loadings, not to mention outright speed.

As in Japan’s similar fighter competition (also, confusingly, called F-X), Lockheed Martin will seek to satisfy South Korea’s demand for technology transfer by allocating offset work that will bring know-how from outside of the F-35 program. Some F-35 manufacturing is also available for allocation.

It is quite unlikely that South Korea would be allowed to build the F-35, since manufacturing is part of stealth technology. A final assembly line, as in Italy, is possible, but would cost at least $1 billion—and bring only the techniques of final assembly, a small part of the process of building a fighter.

Photo: Boeing

[buglerbilly]

Air Force Unveils TA-50 Trainer Jets

(Source: Republic of Korea Ministry of Defense; dated June 7, 2011)


TA-50 supersonic trainer jets move toward a runway to take off on June 2 at an air base in Yecheon, North Gyeongsang.

The Air Force unveiled the TA-50 trainer jets to the media for the first time. The Air Force plans to deploy some 200 new aircraft that are designed to carry out a lead-in fighter training mission by the first half of next year.

Jointly developed by Korea Aerospace Industries, South Korea's sole aircraft maker, and U.S. defense giant Lockheed Martin, South Korea unveiled the T-50 "Golden Eagle" in 2005, making the country the world's 12th supersonic jet producer.

-ends-

[buglerbilly]

Seoul to Rig Up Special Planes to Infiltrate N.Korea

The South Korean military plans to fit out aircraft that will allow special forces to infiltrate North Korea's nuclear and missile bases at night or in bad weather. Currently South Korea depends on the U.S. military for support of such aircraft.

"We need to improve our special forces' capabilities to infiltrate North Korean military facilities in preparation for asymmetric threats from the North like nuclear or missile attacks or for a sudden change there," a military source said Monday. "So we decided to retrofit four of the Air Force's C-130 transport planes into aircraft similar to MC-130s," the U.S.' special operations aircraft.


MC-130

That involves installing equipment like multifunction radar, infrared front perimeter surveillance radar and satellite communications equipment.

The Air Force has 12 C-130s and relies on the U.S. military for support with MC-130s or MH-47 or MH-60 helicopters.

englishnews@chosun.com / Jun. 28, 2011 09:09 KST

[buglerbilly]

Fighters Vie In Korean Competition

Jul 7, 2011

By Bradley Perrett
Seoul



South Korea aims to choose a supplier for 60 advanced fighters next year, balancing industrial ambitions against a need to deter North Korea and concerns about emerging Chinese and Russian air-to-air threats.

Contenders for the F-X Phase 3 program are the Boeing F-15SE Silent Eagle, Eurofighter Typhoon and Lockheed Martin F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.

Each has merits. Local industry is helping to develop the Silent Eagle, a stealthier version of the F-15K, and makes major parts for all F-15s, while the air force shows strong signs of wanting the F-35’s stealth for the crucial strike mission. In a market dominated by U.S. manufacturers, the Typhoon must rely heavily on its flight performance and on Eurofighter’s great scope for technology transfer.

The Typhoon was little more than a stalking horse in F-X Phase 1, in which Boeing won an order for 40 F-15Ks in 2002. Only Boeing bid for F-X Phase 2, resulting in a contract for 21 more F-15Ks in 2008. The F-X requirement emerged in the late 1980s and has met repeated budgetary delays. Phase 3 will not move to a decision next year unless parliament allocates money for the aircraft.

The Phase 3 aircraft would partly replace F-4 Phantoms and F-5 Tigers, and would be replaced in the strike role by 2030 by a domestically developed combat drone. Even with the new aircraft, the fighter force will drop to 400 from 500 by 2020.

South Korea faces more than 300 North Korean heavy artillery pieces in range of Seoul, and, far from the border, an uncertain number of nuclear ballistic missiles of unknown quality. The ability to rapidly knock out guns and missiles that threaten cities while pounding command bunkers is critically important. The air threat from North Korea is not an immediate concern.

South Korean fighters would not fly more than 1,000 km (621 mi.) to destroy North Korean nuclear missiles. The most northerly F-15K base is 430 km from Pyongyang. Also, China and Russia may introduce their own stealth fighters—the Chengdu J-20 and Sukhoi PAK-FA, respectively—this decade.

An ability to penetrate hostile airspace covertly, the strongest selling point of the F-35, is an “immensely important capability,” said air force Col. Taek-Hwan Song, at a seminar in Seoul in May. Song, leader of the department that plans air force requirements, expressed a relaxed view on the affordability of the F-35 and its schedule for service entry, despite cost overruns and delays. “A general misunderstanding about the fifth-generation stealth fighter is that it is expensive; it’s never too expensive,” he said. As for the aim of putting the F-X Phase 3 aircraft into service in 2018, just as the U.S. Air Force makes the F-35 operational, he notes that South Korea’s definition of operational is less demanding than that of USAF.

The Silent Eagle has the advantage of offering more work to Korea Aerospace Industries, which builds the wings and forward fuselages of F-15s for all customers and is helping to develop and make the conformal weapon bays fitted on the sides of the proposed stealthier version, for munitions, equipment and fuel. The stealthier F-15 would also have much commonality with 60 F-15Ks, cutting operational costs, though the version would be unique to South Korea unless Saudi Arabia, a potential customer, also buys it.

The Typhoon has an advantage over U.S. competitors on the issue of technology transfer that South Korea demands for its proposed KF-X fighter in the 2020s, since Eurofighter partners EADS and BAE Systems are not subject to Washington’s strict controls. Moreover, U.S. support for Asian fighter programs has consistently avoided creating competitors for U.S. aircraft.

Eurofighter says its aircraft can counter stealthy attackers. A flight of Typhoons flying in a wall formation can detect them at operationally useful ranges by sharing and triangulating azimuth data from passive sensors. Typhoons may even have detected Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptors that way last year.

Such counter-stealth capability would be valued against the J-20 and PAK-FA, but one F-X Phase 3 program official says an excellent strike capability would be valued more highly. Unless the South Korean air force, structured for combined operations with the U.S. Air Force against North Korea, transformed into a force for unilateral action, chances for a non-U.S. aircraft buy seem low.

F-15SE Photo: Boeing

[buglerbilly]

S. Korean, U.S. air forces to hold aerial refueling drills

2011-07-11 19:16

Voiceware Text Waking up with a foreign accent Director Kim wins key Cannes si... N.K. has around 30,000 electron... Remote-control craft expand U.S... Half of singles have no interes... Banks to buy W1tr in toxic loan... FSC delays ruling on Lone Star’... Prosecutors discover more FSS m... Home-backed lending jumps W2.4t... Money supply growth declines to...
South Korean and U.S. Air Forces have recently reached an agreement to stage an aerial refueling exercise on a regular basis here, using a U.S. in-flight tanker, a military source said Monday.

The first joint refueling exercise in which the U.S. is to mobilize its KC-135 tanker currently based in Okinawa, Japan, is expected to take place in the latter half of this year, the source said.

“Although our main combat aircraft ― F-15Ks and KF-16s ― have an aerial refueling capability, they have never conducted any such exercise. We have agreed to stage the exercise every six months,” he said, declining to be named.

“Through the exercise, we will help some 10 of our pilots obtain a certificate for aerial refueling. The exercise will help them maintain their qualification as the certificate holds valid for six months. ”

The military has been seeking to purchase its own in-flight tanker. But the efforts have been impeded by the government stressing efficiency in the budget execution and seeking to reduce unnecessary spending.

The U.S. military is known to have some 530 KC-135 tankers. KC-135 with a maximum range of 5,500 kilometers can carry fuel of some 110,000 liters.

By Song Sang-ho (sshluck@heraldm.com)

[buglerbilly]

01-02-2008 17:31

Introduction of US Spy Planes Hits Snag


Global Hawk unmanned aerial vehicle

By Jung Sung-ki

Staff Reporter

The government plan to purchase Global Hawk unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) from the United States is expected to hit a snag as the National Assembly cut almost all the budget proposed for the project in late December.

Parliament cut 5.8 billion won of 5.85 billion won proposed for an initial contract for the introduction of high-altitude UAVs, citing a U.S. arms sale ban on the spy plane, Defense Ministry officials said Wednesday.

Seoul has sought to purchase four Global Hawks by 2011 as part of efforts to build independent intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities for its planned takeover of wartime operational control of its military from the United States in 2012.

The Global Hawk is capable of surveying vast areas with near pinpoint accuracy from as high as 65,000 feet for up to 35 hours continuously. Per-unit price is $45-60 million.

The plan has been stalled, however, as overseas sales of the aircraft are prohibited under the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR). The MTCR is a voluntary association of countries that share the goal of non-proliferation of ballistic missiles and other unmanned delivery systems that could be used for chemical, biological and nuclear attacks.

The Assembly approved an 8.8 percent increase in military spending for this year.

The budget calls for 26.6 trillion won ($28.5 billion) in military expenditure including 18.9 trillion won for operating costs, up 6.5 percent from the previous year; and 7.6 trillion won for an arms buildup, up 15 percent, the ministry said in a new release.

The ministry originally proposed a 9 percent increase in its defense budget.

The increase in the defense budget is in line with Seoul's efforts to transform its military into a ``smaller but stronger'' one equipped with high-tech weapons systems under the Defense Reform 2020 initiative.

This year, the ministry plans to launch about 30 new arms acquisition projects including the procurement of next-generation infantry fighting vehicles, landing ships, thermal sensors and joint data link systems.

gallantjung@koreatimes.co.kr

[buglerbilly]

2011/08/01 09:46 KST

S. Korea's first spy plane arrives for deployment

By Yoo Jee-ho, Yonhap News Agency

SEOUL, Aug. 1 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's first surveillance airplane to be deployed this year arrived at an Air Force base on Monday, the country's defense procurement agency said.

The Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) said an E-737, the country's first airborne early warning and control system (AWACS) aircraft from Boeing, landed at the Air Force base in Gimhae, about 450 kilometers southeast of Seoul.

The aircraft, based on Boeing's 737-700, has been dubbed "Peace Eye" after a naming contest in 2008.

"The first E-737 completed tests by our Air Force at Boeing's factory in Seattle," the DAPA said in a statement. "It will go through test flights and acceptance tests before it's handed over to our Air Force in early September."

In 2006, South Korea reached a US$1.6 billion deal with Boeing to purchase four E-737s. The DAPA said the remaining three E-737s will be delivered by 2012. Australia and Turkey are the other operators.

According to the agency, the E-737, equipped with an electronically scanned radar antenna, can detect and monitor up to 1,000 airborne or surface targets simultaneously.

"It will be capable of checking airborne or seaborne targets on the entire Korean Peninsula, and will be able to catch aircraft flying at low altitude infiltrating mountainous areas," the DAPA added.

(END)

[buglerbilly]

And now the video...........for all you Korean speakers..........no, you can't hide in here!

YouTubeHD: Homecoming of RoKAF 737 AEW&C

Posted in Uncategorized on August 2nd, 2011

[Unicorn]

Apart from the different ESM / ECM, are there many differences between the Peace Eye and Wedgetail?

.

[buglerbilly]

No significant ones that I know of...............same with the Turkish ones.

[Unicorn]

I suppose I am asking if we received anything different from the commercial customers based on our relationship with the US, or got bog standard kit.

.

[buglerbilly]

Same response but considering we were first, its more a question of what the USA allowed Korea and Turkey to have. The changes lie in the realm of ESM/ECM as you have already said plus some Telecomms specific to each nation.

[buglerbilly]

Boeing Delivers 3 More F-15K Slam Eagles to the Republic of Korea

(Source: Boeing Co.; issued August 23, 2011)

DAEGU AIR BASE, Republic of Korea --- Boeing on Aug. 20 delivered three F-15K Slam Eagle aircraft to the Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF) at Daegu Air Base.

The aircraft left the Boeing St. Louis facility on Aug. 16 and made stops in Palmdale, Calif., Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii, and Anderson Air Force Base, Guam, before arriving in Korea.

"We are pleased to receive the latest three F-15K Slam Eagles, F-15K 51, 52 and 53, from Boeing,” said Lt. Col. Tae Uk Kim, Commander of the 110th Squadron, 11th Fighter Wing, ROKAF. “The F-15K is one of our most important assets in defense of the peninsula. We are satisfied with the continued on-schedule, quality deliveries of our F-15K Slam Eagles from Boeing.”

Boeing delivered the first six of 21 F-15Ks it is producing under the Next Fighter II contract in 2010, followed by two in April and two more in May. The remaining eight aircraft will be delivered through April 2012.

“Boeing has a demonstrated record of on-time, on-cost deliveries to the ROKAF,” said Roger Besancenez, Boeing F-15 Program vice president. “We’re proud of that record, and equally proud of Boeing’s relationship with Korean industry, which includes major work sharing and partnerships on both commercial and defense products. Our long-term cooperative relationship enables Boeing and Korean industry to ensure the ROKAF continues to fly a superior multi-role aircraft in defense of Korea.”

