South Korea will “probably” have its request for proposals (RFP) for its next-generation aerial refueling tanker out by the end of this month, and it wants a decision made and contract awarded by November, according to a high-ranking South Korea Air Force officer.
South Korean Air Force Vice Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Hyungchul Kim said Friday its tanker competition comes down to three candidates: Boeing’s [BA] KC-46 manufactured for the U.S. Air Force, Airbus’ A-330 twin-engine commercial jet and a Boeing 767 modified into a tanker by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI). Kim said that though the time schedule for the tanker RFP could drag, the country could still solicit bids this month. Airbus Americas Vice President of Communications Clay McConnell said Friday the company would welcome the opportunity to fulfill a critical need for South Korea by offering the A-330 MRTT.
Kim also said South Korea expects a letter of acceptance this summer with an acquisition plan finalized in April for its next-generation fighter jet program known as F-X. There are three candidates, Kim said: Lockheed Martin’s [LMT] conventional variant F-35, the Eurofighter Typhoon and Boeing’s F-15SE, or Silent Eagle variant. Kim said the most important factor in its F-X decision would be how much technical support and technology transfer would be provided to South Korea for its indigenous fighter jet program known as KF-X. South Korea’s acquisition program administration last year blew up and restarted its F-X competition because bidders didn’t meet budget requirements (Defense Daily, Sept. 25). Kim said the KF-X program would be launched in the second half of 2014.
Kim said, overall, F-X and KF-X are the South Korean Air Force’s two most important programs. Kim’s remarks came at an Air Force Association (AIA) Mitchell Institute for airpower studies event in Arlington, Va.