Concerns about the cost and delivery schedule of the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning Ⅱ have been raised in the Republic of Korea. The aircraft is viewed as a potential candidate for the F-X III multirole fighter competition to select a replacement for its current McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantoms and Northrop F-5 Tiger Ⅱ fighters. However, the F-35 may not be ready in time to replace these aircraft as their service lives end and may cost more than is currently projected. Currently, the F-X Ⅲ procurement schedule calls for the delivery of ten aircraft each in 2016 and 2017, with the remaining 40 to follow by 2020.
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