By Jun Ji-hye
Korea has added diplomats to a team for talks with Lockheed Martin on transferring technology related to the F-35 stealth fighter, officials said Wednesday.
Several Ministry of Foreign Affairs director-level officials accompanied the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) team to Washington to consult with Lockheed about the transfer of 21 technologies.
The move aims to strengthen the negotiation team's bargaining power. The weapons procurement agency initially said the U.S. company had agreed to transfer these technologies to be used in developing Korea's indigenous fighter jets by 2025.
But speculation is now abounding that the U.S. government is negative about transferring some of the technologies to Korea due to security reasons.
The first talks were held in Seoul from Nov.18 to 20.
"We will hold more talks in Washington after the first round of negotiations," said a DAPA official on condition of anonymity. "It is hard to elaborate on details of the negotiations because it is a government-to-government matter.
"One thing we can say is that we will do the best to produce the best outcome."
The inclusion of foreign ministry officials mirrors the government's desperation to receive the high-tech fighter jet related technologies from Washington to bring in the KF-X project on time.
The inclusion of foreign ministry officials ostensibly came at the request of the Ministry of National Defense, but defense observers say it apparently reflected the wishes of President Park Geun-hye, who expressed her support for the 8.5 trillion won program on Oct. 27, calling it the nation's most important project.
Observers expect the officials to contact U.S. State Department officials separately as part of efforts to persuade the U.S. to issue an export license for the 21 technologies, while DAPA officials discuss technical issues with Lockheed.
The State Department is responsible for approving the U.S. defense giant's promised transfer of key technologies.
If Korea fails to receive these, the feasibility of the KF-X project cannot be guaranteed, analysts say.
For its part, the U.S. State Department said Tuesday that it would provide maximum support for Korea's indigenous fighter jet development project, dismissing speculation that the department was negative about approving the transfer of some technologies.
"The United States continues to support the Republic of Korea's defense programs and priorities through the transfer of many of our most sensitive defense technologies," said State Department spokeswoman Katina Adams.
"We seek to support the KF-X indigenous fighter program to the maximum extent possible.
"The U.S. government is in discussions with Lockheed Martin to address ROK areas of concern. We will continue to work closely with Lockheed Martin throughout this process to ensure continued support to the KF-X program."
The transfer of 25 technologies, including four core ones, was included in an offset deal in return for Korea's purchase of 40 F-35s, which was signed in September last year.
The KF-X project first faced turbulence in April after the U.S. government refused to allow Lockheed to transfer four core technologies, including the active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar, to Korea for security reasons.
At the time, the DAPA said the nation was capable of domestically developing the four and was certain to receive another 21 technologies from the U.S.
But the fresh concern recently emerged that Washington might again ban the export of some of the 21 technologies after it was known that Lockheed officials, during the first round of negotiations last month, told the procurement agency to subdivide a list of 21 technologies that Korea wanted, because hundreds of technical details were related to these.
Follow Jun Ji-hye on Twitter @TheKopJihye
Korea has added diplomats to a team for talks with Lockheed Martin on transferring technology related to the F-35 stealth fighter, officials said Wednesday.
Several Ministry of Foreign Affairs director-level officials accompanied the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) team to Washington to consult with Lockheed about the transfer of 21 technologies.
The move aims to strengthen the negotiation team's bargaining power. The weapons procurement agency initially said the U.S. company had agreed to transfer these technologies to be used in developing Korea's indigenous fighter jets by 2025.
But speculation is now abounding that the U.S. government is negative about transferring some of the technologies to Korea due to security reasons.
The first talks were held in Seoul from Nov.18 to 20.
"We will hold more talks in Washington after the first round of negotiations," said a DAPA official on condition of anonymity. "It is hard to elaborate on details of the negotiations because it is a government-to-government matter.
"One thing we can say is that we will do the best to produce the best outcome."
The inclusion of foreign ministry officials mirrors the government's desperation to receive the high-tech fighter jet related technologies from Washington to bring in the KF-X project on time.
The inclusion of foreign ministry officials ostensibly came at the request of the Ministry of National Defense, but defense observers say it apparently reflected the wishes of President Park Geun-hye, who expressed her support for the 8.5 trillion won program on Oct. 27, calling it the nation's most important project.
Observers expect the officials to contact U.S. State Department officials separately as part of efforts to persuade the U.S. to issue an export license for the 21 technologies, while DAPA officials discuss technical issues with Lockheed.
The State Department is responsible for approving the U.S. defense giant's promised transfer of key technologies.
If Korea fails to receive these, the feasibility of the KF-X project cannot be guaranteed, analysts say.
For its part, the U.S. State Department said Tuesday that it would provide maximum support for Korea's indigenous fighter jet development project, dismissing speculation that the department was negative about approving the transfer of some technologies.
"The United States continues to support the Republic of Korea's defense programs and priorities through the transfer of many of our most sensitive defense technologies," said State Department spokeswoman Katina Adams.
"We seek to support the KF-X indigenous fighter program to the maximum extent possible.
"The U.S. government is in discussions with Lockheed Martin to address ROK areas of concern. We will continue to work closely with Lockheed Martin throughout this process to ensure continued support to the KF-X program."
The transfer of 25 technologies, including four core ones, was included in an offset deal in return for Korea's purchase of 40 F-35s, which was signed in September last year.
The KF-X project first faced turbulence in April after the U.S. government refused to allow Lockheed to transfer four core technologies, including the active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar, to Korea for security reasons.
At the time, the DAPA said the nation was capable of domestically developing the four and was certain to receive another 21 technologies from the U.S.
But the fresh concern recently emerged that Washington might again ban the export of some of the 21 technologies after it was known that Lockheed officials, during the first round of negotiations last month, told the procurement agency to subdivide a list of 21 technologies that Korea wanted, because hundreds of technical details were related to these.
Follow Jun Ji-hye on Twitter @TheKopJihye
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