ID :
174790
Tue, 04/12/2011 - 09:51
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/174790
The shortlink copeid
Indonesia picks S. Korea as 'preferred bidder' for trainer jet project
(ATTN: UPDATES with details, background)
SEOUL, April 12 (Yonhap) -- Indonesia has selected South Korea's state-run aircraft maker as a de facto preferred bidder for its trainer jet project, a government official said Tuesday, paving the way for Seoul to export T-50 trainer jets to the Southeast Asian nation.
Indonesia informed Seoul on Tuesday afternoon that its defense ministry will give Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI), South Korea's sole aircraft maker, treatment equivalent to that of a preferred bidder, the official told Yonhap News Agency.
"We agreed in principle to conclude a memorandum of understanding within nine months," he said.
A final deal, if sealed, would mark South Korea's first export of the T-50 "Golden Eagle."
The KAI's designation as a preferred bidder means that it will have exclusive negotiating rights for the Indonesian project for a certain period of time, boosting the chances of the firm winning the final contract.
"After the preferred bidder designation, we will be holding full-scale negotiations with the Indonesian government on specifics, such as prices for the T-50," the official said.
South Korea first unveiled the T-50 in 2005 after the KAI developed the supersonic jet jointly with U.S. defense giant Lockheed Martin, making the country the world's 12th supersonic jet producer.
Seoul has tried to export the jet to Indonesia as Jakarta plans to replace its aging Hawk Mk-53 trainer jets that are scheduled to be decommissioned this year.
South Korea reportedly plans to export 16 T-50 jets worth a total of about US$400 million.
Indonesian media had reported earlier that the country's air force will purchase 16 T-50 jets.
Last month, Indonesian Air Force Commander Marshall Imam Syafaat made a three-day trip to South Korea that included a tour of plants that build the T-50 trainer jets.
jschang@yna.co.kr
SEOUL, April 12 (Yonhap) -- Indonesia has selected South Korea's state-run aircraft maker as a de facto preferred bidder for its trainer jet project, a government official said Tuesday, paving the way for Seoul to export T-50 trainer jets to the Southeast Asian nation.
Indonesia informed Seoul on Tuesday afternoon that its defense ministry will give Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI), South Korea's sole aircraft maker, treatment equivalent to that of a preferred bidder, the official told Yonhap News Agency.
"We agreed in principle to conclude a memorandum of understanding within nine months," he said.
A final deal, if sealed, would mark South Korea's first export of the T-50 "Golden Eagle."
The KAI's designation as a preferred bidder means that it will have exclusive negotiating rights for the Indonesian project for a certain period of time, boosting the chances of the firm winning the final contract.
"After the preferred bidder designation, we will be holding full-scale negotiations with the Indonesian government on specifics, such as prices for the T-50," the official said.
South Korea first unveiled the T-50 in 2005 after the KAI developed the supersonic jet jointly with U.S. defense giant Lockheed Martin, making the country the world's 12th supersonic jet producer.
Seoul has tried to export the jet to Indonesia as Jakarta plans to replace its aging Hawk Mk-53 trainer jets that are scheduled to be decommissioned this year.
South Korea reportedly plans to export 16 T-50 jets worth a total of about US$400 million.
Indonesian media had reported earlier that the country's air force will purchase 16 T-50 jets.
Last month, Indonesian Air Force Commander Marshall Imam Syafaat made a three-day trip to South Korea that included a tour of plants that build the T-50 trainer jets.
jschang@yna.co.kr
