South Korea is to open the bidding for its next batch of 20 multirole fighter aircraft, a strategy likely to frustrate Boeing, which had hoped to receive a sole-source contract to expand a 2002 deal to supply the country's air force with 40 F-15Ks.

Seoul expects to complete a purchasing plan for the proposed 2.3 trillion won ($2.5 billion) deal next month, and will issue a request for proposals to potential suppliers around March. The defence ministry will then launch a test and evaluation phase before entering into negotiations, expected to conclude by December. A contract should be signed around February 2008, with deliveries sought in the 2010-12 timeframe.

"The requirement is for another 20 F-15-class aircraft," says South Korea's Defence Acquisition Programme Administration (DAPA). "It [the defenceministry] has not decided whether it needs another batch of F-15s, and wants to see what others have to offer," the DAPA adds.

Industry sources say South Korea wants to open the requirement following criticism that it has favoured US hardware in earlier selections. This could potentially lead to renewed offers to supply the Dassault Rafale, Eurofighter Typhoon or Sukhoi Su-35. However, Boeing remains favourite to land the deal due to its existing F-15K contract and additional orders from the country, including a $1.6 billion deal for four 737-based E-X airborne early warning and control aircraft.

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