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After
India's planned procurement of 126 multi-purpose fighter aircraft,
South Korea is also planning to invest some $2.4 billion to
introduce 20 'next generation' fighters. These aircraft are
planned for introduction into service by 2010 – 2012,
therefore ruling out the Lockheed Martin's F-35 model. Korea
is planning to purchase up to 120 next-generation fighter jets,
as part of the planned air-force modernization, drastically
increasing combat capability by 2020. A request for proposal
is expected by Defense Acquisition Program Administration in
March 2007, followed by a selection and contract within a year.
Korean sources indicated that the country aims for a twin-engine
fighter, thus making the F-15K option most likely. In 2002,
Korea selected the F-15K out of four candidates, including Rafale,
Typhoon and Su-35. Seoul is fielding the first F-15K squadron
with the delivery of 18 of the 40 aircraft ordered from Boeing
under the current $4.6 billion program.
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