Korea threatens to disqualify F-35

[popcorn]

Does the ROK need the F-35A? The NKs don't have strategic depth as the Chinese border is only 300+ km from the DMZ. East to west is ~200km. The requirement for stealth penetration isn't that great plus the NKs don't exactly have fighters that can match an F-16, much less an F-15K. SLAM-ERs enable fighters to reach their targets even without entering NK airspace.

imho, an F-35A buy could be triggered more by chinese intervention concerns. It wouldn't address the TBM risk, particularly to airfields though.

SAMs have to be considered,the greater threat and LO will help mitigate the threat.

[geogen]

neptune,

An hypothetical F-15K++/F-15SE-lite (assuming the outward canted tail does not become part of the development phase) would likely have sufficient ISR and EA/EW capabilities contributing to 'good enough' Battlespace awareness and command functions. Remember, everything associated with both the 'DEWS suite' and either APG-63(3) or APG-82 are designed and planned to be continuously upgraded as the updated technology matures and as requirements demand them, just as the F-35's systems are as well.

The potential and likeliness would also be for an APG-82 radar to enable even superior ranged A2G tracking and situational awareness, than the APG-81. That system capability alone could be determined a game-changer once the IOT&E phase is completed and successful by next year as currently expected. The V3 however is reportedly able to receive sufficient multi-mode upgrade capabilities to meet requirements and it would not be surprising to at least see the existing F-15K fleet receive the (V)3 retrofit.

That said, Boeing is reportedly confident they can beat the 'estimated' F-35 Procurement contract quote and also worth considering is that the current expected F-35 contract 'estimate' is likely to be contingent on the assumption that there will be NO further order restructurings and deferments for at least the remainder of the decade. Any such additional 'restructuring' in FY unit orders though, e.g., the highly ambitious FY15 order year for the USAF remaining as is, will likely continue to factor into the ever uncertain (assumed) calculus, wrt future F-35 cost estimates.

The one irony in this 'contest' no doubt is with the 'F-15SE' relying heavily on Lockheed's Sniper pod (the next-gen 1k FLIR SE variant expected within 2-3 yrs?) and IRST! Wow. One can almost sense the temptation by LM to increase integration costs 200-300% for F-15SE variants claiming this technical difficulty or that.

Lastly, imho it's arguably the F-15SE which coulda/shoulda been offered/requested by Japan (they offered joint-development funds for an export version of F-22) and a souped up F-18E/F with roadway and austere operational abilities been offered/requested by RoK?

[weasel1962]

SAMs have to be considered,the greater threat and LO will help mitigate the threat.

I'm not so sure SA-2, 3s and 5s are effective against F-15/16s. Bekaa valley comes to mind.

[popcorn]

SAMs have to be considered,the greater threat and LO will help mitigate the threat.

I'm not so sure SA-2, 3s and 5s are effective against F-15/16s. Bekaa valley comes to mind.

They will be taken seriously by war planners and they do pose the greater threat than manned aircraft.

[geogen]

Which is why there will no doubt be a continued, prudent, heavy investment in an assorted, modernized 'mix' of self-protected and SEAD capabilities and perhaps even to include more ground based (quick-reactive) suppressive measures as well? And moreover, in the future, there's also probably going to be more and more demand for these UCAV things, accordingly, as part of said 'mix'... no?

[neptune]

[quote="geogen"]neptune,

An hypothetical F-15K++/F-15SE-lite ......quote]

The die is cast, Australia and Japan have chosen the F-35 and Singapore is showing interest, as well. Having the latest ISR capability in the trade routes of SE Asia is necessary to the allies in the development of the on-going updates for the EA/EW systems. Whether it is an Australian Growler, USN Growler/ Prowler, USAF Rivet Joint, etc. the datasets that are developed and integrated in a timely fashion are invaluable. The F-35 ISR capability should trump any 4th gen platform that only carries a subset of the system requirements. The trade routes are monitored by both aviation and surface military assets of all trading countries and are accessible in their transit and training modes. The ISR platforms can take advantage of these and make the latest intelligence contribution when or if a "Go to War" is required.

[spazsinbad]

EADS Offers to Produce 48 Out of 60 Fighter Jets in Korea Updated: APR 05, 2013 Emily Fwang

"Multi-national European defense firm EADS which is locked in a bidding race with U.S. companies to supply South Korea with 60 fighter jets has offered to produce 80 percent of them in Korea, if its Eurofighter wins the deal.

