With Seoul’s March 24 announcement of its long-held intent to purchase the F-35A, South Korea is likely securing an offset deal that will include a new military communications satellite and technical assistance in the country’s plans to develop an indigenous stealthy KF-X fighter.
Lockheed Martin, the sole producer of stealthy fighters globally, will provide more than 300 man-years worth of engineering expertise in assisting Seoul in designing its KF-X. The F-22 and F-35 builder will also offer more than 500,000 pages of technical documentation derived from the F-16, F-22 and F-35, says Michael Rein, a company spokesman.
South Korea is looking at multiple KF-X designs, but has recently found that a single-engine option may be as effective at an affordable price point as a twin engine. It is slated to become operational around 2025.
Also in the offset proposal is a secure satellite communications satellite; Lockheed is building the newest U.S. Air Force jam-proof satellite called the Advanced Extremely High Frequency spacecraft. It is built on the company’s A2100 bus and includes the latest security measures to avoid interference or jamming. The offset also includes “necessary control equipment and technical training,” Rein says. The deal could cover delivery of the new satellite, launch and turnover of the operational system.
Seoul announced its choice of the F-35A over the Eurofighter Typhoon and Boeing F-15 Silent Eagle, a Strike Eagle modified with stealthy weapons bays and leading edges, in December. Though Boeing’s offer was the only one to comply with South Korea’s budget limitations, the government overrode a recommendation to buy the Super Hornet. To stay in a budget of 8.3 billion won ($7.2 billion), the country is only purchasing 40 F-35As, far less than its intended buy of 60 aircraft in the F-X phase 3 program.
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