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The Defense Ministry and the Air Force plan to order 20 more F-15K fighter jets from the U.S. from 2009 in addition to the 40 to be delivered by 2008. A military source said on Wednesday a defense committee meeting at the directive of Defense Minister Yoon Kwang-ung passed a 2007-2011 mid-term plan that includes another 20 F-15 jets for about W2 trillion (US$2 billion).
The source said the plan is a continuation of the 40-unit F-15K introduction plan. It will become official once it is approved by President Roh Moo-hyun.
Originally the Air Force wanted another 40 of the fighters after 2009, but after projected budget shortfalls, that number was halved. The additional order is notable because the administration had seemed to be moving away from always using American military equipment, and the W5.5 trillion Korean Helicopter Program (KHP) project was given to a European firm.
It could also affect the decision who wins the E-X project to acquire airborne early warning systems, which is expected soon. There, a craft by Boeing of the U.S. is competing with one from the Israeli firm IAI Elta, and some pundits believed the government tends toward handing the project to the Israeli firm.
(englishnews@chosun.com )
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