CHRISTCHURCH, Recent Zealand — Several international vendors are intent on helping South Korea bolster its airborne early warning and control capability, because the country’s Air Force plans to spend at most $2.26 billion on 4 aircraft.
After the Defense Acquisition Program Administration issued a request for proposals in November, firms had until Feb. 22 to submit their bids.
South Korea is taking up more self-defense responsibilities from the U.S., and the brand new quartet of AEW&C aircraft will complement 4 Boeing E-737 planes delivered across the 2011-2012 time-frame. The Defense Acquisition Program Administration said the brand new platforms would enhance the South’s “ability to observe North Korean missiles and defend its airspace.”
Boeing is competing with a 737-based platform again, its E-7 having the advantage of aerial refueling to present on-station times stretching to twenty hours.
“Regarding the potential, the unequalled E-7 multirole electronically scanned array radar sensing and tracking provides essentially the most powerful multidomain surveillance, communications and networked battle-management capabilities of any aircraft,” a Boeing spokesperson told Defense News.
The American company, which is the fifth-largest defense contractor on this planet, said the E-7 “is production-ready and offers lower operating and sustainment costs, higher mission readiness rates, and unmatched interoperability.”
Boeing executives at South Korea’s Seoul ADEX defense expo last 12 months claimed a 96% availability rate for the E-7. In addition they highlighted commonality with existing Korean E-737s. “Along with crew training efficiencies, the E-7 offers life-cycle cost savings inherent with fleet continuity and a worldwide, common logistics model.”
Saab’s GlobalEye can also be competing, with the Swedish company proposing a Bombardier Global 6500 airframe.
Saab believes its design, which mounts an Erieye extended-range radar atop the fuselage, is good for South Korea’s Air Force. In addition to a hot production line, Saab touted its willingness to transfer technology to boost Korea’s strategic independence. It also highlighted rapid delivery and affordability.
Saab is the thirty third biggest defense contractor worldwide.
The opposite contender is American firm L3Harris Technologies in tandem with Korean Air and Israel Aerospace Industries. Its Phoenix solution also uses a Global 6500 and integrates Elta Systems-made conformal radars and artificial intelligence algorithms. L3Harris claimed its design could have low sustainment costs and a minimum of a 95% operational availability rate.
L3Harris is the ninth-largest defense company on this planet, while IAI lands at 29. The previous noted that an initial two aircraft would undergo modifications in Texas before receiving radar integration in Israel. Korean Air would lead work on the 2 remaining aircraft in-country, in addition to perform sustainment.
“Through L3Harris’ agreements with Korean Air, LIG Nex1 and Ace Antenna, and ongoing discussions with additional Korean partners, the team intends that the aircraft and mission system equipment can be fully supported in Korea,” a spokesperson for the group told Defense News. “This … paves the way in which for independent domestic research and development, and fostering excellence in aircraft system integration, upgrades and modifications, which can contribute significantly to the advancement of South Korea’s research and development program.”
The Defense Acquisition Program Administration declined to supply Defense News with further details. The agency is now proceeding with evaluations.
Peace Eye
The ROKAF currently has 4 E-737 Peace Eye aircraft in service, with Boeing offering newer E-7s to South Korea for the AEW-II program. (Gordon Arthur)
GlobalEye
After already achieving Swedish and UAE customers, Saab believes its GlobalEye is a reasonable solution and is offering Seoul significant technology transfer. (Saab)
Phoenix
L3Harris as prime integrator has teamed up with Elta Systems and Korean Air to supply the Phoenix based on the Bombardier Global 6500 business jet. (L3Harris)
Gordon Arthur is an Asia correspondent for Defense News. After a 20-year stint working in Hong Kong, he now resides in Recent Zealand. He has attended military exercises and defense exhibitions in about 20 countries across the Asia-Pacific region.