KF-X project will cost more than estimated
Gov’t to set up task force soonBy Jun Ji-hyeThe government will likely have to spend more money than originally estimated on developing indigenous fighter jets by 2025 because developing core technologies jointly with foreign firms will incur additional costs, sources said Wednesday.According to the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA), the government plans to spend 8.5 trillion won on the KF-X project, and an additional 10 trillion won to produce 120 jets.However, the U.S. government refused to allow Lockheed Martin to transfer four core technologies related to its F-35 stealth fighters to Korea, which are crucial for the military here to develop its own jets.Accordingly, the agency is seeking to domestically develop these technologies, or sign partnership contracts with other foreign companies for the development.This will cause additional costs that may amount to tens of millions of dollars, the sources said.As President Park Geun-hye gave her support to the project ― about which questions of feasibility have been raised ― saying that it was the