Six of the new F-15K Slam Eagles are scheduled to participate in an advanced aerial combat training exercise at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., in late January.

The F-15K is an advanced variant of the combat-proven F-15E. Equipped with the latest technological upgrades, it is extremely capable, survivable and maintainable. The aircraft’s service life is planned through 2040, with technology insertions and upgrades throughout its life cycle. Boeing completed delivery of 40 Next Fighter I F-15K aircraft to the ROKAF in October 2008.

A unit of The Boeing Company, Boeing Defense, Space & Security is one of the world's largest defense, space and security businesses specializing in innovative and capabilities-driven customer solutions, and the world’s largest and most versatile manufacturer of military aircraft. Headquartered in St. Louis, Boeing Defense, Space & Security is a $32 billion business with 64,000 employees worldwide.

-ends-

[buglerbilly]

Exclusive: Obama moves to sell Northrop drones to South Korea

WASHINGTON | Wed Aug 31, 2011 11:24pm EDT

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Obama administration has begun consulting Congress on plans to sell remotely piloted Global Hawk surveillance planes to South Korea, which came close to all-out war with North Korea last year, two people familiar with the matter said.

Among those briefed have been the Senate's and House of Representatives' foreign affairs committees, which have jurisdiction over arms sales, the people familiar with the matter said.

There was no immediate word on when formal notification of a proposed sale might take place, nor on the potential overall value.

South Korea has been under pressure to boost surveillance capabilities over North Korea after two attacks against it killed 50 people last year, driving tensions on the Korean peninsula to the highest levels in decades.

Talks on ending North Korea's nuclear program in return for aid have stalled since 2008 and the United Nations imposed new tough sanctions after Pyongyang conducted its second nuclear test and missile tests the following year.

Northrop Grumman, which builds the high-flying, long-endurance airframe, said Seoul was considering buying four RQ-4 Global Hawk "Block 30" drones, which can carry intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance payloads.

Associated ground stations would be included in such a sale, Gemma Loochkartt, a company spokeswoman, said by email on Wednesday. Deliveries could take place in 2014 and 2015 if a government-to-government deal is signed this year, she said.

The Block 30 airframes sell for roughly $30 million apiece, not including their payloads. Raytheon Co's "Enhanced Integrated Sensor Suite" lets the aircraft scan large swaths and transmit imagery from 60,000 feet in near real-time using electro-optical, infrared and radar-imaging sensors.

The State Department declined to comment pending formal notification of a proposed sale to Congress. The U.S. Air Force, which would broker the deal, and South Korea's embassy in Washington also had no immediate comment.

An official at the South Korean Defense Ministry's procurement agency said it remains interested in acquiring the aircraft system and is waiting for Washington to have a formal go-ahead to negotiate the sale.

"Our interest is based on the operational need of our military," the official said.

The head of the Defense Acquisition Program Administration Noh Dae-lae had earlier expressed concern about the system's reliability after reports about the aircraft's technical shortfalls in May.

The Global Hawk is due to replace the Cold War-vintage U-2 spy plane in 2015, Lieutenant Colonel Rick Thomas, the U.S. Air Force's Global Hawk functional manager, told reporters on August 10.

Japan, Singapore and Australia also have shown interest in acquiring Global Hawk, Loochkartt said.

Global Hawk's export would require a waiver under the Missile Technology Control Regime. The MTCR is a voluntary pact among at least 34 countries aimed at curbing the spread of unmanned delivery systems that could be used for weapons of mass destruction.

The aircraft's range -- 12,300 nautical miles -- and payload capacity -- 3,000 pounds (1,360 kg) -- subject it to the arms control agreement created in 1987.

Then-Defense Secretary Robert Gates said in October 2008 that the United States was "very sympathetic" to South Korea's interest in Global Hawk but added that there were MTCR issues to overcome.

Wes Bush, Northrop Grumman's chief executive, complained in an August 17 speech that export curbs on unmanned systems were harming U.S. industry without making the United States any safer.

"The good news," he said, "is that the Defense Department is promoting what is clearly the best export reform policy -- build higher walls around fewer things."

But tweaking the MTCR would be a mistake, some critics have argued, for instance if it led Russia or China, for instance, to follow suit with sales of such drones to countries like Iran, at odds with the West over its nuclear program.

(Reporting by Jim Wolf; Additional reporting by Jack Kim in Seoul; Editing by Bob Burgdorfer and Frederik Richter)

[buglerbilly]

DATE:09/09/11

SOURCE:Flight International

South Korea likely to acquire four Global Hawks

By Greg Waldron

South Korea’s plan to acquire four Northrop Grumman RQ-4 Block 30 Global Hawks, first revealed in March, has moved a step closer.

The US Defense Security Cooperation Agency is likely two notify Congress in the coming weeks about the possible sale of the aircraft and one ground system.

US government officials familiar with the matter said the deal was worth around $850 million.

If it proceeds, two aircraft will be delivered in 2015 and two more in 2016.

"We’ve looked very carefully at the offsets that would be involved with Global Hawk, and we’ve set extreme limits," one of the officials said.

They added that the USA decided to remove the Global Hawk from the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) agreement in the case of South Korea last year, on the basis that the aircraft is not a weapon but rather an intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance platform.

"We’re in the process of preparing a congressional notification, which we plan to submit in the next few weeks," an official said.


© Northrop Grumman

The deal would represent the first Asia Pacific sale of the platform and would be a coup for MTCR critics. They contend the MTCR is an antiquated agreement that hinders the ability of US companies to sell advanced unmanned systems to overseas allies.

A US official said the Republic of Korea Air Force would mainly use Global Hawk to monitor North Korean activities beyond the de-militarised zone.

[buglerbilly]

DATE:13/09/11

SOURCE:Flight International

South Korea F-16 upgrade RFP imminent

By Greg Waldron

South Korea appears ready to issue a request for proposals (RFP) for a long awaited programme to upgrade its Lockheed Martin/Korea Aerospace Industries F-16C/D fighters.

The nation's Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) said it will issue the RFP on 16 September, at its Seoul office. The deadline for bids is 2 December 2011.

According to DAPA announcement 2011-16, companies qualified to attend the explanatory session on the 16th include Lockheed, BAE Systems, Northrop Grumman and Raytheon.

A major element of the upgrade would be the addition of an active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar to Republic of Korea Air Force F-16s - known as the KF-16 in Korean service.

Raytheon is interested in providing Seoul with its Raytheon advanced combat radar, while Northrop aims to sell its scaleable agile beam radar.

Industry sources said the upgrade could provide a new mission computer and a common data link with US aircraft, as well as Seoul's own fleet of Boeing F-15K Slam Eagles.

Flightglobal's MiliCAS database lists the nation as having 118 F-16Cs and 51 two-seater F-16Ds.

[buglerbilly]

S. Korea, U.S. conduct refueling exercise

2011-09-19 20:12


Korean Air Force fighters engage in an aerial refueling exercise with the help of the U.S. military in the country’s airspace over the West Sea last week. (Air Force)

South Korea’s Air Force is conducting an aerial refueling exercise in the country’s airspace for the first time with assistance from the U.S. military to help pilots acquire their refueling qualifications, officials said Monday.

The 15-day exercise, ending Sept. 30, is taking place in airspace over the West Sea, using the U.S. military’s KC-135 tanker, which came from its base in Okinawa. South Korea does not have any in-flight tankers yet.

The allied militaries have reached an agreement to stage the exercise every six months. For pilots to maintain their qualification, they are required to receive refueling training every six months.

Sixteen Korean pilots running F-15K or KF-16 fighter jets are participating in the exercise in which nine U.S. trainers have been mobilized to train them. The trainees are to acquire or maintain their refueling qualification after operating the tanker four times ― twice during the day and twice at night.

No refueling exercise has ever occurred in Korean airspace. In 2005, some Korean pilots received training in the process of acquiring their new F-15K fighter jets in the U.S. But they lost their qualification as they lacked regular training opportunities.

“As there were no pilots with the refueling qualification, we had to go to the trouble of making many stopovers when we were flying to other states to join an overseas joint military exercise,” said an Air Force official, declining to be named.

“If we use the refueling tanker, we can move quickly to a training site to join a large-scale joint exercise taking place in our allied countries.”

The military has been seeking to purchase its own in-flight tanker. But the efforts have been impeded by a government policy to stress efficiency in the budget execution.

The U.S. military is known to have some 530 KC-135 tankers. KC-135 with a maximum range of 5,500 kilometers can carry fuel of some 110,000 liters.

By Song Sang-ho (sshluck@heraldm.com)

[buglerbilly]

Boeing Delivers Peace-Eye 737 AEW&C to Korea


The Peace-Eye is designed to provide airborne battle-management capability utilizing situational picture generated by the on-board advanced multirole electronically scanned radar that tracks airborne and maritime targets simultaneously, supporting interrogator friend/foe (IFF) and electronic support measures (ESM). Photo: Boeing

The first Peace-Eye 737 Airborne early Warning & Control (AEW&C) aircraft was delivered today to the Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF). The aircraft landed at the ROKAF Base Gimhae, the main operating base for the aircraft. Boeing is expected to deliver three additional aircraft, supported by extensive infrastructure including mission crew training, mission support and system maintenance. The platform is based on the Boeing Next-Generation 737-700 commercial airplane. The Peace-Eye is designed to provide airborne battle-management capability utilizing situational picture generated by the on-board advanced multirole electronically scanned radar that tracks airborne and maritime targets simultaneously, supporting interrogator friend/foe (IFF) and electronic support measures (ESM). All the system’s electronic racks and 10 mission crew consoles are accommodated in the cabin. 737 AEW&C aircraft also are in production for the governments of Australia and Turkey.


First Peace Eye 737 AEW&C Arrives in South Korea. Photo: Boeing

[buglerbilly]

South Korea Turns Up Heat On Global Hawk Deal

By Carlo Munoz

Published: September 26, 2011



Washington: The South Korean government is threatening to walk away from an almost $400 million Global Hawk purchase unless the Pentagon can bring the price down.

According to a recent report in the Korea Herald, top decision makers in Seoul claim the revised cost estimate out of the Pentagon for the four-plane deal is nearly double what both governments had initially agreed to.

Those unmanned planes, which are set to begin arriving on the peninsula by 2015, were originally going to cost the South Korean government roughly $379 million, including the associated ground systems, spare parts and other materials.

The revised estimate, according to the Herald, is closer to $795 million. Under that new price, the South Korean military simply cannot afford to buy the the advanced intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance drone from the U.S., according to the South Korean story

Unless DoD agrees to cut that new price by half, Seoul will walk away from the deal entirely, the newspaper said.

The South Koreans have picked a key moment to put the screws to DoD and Global Hawk contractor Northrop Grumman. With defense budgets set to shrink dramatically over the next decade, defense firms are looking more and more to overseas sales to support their bottom lines.

The outcome of the South Korean deal could also affect whether other countries in the Pacific decide to go with the Global Hawk to fill their unmanned ISR requirements.

The Japanese and the Australians have already expressed interest in buying the Global Hawk and its sea-based cousin, the Broad-Area Maritime Surveillance drone being built for the U.S. Navy by Northrop Grumman.

But if Seoul can convince the U.S. to meet their terms it could set a difficult precedent for future talks between the U.S. and other countries for the Global Hawk and other pieces of American military hardware.

For their part, South Korean officials claim it is the U.S. who is looking to take advantage of the situation. The 2015 delivery date for the Global Hawks is the same time when American forces in country are set to hand over control of military operations in the country to the South Koreans.

The South Koreans claim DoD is using that handover deadline to boost the price for the Global Hawks, knowing the unmanned aerial drones will be a must-have capability for Seoul once the handover takes place.

Northrop Grumman officials declined to comment on the negotiations with South Korea, referring all questions to the Defense Department. A spokesman from the Defense Security Cooperation Agency, the DoD shop that handles all high-level foreign sales of U.S. weapons, did not respond to queries on those claims.

For their part, Northrop has already taken steps to court the international ISR market. It has locked in a deal to supply the Global Hawk to NATO for its new Allied Ground Surveillance program.

The company is also working on a new common ground control station for the UAV, which will be able to control all U.S. and international versions of the Global Hawk from a single station without modification.

[buglerbilly]

DoD Pitches New Price To South Korea On Global Hawk

By Carlo Munoz

Published: September 29, 2011



Washington: The Pentagon is hoping that a newly-revised price estimate will be the key to locking in a deal to sell the Global Hawk to the South Korean military.

DoD plans to ship over that new estimate -- which has been priced as high as $795 million for the four-plane deal -- to Seoul within weeks, according to industry officials familiar with the program.

While the final figures are still in flux, the revised number will be "more realistic" and eliminate "some factors that where there were some uncertainties" voiced by American and South Korean negotiators, one official said.

Earlier this week, South Korea threatened to walk away from the deal, claiming the United States was gouging the price for the unmanned aerial systems by doubling the initial $400 million price tag.

