L3Harris’s Phoenix, based on the Bombardier Global 6500, will enhance South Korea’s air defense and intelligence gathering capabilities.
South Korea has selected a team led by L3Harris for a follow-on contract for four Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) aircraft, the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) announced Tuesday.
L3Harris proposed its Phoenix aircraft, a Bombardier Defense Global 6500 business jet modified with an advanced radar system, for the US ally. South Korea had earmarked 3.1 trillion-won ($2.21 billion) for the project, which pitted the Phoenix against Saab’s Globaleye airborne early warning system with its own radar fitted on the same Global 6500 airframe, according to Yonhap News Agency.
The L3Harris proposal will be fitted with Israel’s Elta EL/W-2085 radar.
Selection Criteria
DAPA stated that the L3Harris proposal earned a higher evaluation score than Swedish defense firm Saab.
Yonhap reported that there was no significant difference in the evaluation of the performance of both entrants, but „L3Harris received high scores in the areas of operational suitability, domestic defense industry contribution, and operation and maintenance costs, while Saab received high scores in the areas of contract terms and acquisition costs.”
Existing AEW&C Capabilities
The Republic of Korea Air Force already operates the Boeing E-7A „Peace Eye” AEW&C aircraft, and the US State Department approved the potential sale of four more E-7As to South Korea in November 2024.
Enhanced Air Defense
The current program seeks additional aircraft as South Korea aims to ramp up its air defense and intelligence gathering capabilities against North Korea. South Korea also intends to bolster these capabilities as part of efforts to gain operational control of its military during a potential conflict.
Under current arrangements, operational control of the South Korean military will be placed under the South Korean-US Joint Forces Command during wartime, although peacetime operational command has come under the South Korean government since 1994.
