By Kang Seung-woo
Korea will purchase four in-flight refueling tankers from 2017, the nation's arms procurement agency said Wednesday.
The decision comes amid the growing importance of improved airborne operations due to China's self-declared controversial Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ).
According to the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA), the military decision-making committee, chaired by Defense Minister Kim Kwan-jin, decided to import four aerial refueling tankers.
It usually takes two to three years before finalizing the delivery of four aircraft.
"We intend to give public notice of a bid in January 2014 and select a final bidder within the same year after going through a comprehensive evaluation," DAPA spokesman Baek Youn-hyeong said in a briefing.
The tender is estimated at over 1 trillion won ($942 million).
Currently, Airbus Military's MRTTA330 and Boeing's KC-767 are seen as potential candidates for the acquisition.
Since 1993, the Air Force has sought to deploy aerial tankers to refuel fighter jets in midair and help expand the operational range of F-15K and KF-16 combat jets, but budget constraints prevented it from acquiring the aircraft.
The decision comes as territorial disputes in Northeast Asia are flaring up, recently sparked by China's newly-claimed airspace.
Last week, China unilaterally announced the creation of its ADIZ over the East China Sea that partly overlaps with Korea's own zone and includes Ieodo, a submerged rock that is Korean territory. China said all aircraft entering the zone must report to Chinese authorities and follow their instructions, or face interception. Ieodo serves as the foundation for a Korean ocean research station.
However, the Ministry of National Defense said its aircraft will fly over Ieodo as usual without informing China, which may cause a military conflict.
However, if Korea scrambles its F-15Ks in the event, it will only be able to carry out operations there for up to about 20 minutes.
Using tankers, their operation time can be extended up to more than an hour.
"In-flight refueling tankers will enable Korea's fighter jets to execute operations over Ieodo or Dokdo for more than one hour," the spokesman said.
"In addition, they are expected to help warplanes boost their capabilities by being loaded with more weapons than fuel."
China has 10 refueling tankers, while the Japan Air Self-Defense Force currently has four KC-767Js and plans to add four more.
Korea will purchase four in-flight refueling tankers from 2017, the nation's arms procurement agency said Wednesday.
The decision comes amid the growing importance of improved airborne operations due to China's self-declared controversial Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ).
According to the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA), the military decision-making committee, chaired by Defense Minister Kim Kwan-jin, decided to import four aerial refueling tankers.
It usually takes two to three years before finalizing the delivery of four aircraft.
"We intend to give public notice of a bid in January 2014 and select a final bidder within the same year after going through a comprehensive evaluation," DAPA spokesman Baek Youn-hyeong said in a briefing.
The tender is estimated at over 1 trillion won ($942 million).
Currently, Airbus Military's MRTTA330 and Boeing's KC-767 are seen as potential candidates for the acquisition.
Since 1993, the Air Force has sought to deploy aerial tankers to refuel fighter jets in midair and help expand the operational range of F-15K and KF-16 combat jets, but budget constraints prevented it from acquiring the aircraft.
The decision comes as territorial disputes in Northeast Asia are flaring up, recently sparked by China's newly-claimed airspace.
Last week, China unilaterally announced the creation of its ADIZ over the East China Sea that partly overlaps with Korea's own zone and includes Ieodo, a submerged rock that is Korean territory. China said all aircraft entering the zone must report to Chinese authorities and follow their instructions, or face interception. Ieodo serves as the foundation for a Korean ocean research station.
However, the Ministry of National Defense said its aircraft will fly over Ieodo as usual without informing China, which may cause a military conflict.
However, if Korea scrambles its F-15Ks in the event, it will only be able to carry out operations there for up to about 20 minutes.
Using tankers, their operation time can be extended up to more than an hour.
"In-flight refueling tankers will enable Korea's fighter jets to execute operations over Ieodo or Dokdo for more than one hour," the spokesman said.
"In addition, they are expected to help warplanes boost their capabilities by being loaded with more weapons than fuel."
China has 10 refueling tankers, while the Japan Air Self-Defense Force currently has four KC-767Js and plans to add four more.
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