Kim Minseok covers South Korean defense. He has worked as a journalist for South Korean military magazines Military Review and Defense Times. Mr Kim is also a research fellow at the Korea Defense and Security Forum, a think tank.
South Korean engineers are, at least nominally, taking the lead in developing onboard systems for the KF-X. Whether they are always in fact leading is not so certain, since many foreign companies have been hired to assist.
The expected order for 12 helicopters will help fill a Republic of Korea Navy requirement for 40 new shipborne rotorcraft for anti-submarine and anti-ship operations.
