Dec 11, 2013 defense-aerospace.com

(Source: The Korea Herald; published Dec. 11, 2013)

EADS Proposes Korea Buy Mix of Two Fighter Jets

The European Aeronautic Defense and Space Company proposed Wednesday that South Korea purchase a combination of 40 Eurofighter Typhoons and 20 F-35s for its next-generation fighter procurement project.

The defense firm argued that a split procurement will offer a better blend of capabilities for peninsular security conditions, and that its “stable” Eurofighter program can ensure an earlier fixed delivery timetable, starting from 2017.

The EADS’ proposal came after Seoul all but decided last month to purchase 40 F-35 radar-evading fighters manufactured by Lockheed Martin, a U.S. defense firm, and start deploying them from 2018.

“We see the advantages of a split procurement of Eurofighters and F-35s, combining the benefits of both programs,” said Peter Maute, senior vice president of Eurofighter sales, during a press conference in Seoul.

“This would be in line with the approach of some future F-35 users who will, once it is eventually in service, operate it complementary to other aircraft in a specialized role, using its stealth attributes.”

He particularly stressed the “multi-role” capabilities of the Eurofighter Typhoon Tranche 3 and the F-35’s specialized role for strike missions.

“The U.S. has developed the F-22 as a dominant air superiority fighter and plans (to use) the F-35 mainly for strike missions,” said Maute.

The United Kingdom and Italy, along with other nations, will begin using F-35s for specialized roles alongside the Eurofighter, which is of equal dominance to the F-22 in air-to-air contests and also has a full multi-role capability, he explained.

Maute also said that should Seoul opt to buy 40 Eurofighter Typhoons, his company would maintain its promises of technology transfer and industrial participation packages, which were made when Seoul planned to procure 60 warplanes.

The EADS’ industrial packages include technological support for Seoul’s so-called KF-X project to develop an indigenous warplane, and also an investment of up to $2 billion in the KF-X project.

Observers said it would be difficult for Seoul to reverse its current procurement plan and opt for the Eurofighter, considering that Seoul seeks to purchase all-aspect stealth aircraft to counter threats from North Korea and potentially from neighboring states.

Last month, Seoul decided to purchase 40 stealth warplanes for deployment from 2018-2021 and to later purchase an additional 20 warplanes, in consideration of shifts in the security environment and technological development

Dec 4, 2013 ASDNews Source : BAE Systems PLC

The 400th Eurofighter Typhoon, the world’s leading swing role fighter jet, has been delivered to its worldwide customer base

The delivery

The German Air Force has today taken delivery of the 400th aircraft during special ceremony at Cassidian’s Military Air Systems Center in Manching, Southern Germany. It was built by the Eurofighter consortium, which includes us.

Demonstrating high operational effectiveness

In the past 10 years the global Eurofighter Typhoon fleet has demonstrated its high operational effectiveness in international missions and trainings and accumulated more than 210,000 flying hours. Several developments such as the Phase 1 Enhancement, the integration of the METEOR air-to-air missile, the new electronic radar (E-Scan) and additional weaponry increase the capabilities of the Eurofighter Typhoon and secure the future of this modern combat aircraft in the next decades.

In the hundreds

The delivery of the very first Eurofighter Typhoon to the Royal Air Force in the United Kingdom took place end of 2003. The 100th Eurofighter was delivered also to the Royal Air Force in September 2006. The 200th aircraft was handed over in November 2009 to the German Air Force. The 300th aircraft was delivered to the Spanish Air Force in November 2011.

In attendance

At the ceremony, the State Secretary of the German Ministry of Defence, Christian Schmidt, received the aircraft with the markings ‘31+06’. The event was witnessed by several high ranking representatives from politics and industry including: the Bavarian Minister for Economic Affairs, Media, Energy and Technology, Ilse Aigner; the Chief Executive Officer of Cassidian, Bernhard Gerwert, and representatives from the British, Spanish and Italian Eurofighter Partner companies.

A historic milestone

Alberto Gutierrez, Chief Executive Officer of Eurofighter Jagdflugzeug GmbH, said: “The delivery of the 400th Eurofighter Typhoon marks a historic milestone in Europe’s largest defence programme. Now we must focus much more strongly on export campaigns in order to win new contracts and new customers for this outstanding aircraft. Right now, especially in these difficult times in the defence industry, it is more important than ever that we stand up and be counted. That is what today is all about.”

