Der F-X Deal geht in die nächste Phase. Typhoon und Su-32/35/wasauchimmer wurden eliminiert. Es ist nur noch Rafale oder F-15K im Rennen! Go Rafale! :D
South Korea caught in pincer over fighter deal
SEOUL, March 27 (AFP) - 07:59 GMT - South Korea, caught in a diplomatic pincer between the United States and France, may be regretting launching a controversial multi-billion dollar tender for new fighter jets.
The announcement Wednesday that South Korea is to launch a second evaluation of the leading US and French contenders -- a move seen favouring Boeing Co.'s F-15K -- is likely to increase scrutiny of decision-making already clouded by accusations of corruption and bias.
By entering a second evaluation of the new Rafale and the ageing F-15K, the ministry has said it will take into account "diplomatic considerations" and experts said Boeing is now a certainty because of the Washington-Seoul military alliance.
According to diplomats, more than 85 percent of the military equipment imported by South Korea is made in the United States.
The two countries have formed a strong military axis since the 1950-53 Korean War when US troops fought with the South.
This deal sparked international interest because it was seen as a chance to break into a closed American market," said one senior official of the Eurofighter consortium, makers of the Typhoon 2000 jet which was eliminated from the race Wednesday along with the Su-32 made by Sukhoi of Russia.
The French government in particular has warned that it is closely watching the way the purchase of 40 fighters -- already marred by charges of kickbacks and the selling of military secrets -- of 40 fighters is concluded.
"We were surprised and interested when Korea, for its own reasons, decided, contrary to its usual practice for major contracts, to open the competition for the renewal of these combat jets," said Jean-Bernard Ouvrieu, a French government envoy.
"It would be the first in time in Asia, in such a clear American monopoly, there has been a political desire, which is not an anti-US gesture, to enlarge the circle of suppliers a bit.
"We thought this change was interesting. For once, the American supply monopoly can be ended," Ouvrieu told AFP in a recent interview during a visit to Seoul to press the government to make sure the contract was decided fairly.
Ouvrieu said France decided the Korean authorities "were going to follow an intelligently drawn up procedure with all the necessary criteria in the areas of price, operational capability, transfer of technology.
"From the moment that they opened the competition, this was an important political event. We understood this to be the case and we would not understand if things did not go ahead until the end in clarity and transparency and according to the principle of 'let the best one win'," he said.
"If we had thought they wanted to choose the Americans from the start nobody would have wanted to take them on."
Three South Korean air force colonels have been arrested on suspicion of taking bribes from contenders or leaking military secrets to them.
Investigators last week raided the offices of a public relations company working for Dassault. Some lawmakers have meanwhile accused the defence ministry of unfairly favouring Boeing. A Boeing agent has also been investigated.
The ministry has insisted the cases have not influenced the decision making. But its difficulties were highlighted at a press conference when it announced that a second evaluation of the F-15K and the Rafale would be held.
When one reporter asked which plane scored more points overall in the first round study, one official said Rafale was ahead and then another official contradicted him.
As the controversy mounted, the Seoul government might have been tempted to delay the decision. But many of its US-made F-4 and F-5 jets have now been in service for more than 30 years and South Korea cannot afford to wait, defence officials said.
Quelle: defense-aerospace.com
