Boeing`s new "stealthy" F-15 Eager fighter jet may be another reason for the nation to scrap its plans to build high-end fighter jets, critics said yesterday.

With defense funds increasingly limited amid an economic crisis, and mounting criticism about the feasibility of the homemade jet program, the Air Force has come under growing pressure to abandon its plans to building advanced, stealth jets as part of its KFX program.

The low and mid-end planes such as the T-50 or the A-50 the Air Force is developing has gained recognition as viable global competitors, but trying to build high-end fighters with specs on par with F-16 jets, as the military announced in 2002, would be infeasible for many reasons.

The biggest is that the planes would be outdated by the projects target date of 2020, by which time fifth-generation jets like Lockheed Martin`s F-35 would be ready for warfare.

"Who would buy the jets when they have no cutting edge over other high-profile planes?" one defense industry official said on the condition of anonymity.

Supporters of the homemade jet project believe it would bolster military morale and give the Air Force an added technological-edge.

But for mainly cost-efficiency, calls are mounting for the Air Force to stick to the F-X program -- a three-part campaign for acquiring the latest technology jets -- and put its plans for building high-end jets on the back burner.

Boeing`s new F-15 Silent Eagle may further support such calls as the American manufacturer claims it to be a cost-effective, yet competitive multipurpose jet.

The new aircraft is said to possess partial stealth technology and has new features for carrying weapons internally.

The downside is that the plane does not have complete stealth capability and is based on a 30-year-old model.

The F-35, manufactured by Lockheed Martin, compares in that it is a full-stealth aircraft designated as a fifth-generation jet. It is expected to be more expensive, however.

The Air Force has said its aim for the third and final phase of the F-X program would be to obtain such so-called "fifth-generation stealth fighters."

Under the program, the Air Force aims to add 60 more such advanced jets to ultimately procure 120 high-end warplanes by 2020. Boeing has already won the previous two deals with its F-15K fighters.

"Now that a new competitor has arrived on the scene, this could turn out to be favorable for South Korea because it could lead to further price and quality competition between Lockheed and Boeing," said one military source speaking on the condition of anonymity.

By Kim Ji-hyun



(jemmie@heraldm.com)