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...more thru14 May, 2019
Seoul has issued a second request for proposals (RFP) in its effort acquire 12 rotorcraft
under its Maritime Operation Helicopters requirement,
after the first RFP fell through owing to a lack of bidders.
FlightGlobal understands that the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA)
calls for bids to be submitted by mid-August 2019,
and that a decision could be made by year-end.
The two likely candidates for the deal,
which calls for a helicopter capable of operating from warships,
are the Leonardo AW159 and the Lockheed Martin MH-60R.
The latter would be pitched under the US government's Foreign Military Sales mechanism.
When the deal was originally announced in 2017,
DAPA said the 12 additional rotorcraft were required owing to the increased submarine threat from North Korea.
At that time, it was considering three types:
the AW159, MH-60R, and NH Industries NH-90.
Ultimately only the AgustaWestland team submitted a bid for the deal.
South Korean media reports indicate that DAPA planned to go with the AW159 as a sole source supplier,
but thenWashington DC offered FMS pricing on the MH-60R.
https://www.flightglobal.com/news/artic ... rs-458153/