This according to Korea's military sources and company officials on Friday.

Officials from the European firm say their proposal would create about 20-thousand jobs and help Korea learn key technologies essential in developing its own fighter jets.

Korea is also considering buying Lockheed Martin's F-35 stealth fighter or Boeing's F-15 Silent Eagle fighter.

Korean defense officials say they will select the winner of the multi-billion dollar contract later this year."

That is it.

[bigjku]

EADS Offers to Produce 48 Out of 60 Fighter Jets in Korea Updated: APR 05, 2013 Emily Fwang

"Multi-national European defense firm EADS which is locked in a bidding race with U.S. companies to supply South Korea with 60 fighter jets has offered to produce 80 percent of them in Korea, if its Eurofighter wins the deal.

This according to Korea's military sources and company officials on Friday.

Officials from the European firm say their proposal would create about 20-thousand jobs and help Korea learn key technologies essential in developing its own fighter jets.

Korea is also considering buying Lockheed Martin's F-35 stealth fighter or Boeing's F-15 Silent Eagle fighter.

Korean defense officials say they will select the winner of the multi-billion dollar contract later this year."

That is it.

Just like the ones that were put together in Saudi Arabia.

[spazsinbad]

Delivery schedule to affect fighter buy 21 Apr 2013 Kim Tae-gyu

"The delivery date will likely be a key factor in deciding who will provide Korea’s next-generation fighter jets, a military procurement official said Sunday.

The selection is due in June, eight months later than originally scheduled, meaning delivery will be delayed, which could harm the Air Force’s fleet management.

The Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) said Sunday that it will ask the three bidders whether they will be able to meet the delivery date of between 2016 and 2020.

The F-35 Joint Strike Fighter from Lockheed Martin, Boeing’s F-15 Silent Eagle and the Typhoon Eurofighter manufactured by the European Aeronautic Defense and Space Company (EADS) are competing to win the 8.3 trillion won ($7.7 billion) F-X project bid to supply 60 advanced fighter jets.

“As the decision on who would win the contract was delayed to this year, we were worried that the timeline for delivery may have been compromised. We are scheduled to talk about the delivery time once more after inking provisional contracts, hopefully in May,” the official said

According to another military source, there are fears that the actual delivery time may be delayed to between 2017 and 2021 because the purchase decision was delayed by more than half a year.

The decision was delayed because of domestic criticism that local pilots were not given an opportunity to test all the three fighter jets ahead of the purchase that is to replace aging F4s and F5s....

...Representatives from Lockheed Martin and EADS said they have no problem meeting the 2016 deadline if they win the bid...."

http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/na ... 34335.html
South Koreans seem to obsess over nothing much at all

[firstimpulse]

South Koreans seem to obsess over nothing much at all

And the Canadians/Aussies are different?
Seems like someone just wanted to give an update to the fighter competition, but there wasn't enough new content to give an update- so they just made a story about an eight month delay.

[spazsinbad]

Yes the Australians are different. Thanks for pointing out how cool we are about it all (given our experience with the F-111 saga).

[firstimpulse]

Point taken.

[spazsinbad]

OOOOOooooo Now Yer Talkin'....

Will Korea barter F-35 for T-50? 09 May 2013 By Kim Tae-gyu

"WASHINGTON - Will Lockheed Martin ask Korea to pick the firm’s F-35 Joint Strike Fighter as its next-generation fighter jet in return for helping the country sell its T-50 Golden Eagle to the United States?

In a roundtable meeting between President Park Geun-hye and U.S. business representative, Lockheed Martin Chairman Marillyn Hewson made the promise for the T-50 manufactured by Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI).

“As Lockheed Martin invested in the production of the T-50, the company said that it will help KAI win the U.S. Air Force’s trainer procurement project,” said Cho Won-dong, Park’s senior secretary for economic affairs....

...Korea is looking to purchase 60 fighter jets at a cost of 8.3 trillion won ($7.7 billion) to replace its aging F-4s and F-5s. It is scheduled to make a final decision next month....

...The first export order for the T-50 was received in 2011 from Indonesia for 16 aircraft worth $400 million."

http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/na ... 35445.html

[gtx]

That's actually an interesting (and IMHO quite valid) scenario. Sth Korea selects F-35, LM promotes the T-50 as the T-38 replacement (which they probably would have anyway). Everyone wins.

[gtx]

Latest presentation re F-35 and Sth Korea.

Thanks to ELP...though only bother with little ol' Eric's analysis if you want a laugh.