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Aussie Digger
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Reports have already emerged that Eurofighter and Lockheed Martin have withdrawn from the competition leaving only Boeing with it's F-15K...
Eurofighter or F-15 for S.Korea?
- Thread starter jaffo4011
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Musashi_kenshin
Well-Known Member
Umm, that's what I said. What's your point?
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Aussie Digger
Guest
Sorry mate, I was directing that comment towards someone else but quoted you...
Here's some confirmation of the issue anyway...
http://www.defense-aerospace.com/cg....1143271985.RCTyMcOa9dUAABjYSCE&modele=jdc_34
Musashi_kenshin
Well-Known Member
Interesting. Could this be a sign they're serious about non-Boeing bids, or are they just trying to make Boeing's offer competitive/put a show on to pretend there's real competition when there is none?
I dont think there is much competition if any. First off it would be both expensive and a headache to introduce the excellent Typhoon into a F-series heavy airforce. They already have a size able F-15k force already with more on the way, so the Typhoon was a no go from the beginning even if the Koreans wanted it to appear differently.
And their F-15k's are already wired into the strike mission with the SLAM-ER, Harpoon-ll, and JDAM. Buying more makes sense from the maintenance ,training, and systems integration front. Adapting a new aircraft from a new maker is a fairly large effort. Far more so then most people think.
Lastly, and most importantly, the Koreans have to balance their aircraft purchases with the threat level they are facing. Perhaps if their Northern cousins were flying the latest Soviet bloc aircraft/weapons, and their pilots were able to log meaningful flight hours, buying the outstanding Eurofighter would make more sense. However the South already has a vast lead in the air to air role and there isn't a great deal of pressure, actually none, to enhance an already large lead in both systems and pilot skill.
The South Koreans have always shown a willingness to buy Yank systems as they rightfully see their alliance with us as the biggest guarantee to their security. Any conflict on the peninsula would also see a significant deployment of the F-22, further decreasing their need for a nimble ATA superiority fighter.
Anyway, that's my take on the situation. As good as the Typhoon is it never had a chance with the Koreans. I'd say it has a far better one with the Japanese as its the best pure ATA choice for a country that cant buy F-22s.
And their F-15k's are already wired into the strike mission with the SLAM-ER, Harpoon-ll, and JDAM. Buying more makes sense from the maintenance ,training, and systems integration front. Adapting a new aircraft from a new maker is a fairly large effort. Far more so then most people think.
Lastly, and most importantly, the Koreans have to balance their aircraft purchases with the threat level they are facing. Perhaps if their Northern cousins were flying the latest Soviet bloc aircraft/weapons, and their pilots were able to log meaningful flight hours, buying the outstanding Eurofighter would make more sense. However the South already has a vast lead in the air to air role and there isn't a great deal of pressure, actually none, to enhance an already large lead in both systems and pilot skill.
The South Koreans have always shown a willingness to buy Yank systems as they rightfully see their alliance with us as the biggest guarantee to their security. Any conflict on the peninsula would also see a significant deployment of the F-22, further decreasing their need for a nimble ATA superiority fighter.
Anyway, that's my take on the situation. As good as the Typhoon is it never had a chance with the Koreans. I'd say it has a far better one with the Japanese as its the best pure ATA choice for a country that cant buy F-22s.
Musashi_kenshin
Well-Known Member
Yup. The South Koreans are primarily worried about the Norks, whereas Japan has a more powerful rival (China) that has much more potential in its airforce. I simply cannot see how the F-15K or F-18E/F could be long-term counters to the PLAAF.
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Aussie Digger
Guest
True as you say, SK already enjoys a significant qualitative air power advantage over their likely foes. The easiest way to increase that gap is to acquire a greater quantity of the capability they already possess.
I'm sure Korea will also like to take advantage of the capability enhancements available since they made their initial order, ie: the AESA radar. Such a retrofit to their earlier aircraft will provide an obvious capability enhancement and an overall fleet of 60 or more such strike fighters, is not something that can be easily disregarded...
Added to their existing 150 strong fleet of capable "late Block" F-16 figthers and their (probable) F-35 acquisition down the track, SK airpower seems assured for quite some time...
Introducing another type at this point seems wasteful in the extreme. As capable as the Typhoon no doubt is, it cannot be the most "cost effective" option in this instance...
Musashi_kenshin
Well-Known Member
Aussie, though they will still play second-fiddle to the JASDF.
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Aussie Digger
Guest
Agreed in simple numerics, though qualitatively they should be pretty even.
You'd have to admit that SK has a significant strike advantage in favour of at present, because of Japan's political limitations on such things...
Musashi_kenshin
Well-Known Member
That's assuming Japan doesn't go for the Typhoon and/or doesn't gain access to the F-22.
Maybe, but then again Japan is still primarily interested in self-defence so it isn't terribly concerned with that.
What a shame, I was looking forward to the discussion...
From http://sg.biz.yahoo.com/070510/16/48f05.html
From http://sg.biz.yahoo.com/070510/16/48f05.html
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Aussie Digger
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It costs millions to bid for military contracts in most Countries. I can easily see that most Defence contractors could see that SK is a closed market to anything besides F-15 and I very much doubt any investor would be happy if they poured money into such a futile exercise just to keep SK's Defence acquisition organisation happy...
It is obvious SK is not going to acquire yet ANOTHER fighter for just 20 aircraft, given the size of it's existing fleet...
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Well, answering your qn directly from the title...i believe the south korean government will take the f-15
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Korea_Air_Force
If you take a look at this link, you'll realize that a vast majority of planes come from America. The eurofighter may be new, and its not been combat proven. So answering your question, i believe the Koreans will take the f-15...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Korea_Air_Force
If you take a look at this link, you'll realize that a vast majority of planes come from America. The eurofighter may be new, and its not been combat proven. So answering your question, i believe the Koreans will take the f-15...
Scorpion82
New Member
Its already decided to purchase additional F-15, as no other company was willed to bit for the competition.Well, answering your qn directly from the title...i believe the south korean government will take the f-15
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Korea_Air_Force
If you take a look at this link, you'll realize that a vast majority of planes come from America. The eurofighter may be new, and its not been combat proven. So answering your question, i believe the Koreans will take the f-15...
contedicavour
New Member
Well about time to modify the thread's title to "Will Japan procure Typhoons ?" since the real key battlefield between European and US defence industries will be Japan, not S. Korea.
Timings and willingness to involve Japanese defence industry offer the Typhoon a real chance.
cheers
Timings and willingness to involve Japanese defence industry offer the Typhoon a real chance.
cheers