Citing unnamed government officials, reports in the Korean press alleged DoD was using the handover of U.S. military operations on the peninsula to South Korea set for 2015, as leverage to increase the price for the Global Hawks.

While that kind of rhetoric did not doom the deal, it did make the situation "fragile right now," the official said.

"There is a lot of boiling water . . .but things will settle down," the official added, noting the new DoD estimate will go a long way to calming the situation down.

But the tense situation between Seoul and Washington is mostly South Korea's doing, the second official said.

The cost increase, the second official claimed, was due to South Korea tacking on additional amenities to the Global Hawk buy.

In 2009, South Korea agreed to a basic package of airframes and associated ground control and support systems package, which totaled out to $400 million. However, as talks proceeded, Seoul pressed for more -- specifically in the areas of maintenance and spare parts.

"The scope has been increasing all along the way," the source said. That increase is "a typical Korean maneuver" that has been used in past arms negotiations with the Asian nation, the first official added.

On top of that, the requirements South Korea sent to Washington for the planes were so vague, DoD could not put together a clear picture of what those requirements would cost.

As a result, the Pentagon was forced to overestimate the cost of those requirements, to make sure there would be enough money to do the work, the second official said.

With the new DoD price proposal, many of those additional requests and vague requirements "may be negotiated" out, which should leave the South Korean military with a plane they can afford, the first official said.

"They will come to an equilibrium [and] cooler heads will prevail," the first official added. "This is good for both governments."

If the U.S. and South Korea can finalize the deal for the Global Hawks, it could be the first of many that could be struck with a number of other countries in the Pacific.

The Japanese and the Australians have already expressed interest in buying the Global Hawk and its sea-based cousin, the Broad-Area Maritime Surveillance drone being built for the U.S. Navy by Northrop Grumman.

[buglerbilly]

S. Korea developing vertical take-off plane: official

2011-10-17 15:51

SEOUL, Oct. 17 (Yonhap) -- South Korea is developing a new type of aircraft that can take off and land vertically to conduct reconnaissance missions, Seoul's top procurement official said Monday.

Noh Dae-rae, head of the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA), said at a local seminar that South Korea is developing a tilt-rotor type of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), which has the same vertical-takeoff capability of a helicopter but still retains the speed and range of a traditional, winged aircraft.

"We're one of only a few countries in the world developing a tilt-rotor UAV," Noh said during the 17th International Aerospace Symposium in Seoul. "Based on our information technology integration capabilities, we will make some aggressive investments into UAV development and pave the way for the future of aerospace industries."

Sources said Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI) is working on the tilt-rotor UAV. Previous tilt-rotor types have been produced by such companies as Israel Aircraft Industries, Boeing and Bell Helicopter.

[buglerbilly]

Seoul Air Show: South Korea goes shopping

By Stephen Trimble on October 18, 2011 1:03 PM

SEOUL -- South Korea wants things. A new fighter, for instance. Also, a new attack helicopter. And then a maritime helicopter. And new radars for their F-16s. Before any of that happens, which could be within a year, the Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF) may spend hundreds of millions of dollars on an unmanned air vehicle (UAV) that's less capable than it seems. Have we mentioned the plan to develop an indigenous, fifth-generation stealth fighter and unmanned combat air vehicle from scratch?

Above the 38th parallel, only 40km away, is an opponent from a war that technically never ended, who every now and then sinks a South Korean ship and lobs shells at an unsuspecting island. The security situation is grave, but that's not all that is driving South Korea's shopping list for advanced weapons.

This is a country with ambitions of global aerospace power, with a stated goal to eclipse Japan by the end of the decade as Asia's second-largest aerospace manufacturer behind China.

To accomplish that feat, the country must eventually compete with the global aerospace giants it now welcomes this week to the Seoul Air Show, a biannual showcase of South Korea's growing aerospace might. The KFX programme aims to deliver a fifth-generation stealth fighter by around 2020. South Korea has been a reliable customer of the US defence industry for more than 50 years, and now it is seeking to become an independent manufacturer of combat aircraft -- and, therefore, a strategic competitor to the US defence industry.

This tension between what South Korea needs today and what it hopes to become is palpable. It was clear in a keynote speech on 17 October by General Gary North, chief of US Pacific Air Forces. North told us afterward that he did not mean to sound like he was telling the ROKAF how to invest their own money, but his language was not ambiguous.

"Now more than ever our solutions must be fiscally prudent, matched to counter the realistic threat to security, and interoperable with the capabilities shared by allies," North said. "Now more than ever we must, such that we do not overspend or unnecessarily duplicate, and we must unify effort to defend and deter with appropriate solutions to a complex problem."

He reminded the ROKAF that the US Air Force has learned this lesson already. The Lockheed SR-71 was built to replace the Lockheed U-2, but the latter is still flying on the Korean peninsula and the former has been retired for two decades due to operational costs.

"The lesson there is that we must be very careful in looking to the future to procure technologies that are fiscally prudent and match need to actual requirements," North said.

Another source of tension are the investments that the USAF is counting on South Korea to make over the next five years. The USAF is retiring the U-2 fleet in 2015, but won't replace the 5th Reconnaissance Sqd at Osan Air Base with new aircraft. Instead, the USAF has stationed the Northrop Grumman RQ-4 Global Hawk at Anderson Air Base, Guam, a more optimum location to stand watch over the increasingly vital Taiwan and Malacca straits. The ROKAF has been asked to buy the RQ-4 to fill the gap on the peninsula, and so it is, but not without controversy.

The RQ-4s the ROKAF have requested are Block 30s that come without signals intelligence payloads, according to Northrop. That means an intelligence collection gap will still exist here after the U-2s are retired in 2015. Perhaps South Korea would prefer to invest that money in other priorities.

Not that the world's defence contractors are complaining. South Korea is still one of the world's most active shoppers, and, so far, there is still plenty for everyone here.

[buglerbilly]

Seoul eyes powerplant options for KF-X

By: Greg Waldron Sarajevo

2 hours ago

Source:

Seoul is tentatively exploring engine options for its proposed Korea Fighter Experimental (KF-X) programme, with the Eurojet consortium putting forward its EJ200 powerplant.

According to industry sources at the Seoul air show, the South Korean Defense Acquisition Program Administration has issued requests for information to Eurojet for its EJ200 and to General Electric for its F414.

"We are offering the EJ200 as it is for KF-X, and would allow them to manufacture 60% of the engine," said Eurojet vice-president sales Paul Herrmann.

"This would involve 60% technology transfer, and help make them self-sustaining."

He added that it was up to Seoul to decide what 60% of the engine it would produce locally, adding that it seems particularly interested in full authority digital engine control technology.


© Geoffrey Lee/Planefocus

The EJ200 is the powerplant for the Eurofighter Typhoon (above), a contender in South Korea's F-X III competition for 60 fighters. Herrmann stressed that the EJ200 offer for KF-X is not associated with Eurofighter's F-X III campaign. The F414 powers the Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet.

Though the KF-X is likely to require 50,000lb (220kN) of thrust, Seoul has yet to decide if this will be achieved with two engines of the EJ200 and F414 size, or with a single larger engine such as the Pratt & Whitney F135, which powers the Lockheed Martin F-35.

P&W has not received an RFI in relation to KF-X, but said it would be willing to explore the possibility if approached. P&W is the dominant powerplant supplier for the Republic of Korea Air Force, with its F100 engines powering the 21 Boeing F-15Ks obtained under the F-X II competition, as well as the service's fleet of Lockheed KF-16s.

The KF-X is intended as an F-16 replacement. Although Seoul has been interested in the programme for some time, it was only in July that Korea Aerospace Industries and the government signed a contract to develop the aircraft. Indonesia is also part of the programme, with the two governments opening a combined research and development centre in August.

On 14 July, Indonesia's Antara official news agency said Jakarta would participate in the programme, contributing 20% of the development costs. The two partners have agreed to produce 150 to 200 units, of which Indonesia would get 50.

Industry sources have said Washington is highly dubious about the KF-X programme. It may be wary of providing advanced technologies for an aircraft that is being co-produced with Indonesia, a country that has been subject to US arms sanctions in the past.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, a US government official has also said KF-X will place a tremendous strain on South Korea's research capabilities and defence budget, resulting in a fighter less effective than others available in the international market.

[buglerbilly]

Northrop signs South Korean partners for Global Hawk programme

By: Greg Waldron Seoul

2 hours ago

Source:

Northrop Grumman has signed agreements with four South Korean companies to participate in the RQ-4 Global Hawk programme, and also provided details about the aircraft's prospects in other Asia-Pacific countries.

The four companies are DACC Aerospace, Foosung, KJF and the aerospace division of flag carrier Korean Air, said Northrop.

The agreements are part of the 30% offset requirement of a prospective Global Hawk sale to South Korea, and were signed at the Seoul air show on 18 October.

If a deal is concluded for the high-altitude, long-endurance unmanned system, DACC may provide composite parts, Foosung wire harnesses, KJF machine parts and Korean Air sheet metal.

The deal still needs the formal approval of the US and South Korean governments, with the final contract likely to be finalised within six to nine months.

If this timeframe is met, four Global Hawks will be delivered in 2015 - two in the first half and two in the second.

The USA, which has maintained a military presence on the Korean peninsula for decades, has long pushed for Seoul to play a larger role in its defence.

Republic of Korea Air Force Global Hawks would assume the role now played by US Air Force Lockheed Martin U-2 surveillance aircraft, which are used to monitor activities in North Korea.

Significantly, South Korea's Block 30I Global Hawks will not carry communications intelligence or signals intelligence payloads. This will make them less capable than Block 30 aircraft operated by the USAF (below).


© Northrop Grumman

Other Asia-Pacific countries that have expressed interest in the aircraft include Australia, Japan and Singapore, along with Canada.

Of these, Australia and Japan are primarily interested in the Global Hawk's developmental Broad Area Maritime Surveillance variant. Japan could also be interested in the aircraft's ground observation capabilities owing to its concerns about North Korea.

Singapore has yet to issue a formal letter of request, but it would be interested in a "unique configuration" with aircraft capable of both maritime and overland missions, said Northrop.

News of Seoul's interest in the Global Hawk emerged in March. In September, government officials pegged the cost of four Global Hawks and one ground system at $850 million.

Northrop declined to comment on this figure, and has said the ultimate cost will be determined by the US government, with any sale to be conducted under its Foreign Military Sales mechanism.

[buglerbilly]

SEOUL AIR SHOW: Boeing sexes up F-15 Silent Eagle for ROKAF

By Stephen Trimble on October 18, 2011 7:43 PM



You're the marketing guy. It's between your aircraft, the Boeing F-15 Silent Eagle, and the Lockheed Martin F-35. The latter is the latest fifth-generation fighter to hit the market and the former is the last and, perhaps, ultimate expression of a 40-year-old fighter series. You fear the Republic of Korea Air Force really wants the shiniest, newest product. What do you do?

You roll out a new paint job and simulate blowing stuff up in North Korea.





Uploaded by thedewline on Oct 17, 2011
This video was uploaded from an Android phone.

[buglerbilly]

10-19-2011 16:03

EADS pledges full technology transfer


An Eurofighter Typhoon, a twin-engine multi-role fighter, takes off on a runway of an air base in this undated picture. / Courtesy of EADS

By Lee Tae-hoon

MUNICH/MADRID ― Officials of the European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company N.V. (EADS), manufacturer of the Eurofighter Typhoon, say that the European aerospace consortium is willing to offer a full transfer of its advanced fighter jet development technology, including source codes, to Korea without pre-conditions.

They also assured that the company will allow Korea to export its own aircraft to be developed with the help of EADS even to the European market, where it has established itself as the largest regional aerospace and defense contractor.

“Our technology for Korea can definitely be used for other markets as we are willing to offer and discuss the matter with the Korean industry to follow that,” Peter Maute, senior vice president of Cassidian Air Systems, a division of EADS, told reporters on Oct. 10 following a tour of the final assembly line in Germany.

EADS is one of the contenders for Korea’s high-end military aircraft acquisition program with a budget of 8.29 trillion won ($7.26 billion) along with Lockheed Martin and Boeing, which have also shown interests in joining KF-X aimed at developing an indigenous F-16 class fighter over the next decade.

“We see benefits in combining the two programs. It is, however, not a condition,” Maute said. “We are absolutely interested in cooperating in all areas with Korea’s Ministry of Defense. We don’t make one depend on another.”

But he noted that technology transfer made in the FX-program, through which Korea plans to introduce 60 foreign fighter jets with stealth capability between 2016 and 2020 will be beneficial to the KF-X program.

Seoul is currently carrying out the final round of a feasibility study for the KF-X program in partnership with Indonesia, which has expressed willingness to buy 50 KF-X jets and shoulder 20 percent of the $5 billion development funding.

