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S. Korea picks Lockheed Martin’s F-35 as main fighter jet

: Nov 27, 2013 - : 3:45 pm

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South Korea picked Lockheed Martin’s F-35A stealth fighter as its main combat aircraft to better respond to possible nuclear and missile attacks from the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said Friday, November 22, 2013.

JCS Chairman Choi Yun-hee held a meeting with top commanders of the Army, Navy and Air Force to decide on the number and requirements for jets to be bought under the next-generational fighter jet procurement program.

“The required operational capability (ROC) for next- generational fighter jets was revised to prepare for realized nuclear and missile threats from North Korea (DPRK). The kill chain system requires a jet that can infiltrate secretly into and strike a target,” Col. Eom Hyo-sik, JCS spokesman, told reporters at a briefing.

Eom said fighter jets with cutting-edge stealth functions and avionic warfare capability were needed to deter the DPRK’s future provocations through firm retribution tools.

South Korea planned to sign an agreement in 2014 to buy 40 F-35 Block 3s, which can carry 2 air-to-ground and 2 air-to-air missiles within the body of the plane, before taking the delivery for four years from 2018.

The number of jets to be bought fell to 40 from the initial plan of 60 in order to push for the fighter procurement project rapidly and minimize security vacuum, the JCS said. The remaining 20 jets will be purchased by 2023 after reviewing changes in security situation and aviation technology development.

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