A source told Reuters that aircraft maker Boeing was the most likely winner for the fighter jet tender of the South Korean government. Only Boeing's F-15 Silent Eagle (F15SE) was within the budget for the tender worth KRW 8.3 trillion or USD 7.7 billion. Other bids from Lockheed Martin Corp and Typhoon, a Eurofighter consortium, went above the budget. South Korean Law stipulates that only bids that fall within the budget would be considered.
The source who has direct knowledge of the matter but spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issue, however, said the government could still postpone naming a winner. The person said the possibility of a re-tender was also possible because of concerns that Boeing may not have the stealth capabilities of modern jet fighters.
The source added, "It looks like a 50/50 chance (for Boeing)... There is strong opposition (for the F-15SE) from the military establishment, experts and conservatives."
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