30-11-2005, 15:04
|
 |
|
|
חבר מתאריך: 23.09.03
הודעות: 12,131
|
|
|
Korea-Israel defense talks open amid bids for AWACS contract
Korea and Israel yesterday began talks to increase cooperation in the defense industry and technology amid heated competition between Israeli and U.S. companies to win a $2 billion contract to build an airborne early warning system for the Korean Air Force.
The three-day meeting in Tel Aviv will be led by Lee Young-hwan, deputy minister for acquisition, and Amos Gilad, Israel's head of political military bureau, the Defense Ministry said. Lee is the ministry's top official in charge of military procurement.
IAI ELTA, an Israeli aircraft maker, and Boeing Co. from the United States are vying for Korea's airborne warning and control system contract, codenamed E-X.
The ministry is expected to announce the winning bidder as early as Dec. 10.
Military sources said IAI ELTA offered lower prices than Boeing. But officials said inter-operability between Korean and U.S militaries is also a crucial consideration because the country depends much on the U.S. Forces Korea, Seoul officials said.
Last Wednesday, U.S. Ambassador to Korea Alexander Vershbow met Defense Minister Yoon Kwang-ung and reportedly called for a "fair and objective" way in the process of selecting a contractor.
The Defense Ministry said the Korea-Israeli meeting has nothing to do with the E-X project.
"It is a general discussion on defense industry cooperation. The E-X project is not on the agenda for the meeting," an official said.
(davidpooh@heraldm.com)
By Jin Dae-woong
http://www.koreaherald.co.kr/SITE/d...00511300037.asp
_____________________________________
Programming today is a race between software engineers striving to build bigger and better idiot-proof programs, and the Universe trying to produce bigger and better idiots. So far, the Universe is winning. -Rick Cook
|
ראשי
צ'אט
מצב כלאיים
