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http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articl ... fx-410696/
South Korea on Monday selected Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) and partner Lockheed Martin as the preferred bidder for a multi-billion-dollar contract to develop 120 “indigenous” fighter jets.
The bid from KAI and the US aerospace giant was always seen as the favourite for the 8.6 trillion won (US $7.8 billion) deal over a rival bid by civilian carrier Korean Air (KAL) teamed with Airbus.
The KF-X fighter project is designed to develop and produce 120 fighter jets of a new, indigenous type to replace South Korea’s ageing fleet of F-4s and F-5s.
The KFX is envisaged as a two-engined fighter that is more advanced than the Lockheed Martin F-16, but not up to the standard of types such as the F-35 Lightning II.
It will replace obsolescent types in the Korean air force’s inventory, namely the McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom and Northrop F-5.
The Indonesian government has a 20% share in the programme. Seoul is expected to order 120 examples of the KFX, and Indonesia 80.