“We are willing to offer through FX-technology transfer which can be used for the KF-X indigenous development in substantially reducing the latter’s development cost,” he said.“ In summary, we want to sell the Eurofighter, import the KF-X and cooperate with Korean industry and authorities. We are willing to support Korea to achieve self-reliance.”

Mariano J. Barrena, head of Eurofighter Korea Campaign, said that his company is ready to provide the source codes for the Eurofighter Typhoon so that Korea will have the ability to develop, upgrade and sustain the multi-role aircraft in the future.

“We are open to negotiate and willing to license production in Korea,” he told The Korea Times in Madrid, adding that EADS is even considering making a financial investment in the KF-X program if necessary.

He also stressed that EADS is flexible to renew its earlier proposal to assemble 50 of its 60 deliveries to Korea and allow local manufacturers to produce and supply parts for the last batch of 26 advanced jets.

Officials noted that Korea will be able to reap more benefits in terms of technology transfer if it chooses the Eurofighter over its U.S. rivals in late 2012 _ Lockheed Martin’s F-35, the only fifth generation, stealth aircraft available in the market, and Boeing’s F-15 Silent Eagle, a semi-stealth fighter under development.

Marco Valerio Bonelli, head of public relations and communications for Eurofighter, said, “We can offer the total sharing of technology, capability and industry process regarding the development of an aircraft without restrictions unlike Americans.”

“There are no black boxes, there are no secrets, and there are no restrictions to the access of technology.”

leeth@koreatimes.co.kr

[buglerbilly]

Boeing, Lockheed Martin square off on F-X III

By: Greg Waldron Seoul

32 minutes ago

Source:

Boeing and Lockheed Martin mounted a major sales push at the Seoul air show, both determined to win the country's F-X III competition for more than 60 fighter aircraft.

The Boeing stand featured an F-15 Silent Eagle simulator with tandem positions for a pilot and weapons systems officer. The Lockheed stand had an F-35 simulator.

In demonstrations for South Korean officials and military personnel, Boeing highlighted the F-15SE's single large multifunction display touchscreen.

Meanwhile outside the show, Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF) F-15Ks performed aerial displays, while Lockheed Martin fielded a full-size mock-up of an F-35 in ROKAF colours that included a realistic cockpit.


© Boeing

Eurofighter's Typhoon campaign was somewhat lower profile, although the campaign team was on-hand to meet South Korean officials.

Sukhoi, which has put forward its developmental PAK FA for F-X III, had no presence at the show. Industry observers are unanimous that the Russian aircraft has little chance of winning the competition.

Boeing pitched the F-15SE as a low-risk, proven aircraft that can assume a degree of low observability in the early days of a conflict through the use of conformal weapons bays. Following the suppression of the enemy's air defences, the weapons bays can be removed and the aircraft reconfigured to carry a larger payload.

Lockheed Martin stressed the F-35's stealth qualities and its ability to penetrate enemy air defences. This capability, it feels, provides a substantial deterrent against current threats, such as North Korea, and possible threats up to 40 years in the future.

It added that the conventional take-off and landing F-35A could be available for delivery to ROKAF in 2016.

Seoul is expected to issue a request for proposals in February 2012.

[buglerbilly]

South Korea outlines military aircraft acquisition strategy

By: Stephen Trimble Seoul

7 hours ago

Source:

South Korean military officials have outlined a strategy to get indigenous military aircraft development programmes to the top of the global aerospace industry within a decade.

The strategy includes a new KF-X stealth fighter based on design and manufacturing experience obtained from a collaboration with Lockheed Martin to develop the T-50 Golden Eagle jet trainer and light attack aircraft.

The KF-X programme will then lead to the development of a stealthy unmanned combat air vehicle.


© KAI

Those programmes should boost South Korea into the top seven countries for aerospace sales by 2020, with an export-driven sector supported by 300 companies and 70,000 workers, said Brig Gen Bo Kuen Cho, director general of aircraft programmes for the nation's Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA).

It is a strategy that is driving requirements for foreign contractors to share "core technologies" in pending aircraft procurements, including for the KF-X III fighter contract, he said.

One barrier to realising South Korea's growth strategy is the need to master highly sensitive technologies, such as stealth aircraft design. However, the country's industry is focused on catching up quickly.

Shaping an airframe to redirect radar waves is no longer a closely-guarded secret, with the key rules available in published textbooks, said Taekyu Reu, of DAPA's Agency for Defence Development. However, properties of modern radar-absorbent materials that are easy to maintain remain secret, Reu added.

Using plasma technology to absorb radar signals is of special interest to the Korean industry, he said. Adding plasma generators to the country's Lockheed KF-16 fighters would significantly reduce the fourth-generation aircraft's radar signature, Reu added.

"We'll do the very best on our part," Reu said, "to secure this technology."

[buglerbilly]

SEOUL AIR SHOW: KF-X vision unveiled

By Stephen Trimble on October 21, 2011 7:59 AM



In a seminar today at the Seoul Air Show, South Korean government officials outlined the strategy and plans for the KF-X, a twin-engined stealth fighter with a design goal of achieving manoeuvrability, speed and range performance between a Lockheed Martin F-16 and a Boeing F-15.

South Korea wants to develop the KF-X over the next nine years, with mass production beginning after 2020. Indonesia has already joined the programme, and talks with Turkey are continuing.

If developing an all-new stealth fighter is not enough of a challenge, South Korea also intends to equip the KF-X with a set of all-new weapons, including indigenous missiles in the Raytheon AIM-9 Sidewinder and AIM-120 AMRAAM class, guided bombs and an anti-ship missile. South Korean officials have released a development budget estimate of about US$5 billion, which seems (wildly?) optimistic.

KF-X has previously been pictured with canards, but that concept was nowhere in today's presenations. Instead, the KF-X appears to have morphed into a more conventional fighter. It appears similar a two-engine variant of the Lockheed F-35. This is Korea's vision for the KF-X. Eurofighter presented an alternative vision of KF-X, which I will present later.

[buglerbilly]

Uploaded by northropgrummanmedia on Oct 21, 2011
On Oct. 18, 2011 we signed four memoranda of understanding (MOU) with our Korean industry partners during the Seoul Air Show in South Korea. The MOU signings will enable the Northrop Grumman Korea Global Hawk team -- composed of Northrop Grumman, Dreaming and Challenging Company, FIRSTEC, Korea Jig and Fixture, and Korean Air Lines -- to manufacture various structural components, harnesses, cable assemblies, sheet metal, machinery, tubing and composites as integral suppliers to the RQ-4 Global Hawk production line. The team will also collaborate on future unmanned aircraft system (UAS) projects. Check out this video from the air show:

Global Hawk Korean Deals Signed

Posted on October 24, 2011 by The Editor

As anticipated, Northrop Grumman has signed MoUs with four South Korean companies to participate in the RQ-4 Global Hawk programme during the Seoul Air Show in South Korea.

The MOU signings will enable the Northrop Grumman Korea Global Hawk team — composed of Northrop Grumman, Dreaming and Challenging Company, FIRSTEC, Korea Jig and Fixture, and Korean Air Lines — to manufacture various structural components, harnesses, cable assemblies, sheet metal, machinery, tubing and composites as integral suppliers to the RQ-4 Global Hawk production line. The team will also collaborate on future unmanned aircraft system (UAS) projects

The agreements are part of the 30% offset requirement of a prospective Global Hawk sale to South Korea. The deal still needs the formal approval of the US and South Korean governments, with the final contract likely to be finalised within six to nine months.

If this timeframe is met, four Global Hawks will be delivered in 2015 – two in the first half and two in the second.

The USA, which has maintained a military presence on the Korean peninsula for decades, has long pushed for Seoul to play a larger role in its defence.

Republic of Korea Air Force Global Hawks would assume the role now played by US Air Force Lockheed Martin U-2 surveillance aircraft, which are used to monitor activities in North Korea.

Significantly, South Korea’s Block 30I Global Hawks will not carry communications intelligence or signals intelligence payloads. This will make them less capable than Block 30 aircraft operated by the USAF

Other Asia-Pacific countries that have expressed interest in the aircraft include Australia, Japan and Singapore, along with Canada.

Of these, Australia and Japan are primarily interested in the Global Hawk’s developmental Broad Area Maritime Surveillance variant. Japan could also be interested in the aircraft’s ground observation capabilities owing to its concerns about North Korea.

Singapore has yet to issue a formal letter of request, but it would be interested in a “unique configuration” with aircraft capable of both maritime and overland missions, said Northrop.

News of Seoul’s interest in the Global Hawk emerged in March. In September, government officials pegged the cost of four Global Hawks and one ground system at $850 million.

Northrop declined to comment on this figure, and has said the ultimate cost will be determined by the US government, with any sale to be conducted under its Foreign Military Sales mechanism.

Sources: Northrop Grumman, Flight Global

[buglerbilly]

IN FOCUS: South Korea outlines strategy for indigenous fighter

By: Stephen Trimble Seoul

1 hours ago

Source:

In 2013, South Korea and two national partners will start developing a medium-sized and probably twin-engined fighter. It will be more agile than a Lockheed Martin F-16, with an advanced sensor suite and fusion software on a par with the US company's new-generation F-35. Aiming to enter operations in 2021, the new design will also carry a bespoke arsenal of indigenous missiles and precision-guided munitions.

That is the vision for the KF-X programme, outlined on 21 October at the Seoul air show by South Korean government and academic officials.

It is a strategy that accepts both technical and political risks. For the programme to succeed, South Korea must depend on a series of favourable decisions by potential partners, from Indonesia to Turkey to - despite the programme's indigenous technology goals - the export control regimes of Europe and the USA.

Not least, the KF-X programme assumes South Korea's aerospace industry can rise from the global supply chain's second tier, to become a world-class systems integrator in less than a decade.

But the KF-X concept is certainly no fluke. After decades of Western and Russian domination of the combat aircraft market, emerging industries in Brazil, Japan, South Korea and Turkey are each considering the costs and benefits of developing home-grown alternatives.


© Stephen Trimble/Flightglobal

For South Korea, the KF-X programme started taking shape last year. Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) was tasked by the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) to begin configuration studies, focusing on a conventional wing and V-tail (above) and a forward-canard and V-tail.

The former concept was highlighted exclusively in presentations during a Seoul air show seminar.

A decision is planned for 2013 to launch a seven-year development phase, with first flight to occur in 2016, according to Korean officials.

As KAI refines the design and technology requirements, DAPA officials are reaching out to international partners.

South Korea intends to assume the leadership role in a three-country partnership, and will also contribute 60% of the cost of the development programme.

Indonesia has agreed in principle to invest a 20% share, and negotiations for signing a formal agreement are ongoing. South Korea has also reached out to Turkey, which is likely to join the programme next year with a 20% contribution, according to DAPA.

But Turkish press reports suggest Ankara is also considering an independent fighter development programme.

Turkey's participation is considered significant by South Korea, but perhaps not essential. DAPA officials suggested the contribution numbers could be adjusted if industrial partners in the USA or Europe agree to invest in the development programme.

South Korea is considering two models for the international partnership. One option is to devote the wings, forward fuselage and final assembly to South Korea, with Turkey and Indonesia to split work on the aft and mid-fuselage.

Alternatively, the programme could establish final assembly and check-out lines in partner countries as well - as long as the partners fund the extra costs - DAPA added.

But the key point for South Korea is to maintain the leadership role for the KF-X programme.

The indigenous fighter is viewed as the next step in the domestic industry's steady growth over the last two decades.

The Seoul air show, for example, featured KAI's KT-1 Wong Bee - a turboprop trainer, and South Korea's first fully indigenous aircraft.

There were also flights by the Black Eagles (below), an aerobatic display team flying Republic of Korea Air Force KAI/Lockheed T-50 Golden Eagle trainers.


© Rex Features

The exhibition halls, meanwhile, displayed the sophisticated aircraft electronics and sensors developed by South Korea's highly developed information technology sector.

The Samsung Thales booth even showed a mock-up for a KF-X cockpit, with a large-format glass display and side stick controller.

But there are still many advances required of South Korea's domestic industry for the KF-X programme to succeed.

In a 3h seminar on KF-X at the show, DAPA outlined a long list of technical requirements. This includes fly-by-wire flight controls and inside the cockpit hands-on-throttle-and-stick pilot controls, a helmet-mounted display and a night vision imaging system.

Onboard the aircraft will also be all the tools of a next-generation fighter - which are as much surveillance platforms as they are weapons delivery systems.

The KF-X will carry an active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar, a targeting system and an infrared search and track sensor, according to DAPA.

Each of these systems sourced from South Korean or partner countries will be integrated into a single picture on the pilot's large-screen cockpit display.

Although the sensors will be domestically produced, DAPA acknowledges the sensor fusion software must come from non-partner nations, in the form of technology transfer.

For the KF-X to enter service after 2020, some level of low-observable or stealth capability must be factored into the design. DAPA officials said the aircraft would be initially fielded with a "basic" stealth capability, but did not define what that meant.

