The US State Department has approved a possible Foreign Military Sale (FMS) to South Korea of F-15K aircraft upgrades, the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) announced on 19 November 2024.
The potential sale, which is worth USD 6.2 billion (EUR 5.95 billion), has been passed to the US Congress for final approval.
The Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF) operates a fleet of 59 Boeing F-15K Slam Eagles, deliveries of which began in 2005. The F-15K is a South Korean variant of the US Air Force’s F-15E Strike Eagle.
The equipment South Korea has requested to buy to upgrade its F-15K fleet includes: 96 Advanced Display Core Processor II (ADCP II) mission system computers; 70 AN/APG-82(v)1 active electronically scanned-array (AESA) radars; 70 AN/ALQ-250 Eagle Passive Active Warning Survivability System (EPAWSS) electronic warfare (EW) suites; and 70 AN/AAR-57 Common Missile Warning Systems (CMWS).
Non-Major Defense Equipment items forming part of the requested package include: Joint Mission Planning Systems with unique planning components; Computer Program Identification Numbers (CPINs); Joint Helmet Mounted Cueing Systems; major modifications and maintenance support; aircraft components, parts, and accessories; repair and return support; training aids and devices; software delivery and support; technical documentation; aerial refuelling support; and various aspects of engineering, technical, training, logistics and programme support
“This proposed sale will improve the Republic of Korea’s capability to meet current and future threats by increasing its critical air defense capability to deter aggression in the region and to ensure interoperability with US forces,” the DSCA stated.
The primary contractors for the FMS if it proceeds will be Boeing, RTX (Raytheon) and BAE Systems.
