South Korea cleared to buy 25 F-35 Joint Strike Fighters

The State Department has approved a possible $5 billion foreign military sale to South Korea for 25 F-35 Joint Strike Fighters, according to a Defense Security Cooperation Agency notice.

The deal would cover the conventional-takeoff-and-landing variant of the jet, with up to 26 Pratt & Whitney F135-PW-100 engines and other assorted equipment.

“The proposed sale will improve the Republic of Korea’s capability to meet current and future threats by providing credible defense capability to deter aggression in the region and ensure interoperability with U.S. forces,” DSCA said. “The proposed sale will augment Korea’s operational aircraft inventory and enhance its air-to-air and air-to-ground self-defense capability. Korea already has F-35s in its inventory and will have no difficulty absorbing these articles and services into its armed forces.”

The principal contractors will be Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co., Fort Worth, TX, and Pratt & Whitney Military Engines, East Hartford, CT.