Israel Aerospace Industries has joined the contest to supply four in-flight refuelling tankers to the South Korean air force.
The company will compete with Airbus and Boeing for the $1.4 billion contract, offering an advanced version of its Boeing 767-300ER-derived multimission tanker transport, using second-hand aircraft.
IAI is offering the 767 in a flexible configuration comprising hose and drogue refuelling pods, a boom, or both.
It has already delivered one converted 767 tanker to Colombia, and three more are on order for Brazil.
The Republic of Korea air force has sought to deploy a tanker capability since 1993, but the plan has been repeatedly shelved due to budget constraints and shifting priorities.
A selection is expected by the end of this year, with the Airbus A330 MRTT and Boeing KC-46 also in contention.
Last edited by Stratofreighter on 24 Nov 2014, 12:28, edited 2 times in total.
SEATTLE/GETAFE, Spain ― Competition for Seoul’s project to procure four aerial tankers is heating up as contenders highlight the ways they can help enhance South Korea’s air defense with several months to go until the announcement of the winner.
Currently three competitors ― Boeing’s KC-46, Airbus’ A330 MRTT and Israel Aerospace Industries’ B767 MMTT ― have been vying to clinch the deal worth 1.4 trillion won ($1.25 billion) since Seoul gave public notice of its plan in March to introduce four tankers between 2017 and 2019.
Seoul initially planned to announce the winner next month. But its decision is expected to be delayed to early next year as negotiations are likely to be prolonged due to the bidders’ failure to meet the requirements Seoul proposed as part of the offset agreements.
We are nearing the tail end of our price negotiations. But the competitors’ proposals regarding the offset agreements are yet to satisfy our targets. Thus, there may be a delay in choosing the winner,” an official of the Defense Acquisition Program Administration said, declining to be named.
Israel’s IAI has offered a tanker based on the secondhand 767 aircraft. As it is a tanker made out of a used plane, the price is known to be around half the price of its competitors.
/reeve.gif)
/emirates.gif)