A source told Reuters that Boeing Co's lone bid for the KRW8.3 trillion or USD7.64 billion fighter jet tender of South Korea would be picked has been reviewed for assessment. Moreover, the outcome of Boeing's bid offer has been briefed to South Korean President Park Geun-hye by her top decision makers on a meeting Friday. The meeting also had the attendance of the country's defense minister, air force chief of staff and the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) head, the source added.
The source, who was also briefed on the meeting, refused to be identified as discussions during the meeting were sensitive and private. When Reuters asked a spokesman for DAPA about the meeting, the spokesman confirmed but refused to comment any further.
Should Boeing be picked as the sole winner for the fighter jet deal tender, the F-15 Silent Eagle jets would be partially replacing South Korea's F-4 and F-5 jets. As the only company whose bid came under the state's budget, would go through a committee chaired by the defense minister for a final decision expected to be held next week, said the DAPA spokesman.
Although 15 South Korean former air force chiefs opposed to the selection of Boeing as the latter deemed that the jets lack stealth capabilities, Senior research fellow Yang Uk at the Korea Defence and Security Forum said that Park would most likely approve Boeing. He said, "With this year's tax revenue expected to be several trillion won short of target, the government is likely to stick with the current tender instead of possibly increasing the budget down the line."
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