A group of retired Air Force chiefs have stepped up opposition to the government’s plan to buy 60 Boeing F-15 Silent Eagles, criticizing the selection process that put top priority on price over capabilities, sources said Thursday.

In late August, 17 four-star Air Force generals sent letters to the National Assembly, presidential office and defense ministry to suggest a reconsideration of the current evaluation process that effectively weeded out the other two bidders with higher price tags ― Lockheed Martin‘s F-35 and EADS’ Eurofighter ― according to the sources.

“The DAPA applied an irrational rule that any jet that goes over the 8.3 trillion won budget cannot be selected,” the generals said in the letter. “(The DAPA) should conduct a comprehensive assessment (on all three jets).” (Yonhap News)