Seoul threatens to disqualify F-35

[Esc8781]

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Seoul threatens to disqualify F-35

A top procurement official issued an ultimatum to U.S. defense giant Lockheed Martin Thursday over its refusal to allow Korean pilots to conduct test flights of its F-35 fighter jet.

“Seoul may eliminate the F-35 from its fighter jet acquisition competition if Lockheed Martine does not comply with our demands,” Oh Tae-shik, head of the program management agency at the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA), told The Korea Times.

“Lockheed Martin has yet to give an answer on whether the company will allow us to assess the performance of the F-35 by using a chase plane or a remote performance measuring device.”

DAPA spokesman Baek Youn-hyeong pointed out that the state-run procurement agency asked Lockheed Martin in April this year to measure the performance of its F-35 using a chase plane but was turned down.

He added it requested the U.S. company two weeks ago to allow Korean evaluators to monitor the performance of the F-35 by using telemetry, but it has yet to respond.

The F-35, which has suffered from multiple development problems including thermal management, is still being tested and is expected to reach initial operating capability in 2016.

“We have decided to delay the inspection of the F-35 by about nine weeks,” Baek said, though the decision was inevitable as Lockheed Martin and also EADS failed to meet document requirements and the U.S. firm appears the least prepared.

DAPA requested both firms, two of the three bidders for the FX-III program, to resubmit their proposals by July 5 for failing to submit a full Korean version of some crucial documents containing information about cost and the degree of technology transfer.

Boeing, which wants to sell an upgraded version of the F-15K to Korea, was the only contender to submit a complete translation version of its proposal.

Some DAPA officials expressed caution over the possible elimination of the stealth fighter in the three-way race, saying Lockheed Martin may find it unacceptable and file a lawsuit.

Oh also explained that DAPA will need to discuss what would be the most appropriate punitive action against Lockheed Martin if it insists the performance of the F-35 should only be evaluated through simulator tests.

“We are in no hurry to decide what punitive measure should be taken against the Lockheed Martin as we have decided to defer the inspection of the F-35,” the DAPA official said.

Meanwhile, Lockheed Martin, which was considered the most likely contender to win the bid, is suffering from misleading media reports and rumors.

A recent report claims that DAPA has been attempting to change the evaluation criteria of the FX-III program in favor of Lockheed Martin, claiming that a flight test was a mandatory requirement for all contenders.

Rumors say DAPA has secretly changed the criteria for the FX-race, including the flight test requirement set by the Korean Air Force, because President Lee Myung-bak promised Washington Korea would purchase the F-35.

A DAPA spokesman denied accusations of possible collusion, adding that his agency remains firm that it will adhere to the detailed selection criteria that it provided the three contenders in April.

[INDIAISM]

oops it looks like LM is still not confident of F35....

[Hyperion]

oops it looks like LM is still not confident of F35....

No one is. This is one project that looks destined for the scrapyard, even before serial production starts.

[ChineseTiger1986]

No one is. This is one project that looks destined for the scrapyard, even before serial production starts.

Don't worry, those Koreans will dig their pocket for the F-35 project.

[Hyperion]

Don't worry, those Koreans will dig their pocket for the F-35 project.

From what I've read, this F35 is such a fuc*** aircraft that even if it doesn't gets it's daily beauty sleep, it malfunctions. Who would want a USD100million + wuss in the air?

[Esc8781]

From what I've read, this F35 is such a fuc*** aircraft that even if it doesn't gets it's daily beauty sleep, it malfunctions. Who would want a USD100million + wuss in the air?

Well looks like you have been reading from the media! :(

[revojam]

Well looks like you have been reading from the media! :(

i hope so , f-35 is a very cool aircraft i don't want it to canceled like Comanche Project :/

[Thomas]

From what I've read, this F35 is such a fuc*** aircraft that even if it doesn't gets it's daily beauty sleep, it malfunctions. Who would want a USD100million + wuss in the air?

care to post that link?

[kingofkings]

care to post that link?

How can someone give possible link to the random sounds they hear in their head.

[Hyperion]

care to post that link?

Thomas, I love innovation, in every shape and form. My comment emanates purely from reading different journals and speaking to people in the business!

How can someone give possible link to the random sounds they hear in their head.

I'll refrain.......

Well looks like you have been reading from the media! :(

Actually, a lot I've heard was from US media as well. I'll try to dig some video links, normally to tell you the truth I prefer to live life rather than research more stuff

[gambit]

Thomas, I love innovation, in every shape and form. My comment emanates purely from reading different journals and speaking to people in the business!

I doubt that.

[Nishan_101]

But I am quite sure that S.Korea, Japan, Australia as well as Taiwan would going to buy it.

[killerx]

still so many defects in F35 no chances to see in service soon in future mate

[solkahn]

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well every tiny bit and detail has been discussed on many forums of this F35 but when you compare it with F22 i ,think this is inferior to it ,now logically this fact has been put so stringently by Lockheed R&D team that they are unable to pull the glitches this aircraft has
Ah Just what? a TRILLION dollar loss they are gonna face if these problems are not fixed along with millions lost by the contributing countries if these problems are not solved .
They should have included TECH from RAPTOR like structural components and material e.g you put the same type of radar but of smaller size ,you put a super computer of inferior workload capacity ,arresting hook Tech .................
REASON #2 Instead they made some PROTOTYPE which was only made by LM ( No NORTHROP GRUMMAN or involvement of Boeing MAC DOUGLAS formerly )compared to YF23 vs YF22 LM
Just doesn't make sense to me that countries who invested in this project are not getting even equivalent product to a raptor and they just believed in LM for the product or it was US made products which have good reputation till this F35 glitch SAGA persuaded them to invest in all ............... just confusing ASSUMPTION i guess please i need input waist ed 30 min on it