KAI가 트럼프의 변호사에게 15만달러의 뇌물을 주고, 일을 추진한 것도 문제가 되었을 수도 있겠네요.
Lockheed Martin partnered with Korea Aerospace Industries, or KAI, to offer the T-50A jet for the U.S. Air Force's trainer competition. The plane is a version of KAI's T-50, which is used in South Korea as well as several other U.S. partner nations. In June, revelations that the South Korean aviation firm paid President Donald Trump's personal lawyer, Michael Cohen emerged.
KAI paid $150,000 to Cohen's company, Essential Consultants, for "legal consulting concerning accounting standards on production costs," a KAI representative told Reuters. Cohen's work with KAI lasted less than six months and ended in November.
KAI did not respond to multiple requests for comment from CNBC.
When asked if KAI's dealings with Cohen or a corruption investigation involving the Korean firm's leadership would impact the U.S. Air Force's selection, Lt. Gen. Arnold Bunch said in June that the service was "letting the contract process play out."
"We are working through all the legal and letting them do all that work. We'll just let that process play through the source selection," Bunch, the Air Force's top acquisition officer, told reporters at the time.
Lockheed Martin, the Pentagon's top weapons supplier, told CNBC that nothing had changed with their bid for the Air Force's trainer award.
"We had no knowledge of a business relationship between Korea Aerospace Industries and Mr. Cohen, and are not aware of any connection that it may have to the U.S. Air Force Advanced Pilot Training competition," Lockheed told CNBC in a previous statement.