By Jun Ji-hye
A transfer of 21 technologies used in the F-35 stealth fighter from the U.S. government to Korea will likely be put off until next year, dealing a further blow to the 8.5 trillion won KF-X project, officials said Tuesday.
The delay is also raising fresh concern that Washington might once again refuse to approve the export of some of the technologies requested by Seoul for the project to build fighter aircraft by 2025 to replace the Air Force's aging fleet of F-4s and F-5s.
The Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) had said that the U.S. government would approve the transfer of the 21 technologies this month.
But, according to officials, Tuesday, negotiations are making little progress.
When visiting DAPA last week, Lockheed Martin officials told the procurement agency to concretely subdivide a list of 21 technologies that Korea wants to receive, as hundreds of technical details are related to such technologies.
It is expected to take quite a while to specify these details and identify what is really necessary for the KF-X project.
A government official told reporters on condition of anonymity, "In the case of some technologies, it might take more than 90 days to decide whether or not their export is possible."
Observers say that the U.S. government is also likely to refuse to issue an export license for some of the technologies that Korea wants.
A vernacular daily reported Tuesday that Lockheed officials, during their visit last week, already notified DAPA of the U.S.'s refusal to approve the export of three technologies including twin-engine integration technology and semi-stealth technology.
A DAPA official on condition of anonymity acknowledged that negotiations have been delayed regarding three to four technologies, but denied that the refusal of their transfer had been determined.
In April, the U.S. already refused to allow Lockheed Martin, manufacturer of the stealth fighter, to hand over four core technologies, including the active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar, to Korea for security reasons.
Amid growing concerns over the feasibility of the project at the time, DAPA Minister Chang Myoung-jin told reporters that Washington vowed to approve the export of the remaining 21 technologies.
The transfer of a total of 25 technologies, including the four core ones, was included in the offset deal in return for Korea's purchase of 40 F-35s, which was signed in September last year. Korea was planning to utilize those technologies in the KF-X project.
However, the agency recently showed a subtle change from its position that the transfer of the 21 technologies, including air-to-air refueling design technology, was a done deal.
Spokesman Col. Kim Si-cheol said last week that it is a contractual obligation for Lockheed Martin to transfer technologies worth $1.41 billion.
"Although the company is changing the technologies to be handed over to Korea from the original list, they should be valued at the agreed upon amount," he said.
Some observers construed the remark as an indication that the list of technologies to be transferred could be changed after the U.S. government inspection.
Follow Jun Ji-hye on Twitter @TheKopJihye
A transfer of 21 technologies used in the F-35 stealth fighter from the U.S. government to Korea will likely be put off until next year, dealing a further blow to the 8.5 trillion won KF-X project, officials said Tuesday.
The delay is also raising fresh concern that Washington might once again refuse to approve the export of some of the technologies requested by Seoul for the project to build fighter aircraft by 2025 to replace the Air Force's aging fleet of F-4s and F-5s.
The Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) had said that the U.S. government would approve the transfer of the 21 technologies this month.
But, according to officials, Tuesday, negotiations are making little progress.
When visiting DAPA last week, Lockheed Martin officials told the procurement agency to concretely subdivide a list of 21 technologies that Korea wants to receive, as hundreds of technical details are related to such technologies.
It is expected to take quite a while to specify these details and identify what is really necessary for the KF-X project.
A government official told reporters on condition of anonymity, "In the case of some technologies, it might take more than 90 days to decide whether or not their export is possible."
Observers say that the U.S. government is also likely to refuse to issue an export license for some of the technologies that Korea wants.
A vernacular daily reported Tuesday that Lockheed officials, during their visit last week, already notified DAPA of the U.S.'s refusal to approve the export of three technologies including twin-engine integration technology and semi-stealth technology.
A DAPA official on condition of anonymity acknowledged that negotiations have been delayed regarding three to four technologies, but denied that the refusal of their transfer had been determined.
In April, the U.S. already refused to allow Lockheed Martin, manufacturer of the stealth fighter, to hand over four core technologies, including the active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar, to Korea for security reasons.
Amid growing concerns over the feasibility of the project at the time, DAPA Minister Chang Myoung-jin told reporters that Washington vowed to approve the export of the remaining 21 technologies.
The transfer of a total of 25 technologies, including the four core ones, was included in the offset deal in return for Korea's purchase of 40 F-35s, which was signed in September last year. Korea was planning to utilize those technologies in the KF-X project.
However, the agency recently showed a subtle change from its position that the transfer of the 21 technologies, including air-to-air refueling design technology, was a done deal.
Spokesman Col. Kim Si-cheol said last week that it is a contractual obligation for Lockheed Martin to transfer technologies worth $1.41 billion.
"Although the company is changing the technologies to be handed over to Korea from the original list, they should be valued at the agreed upon amount," he said.
Some observers construed the remark as an indication that the list of technologies to be transferred could be changed after the U.S. government inspection.
Follow Jun Ji-hye on Twitter @TheKopJihye
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