S. Korea signs deal to buy air force equipment from Turkey

By Sam Kim
SEOUL, April 16 (Yonhap) -- South Korea on Thursday agreed to purchase 130
billion won (US$97 million) worth of air force pilot training equipment from
Turkey by 2011, defense ministry officials said.
The deal signed by the two countries' defense ministers in Seoul will provide
South Korea with advanced "electronic warfare training systems," said the
officials. The equipment trains and tests pilots through simulations involving
anti-air missiles, artillery and aircraft.
"The contract marks the opening of reciprocal defense cooperation between the two
sides," South Korean Defense Minister Lee Sang-hee said as he met with his
Turkish counterpart, Vecdi Gonul, in Seoul.
South Korea and Turkey are increasingly active partners in defense trade. South
Korea has exported K-9 artillery guns and KT-1 training aircraft to Turkey while
sharing tank development technology.
"The previous contracts were the foundation for the most recent one," Gonul said,
responding through a Korean interpreter.
Gonul arrived here on Wednesday and will return home on Friday.
samkim@yna.co.kr
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