A reliable backbone of many Air Forces

The General Manager of NATO Eurofighter and Tornado Management Agency  (NETMA), Jesus Pinillos, added: "Eurofighter Typhoon secures the airspace of six nations 24 hours a day, seven days a week even under extreme arctic weather conditions on the Falkland Islands. The aircraft has proven itself as a reliable backbone of the Air Forces in Germany, Italy, Spain, and in the UK as well as in Austria and Saudi Arabia. The reliability of the Eurofighter Typhoon in its global missions has surpassed expectations."

28 November 2013 baesystems.com

The aircraft which pioneered the technology behind Typhoon has gone on show to the public for the first time

The Experimental Aircraft Programme (EAP) technology demonstrator airframe, built by us in the 1980s, has been donated by the company to the RAF Museum in Cosford, Shropshire.

It remains the most advanced fighter design ever built solely by a UK manufacturer.

Military Air and Information managing director Chris Boardman said: "The EAP was fundamental in developing many of the ground breaking design characteristics and capabilities that we now see in today's Eurofighter Typhoon.

“It is only fitting that it should now reside alongside other historic aircraft including Tornado P.02, the Jaguar ACT Demonstrator and TSR2 that have all helped keep Britain at the forefront of military aviation."

Curator Nick Sturgess said the museum was “thrilled” to add the EAP among its collection of research and development aircraft.

He added: “Only one EAP was ever built and its importance in aviation cannot be understated.

“During its flying career as a proof of concept demonstrator it contributed much to computer controls, advanced aerodynamics and new methods of construction.”

The EAP was rolled out at British Aerospace at Warton in April 1986 and did its first flight in August  when test pilot Dave Eagles, the company’s then executive director of flight operations, took it to Mach 1.1, faster than the speed of sound.

Following its final flight at Warton in May 1991, the airframe was stored at the site having made 259 test sorties, totalling 195.21 flying hours, during which it had reached speeds in excess of Mach 2.0 and angles of attack of over 35 degrees in controlled flight.

In June 1996, it was taken to Loughborough University, Leicestershire, where it was used by undergraduate students to carry out design appreciation exercises, before making the move to Cosford in March 2012.

It went on display at there this month, for further details visit www.rafmuseum.org.uk/cosford

Nov. 18, 2013 - By ANDREW CHUTER – Defense news

Dunne: Eurofighter Program Would Not Apply

DUBAI — Britain is investigating whether to adopt an American-style foreign military sales (FMS) program, but defense procurement minister Philip Dunne said the approach wouldn’t be used to sell Typhoon fighter jets in the Arabian Gulf or elsewhere.

Dunne, appearing at the Dubai Airshow Monday to promote Britain’s defense export effort, said the Defence Ministry is in the early stages of investigating whether elements of the highly successful FMS framework could be adapted for use by the British.

But while talking to reporters at the show, the procurement chief said that even if Britain goes ahead with its own scheme, it wouldn’t include international collaborative ventures.

“We are exploring whether we should establish some kind of British equivalent to FMS for defense sales. It’s early days and I can’t give any indications where we will come out on that,” Dunne said. “But it won’t apply to collaborative ventures, so it’s most unlikely to apply to the four nation Eurofighter Typhoon.”

The procurement minister said internal work is underway at the MoD, with a report on findings expected in the second half of next year.

British government ministers have been in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in force this week in support of an export effort to sell the Typhoon in a number of countries in the region, including Bahrain, Qatar and the UAE itself.

Dunne, who announced a small contract with missile-maker MBDA for upgrade and sustainment of Dual Mode Brimstone stocks at the show, confirmed that if Typhoon customers wouldn’t benefit from any potential FMS plan, they still might gain from governance changes being considered for the Typhoon program.

The procurement minister said that with the emphasis on the Typhoon set to eventually shift away from production to capability enhancements for existing and future customers, the way the program is run might change to be able to move faster to accommodate export customers requirements.

