The US plans to send F-22 Raptor and F-35A Lightning II stealth fighter jets to the Seoul air show to be held next month, South Korea's defense ministry said Tuesday.

The Seoul International Aerospace & Defense Exhibition, or Seoul ADEX, will open Oct. 17 for a six-day run at Seoul Air Base, just south of the capital.

More than 400 defense firms from 33 countries plan to participate in the biennial event, a combination of flying demonstrations, trade fair and expo, said the ministry.

It is expected to attract roughly 250,000 visitors and will offer various public events and fun activities.
 

"This year's Seoul ADEX will be the largest one in its history," said Air Force Col. Kim Ik-hyun, who is in charge of the event.

Among US aviation assets to be exhibited are the F-22, F-35A, A-10 Thunderbolt and V-22 Osprey, as well as the Bell 429 GlobalRanger helicopter and E-3A Sentry Airborne Warning & Control System (AWACS) aircraft.

A defense source said separately that the US Navy's P-8 Poseidon will also take part.

South Korea has signed a contract to buy 40 F-35As and the first batch of the aircraft will be delivered to the country's Air Force in 2018.

South Korea will also display its major weapons such as the F-15K Slam Eagle, KF-16 Fighting Falcon, T-50 Golden Eagle and KT-1 Woongbi jets, along with the P-3 Orion, KUH-1 Surion and AH-64D Apache attack choppers.

Army assets to be on show include K1A1 main battle tanks, K-21 infantry fighting vehicles and Patriot missiles as well as Shingung and Cheongung surface-to-air missiles.

"In particular, brisk activities are expected during the expo this time in connection with efforts to export T-50 supersonic training jets to the US, Botswana, Argentina and Croatia," the ministry said.

South Korea is bidding for the Advanced Pilot Training program of the US Air Force, also known as T-X, to replace its aging fleet of 350 T-38 trainer jets, a deal reportedly worth US$16 billion.

During the "public day" events scheduled for Oct. 21 and 22, the South Korean Air Force's Black Eagles aerobatic flight team will perform in the sky over the venue, and South Korean and US fighter jets will conduct a demonstration flight.

Prime Minister Lee Nak-yon is serving as the honorary chairman of the organizing committee.

Tickets are priced at 12,000 won ($10) for adults and 8,000 won for kids. Pre-sale tickets are available at the official website, www.seouladex.com.

South Korea launched the Seoul Air Show in 1996, and it has hosted the Seoul ADEX since 2009.

South Korea aims to make it the leading aerospace event in the Asia-Pacific region. (Yonhap)