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The U.S. aerospace giant Boeing is again the sole remaining bidder for the long-delayed E-X Project to build airborne early warning systems for Korea, after IAI Elta of Israel failed to meet the final requirements.
The W1.5878 trillion (US $1=W966) project will introduce four airborne early warning aircraft by 2012 and has symbolic meaning as a core component of the government¡¯s independent defense policy. Japan has fours E-767 AWACS and 13 E-2C AWACS and China is developing several such spy planes.
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Boeing¡¯s B-737
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The Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) said Thursday a Defense Industry Promotion Committee meeting under Defense Minister Yoon Kwang-ung selected Boeing¡¯s E-737. A month of price negotiations with DAPA lies ahead before the firm has the contract in the bag. If the aircraft comes with too hefty a price tag, it could again lead to cancellation of the selection process and yet another delay to the project. So far, Boeing is reportedly asking for more than Korea has budgeted.
¡°Israel¡¯s ELTA, which competed with Boeing and its partner DRS, failed to offer clear answers to our requests,¡± said DAPA deputy chief Lee Yong-chul. ¡°Our review of the Israeli firm today concluded that it does not qualify for the project, so we removed its G-550 from the competition.¡± The DAPA is to make a final decision in September.
(englishnews@chosun.com )
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