• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Excelitas Qioptiq banner

BATTLESPACE Updates

   +44 (0)77689 54766
   j.nettlefold@battle-technology.com

  • Home
  • Features
  • News Updates
  • Company Directory
  • About
  • Subscribe
  • Contact
  • Media Pack 2021

KF-X PROCUREMENT UPDATE – SOUTH KOREA RETENDERS PROGRAMME By MPI editor

February 19, 2015 by Julian Nettlefold

koreflag13 Feb 15. South Korea has retendered its Fighter Aircraft programme – commonly known as the KF-X – because of an insufficient number of bidders in the competition. On the bidding date of 9 February only, one company submitted their bid, yet according to the country’s procurement rules the programme cannot be carried out with a sole-bidder.

On 10 February, the Defence Acquisition Procurement Agency (DAPA) posted a new tender for the programme and the deadline has been extended to 24 February. Korean Aerospace Industries (KAI) was the only company that submitted its bid on 9 February. Based on media reports, the other contender that failed to make a submission is likely to be Korean Air, which has reportedly partnered with Airbus. KAI is partnering with Lockheed Martin for the tender. It has been speculated that the partnership between KAI and Lockheed Martin may be the preferred solution in South Korea. These speculations gained momentum following a decision in July 2014 to change the specifications of the KF-X programme. South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff announced on 18 July the decision to develop a twin-engine aircraft for its “KFX” next-generation fighter jet programmes. This decision was widely seen as having raised the stakes for the programme, with the requirement bringing the KF-X closer to what the Lockheed Martin F-35 can provide. However, the KF-X programme is not designed to require a solution as advanced as the F-35. The purpose of the programme is to replace the ageing McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom and Northrop F-5 fleet of aircraft. For the sake of comparison, the solution sought would be somewhere in between the capabilities of the F-16 and the F-35.

What happens if there is a single bidder situation again?

Procurement laws in South Korea allow a competition to move forward with a single bidder if the bidding has reached a third round. What this really means is that Korean Air and Airbus can buy time until the second deadline to bid on the project.

Technology vs. Price

South Korea is expected to make a decision based on technological factors. This would in principle favour KAI, which is the largest manufacturer in the sector. But Aviation Technology noted, “KAL, whose manufacturing division mostly builds to foreign blueprints, can probably argue that outside support bridges the technological gap between it and KAI, says the official, who is familiar with the competition and government assessment processes. If KAL and KAI are judged technically equal, then the issue will come down to the 20 points based on price, where KAL could have a strong advantage”.

Funding for the programme

DAPA estimates that the programme would cost about KRW 8.5trn (USD 8.3bn). In October 2014, South Korea and Indonesia signed an agreement to continue the joint development of the KF-X and the Indonesian Fighter Experimental (IFX) aircraft. According to this, Indonesia will provide 20 percent of the total funding, with South Korea covering the remaining 80 percent. Under the terms of agreement, South Korea will designate the Korean industrial main contractor, which will negotiate a related cost-sharing agreement with the Indonesian defence ministry and the related workshare agreement with PT Industries Indonesia (PT. DI). The KF-X / IF-X development cooperation programme is being undertaken in three phases, including the technology development (TD), engineering and manufacturing development (EMD), as well as the production development (PD) phase. (Source: MPI – Hawk Information)

Filed Under: News Update

Primary Sidebar

Advertisers

  • qioptiq.com
  • Exensor
  • TCI
  • Visit the Oxley website
  • Visit the Viasat website
  • Blighter
  • Arnold Defense logo
  • SPECTRA
  • InVeris
  • Britbots logo
  • Faun Trackway
  • Systematic
Hilux

Contact Us

BATTLESPACE Publications
Old Charlock
Abthorpe Road
Silverstone
Towcester NN12 8TW

+44 (0)77689 54766

j.nettlefold@battle-technology.com

BATTLESPACE Technologies

An international defence electronics news service providing our readers with up to date developments in the defence electronics industry.

Recent News

  • EXHIBITIONS AND CONFERENCES

    February 26, 2021
    Read more
  • VETERANS UPDATE

    February 26, 2021
    Read more
  • MANAGEMENT ON THE MOVE

    February 26, 2021
    Read more

Copyright BATTLESPACE Publications © 2002–2021.

This website uses cookies to improve your experience. If you continue to use the website, we'll assume you're ok with this.   Read More  Accept
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled

Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.

Non-necessary

Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.

SAVE & ACCEPT