Posted on 03/31/2014 9:24:08 PM PDT by sukhoi-30mki
(Reuters) - South Korea on Monday kicked off the process to buy four in-flight refuelling tanker aircraft, in a deal seen to be worth around 1.4 trillion won ($1.31 billion), with planemakers Boeing and Airbus expected to compete, sources said.
The purchase is part of South Korea's attempts to bolster its air defence in the face of rising tension in Northeast Asia over the maritime interests of neighbours such as Japan and China, as well as against an unpredictable North Korea.
The purchase will be made through a competitive bid process and bids will be accepted by June 30, arms purchase agency the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) said in a statement.
Boeing Co is expected to bid with a model that is based on a Boeing 767-level aircraft such as the KC-46 Pegasus, while Airbus Group NV is expected to enter its A330 multi-role tanker transport, two industry sources told Reuters.
Other firms could also decide to compete with commercial aircraft overhauled as tankers, the sources said.
(Excerpt) Read more at reuters.com ...
Irony.
Meanwhile North Korea builds an empty shopping mall with slave labor.
Dear Leader looks at non-functional but shiny escalator.
According to risk and performance I expect Airbus to win. According to prize I expect IAI to win. According to politics I expect Boeing to win.
Maybe there will be an empty Supercuts in there that does only one equally empty style.
how is a tanker ‘multi role’? can it also spray weeds?
Why would they need tankers? Other than they don’t trust the US.
Neither would I.
Lets the planes stay aloft longer is my guess. They dont have to cycle as many aircraft to maintain air cover.
Tanker, Cargo carrier, Passenger carrier.
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