S. Korea to Sell $100 Fighter Jets
That's right, $100 per fighter jet (hat tip: The Lost Nomad):
South Korea is to sell supersonic fighters at $100 (101,000 won) per jet. It may be hard to believe, but it’s no lie.The fighter jets to be sold at such a giveaway price are F-5A/Bs, which are being retired from their 40-year-long service this month.
The Ministry of National Defense and Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) said Sunday they considered selling the retired aircraft, which opened the era of supersonic fighters for the Korean Air Force in 1965, to foreign nations including Mexico and Poland.
We have about 50 F-5A/B fighter jets at the moment, half of which are used for educational and demonstrational purposes. The ministry will consider selling the remaining half to foreign nations at $100 per unit, a KAI official said. It’s a nominal price.
And, yes, of course there is an angle to this bargain:
He hinted that the virtual donation is part of a sales strategy to export KT-1 and T-50 supersonic trainers developed and produced by KAI to the foreign nations. "We have also sold F-5A/B fighters to the Philippines at $100 each in the past.
Is this what retailers call "loss leader"?
Here are some pictures of F-5A/B Freedom Fighters, and the stats including the procurement saga and other information can be found here at GlobalSecurity.org.
I've got $100. I wonder whether the ROK government would sell one to me. I think it would make a wonderful gift for my best friend, Jack, who is a pilot.