The move marks a marked shift in the company's strategy after having previously focused on selling a new active electronically scanned array named the scalable agile beam radar, the Flight Global Web site reported.

Now, the major U.S. aircraft manufacturer believes that South Korea's needs instead require its mechanically scanned APG-68(V)9 design.

"I think the (V)9 would suit their purposes really well," Dave Wallace, Northrop's manager for F-16 sensor program, was quoted saying. "Similar to the AESA-based SABR, the design provides both synthetic aperture radar maps and ground moving target indication imagery, which are key capabilities for launching attacks on ground targets," he said.

The consideration comes as North Korea's belligerence has increased, leading South Korea to weigh the option of upgrading aircraft and accelerating a string of acquisition programs.

It has been an exceptionally tense year on the already volatile Korean Peninsula.

Earlier this year a North Korean submarine was accused of torpedoing a South Korean corvette. Eight months later, two South Korean marines and two civilians were killed when North Korea artillery targeted South Korea's Yeonpveong island.

In the last decade, AESA radars have gained increasing prominence over mechanically scanned arrays. As a result, for example, the United Arab Emirates launched the Northrop APG-80 agile beam radar with its Lockheed Martin F-16 Block 60 combat aircraft.

Greece and Israel also have joined the upgrade program.

"AESA is the buzz phrase," Wallace said. "It is very reliable. It does more than you can get with a mechanically scanned radar," Wallace says. "That said, the performance I've observed on the APG-68(V)9 is very good."

An AESA-based combat radar has also been presented by Raytheon.

Military experts have suggested that another program that could see progress is South Korea's potential order of RQ Global Hawk high-altitude, long-endurance drones -- also manufactured by Northrop Grumman. While the interest has been expressed, budgetary constraints have dampened the prospects of deal.

Another obstacle hindering the Global Hawk acquisition is the Missile Technology Regime. Both South Korea and the United States have signed the pact but co-signatories allied to North Korea, including China, could block the sale.

By some accounts, the United States may be required to press ahead with an exception based on the needs of South Korea.

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