South Korea’s $15-Billion KF-X Fighter Program Suffers Severe Setback After The United States Reportedly Refused To Hand Over Technologies
South Korea's 15-billion dollar KF-X fighter program is suffering from a major setback due to tech transfer issues with the US government, Defense News reported Sept. 27. The program, which aims to develop indigenous fighter jets, started on February 6.
In March, the Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) was chosen by the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) as the preferred bidder for the KF-X fighter program.
Business Korea reported on March 31 that "KAI received a higher score in the evaluation of proposals than Korean Air Lines since it had manufactured the T-50 Golden Eagle supersonic trainer, the FA-50 Fighting Eagle, and the country's utility helicopter, the Surion, and got ahead in technical skills."
KAI partnered with American military contractor Lockheed Martin in developing a mid-level fighter jet for the program.
Reports revealed that "Lockheed Martin offered to provide 21 technologies required to build the KF-X fighter jet as part of F-X III offset deals. The US aircraft giant was also selected as the main partner to build KF-X with Korea Aerospace Industries."
The American military contractor was also requested by DAPA to consult the US government to transfer four technologies "related to the active electronically scanned radar (AESA), electro-optical targeting pod, infrared search-and-rescue systems, and radio frequency jammer." However, the US government refused to transfer the said technologies in April.
"We were trying to secure the US export license of those technologies but failed to get them," said DAPA's procurement business bureau head Lt. Gen. Park Shin Kyu. "Instead, we'll seek ways of obtaining those technologies from other countries or through local developments."
On the other hand, Lockheed Martin said they are still asking the US government for the transfer of the four technologies.
"There is no F-35 customer nation receiving the AESA radar technology," said an official from Lockheed Martin. "We made it clear that the tech transfer is only possible with the approval of the US government. We tried but failed."
Meanwhile, a military said DAPA is requested to submit data related to the KF-X fighter jet project to the office of the senior presidential secretary for civil affairsKorea Times reported Sept. 25.
"The presidential office will look into all paperwork and documents related to the KF-X program," a spokesman from Cheong Wa Dae said.