Dassault files suit alleging F-X bias

Dassault Aviation of France brought legal action against the South Korean government Thursday over its handling of the next generation fighter jet project.

The French aircraft maker held a press conference Thursday morning and voiced outspoken doubts about the process of the procurement program, whose initial evaluation concluded last week. Dassault and Boeing of the United States were the two selected front-runners competing for the deal worth at least $3.3 billion.

"Bluntly speaking, we have reached the conclusion that the competition was not transparent and fair," Yves Robins, the firm's vice president for international relations, said. Mr. Robins stressed that the National Defense Ministry gave the impression of favoring a particular bidder when it repeatedly revised the selection criteria. The government changed its priority from performance to the offset package - the amount of the contract price spent in Korea - and then to technology transfer and price, Mr. Robins asserted.

Dassault asked the Seoul District Court for a preliminary injunction that would block the South Korean government from proceeding with a selection process that favors one of the contenders, in this case Boeing. The French firm is also seeking to bar the defense ministry from continuing the second phase of evaluation between the U.S.-made F-15K and the French-built Rafale and from signing a contract with Boeing.

The defense ministry said it would go ahead with the second-stage evaluation despite Dassault's action. The final decision is due this month.

by Ser Myo-ja