South-Korea ends bid for 60 fighters as Boeing F-15SE is dropped

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World Air Force News - Korea
 
 
South-Korea ends bid for 60 fighters as Boeing F-15SE is dropped.
 
Boeing, Lockheed Martin and EADS were dropped from the fighter contest of South Korea. Neither the F-15SE (Silent Eagle), the F-35A nor the Eurofighter Typhoon were compliant. The closest winner of the bid would have been the F-15SE but it was finally dismissed as concern about its stealth were raised by military officials and media. Boeing was the sole remaining bidder being the only contender within the price range of the tender.
     
Boeing, Lockheed Martin and EADS were dropped from the fighter contest of South Korea. Neither the F-15SE (Silent Eagle), the F-35A nor the Eurofighter Typhoon were compliant. The closest winner of the bid would have been the F-15SE but it was finally dismissed as concern about its stealth were raised by military officials and media. Boeing was the sole remaining bidder being the only contender within the price range of the tender.
Boeing F-15 Silent Eagle (photo credit: Boeing)
     

Indeed, the budget set for the bid was 8.3 trillion won ($7.7 billion) for 60 planes. The last comment made by defense officials make it seems that the Lockheed Martin F-35A (Conventional Take-Off) will have an advantage in the next bid since it is regarded as the sole "Fifth Generation" aircraft of the tender.

South-Korea will open a new bid but no date has been set-up for the moment.South-Korea would be the second Asian state to buy the Lockheed Martin plane. Japan announced in 2011 that it would buy 42 F-35 jets in a deal expected to cost more than $5 billion.