[Editorial] Not much choice

One of the greatest security concerns for South Korea is how to respond to signs showing an impending nuclear attack from North Korea, which is arming itself with nuclear weapons as well as missiles. In such a circumstance, South Korea will have no other choice than to launch a clandestine preemptive air attack against the nuclear weapons locations in the North.

Against this dire backdrop, South Korea had to select a defense contractor capable of providing 60 top-of-the-line, radar-evading aircraft as its next-generation fighters. But the choice was severely restricted by a budgetary constraint. South Korea had set aside 8.3 trillion won for the fighter acquisition program.

Boeing with its F-15 Silent Eagle fighter was the only defense contractor whose offer was within the budget range. It came near to being selected as the successful bidder in September. But the selection process was put on hold when Boeing’s technology was called into question.

Among the critics were 15 former Air Force chiefs of staff. In a letter addressed to President Park Geun-hye, the retired Air Force generals voiced their objection, claiming that F-15SEs, based on a model developed in the 1970s, would not provide full coverage of stealth and other capabilities demanded of the next-generation fighters.

Their argument prevailed when South Korea made a compromise between the technology demands and the budget constraint last week. It decided to purchase 40 F-35As, not 60, from Lockheed Martin, which is seen to provide the best wartime operational capabilities that are required to counter North Korea’s nuclear and missile threats. The first delivery is scheduled for 2018.

The compromise came with one big disadvantage: The purchase is set to be made, not directly with Lockheed Martin, but on a no-bid contract and through a U.S. government agency. The reason is that the F-35As will be sold on the U.S. government’s Foreign Military Sales program. As such, concerns are mounting that there will be less room for price and technology negotiations.

What about the remaining 20 fighters? South Korea decided to purchase a second batch, starting in 2023, after taking into consideration the changes to be made to its security environment and improvements to be made to stealth and other technologies.

Given that the additional aircraft will not necessarily have to be F-35As, South Korea would do well to seriously consider the European Aeronautic Defense and Space Co. as a potential contractor. It should be given an opportunity to engage in fair competition for the additional 20 aircraft should it meet South Korea’s price, technology and technology transfer requirements in the future.