South Korea’s FX-III Competition Heats Up

Boeing, Lockheed Martin and EADS have submitted their proposals to bid in Korea’s advanced fighter jet acquisition program, the FX-III competition. According to officials, Boeing first submitted its offer with the F-15SE followed by Lockheed Martin and the European Aeronautic Defense and Space Company (EADS) followed suit Monday with their F-35 and Eurofighter Typhoon. The Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) will review and evaluate the bids until September. “DAPA will conduct negotiations in accordance with the current schedule,” Baek Youn-hyeong, spokesman of DAPA said. “If there is a need to extend the negotiation period to protect the national interest, we will discuss the matter through the decision-making procedure of the government”. Boeing won the first two FX projects in 2002 and 2008 when Seoul purchased 60 of the earlier F-15 variant from the aircraft maker.