Successive Delays of Large-sized Military Weapon Introduction Projects

Major military weapon introduction projects seem to be postponed successively as the determination of the model for ROK`s Air Force next-generation fighter aircraft (FX) has been delayed till next year and then the large attack helicopter (AHX) introduction project and the airborne warning and control system aircraft (EX) introduction project have been postponed.

According to the source from the military on Nov. 1, AHX project, which was expected to determine the model by last month, is proceeding with difficulty in negotiations, becoming impossible to determine the model this year.

The gist of the AHX project is to introduce 36 large attack helicopters at a total cost of 2.1 trillion won from this year through 2008. U.S. Boeing`s AH-64D Longbow, U.S. Bell`s AH-1Z Viper, and Russian Kamof`s KA-52 are competing keenly with one another.

As to the EX project estimated at 1.8 trillion won, it is being seriously considered to postpone its beginning, which was originally planned for next year, till 2007 due to difficulty in securing the budget, and now the dissolution of its project team is considered.

Besides, it is highly possible to reconsider the operation scale of the next guided weapon (SAM-X) introduction project (operation cost 2.4 trillion won), which is expected to determine the model by the end of the year, following the postponement of the FX project.

esprit@donga.com