South Korean Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) has delayed its $8 billion KF-X program, Korea Times reported Tuesday.
“The KF-X program has been delayed as only one competitor has submitted a bid,” an unnamed official from DAPA was quoted as saying by the newspaper. The deadline was Feb 9.
“The Korean Aerospace Industries (KAI) was the only company that has bid. The second bid has been started on Tuesday and will be closed on Feb 24,” the official said.
DAPA had initially planned to review proposals and pick a bidder by next month. Korean regulations however do not allow reviewing proposals unless the bid has a minimum of two competitors.
Korean Air along with Airbus Defense and Space might be joining the bid process for building a F-16 type fighter.
KAI is partnering Lockheed Martin for the bid.