Competition is heating up in South Korea's $4 billion program to buy new multi-role fighters. The competition includes the American F-15K, the French Rafale, the Eurofighter Typhoon, and the Russian Sukhoi-35. The South Korean Air Force prefers the Rafale, citing its ultra-modern avionics and superb maneuverability. The US is putting massive political pressure on the South Koreans to buy the F-15K, citing the importance of the US-ROK alliance and the need for interoperability during a war.--Stephen V Cole