“Instead of focusing on individual nation’s requirements, we become more focused on the requirements of export customers. We think that should lead to some changes in the way the Eurofighter construct is organized,” he said. “It’s something we wish to do in order to be able react to the speed of the customer and the customer is rather a different entity once it is no longer an air force of one of the partner nations that owns the business. ... It’s a change of emphasis rather than a criticism of the way it’s been organized in the past.”

The NATO Eurofighter and Tornado Management Agency runs the program on behalf of the British, German, Italian and Spanish governments; the Eurofighter consortium oversees the industrial aspects of the program.

Eurofighter consortium members BAE Systems, EADS and Finmeccanica have been discussing possible improvements to the way the organization is run since the Typhoon was beaten into place second place for the Indian fighter contract by the French government and Dassault Aviation with the Rafale fighter.

Eurofighter Tranche 3 – photo BAE Systems

05.11.2013 Romain Guillot - journal-aviation.com

Eurofighter, BAE Systems, EADS, Typhoon, Tranche 3,

Le premier Eurofighter de la troisième tranche des livraisons, l’appareil BS116, a terminé avec succès ses essais moteurs en vue du premier vol attendu avant la fin de l’année. Ces essais étaient effectués dans les installations de BAE Systems à Warton, qui disposent d’une chambre de réglage (detuner).

Selon BAE Systems, les essais moteurs se sont déroulés en trois phases successives. Après vérification de l’absence de tous corps étrangers dans les réacteurs avec un tamis à mailles de fil attaché directement en entrée d’air (photo), les deux EJ200 ont ensuite individuellement été testés à différents régimes et jusqu’à pleine puissance (avec postcombustion) avec des ingénieurs du motoriste britannique Rolls-Royce. La dernière phase comprenait différents essais des systèmes rattachés aux réacteurs (circuits carburants, génération électrique et hydraulique...).

Le monoplace BS116 est destiné à la Royal Air Force. La Tranche 3A comprend la livraison de 112 exemplaires destinés à l'Allemagne, à l'Italie, à l'Espagne et au Royaume-Uni. Les appareils de cette tranche pourront accueillir des réservoirs conformes sur la partie supérieure du fuselage ainsi que le futur radar AESA de Selex Galileo (CAPTOR-E).

Les 378 Typhoon déjà en service au sein de six pays ont franchi la barre symbolique des 200 000 heures de vol cumulées en septembre dernier.

11/10/2013 Michel .Cabirol – LaTribune.fr ( avec agences)

Bucarest a choisi de s'acheter des F-16 portugais d'occasion. Une claque pour l'Eurofighter et surtout pour le Gripen de Saab.

Après un an de négociations, le gouvernement portugais a annoncé vendredi la conclusion d'un accord avec la Roumanie pour lui vendre 12 avions de combat américains F-16 d'occasion. Une opération qui rapportera 78 millions d'euros au Portugal. "Les gouvernements du Portugal et de la Roumanie ont scellé un accord pour la vente de 12 appareils F-16 MLU destinés à équiper l'Armée de l'air roumaine", a indiqué le ministère portugais de la Défense dans un communiqué.

Avant de livrer la douzaine d'avions à partir de 2016, le Portugal s'est engagé à dépenser 108 millions d'euros pour les moderniser et les adapter aux besoins de la Roumanie, qui lui versera 186 millions, a précisé le ministre de la Défense, José Pedro Aguiar Branco. L'accord prévoit notamment que le Portugal achète aux Etats-Unis trois F-16 non-équipés et comprend la formation de neuf pilotes et 79 techniciens.

Une vente négociée depuis plusieurs mois

Cette vente intervient dans un contexte de fortes restrictions budgétaires au sein des forces armées portugaises, qui disposaient jusqu'ici de 39 avions de combat. En échange d'un plan de sauvetage financier accordé en mai 2011 par l'Union européenne et le FMI, le Portugal s'est engagé à mettre en oeuvre un exigeant programme de rigueur et de réformes pour assainir ses finances publiques.

Les Roumains, qui avaient lancé en 2007 une demande d'information (RFI) pour un projet d'acquisition de 48 appareils, avaient trois autres solutions pour remplacer leurs vieux MiG-21. Lockheed Martin proposait 24 F-16 C/D dans le cadre d'une initiative internationale pooling and sharing (union et partage) concernant trois pays (Roumanie, Hongrie et Croatie). Le consortium Eurofighter (BAE Systems, EADS et l'italien Finmeccanica) concourait avec des Eurofighter (tranche 1) d'occasion de l'armée de l'air italienne. Mais le coup est surtout rude pour Saab.

