FlyingFrog
Active member
Jesus, that is money talking, so much money only for helicopters!!
Two European consortiums and Bell from the United States were picked by the Defense Ministry on Friday (July 9) as the three final contenders for Korea's 10 trillion won ($8.6 billion) "miracle" helicopter project, which would give this country a fleet of next generation craft and generate lucrative exports.
The three are AugustaWestland consortium from Britain and Italy, the Franco-German Eurocopter and Bell.
Boeing and Sikorsky, both from the United States, were cut from the field as the heated global competition for the Korea Multirole Helicopter project, the country's single largest arms procurement undertaking, entered its closing stages.
The ministry refused to disclose any specific data of its review, or why Boeing, which has rarely failed to win military bids in Korea, was excluded.
The objective of the multi-billion dollar project is to replace the country's aging choppers with 477 new aircraft by 2012. Another several hundred helicopters will be built simultaneously for export purposes. Korea wants the foreigner manufacturer to design an aircraft that combines the concepts of cargo delivery and attack.
Though this design may be economical, some experts say it is not practical for a real combat situation and they point to previous failures.
The ministry exploratory team's next move is to learn if the three bidders can meet Korea's procurement standards and help Korea develop 34 core components.
The selection process is to end late next month and by mid-September the ministry will chose a winner.
"We will take into consideration the bidder's development plan and its credit in deciding a final winner, but the bottom line is we want a bidder who could provide stable research and development," said Park Sung-kuk, a head of the KMH project in the ministry at a news conference.
Park was referring to the government expectation that a partnership with any one of these companies can help Korea develop its own brand.
Another ministry official added that they will choose whoever suggests the best and lowest bid.
The ministry aims to set the price of a helicopter for utility operations under 15 billion won and the model for attack 20 billion won.
The Korea Aerospace Research Institute, a pool of major aircraft developers, has been contracted to work on the project with foreign bidders on 18 key components such as engines and computer-guided operations.
The Agency for Defense Development has been reviewing proposals from domestic bidders who are to develop 16 core techniques on computerized cargo and data recording systems.
Source: Korea Information Service; issued July 9, 2004
Two European consortiums and Bell from the United States were picked by the Defense Ministry on Friday (July 9) as the three final contenders for Korea's 10 trillion won ($8.6 billion) "miracle" helicopter project, which would give this country a fleet of next generation craft and generate lucrative exports.
The three are AugustaWestland consortium from Britain and Italy, the Franco-German Eurocopter and Bell.
Boeing and Sikorsky, both from the United States, were cut from the field as the heated global competition for the Korea Multirole Helicopter project, the country's single largest arms procurement undertaking, entered its closing stages.
The ministry refused to disclose any specific data of its review, or why Boeing, which has rarely failed to win military bids in Korea, was excluded.
The objective of the multi-billion dollar project is to replace the country's aging choppers with 477 new aircraft by 2012. Another several hundred helicopters will be built simultaneously for export purposes. Korea wants the foreigner manufacturer to design an aircraft that combines the concepts of cargo delivery and attack.
Though this design may be economical, some experts say it is not practical for a real combat situation and they point to previous failures.
The ministry exploratory team's next move is to learn if the three bidders can meet Korea's procurement standards and help Korea develop 34 core components.
The selection process is to end late next month and by mid-September the ministry will chose a winner.
"We will take into consideration the bidder's development plan and its credit in deciding a final winner, but the bottom line is we want a bidder who could provide stable research and development," said Park Sung-kuk, a head of the KMH project in the ministry at a news conference.
Park was referring to the government expectation that a partnership with any one of these companies can help Korea develop its own brand.
Another ministry official added that they will choose whoever suggests the best and lowest bid.
The ministry aims to set the price of a helicopter for utility operations under 15 billion won and the model for attack 20 billion won.
The Korea Aerospace Research Institute, a pool of major aircraft developers, has been contracted to work on the project with foreign bidders on 18 key components such as engines and computer-guided operations.
The Agency for Defense Development has been reviewing proposals from domestic bidders who are to develop 16 core techniques on computerized cargo and data recording systems.
Source: Korea Information Service; issued July 9, 2004
