F-35 & T-50 PAK-FA Compete S. Korea + F-15E + Typhoon

Four candidates short-listed in Korea's stealth jet project 2011-07-20

"Korea will acquire a new generation of stealth fighter jets from overseas to better counter North Korean provocations, the local defense procurement agency said Wednesday.

The Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) said it has narrowed down the candidates to four fighters: the F-15SE Silent Eagle by Boeing, F-35 Lightning II by Lockheed Martin, Eurofighter Typhoon by the European Aeronautic Defense and Space Company (EADS) and the T-50 PAK-FA by Russian firm Sukhoi.

According to DAPA, the project to acquire 60 fifth-generation stealth fighters is worth 8.29 trillion won ($7.86 billion).

Korea is expected to choose the winner in October next year.

"We've eased the criteria for operational capabilities to ensure more jets could enter the bidding," the agency said in a statement. "We will set up strategies that will allow for the transfer of core technology and that will encourage competition."

DAPA said the new generation of fighters will better prepare Korea against North Korea's "asymmetric capabilities" and will enhance the South's deterrence against surprise air attacks.

The agency said Seoul will also acquire AH-X attack helicopters from overseas. The AH-1W SuperCobra by Bell and AH-64D Block III by Boeing, both American choppers, will compete with the EC-665 Tiger by Eurocopter of France and the T-129 by Turkey.

This project, worth 1.84 trillion won, will see Korea purchase 36 attack helicopters. The winner of the bid will also be announced in October next year. (Yonhap News)"

Source: http://www.koreaherald.com/national/Det ... 0720000961

Korea will acquire a new generation of stealth fighter jets from overseas to better counter North Korean provocations, the local defense procurement agency said Wednesday.

cola wrote:
"He said if Korea chooses EADS’s Eurofighter Typhoon, which can fly at a maximum supercruise speed of Mach 2, his company will offer Korea..."

What's this? More anecdotal evidence?

SpudmanWP wrote:That money spent on the fluidic TVC would also benefit the F135, any you get stealth too. Besides, a F-16XL would not be 75% of a F-35 (due to expensive avionics and additional airframe weight.

cola wrote:"He said if Korea chooses EADS’s Eurofighter Typhoon, which can fly at a maximum supercruise speed of Mach 2, his company will offer Korea..."

What's this? More anecdotal evidence?

geogen wrote:
Re: the F-16XL comments.. yes, an evolved, updated block F-16XL - if had been properly developed and implemented as an independent project back in early 2000s - would be lighter, less complex to manufacture albeit, less stealthy and have a smaller engine compared to F-35. I'd guess an FY14 PUC buy would probably cost 65%-75% per 2014 F-35A. A buy in 2016 would probably cost 75% the PUC, per F-35A.

Why an hypothetical F-16XL over Typhoon or Rafale? It would be a fair competitor imho. Less fuel burn vs Typhoon (better fuel economy), only 1 engine to sustain, longer range with internal fuel, probably a bigger payload, evolved avionics/engine incorporating latest off-the-shelf mission computer, sensors (consider same MLD suite as F-22s, linked visually to evolved helmet display) and EW management. It would likely have super-cruised too with 6x (4+2) missiles if it had incorporated the properly evolved, next-gen 'advanced augmentor' F110 engine @ 32-33k lbf. Equal to or superior rate of climb given upgraded power. Probably cheaper per PUC.