Boeing executive says `F-15 first, F-35A later` recommended

"It is recommended to order 20 additional F-35As later after purchasing 40 F-15s," said Boeing Vice President Robert Ciesla who is responsible for F-15 program. He added "F-35A is still under development and its actual fight quality has not been proved yet." As a director managing global sales for F-15, he emphasized that advanced F-15 is the only fighter to give maximum effect with minimum costs. The following are the Q&As with the Boeing vice president.

― What is the reason for the drop-out of F-15SE at the last moment after being selected as a single candidate for FX (fighter experimental) bidding two months ago?

"How can a supplier know the reason? Since F-15SE is outstanding in performance, and was the only fighter that satisfies the condition of FX business total budget, I never thought we were rejected. What is clear at this moment is that Korea wants to buy F-35A (Lockheed Martin). Fighting power gap in Korean Air Force cannot be bridged only with F-35A, however."

― Many Korean Air Force Chiefs of Staff disagreed to buy F-15SE, recommending Stealth Fighter purchase...

"I am very sorry about that. If I could have informed to those gentlemen the comparison data between F-15SE and F-35A in performance per price, maintenance and technology transfer, the decision must have been changed. It is too risky to buy F-35A at this moment because the fighter is still under development and the actual fight performance has not been proved yet. Speed, arms-loading capability, and cruising range of F-35A are far behind those of F-15."

― F-15SE was pointed out as an old model despite its lowest price offer.

"I want to ask whether Sonata, the most successful medium-sized sedan in Korea, is an old model simply because it was launched in 1980s. F-15 is the best performing air fighter of which quality has been proved over the long period. With state-of-the-art technology and system to the existing F-15, F-15SE is much better powerful in performance. Several technologies applied to F-15SE are more advanced than those applied to F-35."

― Public opinion shows F-35A Stealth Fighter should be introduced...

"Stealth strategy returning to air base after striking enemy`s target without being detected was not proved in actual fight. Some people think Stealth fighter will change everything in battle field, but the reality is different. Future security threats, which Korea is worrying, can be sufficiently prevented by state-of-the-art F15 loading long-range missiles."

― What is the reason to offer both 40 advanced F-15s and 20 F-35As?

"The best solution is to bridge the fighting power gap with 40 F-15s first and to purchase F-35As later. Detail price and delivery time for F-35 can`t be fixed at this moment as the fighter will be sold on the FMS (Foreign Military Sale) basis. The mixed purchase is the only solution by which Korea can take stealth fighters as well as high-performing F-15."

― Korea may buy only F-35...

"The decision would exacerbate the current power gap in Korean Air Force. According to newspapers, even if Korea decides to buy F-35A now, the delivery will be made in 2019 and the actual fight test will take more. Is it beneficial to Korean security and interests that Korea puts all the money to buy 60 F-35As and takes the risk? F-15 can be delivered in 2017 as scheduled only if Korean government decides to buy."

― No change in price and technology transfer promise in case Korea decides mixed purchase?

"We will keep the promise to transfer technology to help develop the initially-proposed KFX (Korean Fighter experimental). Price will be dependent on additional request level from Korean government. But I am confident that F-15 has price competitiveness, considering F-15 is the only fighter to meet Korean FX business budget."

― Eurofighter also offered mixed purchase with F-35...

"Korea is already using 60 F-15Ks, so purchasing F-35 with F-15 is much better in maintenance costs and mutual operations perspective. Maintenance costs will be sky-rocketing in case of Eurofighter and F-35 purchase."