S. Korea buying F-35s, Global Hawks

SEOUL, South Korea -- South Korea expects to pay around $6.79 billion for 40 Lockheed Martin F-35 fighters, two sources with knowledge of the matter said on Monday as Seoul boosts its air defenses amid simmering tensions in the region. South Korea also confirmed plans to buy four Northrop Grumman Global Hawk unmanned aircraft for $814.63 million to monitor North Korea. The drones will be delivered starting 2018, one of the sources said. (Source: Reuters, Lockheed Martin, 03/24/14) Gulf Coast note: Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., is the F-35 training center; Global Hawks are built in part in Moss Point, Miss.