South Korea mulls importing Iron Dome

[Valin]

Globes:

Israel is offering the missile defense system in exchange for buying four patrol boats.

Yuval Azulai

11/18/12

 

The Ministry of Defense is in talks with South Korea's Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering Co. Ltd (KSX: 42669) to purchase four patrol boats for the Israel Navy to protect Israel's exclusive economic zone. If the $400 million deal goes ahead, the ministry is expected to demand reciprocal procurements by Korea of the advanced missile interception system made by Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd.

 

Earlier this year, Korean Aerospace Industries Ltd. (KAI) lost the Ministry of Defense tender for the Air Force's new jet trainer to Italy's Alenia Aermacchi, to Korea's bitter disappointment. Sources close to the issue believe that the new deal to buy Korean patrol boats could ease the disappointment in Seoul. In the bidding for the jet trainers, Korea offered reciprocal procurements centered on the Iron Dome missile interceptor. The offer is partly because of the threat to South Korea from North Korean missiles.

 

(Snip)

 

H/T Via Meadia