Saab perd un prospect important

La décision de Bucarest est un coup dur pour le Gripen de Saab. Le patron du commerce international du constructeur suédois, Eddy de la Motte, qui était le responsable de la campagne du Gripen en Inde (MMRCA), avait annoncé en septembre 2012 sur le blog de Saab Gripen International, l'objectif de vendre au moins 300 Gripen au cours des dix prochaines années. Si cet objectif est atteint, Saab aura 10 % du marché atteignable (marché ouvert), avait-il précisé. Et parmi ces 300 appareils, figuraient le prospect de 48 avions de combat des forces aériennes roumaines...

The first RAF Typhoon was delivered in 2003, with the total delivered since reaching 112 aircraft.

25 Sep 2013 By Ben Martin, and Graham Ruddick

BAE Systems has formally submitted a bid to build 60 Eurofighter Typhoon jets for the United Arab Emirates (UAE), stepping up its attempt to strike a deal that could support thousands of UK jobs and is vital for the company’s prospects.

The Typhoon programme, developed by BAE, Italy’s Finmeccanica and Airbus–maker EADS, suffered a major setback last year when it lost out to French company Dassault for a major contract to supply India with 126 fighter jets.

However, the aircraft has emerged as the favourite to win the UAE contract, which could be worth around £6bn and has been described as a “game-changer” by the chief executive of BAE, Ian King.

More than 5,000 people work on the Typhoon project in Britain for BAE, which is the country’s biggest defence contractor. Securing the UAE deal would be a major boost to the manufacturing sites in Lancashire where the fighter jet is constructed.

In a note, UBS, BAE’s house broker, said: “We estimate that this order could potentially be worth £6bn for the aircraft alone and multiples of that including training, support and weapons packages.”

The British company is leading negotiations with the UAE on behalf of the Typhoon consortium. The potential deal is also likely to include a technology-sharing agreement on unmanned aircraft.

It is thought that the process to decide which aircraft the UAE selects could take several months. Dassault is also in the running to supply the UAE with its Rafale jets.

Charles Armitage at UBS said that if a deal is agreed between BAE and the UAE, it could open the door for talks with India to be restarted. He said: “If UAE is signed, this could put pressure on India, which would be the only export customer for Rafale - nobody likes being the only export customer for a programme as it tends to reduce flexibility and increase the upgrade/maintenance costs – and could bring Typhoon back into the picture.”

The group’s chances of securing the order were bolstered by an alliance that was agreed last November, when David Cameron travelled to the Gulf to unveil a formal defence and industrial partnership between Britain and the UAE.

BAE shares closed up 2.3pc at 461.3p on hopes the UAE deal will be agreed.

September 8, 2013. David Pugliese - Defence Watch

News release from Eurofighter:

Eurofighter Typhoon has now achieved more than 200,000 flying hours since the entry-into-service of its worldwide fleet. Eurofighter Jagdflugzeug GmbH confirmed the milestone today adding that, with 719 aircraft on contract, 571 aircraft ordered and 378 aircraft delivered, the programme has “never looked stronger”.

Alberto Gutierrez, Chief Executive Officer of Eurofighter Jagdflugzeug GmbH, said: “This impressive milestone underlines the outstanding track-record of the Eurofighter Typhoon. Today, our congratulations go to all the air forces who have achieved this target, to more than 100,000 employees in Europe who are involved in the development manufacturing and supply chain as well as to all the 400 companies who support us on a daily basis with their know-how and competences. This is indeed a proud day for all of them and a landmark day for Europe’s largest defence programme.”

The CEO added: “Every day our aircraft are protecting the skies in Europe, the Middle East and even in the Southern hemisphere. They are on Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) duty 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Eurofighter Typhoon is combat proven since the Libya operations and is now gaining considerable momentum – indeed the programme has never looked stronger. It has become the backbone of the Air Forces in the UK, Germany, Italy, Spain and Austria. When the chips are down, air chiefs want an aircraft that is versatile, reliable, resilient and cost-effective. Eurofighter Typhoon fulfills all of these requirements and the operational experiences gained during these flying hours have proven it.”

