The Korea Times reported last Wednesday, September 8, that Turkey hasbeen showing interest in joining the development program of the KF-Xfighter, South Korea The program has won investment from Indonesia,according to the newspaper .
Gen. Choi Cha-kyu, director general of bureal aircraft programs of DAPA(Defense Acquisition Program Administration - Program ManagementDefense Acquisition), during a forum held at the South Korean city ofGyeongju. According to Major General to Turkey runs about 180 F-16s andare considering, seriously, participation in the KF-X program toreplace the old with new fighters, around 2020.
Choi Cha-kyu also said that the KF-X program, which began in 2002but postponed for technical and financial problems, should start againnext year, with the consent of authorities involved in the budget.
Industry sources said that Turkey's participation in the project couldresult in a swap deal: Turkey wants South Korea to consider the T-129helicopter, under development for the Turkish Army, as a candidate forthe AH-purchase program X, heavy attack helicopters.
The KF-X program seeks to develop a site similar game to the latestversions of F-16, circa 2022.South Korea will fund 60% of developmentcosts, estimated at 5 trillion won (approximately $ 4.2 billion, or 7.3billion reais). The rest should be financed by foreign nations ordefense companies, sharing the risks.