However, there are some clues: South Korean officials have publicly stated that shaping an airframe to achieve a reduced radar cross section is no longer a secret, and can be found in publicly available textbooks. More difficult is finding out the secret formulas used in radar absorbing materials, and Western data is not likely to be transferred to the country.


© US Air Force
Already a user of the F-15K, Seoul is being offered involvement in Boeing's enhanced 'Silent Eagle' strike aircraft

Meanwhile, KAI has already started developing conformal weapons bays for the F-15SE Silent Eagle - Boeing's candidate in South Korea's F-X III fighter programme.

It is not clear if the KF-X configuration will include internal weapons carriage, but KAI will have acquired some experience, even if the F-15SE is not selected for the F-X III award.

The most intriguing aspect of the KF-X programme may not be the aircraft, but its new suite of weapons. DAPA has revealed plans to develop a full line of short- and medium-range air-to-air missiles, air-to-surface missiles and precision-guided munitions.

The short-range air-to-air missile will be developed from the LIG Nex1 Shin-Gung, a shoulder-fired surface-to-air missile, the administration said.

Meanwhile, DAPA has also been developing the Korea GPS guided bomb (KGGB), a 226kg (498lb) indigenous version of Boeing's joint direct attack munition.

For all of the indigenous technology planned for KF-X, however, there remain many gaps - and that is one of the key issues in the strategy.

To be successful, South Korea must obtain the consent of either the US or European governments to export sensitive technologies, including some that are usually withheld from trading partners.

Besides the sensor fusion software, other technologies that must be imported include the jet engines, which has drawn interest from the Eurojet consortium with the EJ200 and General Electric with the F414. The surveillance and tracking modes for the AESA radar also must be obtained from foreign sources.


© Eurofighter
Could the Typhoon be the source of engines and other technologies for KF-X?

"AESA transfer is not so easy, as advanced nations are reluctant to do so," DAPA acknowledged. "We believe we can manufacture the hardware, but the problem is the software."

South Korea is counting on offset deals set by the award of the F-X III contract to solve the problem of technology transfer.

Time will tell if this strategy proves too optimistic, but in the meantime there are already questions about other assumptions in the KF-X strategy.

The most contentious claim is over the South Korean government's budget estimate for the seven-year engineering and manufacturing development phase.

Western industry officials believe the official $5 billion estimated cost may be too low by a factor of three.

The seven-year schedule from kick-off to first delivery also seems accelerated, compared to the track record of other modern combat aircraft programmes.

There is no doubting the South Korean air force's commitment to making the KF-X programme succeed - the service's current inventory of KF-16s and F-15Ks already outshines North Korea's ageing fleet of Soviet-era fighters - but the KF-X is viewed as more than a strictly military venture.

"From a strategic viewpoint, we are standing at a critical juncture," DAPA said. "In the past, Korea's exports have been textiles, electronics, automobiles and shipbuilding. All of these industries have reached the top of the world. Now it is the time of the aerospace industry.

"This is not an easy task, but we have to overcome it - somebody must take the lead in overcoming the mountain of challenges. In the future, aerospace will be the locomotive of the Korean economy."

[buglerbilly]

Boeing self-funds F-15E production in anticipation of Saudi deal

By: Stephen Trimble Washington DC

42 minutes ago

Source:

Boeing is self-funding production of F-15E strike fighters in the expectation that Saudi Arabia may sign a contract at some point before November 2012, said chairman, president and chief executive Jim McNerney.

McNerney's comments provide some insight into the status of an opportunity to sell 84 F-15SA fighters to Saudi Arabia, along with radar and weapon upgrades for the country's existing F-15 fleet.

The US Defense Security Cooperation Agency notified Congress on 20 October 2010 that Riyadh had requested the possible sale, but the deal has remained unsigned after more than a year.


© USAF

The wait has created scheduling problems for the manufacturer. Boeing will deliver the final F-15Es, on order by Singapore and South Korea, in the first half of next year, which leaves the future of the its St Louis production line in Missouri uncertain in the absence of a sale to the Saudis.

"We do have some investment in the supply chain and we wouldn't have made it if we weren't confident [the Saudi contract] wasn't going to come home," McNerney told analysts during a conference on 26 October to discuss its third-quarter earnings.

"We're all hopeful this will get done over the short-term timeframe," McNerney said.

Morgan Stanley analyst Heidi Wood asked McNerney whether the Saudis could postpone a decision until after the next US election in November 2012, using the potential $30 billion sale as a possible bargaining tool with the next administration.

McNerney replied that recent events, including the death of Saudi Crown Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul-Aziz, who was the country's defence minister, point to a final contract before the next election. McNerney did not explain how the death of a member of the Saudi royal family will influence the F-15 contract.

"Every dynamic [I've seen] has convinced me that it is a nearer term versus longer term resolution," McNerney said.

[buglerbilly]

Does South Korea Need The F-35?

By Carlo Munoz

Published: October 31, 2011



Washington: The Pentagon is digging in on the Korean peninsula and increasing its commitment throughout the rest of the Pacific. That would seem to augur well for sales of F-35s to South Korea.

Defense Secretary Leon Panetta recently announced the United States' 28,000-man garrison in South Korea would be staying indefinitely. Washington and Seoul continue to hammer out a deal to sell the Air Force's Global Hawk unmanned intelligence, reconnaissance and surveillance aircraft to the Asian nation.

Could the next step be bringing in South Korea as the next partner in the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program? The answer should be a resounding yes, according to one defense analyst and consultant.

The United States is already shifting focus to the Pacific to counter regional threats from China and North Korea. America will look to regional powers like South Korea to help address those threats, defense consultant and former NSC staffer Robbin Laird says. (He is a member of AOL Defense's Board of Contributors.)

The Pentagon needs its partners in the Pacific to shift from their static and defensive force posture to one that's more agile and flexible, Laird argues. A key part to that is getting the F-35 into their hands.

A South Korean-flagged fleet of F-35s would dramatically expand the country's options in responding to increased aggression from Pyongyang and Beijing. The JSF would also ensure that American and South Korean forces will be able to coordinate air operations if tensions flare up in the region.

A JSF deal could also put South Korea in the driver's seat of a growing regional effort to push back against China and North Korea.

The move won't end up being a "NATO in Asia," Mike Green, a defense analyst at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, told me earlier this month. But it shows that regional powers are warming up to the notion that Chinese aggression can only be checked with unified action. "Jointness is a capability," especially in light of the defense budget crunches facing Washington, he added.

To date, Australia and Singapore are the only JSF partners in the Pacific region. Australia is a member of the original nine partner nations including the United States. Singapore joined the program as "security cooperation partner" and is not a full-fledged member of the JSF consortium in 2003.

Japan is actively seeking a fifth-generation fighter and unsuccessfully lobbied the Pentagon to buy the F-22A in 2007. The F-35 is a distinct possibility for Japan.

[buglerbilly]

U.S. Suspects Korea of Stealing Weapons Technology

Korean and U.S. military officers earlier this year investigated suspicions by the U.S. government that Korea illegally disassembled F-15K fighter jet equipment for low-altitude night penetration attacks.

An official with the Defense Acquisition Program Administration on Monday said the chief of the U.S. Defense Technology Security Administration raised suspicions in a meeting with a senior DAPA official in early June that Korea illegally disassembled Tiger Eye, a key component of the cutting-edge U.S.-made fighter jets.

The U.S. suspects this was done to steal the technology, since Korea is an aspiring player in the global arms market.

The Tiger Eye is a device installed under the F-15K's fuselage that helps the jet fly at a low altitude to avoid detection by enemy radar systems and launch precision attacks with precision-guided munitions at night and in bad weather. It consists of navigation systems and targeting pod devices.


The Tiger Eye in the F-15K

The KF-16, which Korea procured before the F-15K, has a similar system called "LANTIRN." But Tiger Eye is much more advanced, and the U.S. is reluctant to transfer the technology. It therefore seals the box before it exports the device to other countries, and the contract stipulates that it cannot be disassembled.

But the U.S. said one box which the Air Force had sent to the U.S. for maintenance and repair showed evidence of the seal having been broken, illegally disassembled and put back together again, according to a source.

Korea has a history of disassembling U.S.-made weapons in the 1980s and using what it learned to develop its own weapons. But since the 1990s this has supposedly not happened again.

Korea and the U.S. conducted a weeklong joint investigation from Sept. 18 but failed to find proof that Korea had disassembled the Tiger Eye.

The DAPA official said, "The U.S. tentatively concluded that the Korean Air Force had not illegally mishandled the equipment."

A military officer said more such allegations could surface as Korea expands its arms market round the world.

The U.S. restricts Korean exports of weapons like the K-1 tanks which are made with U.S. technological support. Observers worry that the latest incident could lead to even tighter restrictions.

But the DAPA official said, "It doesn't seem likely that the U.S. will put restrictions on Korea's exports of military equipment."

englishnews@chosun.com / Nov. 01, 2011 13:10 KST

[buglerbilly]

2011/11/04 17:34 KST

S. Korea to mass-produce armed version of trainer jet starting in 2013

SEOUL, Nov. 4 (Yonhap) -- South Korea will begin mass production of an armed model of its supersonic trainer jet starting in 2013, the state procurement agency said Friday.

The Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) said it will finalize a deal within this year so that the first armed version of the T-50 trainer jet, dubbed the FA-50, will be delivered to the Air Force by August 2013. Sources said up to 60 FA-50 jets will be produced by 2016.

FA-50s are designed to fill the void left by outdated Air Force fighters, such as the A-37 and F-5. Officials say the multirole FA-50 is comparable to KF-16 aircraft.

Separately, the DAPA said it will select the winner of its project to acquire 60 fifth-generation fighter jets in October next year, after posting a public notice of the invitation to bid in January and reviewing proposals in June.

Candidates for the 8.29 trillion won (US$7.46 billion) project have been narrowed down to four models: the F-15SE Silent Eagle by Boeing, F-35 Lightning II by Lockheed Martin, Eurofighter Typhoon by the European Aeronautic Defense and Space Company (EADS) and the T-50 PAK-FA by Russian firm Sukhoi.

"We will weigh in all factors, such as performance, costs, suitability with our military deployment and technology transfer," a DAPA official said. "We will make a decision that is in the best interest of the country."

He said the Air Force will continue to review whether to make internal weapons carriage a requirement for the candidates. A fighter jet's ability to load weapons internally away from enemy eyes is considered an important part of its stealth capabilities.

Meanwhile, the DAPA said it will also select the winners of bids for AH-X attack helicopters and maritime helicopters in October next year.

jeeho@yna.co.kr
(END)

[buglerbilly]

Suspicious of stolen technology, U.S. suspends weapon exports to S.Korea

Analysts say the suspicions follow other claims of stolen technology




The “Tiger Eyes” sensor suite installed on the F-15K No. 3, is highlighted by the red circle, and visible in an airport hanger in Seoul. (Photo by Lee Jung-a)

By Lee Soon-hyuk　

Following the war of nerves between South Korea and the United States over the unauthorized dismantling of “Tiger Eyes,” a sensor suite installed on the F-15K, in August and September, the controversy over stealing defense industry technology has recently been spreading to other weapons. The Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) and others are officially playing down the importance of the issue, but there are signs the fallout may grow, with the United States suspending the export of strategic weaponry to South Korea.

Controversy over technology theft

U.S. suspicions that South Korea was stealing defense technology began with an incident involving the breaking of seals around the F-15K’s “Tiger Eyes” sensor suite. Installed under the fuselage of the F-15K, these sensors help to accurately bomb targets even at night and in poor weather.

In August, the United States sent an investigation team led by a deputy undersecretary of state to South Korea, where they pressed Air Force officials - then in the middle of the Ulchi Freedom Guardian exercise - about whether they had taken apart the Tiger Eyes without authorization. The Air Force responded that the seals on the Tiger Eyes had been damaged when they were installed on the aircraft. In September, a joint South Korea-U.S. investigation team was formed, but DAPA recently explained that the team’s investigation was unable to find signs that the part had been disassembled. According to a source, however, South Korea demanded the United States produce evidence that they had illicitly examined the device, but the U.S. did not, saying that to do so could reveal an informant. The source said that the United States was not convinced by South Korea’s explanation, and that both governments appear to have reached different conclusions.

Some analysts also claim that this is about more than just the Tiger Eyes, and that complaints from the U.S. government had been accumulating. A typical example is the ALQ-200, an external radar jammer manufactured by LIG Nex1. The Agency for Defense Development (ADD) has promoted the ALQ-200, which, when attached to the underside of an aircraft, detects radar waves coming from enemy missiles and scrambles them, as its own technology, but the United States suspects the technology was pirated. In particular, the U.S. was reportedly shocked when South Korea pushed to export the technology to Pakistan, where it might be installed on Chinese-made fighters, and plans to export the jammer were canceled.