The first 5,000 flying hours were achieved in November 2005. 10,000 hours came in August  2006 and 20,000 in May 2007. By August 2008, the Eurofighter Typhoon fleet had surpassed 50,000 hours and 100,000 flying hours was reached in January 2011.

The global Eurofighter fleet now comprises 20 operating units with locations in Europe, the South Atlantic and the Middle East. Specifically there are: 7 units in the UK (4 in Coningsby, 2 in Leuchars and 1 in Mount Pleasant, Falkland Islands); 5 in Italy (2 in Grosseto, 2 in Gioia del Colle, 1 in Trapani); 3 in Germany (Laage, Neuburg and Nörvenich), as well as 3 in Spain (2 in Morón, 1 in Albacete) and one each in Austria (Zeltweg) and in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia – all of them have contributed to the 200,000 flying hour total.

Background information:

Eurofighter Typhoon is the most advanced new generation multi-role/swing-role combat aircraft currently available on the world market. Seven nations (Germany, the United Kingdom, Italy, Spain, Austria, Saudi Arabia and Oman) have already ordered the Eurofighter Typhoon. With 719 aircraft under contract and 571 on order, Eurofighter Typhoon is currently the largest military procurement programme in Europe. Its high technology strengthens the position of European aerospace industry in the international market. The programme secures more than 100,000 jobs in over 400 companies. Eurofighter Jagdflugzeug GmbH manages the programme on behalf of the Eurofighter Partner Companies Alenia Aermacchi/Finmeccanica, BAE Systems and Cassidian in Germany and Spain, which are the most important aviation and aerospace companies in Europe with a turnover of about 126 billion euro (2012).

Jul 9, 2013 Awad Mustafa - thenational.ae

ABU DHABI // UAE Air Force chiefs are this week meeting with a European defence consortium as part of a possible deal to buy 60 of their fighter jets.

Representatives from BAE Systems, Eads, Eurojet and MBDA, the companies behind the Eurofighter Typhoon, have been locked in discussions with Air Force officials this week.

Tony Gilchrist, BAE Systems' vice president for air programmes who is leading discussions on behalf of the consortium, said: "We have been in dialogue for several months with the Air Force.

"We have also started talking with the Department of General Procurement at the Air Force and the discussions are in a good place, amicable and there is a mutual understanding between us."

The UAE has been in talks with a number of nations to procure advanced multi-role aircraft, including the French manufacturer Dassault for its Rafale fighter.

Mr Gilchrist, in Abu Dhabi to attend the Tawazun Economic Council and BAE Systems industrial workshop, said the UAE Air Force's demands for the new jets included installing sophisticated weapons systems.

"What is being discussed is the most advanced Typhoon when compared to the existing fleet or any orders that have been made," he said. "An extremely capable and very advanced fighter jet has been asked of us by the Air Force."

Alan Sparkes, the director of cooperative programmes at MBDA, the missile systems maker for the Eurofighter, said the UAE's requirements included the most advanced weapons in the world placed together in one aircraft.

"These capabilities include a beyond visual range air-to-air missile with high accuracy," Mr Sparkes said.

Although the demands put forward by the UAE are challenging, Mr Gilchrist said he was confident they could be delivered.

"The UAE Air Force's capability requirements are highly ambitious but deliverable because of the strength of the European partnership and its expertise," he said.

There are more than 700 Typhoons in air forces around the world, with 571 aircraft on order by seven nations including Saudi Arabia and Oman.

Part of ongoing discussions in the fighter deal is training, education and technology transfer with the UAE, Mr Gilchrist said.

BAE Systems Middle East and Africa and Khalifa University in Abu Dhabi already operate a programme to train students.

A major structural component of the jets will be developed by UAE company Tawazun Precision Industries.

"We are trying to get kids straight out of school into apprenticeships within our consortium," said Mr Gilchrist.

"Education and training in technology, aerospace and engineering for Emiratis is a key focus for us."

He added that the consortium is looking for Emiratis to form part of a highly capable workforce to participate in research and development.

