Presidential jet to be fitted with anti-missile gear

SEOUL, Dec. 21 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's presidential jet will be fitted with anti-missile gear by 2016 under a new project expected to cost more than 30 billion won (US$27 million), government and military officials said Sunday.

Under a renewed contract with the nation's flagship carrier, Korean Air Lines Co., a Boeing 747-400 aircraft will be on lease to the presidential office until 2020.

"Until now, the presidential jet hasn't had its own antimissile gear, but the new jet is expected to be fitted with such gear as the missile approach warning system (MAWS) and directional infrared counter measures (DIRCM) by 2016," a government official said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

In addition to paying 140 billion won for the jet's lease, 30 billion won has been earmarked for the new equipment, according to the officials.

The state arms procurement agency will soon take steps to select the manufacturer of the gear and purchase the equipment under a government-to-government deal with the United States, whose approval is required for use of the technology, a military official said.

"The U.S. is pretty much the only country in the world that owns a presidential jet fitted with advanced antimissile equipment such as the MAWS and DIRCM," a government source said.

hague@yna.co.kr
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