South Korea’s military Friday approved plans to purchase 40 F-35A stealth fighters produced by Lockheed Martin from 2018.
The approval was made at a meeting of top commanders, which was presided over by Choi Yun-hee, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS).
Under the plan, South Korea will buy 40 F-35 Block 3s, which are capable of conducting air-to-air and air-to-ground missions, from 2018 to 2021.
The country needs 60 next-generation fighter jets to replace the aging fleet of F-4s and F-5s, the JCS said.
The military plans to buy 20 more advanced fighter jets in 2023 and 2024 in consideration of change in the security situation surrounding the Korean Peninsula and the development of science and technology, after reviewing required operational characteristics, it said.
For the 20 fighter jets, the government will also give Boeing's F-15 Silent Eagle (SE) and the European Aeronautic Defense and Space Co.’s Eurofighter Typhoon an opportunity to participate in bidding, in light of a technology transfer, military sources said.
In September, the government decided not to name the F-15 SE as winner of its fighter jet procurement program. The F-15 SE was the sole candidate to meet the 8.3 trillion won set aside for the fighter program.
However, controversy erupted over the combat capability of the stealth version of the F-15, modified for South Korea. A group of 15 retired Air Force generals opposed the possible selection of the F-15 SE as successful bidder, noting that the country’s fighter program is aimed at acquiring stealth fighters.