Saif Al Hajeri, chief executive of Tawazun Economic Council, said its strategy was aligned with the UAE's vision for economic diversification and aimed to develop technology transfer from leading experts to help build national capabilities.

"Through such forums, TEC aims to provide a platform to both local industry and international partners to communicate best practices, to exchange knowledge, and to look into potential strategic initiatives and cooperation opportunities," Mr Al Hajeri said.

This year the Eurofighter lost out to Rafale over a US$10 billion (Dh36.7bn) contract in India for 126 jet fighters.

Mr Gilchrist said that despite the Rafale being given the L1 rating by the Indian ministry of defence, which means they would be first to present and offer a contract, his company was closely watching the negotiations between Dassault and the Indian government.

"If the L1, Rafale, is not able to fulfil the negotiation demands, then Eurofighter would be given the chance," he said.

"We are still optimistic in India. This is by no way a done deal for our French friends. We are ready to re-enter discussions."

3 juillet Aerobuzz.fr

Xavier Tardy, actuellement Directeur financier (Chief Financial Officer – CFO) d’EADS North America et Airbus Americas, a été nommé au poste de Directeur financier d’Airbus Military. Il succède ainsi à Christian Pechmann, qui assumera désormais le rôle de Directeur financier et commercial d’Eurofighter GmbH.

Dans le cadre de ses nouvelles fonctions, qu’il occupera dès le 15 juillet, Xavier Tardy sera placé sous l’autorité directe de Harald Wilhelm, Directeur financier d’EADS/Airbus, et rattaché fonctionnellement à Domingo Ureña Raso, CEO d’Airbus Military.

19 juin 2013 Par Julien Bonnet - Usinenouvelle.com

La Corée du Sud a lancé officiellement mardi 18 juin et pour une durée de onze jours l'appel d'offre pour un contrat de 7,3 milliards de dollars portant sur la fourniture de 60 avions de combat. Deux américains, Boeing et Lockheed Martin, l'européen EADS sont au coude à coude pour décrocher ce contrat.

Bataille commerciale dans le ciel coréen. La Corée du Sud a lancé officiellement mardi 18 juin l'appel d'offre pour un contrat de 7,3 milliards de dollars (5,5 milliards d'euros) portant sur la fourniture de 60 avions de combat. Il s'agit de la dernière étape d'un processus qui voit s'affronter deux américains - Boeing et Lockheed Martin - et l'européen EADS. La Corée du Sud a acquis 60 F-15 de Boeing depuis 2002 et souhaiterait donc acquérir 60 avions de combat supplémentaires d'ici 2021.

Ces trois géants de l'aéronautique de défense ont chacun présenté leur offre, assortie de conditions favorables destinées à remporter ce marché, le plus important jamais passé par la Corée du Sud. Le pays s'est donné onze jours pour se décider.

Trois avions de combat en compétition

L'agence sud-coréenne d'acquisition des armements (DAPA), qui a bien précisé que le montant du contrat ne pouvait pas dépasser les 8 300 milliards de wons (soit 7,3 milliards de dollars ou 5,5 milliards d'euros), va devoir trancher entre le F-15 Silent Eagle de Boeing, le F-35 Lightning II de Lockheed Martin et l'Eurofighter Typhoon d'EADS.

Propositions de partenariats industriels

Dans son offre, EADS propose d'investir 2 milliards de dollars pour aider la Corée du Sud à développer ses propres avions de combat s'il est choisi. Lockheed Martin s'engage pour sa part à aider le pays à développer et lancer des satellites de communication militaire, tandis que Boeing a promis d'acheter des milliards de dollars de pièces détachées aux entreprises sud-coréennes.

En janvier dernier, la Corée du Sud avait préféré l'anglo-Italien AgustaWestland à l'américain Sikorsky pour la livraison de six hélicoptères à la Marine sud-coréenne, un contrat de 567 millions de dollars, signe que Séoul, qui traitait habituellement uniquement avec des sociétés américaines, a élargi ces derniers mois la liste de ses fournisseurs.

Acquisition de missiles Taurus

Autre exemple ce mercredi 19 juin, le pays a annoncé qu'il allait acquérir des missiles de croisière Taurus, produits par l'Allemagne et la Suède, après le refus des Etats-Unis de lui vendre un armement correspondant, le Pentagone s'inquiétant d'un regain de tensions avec la Corée du Nord. Selon l'agence de presse Yonhap, Séoul se porterait acquéreur de 170 de ces missiles air-sol (portée de 500 kilomètres) d'une valeur totale de 300 millions de dollars (223 millions d'euros).