Stopping strategic weapons exports to South Korea

After returning to the United States, the investigation team that had looked into the Tiger Eyes suspicions reported to the White House and Congress, resulting in the suspension of export of strategic weapons to South Korea. A typical example was Congress’s application of the brakes to the export of the Global Hawk unmanned aerial vehicle, which South Korea has been discussing adopting since the Roh Moo-hyun administration.

Local defense industries, for whom weapons development itself becomes difficult if key parts cannot be imported from the United States, also went into a state of emergency. Talk has spread within and outside of the military of one firm that sent high-ranking executives to the United States to beg in vain for the United States to allow it to export one of its products with U.S. technology.

In addition, the U.S. State Department’s Directorate of Defense Trade Controls (DDTC) has reportedly decided recently to investigate suspicions of technology piracy in major weapon systems South Korea that has been promoting as developed using indigenous technology. Accordingly, the U.S. Embassy is currently investigating. The fire controls of the K1A1 tank, which, along with the ALQ-200, had previously been a matter of controversy, the MLRS system and the Cheong Sangeo and Hong Sangeo torpedoes are said to be major targets of the investigation.

D&D Focus Editor in Chief Kim Jong-dae, who first reported on the Tiger Eyes controversy in Defense 21, an online webzine on military matters run by the Hankyoreh, said the situation was brought on by a combination of the U.S. keynote of selling weapons to Korea but not transferring technology, and the DAPA’s and ADD’s lax and easy-going attitudes. He expressed concern about the after-effects, such as South Korea’s bargaining power dropping greatly during next year’s “F-X” project to adopt a next-generation fighter.

Meanwhile, regarding the U.S. government’s accurate grasp of the breaking of the Tiger Eyes seals, the existence of a U.S. informant has also become a matter of controversy. The Defense Security Command and NIS have reportedly begun trying to uncover the informant.

Please direct questions or comments to [englishhani@hani.co.kr]

Posted on : Nov.21,2011 12:50 KST Modified on : Nov.21,2011 13:01 KST

© 2006 The Hankyoreh Media Company. All rights reserved.

[buglerbilly]

Seoul kicks off contest for F-16 radar upgrade

By: Stephen Trimble Washington DC

11 hours ago

Source:

South Korea has launched the competitive phase of a programme to upgrade 134 Lockheed Martin F-16s with active electronically scanned array (AESA) radars.

On 18 November, the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) issued a request for proposals (RFP) for the Northrop Grumman scaleable agile beam radar (SABR) and Raytheon advanced combat radar (RACR).

Its selection process will be heavily scrutinised as several countries, including Singapore, Taiwan and the USA, are expected to launch similar upgrades for their oldest F-16s.

For Raytheon, the RFP is "the culmination of seven years of activity" developing RACR from the APG-79 AESA installed on the Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, said Jim Hvizd, vice president of international business development.

Northrop, the incumbent F-16 radar supplier, has been working on the SABR technology for five years, the company said. "We look forward to competing in the South Korean F-16 radar procurement," it added.

The RFP calls on both bidders to offer a full suite of AESA radar modes, including the interleaving of air-to-air tracking and air-to-ground mapping. More advanced capabilities, such as electronic attack and electronic protection, could be added by South Korea in the future, Hvizd said.

A key requirement for South Korea is to submit an offset package worth 50% of the value of the contract. Raytheon intends to transfer some hardware production to the nation, Hvizd said.

DAPA has previously discussed plans to leverage the offset package for the F-16 upgrade programme to develop a mostly indigenous radar system for a next-generation fighter programme called KF-X.

For the F-16 upgrades, DAPA plans to select the AESA supplier and the aircraft integrator separately, with BAE Systems and Lockheed Martin already lined up to compete for the latter contract.

Separating the contracts for the mission system and the aircraft integrator sometimes adds risk. However, Hvizd said the retrofit programme can be completed smoothly because of the maturity of the AESA systems and DAPA's careful handling of the integration process.

[buglerbilly]

Peace Eye No. 2 is 1st to be modified by Korea Aerospace Industries



ROKAF BASE GIMHAE, South Korea, Dec. 13, 2011 -- The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] today delivered the second Peace Eye 737 Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) aircraft to the Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF).

The aircraft was delivered ahead of schedule to ROKAF Base Gimhae, the main operating base for the Peace Eye fleet. Peace Eye No. 2 is the first aircraft in the fleet to be modified into an AEW&C configuration by Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) at its facility in Sacheon.

"The quality of KAI's work has been outstanding. Their commitment to excellence, their focus and their technical expertise were critical to the achievement of this major milestone," said Randy Price, Peace Eye program manager for Boeing.

Two additional Peace Eye aircraft are being modified by KAI in Sacheon and will be delivered to the ROKAF in 2012.

The Peace Eye program includes four 737 AEW&C aircraft plus ground support segments for mission crew training, mission support and system maintenance. 737-based AEW&C aircraft also are in production for the governments of Australia and Turkey.

Based on the Boeing Next-Generation 737-700 commercial airplane, the 737 AEW&C aircraft is designed to provide airborne-battle-management capability with an advanced multirole electronically scanned radar and 10 state-of-the-art mission crew consoles that are able to track airborne and maritime targets simultaneously. The mission crew can direct offensive and defensive forces while maintaining continuous surveillance of the operational area.

A unit of The Boeing Company, Boeing Defense, Space & Security is one of the world's largest defense, space and security businesses specializing in innovative and capabilities-driven customer solutions, and the world's largest and most versatile manufacturer of military aircraft. Headquartered in St. Louis, Boeing Defense, Space & Security is a $32 billion business with 63,000 employees worldwide. Follow us on Twitter: @BoeingDefense.

[buglerbilly]

Seoul raises concerns about Global Hawk price

By: Greg Waldron Singapore

6 hours ago

Source:

South Korea has raised concerns about the price of the Northrop Grumman RQ-4 Block 30I Global Hawk unmanned air vehicle and could open a tender for a high-altitude, long-endurance (HALE) system.

An industry source said that the country's Defense Acquisition Program Administration "has indicated that price is an issue".

Seoul could issue a request for proposals for the requirement, but there is no timeframe for this. Earlier this year, sources indicated that the acquisition of four Global Hawks and a ground station would cost South Korea $850 million, with two aircraft to be delivered in 2015 and two in 2016.

Washington now provides the backbone of intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) activities aimed at observing activities in North Korea. It operates ageing Lockheed Martin U-2 surveillance aircraft and Block 30 Global Hawks in this role, but wants Seoul to assume greater responsibility.

The Block 30I Global Hawk is less capable than the USAF's Block 30, as it lacks the latter's communications intelligence and signals intelligence payloads.


© Northrop Grumman

Last week, South Korean media reported that cost concerns could jeopardise the planned Global Hawk deal. A Korea Herald report said that Seoul had budgeted just Korean won 450 billion ($387 million) for its HALE requirement, far short of the $850 million sources have cited.

At the Seoul air show in October, Northrop declined to comment on the $850 million figure. It said the ultimate cost will be determined by the US government, with any sale to be conducted under its Foreign Military Sales mechanism.

Another option South Korean media reports have mentioned is the AeroVironment Global Observer, a hydrogen-powered HALE aircraft being developed for the US Special Operations Command.

In September, US government officials said Washington decided to remove the Global Hawk from the Missile Technology Control Regime agreement in the case of South Korea. They did this on the basis that the aircraft is not a weapon, but rather an ISR platform.

[buglerbilly]

Northrop Sale of Global Hawks to South Korea ‘Appears Stalled’


By Tony Capaccio - Dec 20, 2011 6:14 AM GMT+0800 .

A potential sale of as many as four Northrop Grumman Corp. (NOC) Global Hawk drones to help improve South Korea’s reconnaissance capability may have stalled.

The delay, combined with a potential reduction in U-2 surveillance flights over and near North Korea, might degrade U.S. and South Korea capabilities to monitor events in the communist regime, lawmakers said in a report accompanying the $662 billion defense policy bill for fiscal 2012.

They did not elaborate on the reasons behind the delay. The report said only that the possible sale “appears to have stalled” and that House and Senate defense committee lawmakers “intend to assess whether the risk of a gap in intelligence collection in Korea is significant and to examine alternative capabilities.”

North Korean’s leadership is undergoing a leadership transition after Kim Jong Il died Dec. 17 of a heart attack brought on by mental and physical strain, the official Korean Central News Agency said. His son, Kim Jong Un, is the designated successor.

South Korea was planning to buy at least one Global Hawk “to be able to have intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance type assets to look into North Korea,” General Walter Sharp, then-commander of U.S. Forces in Korea, told the House Armed Services Committee in April.

Spy Plane Retirement

The foreign sale of Global Hawk drones would offset program reductions that the Pentagon made this year. Eleven of the planned 55 drones in the Pentagon program were cut because the estimated cost per aircraft this year has increased to $113.9 million from $90.8 million.

The Global Hawk disclosure came in language prohibiting retirement of Lockheed Martin Corp. (LMT)’s manned U-2 spy plane, which is less expensive to operate but doesn’t have the same endurance or ability to make longer flights.

Lawmakers directed the Air Force to delay the spy plane’s retirement until the Pentagon certifies Global Hawk operations and support costs.

The lawmakers said prematurely retiring the U-2 in the face of a stalled Global Hawk sale might result in an intelligence gap over North Korea.

The lawmakers also said they were concerned with a pending plan by U.S. Pacific Command that would result in fewer U.S.- controlled Global Hawks near Korea and more flying in other parts of Asia.

This move might mean “substantially reducing collection on the peninsula,” lawmakers said.

Global Hawk Commitment

Pentagon Korea affairs spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Todd Breasseale said Defense Department officials decline “as a matter of policy decline to comment on potential arms sales until they have been formally notified to Congress.”

Randy Belote, a spokesman for Falls Church, Virginia-based Northrop Grumman, said in an e-mail statement that though no formal letter of agreement has been signed with South Korea, a potential Global Hawk program for as many as four aircraft is progressing.

“We continue to work with the U.S. Air Force and have not been notified of any changes,” he wrote. “We believe the Korea and U.S. governments remain committed to the Global Hawk program.”

The unmanned Global Hawk is able to fly as high as 60,000 feet and is equipped with sensors and cameras that can take infrared and electro-optical images as well as detailed synthetic aperture radar-based pictures. It is designed for flights as long as 35 hours, according to the company.

Retaining the U-2 aircraft, which flies as high as 70,000 feet, may be necessary because the Global Hawk’s picture-taking sensors “have substantially less range” than on the older spy plane, lawmakers wrote.

A South Korean sale would be the second foreign sale of the Global Hawk, with Germany the first.

To contact the reporter on this story: Tony Capaccio in Washington at acapaccio@bloomberg.net

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Mark Silva at msilva34@bloomberg.net

[buglerbilly]

Sale of Four Global Hawks to South Korea on Hold

Posted on December 22, 2011 by The Editor


Global Hawk Block 30

The sale of as many as four Northrop Grumman Global Hawks to help improve South Korea’s reconnaissance capability may have stalled.

South Korea has raised concerns about the price of the Northrop Grumman RQ-4 Block 30I Global Hawk unmanned aircraft and could open a tender for a high-altitude, long-endurance (HALE) system.

An industry source said that the country’s Defense Acquisition Program Administration “has indicated that price is an issue”.

Seoul could issue a request for proposals for the requirement, but there is no timeframe for this. Earlier this year, sources indicated that the acquisition of four Global Hawks and a ground station would cost South Korea $850 million, with two aircraft to be delivered in 2015 and two in 2016.

Washington now provides the backbone of intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) activities aimed at observing activities in North Korea. It operates ageing Lockheed Martin U-2 surveillance aircraft and Block 30 Global Hawks in this role, but wants Seoul to assume greater responsibility.

The Block 30I Global Hawk is less capable than the USAF’s Block 30, as it lacks the latter’s communications intelligence and signals intelligence payloads.

Last week, South Korean media reported that cost concerns could jeopardise the planned Global Hawk deal. A Korea Herald report said that Seoul had budgeted just Korean won 450 billion ($387 million) for its HALE requirement, far short of the $850 million sources have cited.

At the Seoul air show in October, Northrop declined to comment on the $850 million figure. It said the ultimate cost will be determined by the US government, with any sale to be conducted under its Foreign Military Sales mechanism.

Another option South Korean media reports have mentioned is the AeroVironment Global Observer, a hydrogen-powered HALE aircraft being developed for the US Special Operations Command.

In September, US government officials said Washington decided to remove the Global Hawk from the Missile Technology Control Regime agreement in the case of South Korea. They did this on the basis that the aircraft is not a weapon, but rather an ISR platform.

South Korea was planning to buy at least one Global Hawk “to be able to have intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance type assets to look into North Korea,” General Walter Sharp, then-commander of U.S. Forces in Korea, told the House Armed Services Committee in April.

The foreign sale of Global Hawks would offset programme reductions that the Pentagon made this year. Eleven of the planned 55 UAS in the Pentagon programme were cut because the estimated cost per aircraft this year has increased to $113.9 million from $90.8 million.

