기무사, 전투기 사업 기밀유출 의혹 조사
2013-05-01 18:43
국군기무사령부가 차기 전투기(FX) 사업과 관련, 군사기밀 관련법 위반 혐의로 A사를 압수수색한 것으로 전해졌다.군의 한 소식통은 30일 “기무사가 지난 25일과 29일 A사를 전격 압수수색했다"며 “압수수색 결과 A사의 사무실에선 FX 사업과 대형 공격헬기 사업 관련 군사기밀이 나온 것으로 안다”고 밝혔다.
이 소식통은 “현재 기무사는 군사기밀보호법 위반 혐의가 있는 A사 관계자들을 대상으로 수사를 진행하고 있다”고 말했다.
무역중개업자로 등록된 A사는 지난 1, 2차 FX 사업 때 보잉의 에이전트 역할을 했다.
방위사업청은 이번 FX 사업에서 에이전트의 참여를 배제하고 있기 때문에 A사에서 군사기밀이 나왔다면 방사청이 FX 사업 참여업체에 건넨 기밀이 A사로 흘러들어 갔을 가능성을 배제할 수 없다.
방사청의 한 관계자는 “방사청에선 A사에 어떤 자료도 넘긴 것이 없다”며 “A사에 비문이 넘어갔다면 군사기밀 관련법 위반에 해당할 것”이라고 밝혔다.
이와 관련, 보잉 측은 “이번 FX 사업과 관련 A사와 계약을 체결한 사실이 없다”며 연관성을 부인했다.
EADS(유로파이터)와 록히드마틴(F-35A) 등 FX 후보업체들은 기무사의 압수수색이 FX 사업에 미칠 영향에 촉각을 곤두세우고 있다.
기무사 측은 이번 수사와 관련 “확인해줄 수 없다”고 답변했다.
<관련 영문 기사>
Local brokerage firm under investigation for leaking military secret
By Song Sang-ho
The Defense Security Command is investigating a former weapons broker for the U.S. firm Boeing on suspicion that it had leaked classified military intelligence regarding Seoul’s projects to acquire attack helicopters and fighter jets.
The Korean firm in question is suspected of leaking secrets in connection with the required operational capability, or ROC, of the military aircraft Seoul has sought to purchase through large-scale procurement competitions.
Earlier this month, Boeing won the 1.8 trillion won ($1.6 billion) contest to provide 36 combat helicopters to South Korea. It is also one of the three candidates for Seoul’s 8.3 trillion won project to secure a high-end fleet of 60 fighters.
Last Thursday, the DSC raided the office of the brokerage company, whose name was withheld to the media, a military source said.
The Korean firm served as a broker for Boeing during the second phase of the so-called FX project in 2008. Boeing won the first two phases of the project and sold 60 F-15Ks to South Korea.
By the end of June, the Seoul government is to announce the winner for the ongoing final and third phase of the FX contest in which its acquisition agency has excluded the participation of any brokers.
The investigation reportedly focuses on whether Boeing or the Defense Acquisition Program Administration was implicated in the alleged leak of military secrets by the broker.
The DAPA denied any involvement.
“The briefing over the ROC is given at the same time to all competitors. So what is crucial is when the intelligence was leaked,” a government source told The Korea Herald, declining to be named.
Observers anticipated that should any irregularities be found in the process of picking the candidate for the competition to procure attack helicopters, there could be a reconsideration of Seoul’s decision.
Some industry sources said as competition has heated up for the final FX contest, some of the competitors might have offered the Seoul government a tip on the leak.
For the fighter procurement project, Lockheed Martin’s F-35 stealth warplane, Boeing’s F-15 Silent Eagle and the Eurofighter Typhoon of the European Aeronautic Defense and Space Company N.V. are the three candidates.
(sshluck@heraldcorp.com)
Local brokerage firm under investigation for leaking military secret
By Song Sang-ho
The Defense Security Command is investigating a former weapons broker for the U.S. firm Boeing on suspicion that it had leaked classified military intelligence regarding Seoul’s projects to acquire attack helicopters and fighter jets.
The Korean firm in question is suspected of leaking secrets in connection with the required operational capability, or ROC, of the military aircraft Seoul has sought to purchase through large-scale procurement competitions.
Earlier this month, Boeing won the 1.8 trillion won ($1.6 billion) contest to provide 36 combat helicopters to South Korea. It is also one of the three candidates for Seoul’s 8.3 trillion won project to secure a high-end fleet of 60 fighters.
Last Thursday, the DSC raided the office of the brokerage company, whose name was withheld to the media, a military source said.
The Korean firm served as a broker for Boeing during the second phase of the so-called FX project in 2008. Boeing won the first two phases of the project and sold 60 F-15Ks to South Korea.
By the end of June, the Seoul government is to announce the winner for the ongoing final and third phase of the FX contest in which its acquisition agency has excluded the participation of any brokers.
The investigation reportedly focuses on whether Boeing or the Defense Acquisition Program Administration was implicated in the alleged leak of military secrets by the broker.
The DAPA denied any involvement.
“The briefing over the ROC is given at the same time to all competitors. So what is crucial is when the intelligence was leaked,” a government source told The Korea Herald, declining to be named.
Observers anticipated that should any irregularities be found in the process of picking the candidate for the competition to procure attack helicopters, there could be a reconsideration of Seoul’s decision.
Some industry sources said as competition has heated up for the final FX contest, some of the competitors might have offered the Seoul government a tip on the leak.
For the fighter procurement project, Lockheed Martin’s F-35 stealth warplane, Boeing’s F-15 Silent Eagle and the Eurofighter Typhoon of the European Aeronautic Defense and Space Company N.V. are the three candidates.
(sshluck@heraldcorp.com)
