U.S. Congressman optimistic about F-15 sales to Korea
Written: 2002-01-25 00:00:00 / Updated: 0000-00-00 00:00:00
A U.S. Congressman says prospects are looking good for Boeing to sell F-15 fighter jets to South Korea. Missouri Representative, Roy Blunt, made the remarks Thursday in Washington. During his trip to Seoul with House Speaker Dennis Hastert last week, Blunt met with President Kim Dae-jung to press for a purchase of the fighter jets. Blunt said the president seemed `very positively disposed toward' the Boeing fighter. Yet days after the meeting, the Defense Ministry said it is reconsidering the purchase ENTIRELY because bids from all four contenders are too expensive. Also competing for the project are Russia's Sukhoi Su-35, French Dassault's Rafale and the European consortium Eurofighter's Typhoon. Selection of a successful bidder was originally expected last July. Now it has been postponed until March. Blunt said the postponements appears aimed at getting a good price and swift production schedule. South Korea had hoped to buy 40 new fighter jets by Two-thousand-eight at an estimated cost of four billion dollars.
Editor's Pick