EADS offers huge defense investment to South Korea

European aerospace giant EADS has offered South Korea a huge defense-sector investment. 

The European competitor said procuring the deal would create tens of thousands of jobs. 

EADS confirmed Friday it had offered South Korea a $2 billion (1.55-billion-euro) investment in a bid to edge out US rivals for a contract to provide 60 advanced fighter planes.

EADS spokesman Francisco Salido said South Korea could rely on comprehensive support for its own next-generation KF-X combat fighter program.

It said three competitors were in the running for the procurement deal, including Boeing's F-15 Silent Eagle and Lockheed Martin's F-35 Lightning II. EADS would provide Eurofighter Typhoon jets, should it be chosen for the contract.