South Korea plans $1.3-billion tanker aircraft buy to boost air defence

SEOUL (Reuters) - South Korea on Monday kicked off the process to buy four in-flight refuelling tanker aircraft, in a deal seen to be worth around 1.4 trillion won (£780.88 million), with planemakers Boeing and Airbus expected to compete, sources said.

The purchase is part of South Korea's attempts to bolster its air defence in the face of rising tension in Northeast Asia over the maritime interests of neighbours such as Japan and China, as well as against an unpredictable North Korea.