The government has decided to push for the development of fighter jets and attack helicopters.

The decision was made Thursday at a meeting of officials from the defense and finance ministries and other relevant agencies for the development of the aerospace industry.

For the development of a homegrown KFX fighter jet and KAH attack helicopter, exploratory development will be conducted over the following two years.

The feasibility of the project will be reevaluated by late 2012, with a final decision to be made on whether to begin full-fledged development.

Exploratory development refers to a two-to-three-year research phase using two to five percent of the total development cost preceding the actual development.

During this period, the design of the aircraft is fixed, total development cost and labor requirements revised, parts suppliers decided, adequacy of technological expertise confirmed, and key parts designed.

The KFX project is estimated to cost over five-trillion won, and the KAH project 600-billion won.