The Global Hawk disclosure came in language prohibiting retirement of Lockheed Martin Corp.’s manned U-2 spy plane, which is less expensive to operate but doesn’t have the same endurance or ability to make longer flights. Lawmakers directed the Air Force to delay the spy plane’s retirement until the Pentagon certifies Global Hawk operations and support costs.

The lawmakers said prematurely retiring the U-2 in the face of a stalled Global Hawk sale might result in an intelligence gap over North Korea.

The lawmakers also said they were concerned with a pending plan by U.S. Pacific Command that would result in fewer U.S.- controlled Global Hawks near Korea and more flying in other parts of Asia. This move might mean “substantially reducing collection on the peninsula,” lawmakers said.

Pentagon Korea affairs spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Todd Breasseale said Defense Department officials “as a matter of policy decline to comment on potential arms sales until they have been formally notified to Congress.”

Randy Belote, a spokesman for Falls Church, Virginia-based Northrop Grumman, said in an e-mail statement that, though no formal letter of agreement has been signed with South Korea, a potential Global Hawk program for as many as four aircraft is progressing.

“We continue to work with the U.S. Air Force and have not been notified of any changes,” he wrote. “We believe the Korea and U.S. governments remain committed to the Global Hawk programme.”

Retaining the U-2 aircraft, which flies as high as 70,000 feet, may be necessary because the Global Hawk’s picture-taking sensors “have substantially less range” than on the older spy plane, lawmakers wrote.

A South Korean sale would be the second foreign sale of the Global Hawk, with Germany the first.

Sources: Bloomberg Business Week, Flight Global

[buglerbilly]

2011/12/26 09:39 KST

S. Korea to buy 2 advanced spy planes from France

SEOUL, Dec. 26 (Yonhap) -- South Korea plans to buy two advanced reconnaissance planes from France by 2015, to allow the military to intercept radio messages from of North Korea, a government source said Monday.

The South's military will replace some of its aging spy planes with the militarized specialty version of "Falcon-2000" jet, produced by France's Dassault Aviation, to keep closer watch on North Korea, the source said on the condition of anonymity.

"The military decided to introduce two Falcon-2000 reconnaissance planes to replace its old spy planes that have a short range and old equipment," the source said.

The decision comes after South Korea's intelligence and military leaders came under fire for failing to detect the death of North Korean leader Kim Jong-il until the North announced it a week earlier.

Kim, who ruled North Korea with an iron fist after inheriting power from his father and national founder Kim Il-sung in 1994, was reported to have died of a heart attack on Dec. 17.

South Korea's Air Force is currently using a fleet of RC-800s, built by U.S. firm Raytheon, for tactical reconnaissance and surveillance operations.

Deployment of the French spy jets will take place before December 2015, when South Korea is scheduled to retake wartime operational control over its troops from the U.S., the source said.

The U.S. has held wartime command of South Korean troops since the beginning of the 1950-53 Korean War, which ended in a truce, not a peace treaty. Seoul regained peacetime control of its military in 1994.

About 28,500 U.S. troops are stationed in South Korea as a deterrent against the North and it is no secret that South Korea shares U.S. intelligence on North Korea. The U.S. routinely flies reconnaissance planes along the border and closely monitors the North through its spy satellites.

kdh@yna.co.kr

(END)

[buglerbilly]

2011/12/26 16:16 KST

U.S. forces S. Korea to delay purchase of Global Hawk spy drones: source

SEOUL, Dec. 26 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's plan to purchase Global Hawk unmanned reconnaissance planes has been put off by one year as the U.S. government has not agreed to the sale yet, a government source said Monday.

With the planned purchase of the Global Hawks hitting a snag, South Korea plans to invite two more models of U.S.-made spy drones -- the Global Observer made by AeroVironment and Boeing's Phantom Eye -- to bid for the project, the source said.


Global Observer, the hydrogen powered HALE UAS...........


Boeing Phantom Eye, another hydrogen powered HALE UAS

"We will map out a new acquisition plan next year to select one among the three models," the source said.

Last year, Seoul asked Washington to sell it the U.S.-made RQ-4 Global Hawk spy planes by 2015 and expected to receive final approval for the planned purchase from the U.S. Defense Department by June of this year.

The Pentagon has not given the official go-ahead, however, the source said.

"The U.S. has yet to send a letter of agreement to sell the Global Hawk high-altitude surveillance planes to us," the source at the South Korean government said, on condition of anonymity. "That prompted us to postpone the project of acquiring the high-altitude surveillance aircraft to 2016."

The source didn't say why the U.S. government, which has jurisdiction over the sale of the advanced spy drones built by American defense contractor Northrop Grumman, has failed to give approval.

He indicated, however, that a price increase may be among the potential reasons.

The price of each Global Hawk jumped to 940 billion won (US$813.9 million) from an initially estimated tag of some 400 billion won, according to the source.

South Korea's military has been under pressure to beef up its surveillance capabilities following North Korea's two deadly military attacks on the South last year.

The North's shelling of Yeonpyeong Island near the Yellow Sea border killed two civilians and two marines. It came just eight months after a North Korean torpedo sank a South Korean warship, killing 46 sailors.

kdh@yna.co.kr

(END)

[buglerbilly]

Seoul places $600m order for 20 FA-50s

By: Greg Waldron Singapore

38 minutes ago

Source:

South Korea has placed a $600 million order with Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) for 20 examples of the FA-50 attack variant of the T-50 advanced jet trainer.

KAI said that under the deal it will deliver the aircraft from 2013 to 2014. Seoul could acquire a total of 60 to 150 FA-50s to replace its fleet of more than 150 Northrop F-5s.

The FA-50 is the most advanced variant of the T-50. It will have the Link 16 tactical data link, as well as an Elta Systems EL/M-2032 pulse doppler radar.

Northrop Grumman and Raytheon have said the FA-50 is a candidate for their respective active electronically scanned array (AESA) radars developed for the Lockheed Martin F-16. If the FA-50 does get an AESA radar, it is likely to be the same one chosen for the eventual F-16 radar upgrade for the US Air Force and Republic of Korea Air Force.


© Korea Aerospace Industries
The FA-50 is the most advanced variant of KAI's T-50 Golden Eagle

The FA-50 also has a radar warning recover and a night vision imaging system. It is capable of carrying 4,500kg (9,920lb) of weapons, including the Boeing Joint Direct Attack Munition and Textron CBU-97 Sensor Fused Weapon. Like the TA-50, it also has a 20mm cannon and can carry air-to-air missiles.

Aside from the original T-50 and FA-50, KAI has also produced the T-50B enhanced manoeuvrability aerobatic variant and armed TA-50. All of these are powered by a single General Electric F404 engine.

Separately, Seoul is expected to issue a request for proposals in February for its F-X III competition to replace 60 McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantoms. The contenders are the Boeing F-15 Silent Eagle, Eurofighter Typhoon, Lockheed Martin F-35 and Sukhoi PAK FA.

Industry observers have said Japan's recent selection of the F-35 for its 42 aircraft F-X fighter requirement will enhance the type's chances in South Korea as well.

[buglerbilly]

Seoul readies F-X III RFP

By: Greg Waldron Singapore

3 hours ago

Source:

South Korea could issue a request for proposal for its F-X III competition for 62 fighter aircraft as soon as next week.

An industry source indicates that the RFP could be issued on 16 February, although Seoul's Defence Acquisition Program Administration has not given a specific date.

Four aircraft are likely to compete in the F-X III competition: the Boeing F-15 Silent Eagle, the Lockheed Martin F-35, the Eurofighter Typhoon, and Sukhoi PAK FA. The RFP could also include a section dealing with the various contenders' offset proposals for helping Seoul with its indigenous KF-X programme.

Industry observers have said that the favourites to win the competition to replace Seoul's McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantoms are the F-15SE and F-35. They say Seoul's historic defence relationship with Washington will favour the two American aircraft. The Typhoon is viewed as an outsider, while the PAK FA is seen as having virtually no chance of winning.

One factor that could influence Seoul's decision is Japan's recent decision to obtain the F-35 over the F/A-18 E/F Super Hornet and Eurofighter to fulfil its 42 aircraft F-X requirement. Some industry observers have said that Seoul will be heavily influenced by Japan's decision, others that its impact will be negligible.


© Boeing Defense

At the Seoul Air Show in late 2011, Boeing and Lockheed Martin stressed different missions for F-X III. Boeing said its F-15SE offers enough stealth for operations early in a war, and can then, when stealth is no longer needed, be quickly configured to carry a heavy payload of standoff ground attack weapons. Lockheed stressed low altitude missions in enemy territory where the F-35's stealth capabilities would be of great utility.

Korea Aerospace Industries is in the second year of a technology development phase for KF-X, an aircraft that is being designed replace the F-4 and F-5. KF-X will be a medium sized fighter, that KAI has said will be in the "KF-16 class."

Seoul has already signed Indonesia as a 20% partner on the programme. Jakarta's involvement in the project could affect the transfer of technology F-X III bidders are willing to offer for the KF-X programme.

[buglerbilly]

I'll stick this here as a catch-all BUT I think all of these helicopters are going to the Korean Army and Navy and none to the Airforce.......

South Korea launches helicopter procurements

10 January 2012 - 16:46 by Tony Skinner in London



South Korea has formally begun the process to procure new heavy attack and maritime helicopters, with an RfP expected to be issued in coming weeks.

According to documents released on the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) website on 9 January, the organisation is seeking bidders for a new heavy attack helicopter (AH-X) for the army and a ‘maritime operations helicopter’ for the ROK Navy.

RfPs for the two projects will be released later in January and the deadline for proposals has been set as 10 May. According to Korean media reports, the military is hoping to make a selection on both projects in October this year.

Possible candidates for the $1.5 billion project for 36 dedicated attack helicopters are the Bell AH-1Z SuperCobra, Boeing AH-64D Apache Longbow, and the Eurocopter Tiger.

Seoul had previously appeared to have settled on the AH-64D for the requirement, potentially leaving the Apache as the front runner this time around, but both Bell and Eurocopter also have strong ties in the country.

‘We have already made some presentations and the big advantage we have is that we have been working for six years with Korean Aerospace Industries so we have some good links. And we have learned how to work together. Now we have to see if we have the right platform to continue our co-operation,’ Norbert Ducrot, vice president of Asian sales told Shephard at the end of December.

Mike Burke, Boeing director of attack helicopters business, said the AH-64D had generated a lot of interest at the Seoul International Aerospace & Defense Exhibition in October.

‘They want to have some capability pretty quickly so from their timeline they are going to get a lot done next year and we are going to meet that, just as I am sure some of the other competitors are going to,’ Burke said.

The winning aircraft will supplement army stocks while more than 200 attack helicopters are developed by Korea Aerospace Industries under the KAH project that will likely involve a foreign partner.

Meanwhile, a number of companies are likely to respond to the requirement for eight maritime helicopters with ASW capabilities, with the US Navy planning to offer the MH-60R under the foreign military sales mechanism and the NH90 and AW159 also in the running.

[buglerbilly]

Seoul solicits attack helicopter bids

By: Greg Waldron Singapore

9 hours ago

Source:

South Korea's Defense Acquisition Program Administration has issued a request for proposals for 36 attack helicopters under the nation's AHX requirement, with bids due by 10 May.

Seoul expects to take delivery of the helicopters in 2016, said Boeing in a response to an email enquiry. The company is pitching its AH-64D Apache Block III in the competition, with likely rivals to include the Bell AH-1Z Cobra, Eurocopter Tiger and Turkish Aerospace Industries T129B.

Boeing said last September that it expected a downselect decision in July 2012, followed by a contract award in October 2012.

Seoul has long been interested in the Apache, which the US Army has operated in South Korea for decades. In addition, Korea Aerospace Industries already produces the airframe for the AH-64 at its factory in Sachon.


© US Army
South Korea is believed to have a preference for Boeing's Block III Apache

The US Army's withdrawal of Apaches from the Korean peninsula for use in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan has added impetus to the Seoul's AHX acquisition.

Offsets for the programme will likely be applied to Seoul's planned Korea Attack Helicopter, roles for which would include countering any North Korean infiltration along South Korea's coastline and flying counter-penetration missions along the demilitarised zone that separates the neighbours.

In addition, Seoul is also interested in developing a light version of the KAH to replace its Hughes MD500s and generate overseas sales for its national aerospace sector.

[buglerbilly]

01-25-2012 19:05

[Exclusive] Boeing may give up offering stealthy jet


F-15 Silent Eagle

Little progress made in weapons bay development

By Lee Tae-hoon

Industry insiders raised questions Wednesday about whether U.S. aerospace giant Boeing will fulfill its pledge to offer F-15 Silent Eagles (F-15 SEs) with an internal weapons bay and twin canted tails, two of the core technologies for stealth jets, to Seoul.