04/06/13 bourse.challenges.fr

La Corée du Sud devrait officiellement lancer la semaine prochaine l'appel d'offres pour le renouvellement de ses jets de combat, selon l'agence locale Yonhap, qui cite un officiel de l'agence des achats de l'armée. Pour ce contrat évalué à 7,5 milliards de dollars pour une soixantaine d'appareils, le F-15 de Boeing, le F-35 de Lockheed Martin et l'Eurofighter de BAE Systems et EADS sont sur les rangs. La durée de l'appel d'offres pourrait être limitée à deux à trois semaines, les parties ayant déjà négocié un certain nombre d'éléments.

Selon l'agence coréenne, comme il est d'usage en pareil cas, les prétendants ont rivalisé de propositions pour s'attirer les faveurs du pays. EADS aurait ainsi mis sur la table un investissement de 2 milliards de dollars à Séoul pour y assembler les appareils. Boeing aurait pour sa part proposé 1,2 milliard de dollars pour une usine d'équipements pour son appareil, ainsi que pour des pièces d'autres programmes à l'export. Lockheed Martin s'et enfin engagé à produire certains éléments de ses appareils dans le pays, et à aider à l'export l'industrie aéronautique coréenne.

LEIDEN, Netherlands, May 24 (UPI)

With South Korea edging closer to deciding on a contractor for its $7.3 billion KF-X fighter program, a European competitor is dangling a new carrot to its bid.

EADS, based in the Netherlands and part of the consortium that builds the Eurofighter Typhoon, says if the aircraft is chosen to replace South Korea's antiquated F-4 and F-5 fleets, it will invest $2 billion "and its technology in the KF-X to help Korea to become a fighter jet producer."

The announcement follows that of Eurofighter, which promised to assemble 53 of 60 aircraft to be produced in South Korea. It's estimated the local assembly would lead to creation of 50,000 jobs.

EADS has also said it would build a maintenance repair and overhaul facility for the aircraft in South Korea and an aerospace software center.

"If Korea chooses Eurofighter as its next generation fighter jet and EADS invests more than 2 trillion KRW [$2 billion] in the KF-X program, it will bring bigger economic effect than the SURION and Korea will be the fifth country [that] produces Eurofighter, high-level fighter jets," EADS said.

"It will also create strong political and military ties with Europe."

SURION is a Korean utility helicopter developed by Korea Aerospace Industries with technology obtained from Eurocopter, an EADS subsidiary headquartered in France.

"The SURION raised Korea to the 11th helicopter manufacturer in the world," EADS said, and created 25,000 jobs.

In its news release, EADS emphasized its business ties to the country. KAI, it noted, has supplied parts for Airbus aircraft since 1998.

Airbus, located in France, is another EADS subsidiary.

Other competitors for the KF-X contract are U.S. companies Lockheed Martin and Boeing. Lockheed is offering its F-35 Lightning II fighter while Boeing is offering its F-15 Silent Eagle.

A news report from Seoul says the country's Defense Acquisition Program Administration expects to make a final decision on a contractor next June.

"The price negotiations have been completed and we don't plan to have another round of negotiations," DAPA spokesman Baek Yoon-hyeong told a news briefing. "We plan to conduct the auction within June."

Meanwhile, the U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency reports the South Korean government has requested possible procurement of weapons in support of a "potential Direct Commercial Sale" of F-15 SE aircraft.

The package, if approved by Congress and if it goes through, would include associated equipment, parts, training and logistical support.

The deal would be worth $823 million.

Among items requested: Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles, Joint Directed Attack Munition Tail Kits, small diameter bombs, general purpose bombs, AIM-9X-2 (Blk II) tactical missiles, containers, missile support and test equipment, provisioning, spare and repair parts.

"The proposed sale will provide the ROK with aircraft weapons for the F-15SE," the agency said. "These aircraft and weapons will provide the ROK with a credible defense capability to deter aggression in the region and ensure interoperability with U.S. forces."