ID :
27723
Fri, 10/31/2008 - 13:30
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/27723
The shortlink copeid
Seoul approves 2 trillion won for acquisition of new ships, aircraft
SEOUL, Oct. 31 (Yonhap) -- South Korea on Friday approved three new projects that will require over 2 trillion won (US$1.57 billion) to purchase or build new ships and aircraft, the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) said.
The endorsement came at a meeting of the Defense Acquisition Project Execution
Committee, chaired by Defense Minister Lee Sang-hee.
Under a 640-billion-won project, Seoul will purchase a multiple number of large
transport aircraft from a foreign manufacturer by 2015. It was initially
approved in August, but Seoul on Friday decided to purchase the aircraft through
a direct commercial sale (DCS), as opposed to a foreign military sale (FMS) in
which both the seller and the buyer are governments.
"We decided to purchase the transport aircraft through a DCS rather than FMS as
we believe competition among hopeful foreign manufacturers could help lower the
price," a DAPA official told reporters.
The official said several aircraft have been identified for potential purchases,
including Ukraine's AN-70, C-130J of Lockheed Martin and A-400M by European
manufacturer EADS.
C-17, the world's largest transport aircraft by U.S. manufacturer Boeing, was
earlier believed a possible candidate, but did not make the shortlist due to its
high price, the official said.
The defense acquisition committee also awarded a 900-billion-won project to build
new navy landing ships to the country's Hanjin Heavy Industries & Construction
Co., according to officials. Seoul plans to build four 4,500-ton LSD (dock
landing ships) by 2017 under the project.
The country also decided to purchase an unidentified number of mine-sweeping
helicopters for the Navy under a four-year project that will begin next year, the
DAPA said.
"We believe North Korea would attempt to place a large number of mines around our
key ports in any future war," a Navy official told reporters about the objective
of the 480-billion-won plan to purchase mine-sweeping helicopters, which he said
are not in immediate demand for use.
bdk@yna.co.kr
(END)
The endorsement came at a meeting of the Defense Acquisition Project Execution
Committee, chaired by Defense Minister Lee Sang-hee.
Under a 640-billion-won project, Seoul will purchase a multiple number of large
transport aircraft from a foreign manufacturer by 2015. It was initially
approved in August, but Seoul on Friday decided to purchase the aircraft through
a direct commercial sale (DCS), as opposed to a foreign military sale (FMS) in
which both the seller and the buyer are governments.
"We decided to purchase the transport aircraft through a DCS rather than FMS as
we believe competition among hopeful foreign manufacturers could help lower the
price," a DAPA official told reporters.
The official said several aircraft have been identified for potential purchases,
including Ukraine's AN-70, C-130J of Lockheed Martin and A-400M by European
manufacturer EADS.
C-17, the world's largest transport aircraft by U.S. manufacturer Boeing, was
earlier believed a possible candidate, but did not make the shortlist due to its
high price, the official said.
The defense acquisition committee also awarded a 900-billion-won project to build
new navy landing ships to the country's Hanjin Heavy Industries & Construction
Co., according to officials. Seoul plans to build four 4,500-ton LSD (dock
landing ships) by 2017 under the project.
The country also decided to purchase an unidentified number of mine-sweeping
helicopters for the Navy under a four-year project that will begin next year, the
DAPA said.
"We believe North Korea would attempt to place a large number of mines around our
key ports in any future war," a Navy official told reporters about the objective
of the 480-billion-won plan to purchase mine-sweeping helicopters, which he said
are not in immediate demand for use.
bdk@yna.co.kr
(END)