A source familiar with Boeing’s plan to modify its F-15s said little progress has been made in the making of the F-15SE, especially in the development of its conformal weapons bay (CWB), which allows the aircraft to carry weapons internally.

“Only 10 percent of work has been completed for the research and development of the F-15SE’s conformal weapons bay,” the informed industry source said.

The Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) has been carrying out research and development of the F-15 SE’s internal weapons bay, a crucial stealth feature, since signing a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Boeing in 2010.

The CWB, a common characteristic of aircraft with low visibility, was a compulsory requirement to enter Korea’s FX-III bid, the country’s third and last phase of a program to procure advanced jets.

Seoul, however, has decided to remove the prerequisite to allow more companies to enter the competition, according to Noh Dae-lae, the commissioner of the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA).

Boeing, which has sold 61 F-15Ks to Korea since 2002, pledged to develop the F-15SE for international customers, including Seoul, by upgrading its F-15 Strike Eagle upon unveiling its concept for the semi-stealth aircraft in March 2009.

An industry source said Beoing has yet to determine whether to push the development of 15-degree outward-canted V-tails, which it proposed to include when the company first announced the F-15SE.

He said Boeing is expected to propose canted vertical tails as an upgrade option to Korea.

Boeing sought to cant the vertical tails of the F-15 outward to reduce the combat aircraft’s radar signature and increase aerodynamic efficiency, but announced it would suspend the development of the new feature in 2010.

Other industry officials noted that it will be physically impossible for Boeing to complete the development of the CWB and canted tails by the end of October this year when Seoul plans to finalize the deal after three to four months of evaluations and negotiations. “Boeing will most likely change their offer. They won’t offer the Silent Eagle,” a senior official of Lockheed Martin, which is competing with Boeing and the European Aeronautic Defense and Space Company (EADS) for the FX-III bid, said asking for anonymity.

“They are going to offer the F-15K because that’s the only plane they can deliver by 2016.”

DAPA officials warned that Boeing may enter the FX-III race after minor upgrades to the F-15K, such as installing Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radars, but the airplane’s stealth capability remains a crucial factor in deciding which new fighter jets will be purchased.

“Boeing may compete in the FX-III race without having to complete its development of the CWB or canted vertical tails, but it should bear in mind that Korea is eyeing to acquire advanced jets, rather than outdated ones,” a senior DAPA official said.

DAPA is expected to issue a request for proposal on Jan. 30 without the requirements of the conformal weapons bay and a specific target value for the radar cross section of the plane.

[buglerbilly]

Boeing makes big push with F-15 Silent Eagle tests for South Korea

By: Stephen Trimble Washington DC

10 hours ago

Source:

Interesting in light of what was reported from Korea, per post directly above..............

Boeing is poised to launch a new series of ground, windtunnel and flight tests on several key features of the F-15 Silent Eagle proposed for South Korea's competitive F-X III contract.

Windtunnel tests will start by March or April on a scale model of the F-15SE with conformal weapons bays, said Howard Berry, Boeing vice-president for sales. The weapons bays, which are modified conformal fuel tanks, allow the F-15 to store weapons internally and lower the aircraft's profile to radars.


© Boeing
Boeing has already flown an F-15E demonstrator with conformal weapons bays

Flight testing will begin late in the fourth quarter of 2012 or early next year of an "advanced international F-15", Berry said. The new-build test aircraft will feature the cockpit systems, digital electronic warfare system and sensors unveiled with the Silent Eagle concept in March 2009 (below).


© Boeing

Boeing will also start windtunnel tests to determine the aerodynamic performance of various angles for the Silent Eagle's proposed canted vertical tails, Berry said.

The company's original concept featured tails canted at 15º as a stealth technique. The canted tails allow the aircraft to bank up to 15º on either side without presenting a 90º angle to airborne radars.

As an unexpected bonus, the canted tails also slightly improved the aerodynamic performance of the aircraft, Boeing said.

The forthcoming tests are aimed at preparing the Silent Eagle to be ready to enter service in 2016 for South Korea.

Seoul is expected to release a request for proposals for the F-X III requirement in the near future. A contract award for up to 62 aircraft is expected in October. Boeing is likely to face competition from the Eurofighter Typhoon and the Lockheed Martin F-35.

[buglerbilly]

01-29-2012 16:53

Russia pulls out of Korea fighter project


Sweden’s JAS 39 Gripen
Sweden mulls taking part in FX-III race with Gripen

By Lee Tae-hoon

Russia will not enter Korea’s advanced jet acquisition project as none of its aircraft manufacturers including Sukhoi expressed their intent to join the heated competition, officials here said.

The Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) listed Sukhoi’s T-50 PAK-FA in July last year as one of the four contenders to have expressed an interest in joining the open bidding worth 8.29 trillion won ($7.3 billion) along with Boeing, Lockheed Martin and the European Aeronautic Defense and Space Company (EADS).

``No Russian firm submitted an application to attend the program’s explanatory session, which was a prerequisite to participate, by the Friday registration deadline,” a spokesman of DAPA said.

He noted that a representative from Swedish company Saab, which has been searching for additional export orders for its Gripen multirole fighters, successfully filed an application for the mandatory session along with Boeing, Lockheed Martine and EADS.

“It is too early to tell whether Saab is serious about joining the race, or the European company will be attending the session out of curiosity and have a peek at Korea’s demands,” a senior DAPA official said.

``What appears certain is that the Swedish firm’s aircraft, including the Gripen, does not meet many of the Air Force’s requirements.”

DAPA announced that only those participating in the explanatory session slated for today will be eligible to participate in the FX-III, the third and final phase of the multi-billion dollar fighter jet procurement program.

The state-run arms procurement agency made it clear that the request for proposal (RFP) detailing the FX-III requirements will only be distributed to participants of the explanatory session.

Officials at the Trade Representation of the Russian Federation in Korea acknowledged that Sukhoi has pulled out of the race, considering that the aircraft manufacturer had not sought Moscow’s approval, nor his agency’s help to participate in the fighter bid.

“Both the Russian government and its trade delegations here have yet to receive any proposal from any Russian aviation companies,” a senior trade representative from Russia said.

Sukhoi lost in the FX-I bid, the first phase of Korea’s fighter program in the early 2000s, due largely to concerns over the interoperability of its proposed SU-35 fighters with the Air Force’s existing fleet of American aircraft.

The Russian aerospace firm refrained from making any official comment over the possibility of competing in the FX-III, through which Korea wants to purchase 60 high-end aircraft with stealth capability in October this year.

Meanwhile, Shin Myung-ho, a representative from Saab, confirmed his company has yet to make a decision on whether to compete with the two U.S. defense giants and the European consortium.

“To my understanding, Saab will discuss possible participation in FX-III after receiving the RFP,” he said. “It will, however, take a while before Saab makes any official announcement about its next move on Korea’s jet acquisition bid.”

Korea has purchased 60 F-15s from Boeing, which won both the FX-I and II projects in 2002 and 2008.

Seoul plans to receive proposals from the four possible bidders, for the FX-III project by June 18 and carry out testing and evaluations until September before selecting the winner in October.

Seoul eliminated two key compulsory requirements initially set for FX-III in an attempt to allow more companies to enter the competition for the nation’s largest-ever arms deal.

[ADMk2]

Probably because their fighters are far too capable for Korea to comprehend... Not enough "techno-strategic" thinkers there either...

[buglerbilly]

Seoul kicks off F-X III competiton

By: Greg Waldron Singapore

3 hours ago

Source:

South Korea's Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) has issued a request for proposals for its F-X III fighter requirement, paving the way for the acquisition of around 60 fighters.

The submission guidelines were issued at a meeting in Seoul yesterday. The contenders for the requirement are the Boeing F-15 Silent Eagle, Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II and the Eurofighter Typhoon.

The Sukhoi PAKFA was previously mentioned as a contender, but media reports in South Korea and Russia indicate that Sukhoi did not attend the meeting. The reports suggest that Saab, which produces the JAS 39 Gripen, was in attendance, although it is unclear if the Swedish firm will submit a bid.

According to Seoul's Yonhap news agency, the aircraft will be judged by four primary criteria and 150 secondary criteria. The four main criteria are cost, capability, interoperability with South Korean forces and industrial benefits. Seoul is likely to require the F-X III winner to provide significant help with its indigenous KFX fighter programme.

Bids for the F-X III competition are due by 18 June, with a decision possible by late 2012. DAPA did not specify the number of aircraft it intends to obtain under F-X III, but in the past industry sources have said the number is around 60. The aircraft will replace the Republic of Korea Air Force's McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantoms.

Industry observers feel the race is primarily between the F-35 and F-15SE. The F-35 programme scored an important victory in the region recently when it won Japan's F-X competition for 42 aircraft, where it beat another Boeing aircraft, the F/A-18 E/F Super Hornet, and the Typhoon.

Boeing's F-15 programme also received a major boost recently with the confirmation of an order for 84 F-15SA aircraft from Saudi Arabia, which also included upgrades to 70 F-15S aircraft.

At the Seoul Air Show in October 2011, Lockheed and Boeing representatives stressed the respective merits of their aircraft. Lockheed highlighted the ability of the stealthy F-35 to penetrate enemy airspace, while Boeing emphasised the F-15SE's heavy weapons payload coupled with new low observable features that would be of great utility in the early days of a war.

"We're moving forward with all the Silent Eagle's core capabilities," said Howard Berry, Boeing vice-president for sales "Silent Eagle is a bundle of new capabilities brought to the existing F-15."

Windtunnel tests will start by March or April on a scale model of the F-15SE with conformal weapons bays. The weapons bays, which are modified conformal fuel tanks, allow the F-15 to store weapons internally and lower the aircraft's profile to radars.

[buglerbilly]

Exclusive: F-35 May Fail to Meet Key Requirements

(Source: Korea Times; published Feb. 7, 2012)

The United States Air Force (USAF) variant of Lockheed Martin’s F-35 will likely fail to meet two of the Korean Air Force’s key requirements — the ability to carry weapons externally and fly at Mach 1.6 (1,930 kilometers per hour) or faster, an industry insider said Tuesday.

He pointed out that the Korean military has clearly outlined the two key features as compulsory requirements in its request for proposal (RFP) released Jan. 30.

“The maximum speed of the F-35 Lightning II, which is still under development, is Mach 1.6, the bare minimum the Air Force has stated as a mandatory requirement,” the insider familiar with the RFP said.

“The question is whether Lockheed Martin’s F-35 can prove itself to fly at such an ideal speed as advertised when a team of Air Force pilots test fly the aircraft later this year.”

The Air Force is scheduled to carry out testing and evaluations on the F-35 and its two rivals, Boeing’s F-15 Silent Eagle and EADS’s Typhoon, from June through September before announcing its selection in October.

The winner of the FX-III project, the third and final phase of Korea’s advanced fighter jet procurement project, will deliver 60 high-end aircraft from 2016 for around 8.29 trillion won ($7.26 billion).

The industry source said the F-35, the only fifth generation stealth aircraft offered on the market, will most likely perform worse than Lockheed Martin has assured when the Air Force checks the U.S. defense giant’s latest multirole, single-engine aircraft.

“What is certain to happen is that the U.S. government will provide assurances to the Air Force that the F-35 will be able to fly at Mach 1.6 by overcoming all of the technical glitches and development problems by the time it is delivered to Korea,” the source said.

“Eventually, this will pave the way for Lockheed Martin, the favorite choice for the U.S. government, to get away with the compulsory requirement and win the FX-III bid. All the broken promises will only cost millions of dollars in penalties.”

Another industry insider pointed out that Lockheed Martin will be unlikely to complete its envisioned development of external pods and pylons for its latest stealth aircraft in time.

“Lockheed Martin has boasted that its aircraft is capable of carrying weapons not only internally, but also externally on its six external missile pylons,” he said. “But it will be physically impossible to complete the development of the external pylons by the time the F-35 is delivered to Korea.”

Randy Howard, Lockheed Martin’s director of the Korea F-35 Campaign, also acknowledged that the external carriage may come as an option for Korea.

“Lockheed Martin did not cancel it, the U.S. government prioritized it,” Howard said, explaining why doubts have been raised over the development of the F-35’s external hard points.

“The F-35 is designed to carry weapons internally. That’s what it does, and that’s why it is stealthy.”

He argued that the F-35’s primary attribute, the ability to penetrate into the enemy’s territory without being detected, will be significantly compromised if Korea chooses to mount weapons externally.

“If you carry weapons externally, you are not stealthy. That’s not normally how you are going to operate F-35s,” he said.

He did note that if Korea insists on the F-35 to have an external carriage, his company is willing to customize it.

“It is only a question of prioritization of weapon certification,” he argued.

“If there are requirements for the external carriage of different weapons, it is not a hard thing because all of the capabilities are there.”

Other industry officials, however, refuted Howard’s claim, saying the development of external pylons not only reduces the aircraft stealth capabilities, but also requires a fundamental change in the aircraft design, which the USAF is not willing to pay for.

-ends-