By Jun Ji-hye
Korea has succeeded in localizing only 40 percent of components for airplanes, according to the state-run arms procurement agency, Tuesday.
This analysis indicates that the country is overly dependent on imported aviation components, raising concerns that the nation may have difficulty in producing core components necessary for its KF-X fighter jet development program, which is in jeopardy due to uncertainties over technology transfers from the United States.
The Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) said the localization rate for aviation components was only 39.6 percent, ranking last in the list of 10 other areas, including the components of chemical, biological and radiological (CBR) weapons.
The figure was in stark contrast to a success rate of 94.1 percent for localizing components used in CBR weapons, 86.4 percent for electronic communications devices, 84.1 percent for firepower and 81.3 percent for guided weapons.
DAPA released the data after analyzing projects for domestic development of core components, pushed from 2006 to last year.
The data apparently added skepticism to the government's vow to domestically develop core technologies necessary for the 8.5 trillion won KF-X project, aimed at building indigenous fighter jets by 2025 to replace the Air Force's aging fleet of F-4s and F-5s.
DAPA earlier said the nation is capable of developing four core technologies that the U.S. government banned Lockheed Martin from transferring to Korea in April.
The four core technologies are the active electronically scanned array radar, infrared search and track, electronic optics targeting pod and radio frequency jammer, which are considered critical to the development of high-tech fighter jets.
Last week, the Defense Agency for Technology and Quality (DTaQ) reached similar results in its defense technology investigation paper released following its analysis of the level of technology of 16 countries.
The paper stated that the U.S. ranked first on the list of countries in its comprehensive evaluation, while Korea was tied for ninth place with Italy. France was in second place and Russia third, followed by Germany, the United Kingdom and Japan.
In a specific evaluation of level of technology, Korea appeared to be strong in the fields of tanks, armored cars and warships, while it showed a weakness in aerospace.
Especially, Seoul slipped to 12th place in the level of technology related to the radar system that is necessary to the KF-X program.
Seoul and Washington are currently conducting negotiations on another 21 technologies related to Lockheed Martin's F-35, with speculation abounding that the U.S. government could once again reject the transfer of some of these.
Some politicians and critics say if the U.S. refuses any more technology transfers, the feasibility of the KF-X project cannot be guaranteed.
The transfer of a total of 25 technologies was included in an offset deal with Lockheed Martin in return for Korea's purchase of 40 F-35s, signed in September last year.
But Washington refused to issue an export license regarding the four core technologies in April, citing security reasons.
Follow Jun Ji-hye on Twitter @TheKopJihye
Korea has succeeded in localizing only 40 percent of components for airplanes, according to the state-run arms procurement agency, Tuesday.
This analysis indicates that the country is overly dependent on imported aviation components, raising concerns that the nation may have difficulty in producing core components necessary for its KF-X fighter jet development program, which is in jeopardy due to uncertainties over technology transfers from the United States.
The Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) said the localization rate for aviation components was only 39.6 percent, ranking last in the list of 10 other areas, including the components of chemical, biological and radiological (CBR) weapons.
The figure was in stark contrast to a success rate of 94.1 percent for localizing components used in CBR weapons, 86.4 percent for electronic communications devices, 84.1 percent for firepower and 81.3 percent for guided weapons.
DAPA released the data after analyzing projects for domestic development of core components, pushed from 2006 to last year.
The data apparently added skepticism to the government's vow to domestically develop core technologies necessary for the 8.5 trillion won KF-X project, aimed at building indigenous fighter jets by 2025 to replace the Air Force's aging fleet of F-4s and F-5s.
DAPA earlier said the nation is capable of developing four core technologies that the U.S. government banned Lockheed Martin from transferring to Korea in April.
The four core technologies are the active electronically scanned array radar, infrared search and track, electronic optics targeting pod and radio frequency jammer, which are considered critical to the development of high-tech fighter jets.
Last week, the Defense Agency for Technology and Quality (DTaQ) reached similar results in its defense technology investigation paper released following its analysis of the level of technology of 16 countries.
The paper stated that the U.S. ranked first on the list of countries in its comprehensive evaluation, while Korea was tied for ninth place with Italy. France was in second place and Russia third, followed by Germany, the United Kingdom and Japan.
In a specific evaluation of level of technology, Korea appeared to be strong in the fields of tanks, armored cars and warships, while it showed a weakness in aerospace.
Especially, Seoul slipped to 12th place in the level of technology related to the radar system that is necessary to the KF-X program.
Seoul and Washington are currently conducting negotiations on another 21 technologies related to Lockheed Martin's F-35, with speculation abounding that the U.S. government could once again reject the transfer of some of these.
Some politicians and critics say if the U.S. refuses any more technology transfers, the feasibility of the KF-X project cannot be guaranteed.
The transfer of a total of 25 technologies was included in an offset deal with Lockheed Martin in return for Korea's purchase of 40 F-35s, signed in September last year.
But Washington refused to issue an export license regarding the four core technologies in April, citing security reasons.
Follow Jun Ji-hye on Twitter @TheKopJihye
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