The Defense Acquisition Program Administration has concluded a contract to purchase four E-737 airborne early warning aircrafts at $1.59 billion from U.S. aerospace giant Boeing as part of the E-X project. DAPA said it signed the contract with Boeing on Wednesday morning.

The AWACs planes are to be introduced in stages, one in 2011 and three in 2012. The E-X project is a key element in Seoul’s takeover of sole operational control of its troops, since the planes are capable of monitoring the entire airspace of the Korean Peninsula and some parts of neighboring countries. The planes have technology to distinguish enemy and friendly forces, and are capable of tracking down targets over a 360 degree scope in air and sea. While offering primary information on enemies to Korean fighters and vessels, they can function as airborne operational headquarters. They have a maximum speed of Mach 0.78 and a flight ceiling of 12,400 m, with a cruising radius of 6,482 km.

(englishnews@chosun.com )