South Korea eyes 40 F-35s

South Korea's plan to buy 40 Lockheed Martin F-35s will save the U.S. military about $2 billion by driving down the per-plane cost. The decision will also help offset any move by the U.S. military to deal with mandatory budget cuts by postponing orders for up to 54 jets over the next five years. Seoul's decision must still be approved by a committee chaired by its defense minister. One analyst said Singapore, Malaysia and New Zealand might follow suit and order F-35s. (Source: Reuters, 11/26/13) South Korea also plans to buy four Northrop Grumman Global Hawk unmanned systems. Gulf Coast note: Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., is home of the F-35 training center; Global Hawks are built in part in Moss Point, Miss. Previous: Things looking up for F-35; F-35 courts foreign customers